Is Your Gospel Big Enough?Намуна

The Chapter of The Fall

Genesis 3:1-19 makes it clear that because our first parents rebelled against God, we are fallen creatures with a sinful nature that manifests in selfishness, greed, and exploitation (Rom. 5:12). Things are not the way they are supposed to be.

The second chapter of the gospel explains the reality we know to be true, the way things are. This rebellion of Adam and Eve against God in the Garden of Eden broke the command he had given to them and introduced sin into the world (Gen. 2:16-17). Sin contaminated every aspect of human life and the created order (Gen. 3:7-24). The unity and peace God had woven into his world, shalom, began to unravel. Every part of the created order was damaged; even the environment was altered. Everything was broken, including our relationship with God.

Today, we see the effects of the Fall in every facet of our lives. We seek independence from God and look to idols to fulfill our longings. We experience despair, hurt, pain, sadness, anger, and envy in broken relationships. We toil internally, wrestling with self-doubt, insecurity, pride, and depression. The earth itself aches from the physical effects of the Fall, groaning from famine, drought, floods, and other natural disasters. Sin has touched all aspects of Creation.

The Fall left humans in a state of total ruin, incapable of doing anything that pleases God. To make matters worse, we cannot do anything to reverse its effects (Rom. 3:9-19; 8:7-8). Our relationship with God is most broken. His very nature is holy and perfect and cannot tolerate the presence of our wretched sin. We cannot fill the void sin has left between God and us. Consequently, we question God. We doubt him and we seek independence from him. We question his love for us and refuse to believe in his goodness. We grasp for control over our lives. God cannot simply turn his head and overlook our rebellion. His nature requires that justice be done.

In this state, all hope seems lost. Thankfully, this is not the last chapter of the gospel, and we experience the depth of God’s grace and love for us in the chapters to come.

How do you experience the reality of the Fall in your life?

Additional Elements

Read “Flourishing Begins with Filling the God-Shaped Hole in Your Heart” to learn more about the effects of the Fall on our relationship with God.