I. The good creation of man.
A. A unique creation:
1. He is FORMED out of the dust of the earth.
2. God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.
B. The meaning of man’s creation:
1. He is made head over all things in the earth–its king.
a. He serves as representative of God in the earth.
b. And through Adam all creation is to serve God.
2. In this connection we also speak of Adam and the Image of God.
a. He was created as Image-bearer.
1) Adam was formed in a distinct way with mind and will–that he might bear the image.
2) This is not itself the image of God.
b. and Adam bore the Image of God.
1) True knowledge: he knew God perfectly as He was revealed in creation and through direct revelation.
2) True righteousness: Adam conformed perfectly with God’s law.
3) True holiness: Adam, and in him all things, was consecrated to God.
c. Thus Adam enjoyed covenant friendship with the Living God.
II. THE fall of Adam:
A. As such.
1. Satan’s temptation of Eve.
a. He comes in the form of the serpent.
b. He approaches her first with the question concerning which trees might be used.
c. Eve answered in a way that indicated that sin already entered her mind.
d. Then the devil deliberately lies concerning God’s command.
2. Adam also eats at the urging of Eve.
B. The character of the fall:
1. It was willful disobedience to God.
2. As such, it necessarily affected the whole nature of man.
III. THE consequences of the fall.
A. For Adam:
1. Negatively, he lost the image of God completely.
a. He remained a moral, rational creature.
b. But now he bore the image of the devil:
1) His limited knowledge is used only for sin.
2) Righteousness and holiness are changed into the opposite.
2. Positively: man died.
a. That death was three-fold:
1) Physical death of the body.
2) Spiritual death–in separation from God.
3) Eternal death–final punishment in hell forever.
b. This death was the immediate sentence of God upon Adam after his sin.
B. For mankind:
1. Adam’s sin affected all mankind.
a. He was created as our representative head–consequently we become guilty of his “original sin.”
b. He was our first father–consequently we are born with that “original corruption.”
2. And the result for Adam and his posterity is total depravity.
a. There is in man no remnant of good whatsoever.
b. This, we believe, is true in opposition to such false doctrines as common grace, and “free-willism.”
Worksheet
A. Supplementary reading:
1. Scripture: Genesis 1-3.
2. Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 3.
3. Canons of Dordt, III-IV: 1, 2, 3, 4, 10, 16.
4. Westminster Catechism, Questions 21, 22, 23.
B. Proof-text: Rom. 5:12 “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” (Proof for original guilt and corruption).
C. Questions for study and consideration:
1. What is the idea of the so-called “Covenant of Works”? The “Probationatry Period”?
2. Can it be maintained that Adam was not the first man–but is presented as “representative” of the developing man?
3. What is meant by the distinction of God’s Image in the wider and narrower sense?
4. In what ways did Eve answer Satan wrongly in response to his first question?
5. Why should the serpent come to Eve rather than to Adam?
6. Did Adam die at once as God had said?
7. What are the “remants of light” which remain in man after the fall?
8. What would you understand by “total depravity” in distinction from “absolute depravity”?
9. What does the fall imply as far as man’s “free will” is concerned?
10. What arguments are presented by proponents of “common grace” with respect to the fall?