The Untold Story of Humankind's Fall in the Garden of Eden

In this post, we will review the untold story of Humankind’s fall in the Garden of Eden. The below article is taken from a paper I wrote dealing with the issue of whether Jesus Christ had “faith” (as we understand it) or not.

I. Eden: the Most Significant Moment in History

II. Three Time Centric Movements of Scripture

III. Grace Came Through Faith

IV. Faith and Fall from Jesus to Adam

V. Lucifer’s Eden to the Garden of Eden

VI. Conclusion

Eden: the Most Significant Moment in History

The egress from God’s presence occurred in the Garden of Eden. This location is often dismissed as simply one part of a much larger biblical puzzle.

I posit the Garden of Eden was the most biblically significant moment in human history. These transcendent events defined everything which came after.

Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection were transcendent as well (Mark 16:1-7). However, the Eden “fall” wrote the need for Jesus’ sacrifice into history. There are three overarching themes in the Genesis 3 narrative: absence of faith, free will, and egress/separation.

This should not be confused with suggesting that sin first occurred in the Garden of Eden.

Both the first and second sin in the biblical narrative were committed prior to the sin fall narrative (Isaiah 14:12-17, Genesis 3:1-4). Further, both sins resulted from Lucifer’s disobedience. Lucifer’s first sin was rejecting all God had to offer in eternity.

The second was the misuse of God’s word through a suggestion to Eve [Ibd].

It would be correct to say that Adam and Eve committed the third sin in recorded history and not the first. The “original sin” error is among the reasons commentaries, scholarly articles, and Christian literature should be vigorously scrutinized.

Someone had to model “disobedience” for Adam and Eve. Since sin was modeled by the serpent, it existed prior. Wide is the gulf between “first humans to sin” and “first to sin.”

Nevertheless, the Genesis 3 narrative begins with the spiritual relationship between the first two humans and God. The Bible records that God’s presence dwelt with Adam (Genesis 2:7-8, 15-17).

After sinning, the text indicates: “and the voice of the Lord God was walking in the garden in the cool of the day.” [Ibd] Prior to this, Adam had no sin, was not yet separated from God, so could not have required faith.

The lack of faith, pre-fall, is not meant to suggest none was needed by Adam and Eve post fall.

Faith is a desire to obtain, see, or know something not currently known. Adam’s pre-fall interpersonal dwelling with God eliminated the need to “desire, see, or obtain.” The same would’ve been true for Eve.

What we then have, is three beings in the biblical record that transcended the need for faith. Adam, Eve, and God in the flesh - Jesus Christ.

The transcendence of Eden defines all human history. These were the only three beings who didn’t require faith because they were perfect. Although God would put on flesh thousands of years later, He was in the garden.

The Bible says: “in the beginning was the word. And the word was with God, and the word was God, the same was also in the beginning with God. By him were all things made that were made and without him was not anything made that was made.” [Ibd]

Adam and Eve (pre-fall), along with Jesus, did not require faith in something they could not see. The biblical narrative even refers to Jesus as “the second Adam.” [Ibd] If then,

Adam and Eve saw God in the garden, it must be assumed they knew He was real and didn’t require future confirmation.

God in the flesh, Jesus Christ, also being present in the garden, certainly understood who He is. If all three could absolutely affirm the existence of a divine being, faith is eliminated as a need.

My sisters know I exist because they have been in my presence. They do not need to rely on a third-party witness having personally affirmed.

However, if they tell others, who never met me that I exist, those they witness to only “hope” my sisters are being truthful having never seen me.

They put “faith” in my sisters’ witness whereas my sisters needs no such “sight unseen” confirmation I exist.

Three Time Centric Movements of Scripture

Faith must be understood within the spatial movement of the biblical text. There exists purpose for the work of God’s hand to be represented in the number six (6). I am unsure of why this numerical imperative exists.

Having sworn off authored books, online commentaries, and articles, its purpose may never become clear.

Although many examples can be provided of this view, three are immediately evident. First, God created the world in six (6) days (Genesis 1:31).

Next, since His six-day (6) creation was corrupted through sin, Jesus hung on the cross for six hours (6) to provide a reconciliatory platform (John 19:14, Matthew 15:24-25, Matthew 27:45-47).

Finally, there is only a six-fold ministry imperative, not five (5). The book of Ephesians, chapter 4, outlines five offices/giftings foundational to the establishment of Jesus’s church (Ephesians 4:1-13). Since the work of building the foundation of the church is accomplished by six (6) as well, something is missing.

In another portion of the text, this “stray” office becomes evident: deacon (1st Timothy 3:8-13). It must be noted the Ephesians giftings/offices are called by God, while the deacon is not directly so-called (Acts 6:1-6).

Call source is immaterial to the fact that a no one person, even possessing the “5”, can accomplish the work alone. Although those gifts may belong to one person “alone”, they, alone, will not achieve a Kingdom outcome.

Jesus required twelve (12) to launch the church (Matthew 10:1-4). Further, the predicate of the faith, His resurrection, required participation of the wicked (John 18:1-13).

Expanding our view of the faith posit, the work of God’s hand must be leaned into a bit further. There are two multiples of six the reader should be aware of. First is the number “12.”

The physical nation of Israel was established on the (twelve) 12 tribes who were the sons of the patriarch Joseph (Genesis 49:1-33).

There is further representation of this multiplicative foundation through 12 princes coming through Ismael (Genesis 25:12-17). When viewed from a New Testament perspective, Jesus intentionally selected 12 disciples, who later became 12 apostles (Acts 1:12-26).

This does not account for the suicide of Judas who was replaced by Matthias (Matthew 27:3-5).

Next, this must necessarily be represented through the 24 elders in the book of Revelation (Revelations 12:10). Not to be redundant, that multiple of six (6) and the number twelve (12) becomes relevant in the 144,000 Jewish male virgins in Revelations (Revelations 7:1-8).

Twelve thousand (12,000) from twelve (12) tribes is evident.

The elegance of the (3), (6), (12), (24) etc. is a super-natural elegance not to be missed. This will be addressed in an upcoming position paper: Multiplicative Theism. This cannot be new theological ground either. If I have noticed this, surely others much smarter have as well.

Grace Came Through Faith

This is crucial to the faith posit because it represents a revelatory order which only became necessary because of sin. Grace, received through faith, manifest as a salve to sin.

This is one of only a few doctrinal imperatives which can be localized to a specific moment (Genesis 3:7).

For instance, it is impossible to trace God’s Love to a moment in time because He was/is love before even angels existed. It is also impossible to localize the exact moment of Jesus’ resurrection.

We have a “window” when it occurred, but the exact “moment” His eyes opened, and He walked out of the tomb remains unknown. The faith imperative is different. Its need arose at the precise moment Adam and Eve disobeyed God and their eyes were opened.

Prior to disobedience, faith was unnecessary because personal communion with God was standard.

Fall and Faith From Jesus to Adam The faith imperative is directly related to three (3) periods of spatial existence as well. First, is the period from post-fall Adam to resurrected Jesus. Second, is resurrected Jesus until His arrival at the end of the age (2nd Thess. 2:1-4).

Finally, is the 1,000-year reign until eternity (Revelations 20:1-7).

While the former two are predicated entirely on a faith-based existence, the latter erases the need for further faith [Ibd].Seeing the object of our hope, Jesus, will confirm our faith was well-placed but immediately erase the need to continue “not seeing yet believing.”

The biblical text asks a question to this point: “for we are saved by hope. But hope that is SEEN IN NOT HOPE. If we see the thing that we hope for, what use is there in continuing to hope?” (Isaiah 14:12-17, Ezekiel 28).

It shouldn’t escape notice that this passage deals with “waiting” on our blessed hope/redemption as the sons of God.

Nevertheless, seeing Jesus will confirm, and then nullify the need to “continue hoping” in both Him and His promises. Put more simply, as faith is set-aside, the promised comfort immediately replaces it for eternity.

Lucifer’s Eden to the Garden of Eden Unlike the previously mentioned three measurable time periods, my Eden to Eden posit must be viewed differently.

These three eternal “snapshots” of Eden to Eden poses a peculiar problem. First, it must be viewed as “eternal” and not “spatial.”

Therefore, the language of “snapshot” is more appropriate. This eliminates measurable time periods. Understanding that Jesus existed in this eternal realm is another post marker against His requiring faith.48 It is more appropriate to describe Him “As” eternity.

While post-fall Adam and Even are represented as the beginning of the “era of faith need,” Eden to Eden can be theologically referred to as the “era of no faith required.”

These are three (3) “snapshots” prior to the fall of humankind. As with the final period in spatial time, faith was not an existence imperative from Eden to Eden.

Interestingly, this would again bring the number of scriptural movements to six (6). Referring to eternity as “created” nullifies the predicate on which its definition rests.

This does not suggest that “beings” inhabiting this realm were not created at some point.49 The first of three (3) pre-fall snapshots is revealed through a personal profile of Lucifer in the Book of Ezekiel.

Second, disobedient Lucifer attempts a coup to seize God’s Throne resulting in “being cast down.” Finally, is pre-fall humanity, standing at the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, speaking with the serpent.

These events must not be discounted because they play a significant role in the faith posit. Eternity is unquestionably the existence in which “faith” as we know it could serve no useful purpose.

An existence in the presence of God obliterates the need for “questions.” Faith, as posited previously, is built upon a power imbalance.

Any lower than eternal form of existence engenders questions in those inhabiting such existence. This is not to offer Heaven/Eternity does not engender questions as currently constructed, however.

The Book of Revelations reveals martyred saints questioning God’s patience on avenging their blood (Revelations 6:10).

Conclusion

Nevertheless, there is one key difference between pre-fall Eden to Eden and post-fall Revelations.

The Revelation scene is a Heaven is still dealing with the ultimate destiny of humankind. In uncorrupted eternity prior, no such sin existed because humankind hadn’t been created therefore, couldn’t egress from God’s presence.

Jesus didn’t put limits on His encouragement to: “seek and you will find, knock, and the door will be opened to you…”56

However, one must prepare themselves to see beyond currently accepted horizonal limitations. We know this is possible because of the prophetic portions of scripture.

In our next post on Jesus Christ and Faith, we will further explore this fascinating issue.

Header Image Courtesy of Simon Berger @ Unsplash