Look What Adam Did

…and Adam was not deceived… (1 Timothy 2:14)

Let’s be honest, even though we all sin, not all our sins linger. By that I mean we don’t feel terrible about every transgression (for long or at all). How many people feel shame or regret on Monday for not keeping the Sabbath holy (4^th commandment)? How many of us feel a twinge of guilt when we pass a beautiful home with a long driveway out in the country and feel a surge of jealousy (10^th commandment)?

Do you see what I mean? However, the weight and shame of an adulterous relationship can last for the rest of our lives (7^th commandment). Some are burdened with regret for an abortion many years afterward (6^th commandment).

A carful study of the Bible will reveal that all sin(s) hurts the heart of God. It should hurt us as well. Not just the “big” ones. However, we have a great coping mechanism to keep us from feeling too badly about our “little sins.” “Well, at least I haven’t ____” (see Luke 18:11). But there is something about that short little phrase “all sin” that must be mentioned. Romans 5:12 says,

Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men…

Have you ever thought about the burden that Adam had to live with for almost a thousand years (he lived to be 930 – Genesis 5:5). He is held responsible for bringing all sin into the world. He didn’t commit every sin, but he made every sin possible. Including the murder of his own son by his other son. And just 10 generations from Adam, the sin he allowed to be unleashed on all mankind became so severe and prevalent that it prompted God “to be sorry that He had made man on the earth…” (Genesis 6:6). The flood was the result.

Can you even imagine how you would feel if every sin you ever witnessed or heard about could be traced back to you? In Psalm 51:3 David says, “my sin is ever before me.” It’s bad enough that the guilt and consequence of the sins we admit to are our constant (though unwanted) companions in life. But only Adam could say “my sin and everyone else’s sin is ever before me.”

The funny (or should I say scary) thing is that the Bible only records a single sin committed by Adam! Just one. It may not be wrong to assume he committed other sins but if he did, it isn’t pointed out to us.

One sin. So much guilt. So many devastating consequences. Eve was deceived by Satan. She let him convince her that God was holding out on her. The implication was that God was afraid of an enlightened woman. But not Adam. He knew it was a lie. But once Eve consumed the forbidden fruit he knowingly and willfully chose to join her:

…and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate (Genesis 3:6).

…and Adam was not deceived… (1 Timothy 2:14).

In Paradise Lost, Milton paints a picture of a lovesick and heartbroken Adam who chose to die with his wife rather than be separated from her. It’s almost Shakespearean (as in Romeo and Juliet). It’s as if we’re all supposed to say, “Awww, look how much he loved her!” The only problem with that is the biblical text. When God confronted Adam with: “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” Adam quickly responded with, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate” (Genesis 3:11-12). It sure doesn’t sound like Adam had a noble sacrifice in mind to me. He blamed Eve and then reminded God that Eve had been His idea! He made it sound like he was the victim of the decisions by both God and Eve.

That’s why it’s referred to as ‘Original Sin.’ Only Adam was able to twist the goodness of God into justification for his own sinful decision.

Because of this, many believe that when Adam died, he went to hell and is still in torment today. After all, the Bible is clear that he is responsible for bringing sin and death to all mankind (Romans 5:12).

Although the Bible is silent on Adam’s eternal abode, I don’t find it to be very likely that he has been in flame and torment since his death.

If Adam bore the responsibility of all sin earning the first spot in hell, then I find it hard to believe that the Apostle Paul would have no qualms in calling Jesus “The last Adam” (1 Corinthians 15:45).

The first Adam was responsible for unleashing sin as a whole on mankind while the last Adam paid the price for every sin. And that includes Adam’s sin. In Romans 5:14 Paul says that Adam “is a type of Him who was to come.” That makes Romans 5:19 one of the most sublime yet powerful statements in the Bible:

For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.

Are you part of “the many”?

The first Adam enabled you to sin and die. The last Adam offers to break sin’s hold on your life and your future. As Paul says in Romans 6:14,

For sin shall not be master over you…

Call on Jesus for salvation (Romans 10:9-10). There is no need to bear the shame and regret for the sin(s) that the first Adam made possible for you to commit. The last Adam will set you free (John 8:32).

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