Having looked at to whom God gave the Ten Commandments and why, what about the Gentiles—anyone who is non-Jewish. To be a Jew is to practice Judaism—all the laws and rituals that were attached to the Old Covenant; and as we have seen, Gentiles had no part in that. However, to begin with, it is of no great disparagement to be a Gentile. Adam, Enoch, Noah, even Abram, were all considered Gentiles, because they all lived prior to the Covenant between God and Israel. Just because Gentiles were not the chosen people of God—Israel—does not mean that God has no plan or purpose towards them. We see God at work in many of those Old Testament characters who were not considered children of Israel.

Gen 10:5 By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.

Gen 2:15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

Gen 5:24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

Gen 6:8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

Gen 12:1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

Rom 3:29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:

Isa 49:6 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

However, since we have said that the Ten Commandments were not given to the Gentiles, does that mean that they are under no system of rules, ethics, morals, or laws?—absolutely not. Although the Ten Commandments were given to a special people for a special purpose at a special time, and for a specific period of time, the underlying moral principles existed long before those written laws. All peoples, Jews and Gentiles alike, were already obligated to a much higher law of which the Ten Commandments are only a shadow.

Rom 2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:

Col 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

Heb 8:5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.

Heb 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

Jesus alluded to this higher law many times in His teachings. When speaking about the law concerning adultery— Thou shalt not commit adultery—He taught that this sin involved more than just the physical act; a person could be guilty of sin by just having lustful thoughts in their heart. He furthermore said that all sin begins in the heart of man and is accounted as such even without an outward act. No person needs to be under the Ten Commandments in order to sin. The Gentiles were certainly guilty of all kinds of atrocities without having the Mosaic Law to condemn them.

Matt 5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Matt 15:19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

Gen 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Gen 13:13 But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.

Jesus, in talking about the self-righteous Pharisees, told His disciples that their righteousness must “exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees,” or they would “in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” There were many Jews in Jesus’ day who could claim that they walked “in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.” Even Saul, who later became Paul the Apostle, said that “touching the righteousness which is in the law,” he was “blameless.” However, later on he would say of his fellow Jews that they “have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.” Also of himself he said that he counted his own righteousness as “dung”; and that his claim to salvation was not his “own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:”

Matt 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Matt 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

Luke 11:42 But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

Luke 1:6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

Phil 3:6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

Rom 10:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

Phil 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

What all of this is telling us is that there exists a greater law than what is revealed by the Ten Commandments. The laws given to Israel were only carnal commandments given to a people who were only carnally motivated. They had a purpose, but it was not a set of laws, that if obeyed, would make them righteous with God.

Heb 7:16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

Rom 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Therefore, we must ask ourselves—'What is this higher law?' The answer, though seemingly elementary is—“the law of God.” This law is much greater than the Ten Commandments, or even all of the statutes, commands, rules, regulations, and all of the other teachings found in the whole of the Scriptures. It is a spiritual law that transcends any attempt to put it into words. It is the law that describes what God does or does not do in every situation. God does not obey this law, for then the law would be God, telling God what to do. It is somewhat like the law of electricity. Man has discovered that there are certain inherent laws by which electrons operate. These laws describe how electricity functions in almost every situation; and man has used these laws to harness the power of electricity in everything from tiny transistors to gigantic electrical motors that run enormous machinery. Now, electrons do not consult these laws every time they go about to do their work—to see what they may do or not do. What electrons do, they do naturally; and man has only discovered and developed the written laws and formulas by which they operate in order to control their work. It is the same with God and His law. Whatever God does is God’s law because He determines what is right and what is wrong. He is not obeisant to it, but He always acts according to His law. That is why God is unchangeable and He always does that which He has always done. If this were not so, we have no basis on which to trust God. Who can say whether tomorrow God will change and suddenly become a wicked tyrant and forsake all His people, or break all His promises? His law says that He will not.

Rom 7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

Jere 33:25 Thus saith the LORD; If my covenant be not with day and night, and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth; (This speaks of the natural laws that control God’s universe.)

Deut 32:39 See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.
40 For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever.

Dan 4:34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:
35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

Mal 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Heb 6:17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:
18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

Tit 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

One final thing we will say concerning God and His law which is extremely relevant to what we are going to put forth—only God can obey God’s law. There is no other being in the universe that compares to God; there is no other being that can be like God; and there is no other being that can fulfill His law. ‘But,’ you say, ‘haven’t we already put forth that all of mankind—Jews and Gentiles alike—are under this law of God?’—yes indeed. ‘How,’ you say, ‘could God expect such a lowly creature as man to obey a law that only He can obey?’—He never did. ‘Then how did mankind ever come to be under such a supernatural law?’—man placed himself under this law. ‘When,’ you might ask, ‘did man ever do such a foolish thing?’—Adam did it in the Garden of Eden.

Isa 46:3 Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb:
4 And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.
5 To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?

Isa 46:9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,

Although we will not go into a very long treatise about how mankind became subjected to God’s law, we will bring forth those things which are necessary to prove what we are saying.[1] When God created man and placed him in the Garden of Eden, He did so under the following conditions.

1. God created man in His own image—meaning that God created man with certain characteristics and qualities that He himself possessed. Just as God is a Triune Being, with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit comprising the Godhead, so man was created with a body, soul, and spirit. Just as God is eternal, even so man has a never dying soul. Just as God can think, express Himself, feel emotions, and has a will that determines what He desires to do; even so man, in a limited way, can do the same. However, God did not create man as another god; He only created him as a perfect man.[2]

Gen 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Gen 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground (body), and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (spirit or pneuma); and man became a living soul (never dying soul).

1 Thess 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Psa 8:4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

Psa 103:14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.

2. The only laws that governed man in the Garden of Eden were the natural laws under which God created him; and the man always did that which was naturally good. Even though man was created in God’s image—with godlike qualities—he did not possess the ability to obey any higher law than the natural law; and God did not require man to obey any higher law in order to have communion with Himself.

1 Cor 15:38 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.
39 All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.
40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

1 Cor 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Rom 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

3. The fact that the infinitely Holy God could have fellowship with a creature whose goodness fell far short of the glory of God, suggests that the foundation of this relationship was something other than man’s created righteousness. Indeed, the basis of this relationship with God was innocence. Figuratively, Adam and Eve were naked, but they had no conception of their nakedness. There was nothing that told them that they had no robe of righteousness as did the Creator God. Furthermore, God did not condemn them for being naked because they were under no law that accused them.

Isa 6:1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

Psa 104:1 Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.
2 Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:

Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Gen 2:25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

4. God placed Adam in a wonderful garden in which was “every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food.” Now, lest we think that these were merely fruit and nut trees, let us examine two trees that were specifically mentioned— “the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.” We can readily see that there was more to these trees than a simple source of physical food. What these trees, and the rest of the trees represented was a vast storehouse of knowledge that God made available to the man. All wisdom and knowledge comes from God and He freely gave to man this wonderful garden that would feed him—physically, mentally, and spiritually. God withheld nothing from man that the man could ever conceivably use. God even made available to man “the tree of life” so that man might live forever in this paradise.[3]

Gen 2:8 And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.
9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Prov 2:6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.

The tree that most concerns us in our study is “the tree of knowledge of good and evil.” Although the answer is quite apparent, what kind of knowledge did this tree represent?—the “knowledge of good and evil.” Going one step further, what determines good and evil?—the law of God.

Rom 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.

5. Although God placed every tree in the garden for man’s usage, He did command the man not to partake of the tree of “the knowledge of good and evil.” However, this was not a test of man’s obedience to God—as is so often taught. God does not make frivolous demands upon His people without a reason. God was warning the man about partaking of a tree that would bring great misery to his life and cause his death. Do not we command our children not to do certain things that will hurt or kill them?—of course we do. Therefore, it was God’s love and care for the man that caused Him to make this prohibition. Now, was the fruit of this tree sinful or evil?—absolutely not. Everything that God made was “very good.” Was God tempting man by placing something in the Garden that was good and yet forbidding him not to eat of it?—the Scriptures teach that God does not tempt any man.

Gen 2:16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Gen 1:31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

James 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

Now, we have said that this tree represented the law; “Is the law sin?”—absolutely not; “the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.” We have already said that what the law does is to show us the nature of God, those things He will do and those things He will not do; what God has determined is good and what He has determined is evil. Therefore, to imply that there is something evil about the law is to charge God Himself with iniquity.

Rom 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

Rom 7:12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

Job 40:8 Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?

6. Although God forbid the man from partaking of this tree, He did not restrain the man. As we have said, God made available every facet of knowledge in the Garden for man’s use—God withheld nothing from man. It has been said that “knowledge is power,” but God did not withhold any knowledge in order to lord it over the man. Adam was truly free to partake of any tree, even this tree. He could choose to obey the command of God or he could choose to disregard it. What man could not do however, was to avoid the consequences of his decision.

Josh 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Prov 5:22 His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.

Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Having now examined the conditions under which Adam was created and the garden paradise in which he was placed, what were the consequences of his partaking of the forbidden fruit?[4]

1. Adam placed himself and the entire human race under the demands of the law. The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil could be looked at and admired, just as we look at the glory and holiness of God and are in awe. However, to eat of the tree implies taking it into one’s being, making it a part of one’s psychic. When we eat food our body digests it and it becomes a part of our physical life. The carbohydrates in the food are used for energy, and the vitamins and minerals are used to sustain our physical health and growth. Even so, partaking of God’s law affected our whole spiritual, psychological, and physiological life. Satan tempted Eve by telling her she could be like God if she would only eat of this tree. What he did not tell her was that she in no sense had the ability to assimilate God’s law into her life. Yet the nature of the law demands that it must be obeyed; and it must be obeyed in its entirety, all of the time. We can now begin to see man’s predicament in eating of this tree.

Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

1 Tim 2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

Rom 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

2. Adam and Eve immediately lost their innocence when they partook of this tree. The fruit had truly opened their eyes, but what they first saw was that they were naked. The law had made them aware that they did not measure up to God’s righteousness; that there was a vast different between their goodness and God’s holiness; and that God was clothed with His glory, but they had no such garment. The law tells us they we all “come short of the glory of God.”

Gen 3:7a And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked;

Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

3. The law of God immediately began to work upon their physic— they attempted to cover up their nakedness with “fig leaves.” Because of the vast difference between how they now see themselves and how they also see God, they seek to provide some artificial covering for their shortcomings. This quest for personal righteousness before God has driven mankind to all the extremes of religion that the world has had to endure. It has become one of Satan’s greatest tools in controlling the human race and has lead to monumental suffering.

Gen 3:7b and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Rev 17:3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.

4. The knowledge of the law brought Adam under the condemnation of the law. The law now becomes man’s master, telling him what he must do and what he must not do; and the law is never satisfied by what we do because it is never enough. Only God can satisfy God’s law and man’s attempts to obey it fall pitifully short. Man’s conscience now hears the voice of the law telling him that he is a sinner, he is guilty of breaking the law, and he is condemned. Whereas before, man lived in innocence and had nothing to condemn him, he is now made fully aware of his shortcomings.[5]

Rom 5:18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

Rom 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Rom 5:13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

5. The condemnation of the law instilled in man an inordinate fear of God. Whereas Adam once walked with God and had fellowship with Him, he now runs and hides himself amongst the trees of the Garden. The guilt of what he has done and the witness of his conscience that he is now a sinner, makes him afraid to face the One who was once his Father and his Friend. Sin and guilt has caused the human race to run from God ever since that time. If God did not come seeking us, we would never seek Him. When the guilty pair are questioned about what they have done, they make excuses and try to place the blame upon someone else. This is another evidence of our fallen condition—we do not want to face up to the fact that we are guilty before God; therefore, we make excuses for our sin, blaming other people, calling it a disease, or consoling ourselves by thinking ‘everyone does it.’

Gen 3:8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.
11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?
12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
13 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

Isa 33:14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?

Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

6. The last consequence of partaking of the forbidden fruit was death. God had warned Adam that “in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Now we realize that Adam did not physically die in that very day, but continued to live and bear children. Therefore, what was God saying? Adam did die the very moment he partook of this tree—he died spiritually. His guilty conscience would no longer allow him to have communion and fellowship with the One who is life; and man needs to remain connected to the source of life in order to enjoy never-ending life. Also, because man is now held accountable under the law and is breaking the law by every breath he takes—God must now account him a sinner and separate Himself from the man.

Gen 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

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:

Eph 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

Isa 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

Furthermore, the spiritual death of man led to the death of the whole man. The effects of sin and man’s separation from God began to eat away at the soul and body of man. Adam would eventually die physically, as will all his posterity, but the souls of all those who are unredeemed will continue to perish for all eternity. The most significant aspect of death is separation. Physical death occurs when our spirit leaves the body. Man was not a living soul until God breathed into him the breath of life, and when that breath, or spirit departs—we die. Death also means separation from God for all eternity for those who are not reunited to Him through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Gen 5:5 And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.

Jas 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Adam's partaking of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil has affected the whole human race. Adam’s downfall is immediately seen in his own children. The world’s first murder occurs not long after his transgressing God’s command. Further proof of his sin nature being passed on is the death of all his posterity. Every man is now accountable to the holy law of God; every man is now judged a sinner by this law; and every man is condemned to die because we all fall short of its demands.

Gen 4:1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.
2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

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:
13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: