It is important for us to understand how Adam and Eve’s disobedience led to us being born spiritually dead with driving needs for significance, security and acceptance.

1 – Who are you?

What is the real me? Is it my body? Is it my brain? Scientists are not entirely sure. The Bible tells us that man is body, soul and spirit.

• We are created in the image of God – God is Spirit and we too have a spiritual nature or inner person (soul). It is not the outer person that is created in the image of God. It is our inner person that has the capacity to think, feel and choose.
• We have been designed by God to be unique – Our spirit is connected to our body and when we are spiritually alive our spirit is again connected to God. This is our real nature and mankind is unique among all of Earth’s life in his/her relationship to God.
• The qualities of spiritual life – significance. There is a God-given purpose. See Genesis 1:28.
• The qualities of spiritual life – security. All our needs are provided for in this life and the next. See Genesis 1:29f.
• The qualities of spiritual life – acceptance. There is a sense of identity and belonging to God and others. See Genesis 2:18. Adam was accepted by Eve and Eve was accepted by Adam

2 – The consequences of the fall

The consequences of the fall of Adam and Eve can be summed up in one word “death”. Some of the effects of this spiritual death for them and all of mankind were:-

• Lost knowledge of God – See Ephesians 4:18. They had to rely on their own wisdom and understanding. The deep connection with God was lost.
• Negative emotions – This was the first time they had experienced these negative emotions.

1. They felt fearful and anxious – There was a need for a sense of security.
2. They felt guilty and shameful – They know they have done something wrong. There was a need for a sense of significance.
3. They felt rejected – There was a need for acceptance.
4. They felt weak and powerless – There was a need for strength and control.
5. They felt depressed and angry – See Genesis 4-5. This was an outcome of the above.

• Trying to go back to paradise lost – The world offers us a number of false equations which do not work out.

1. Performance + accomplishments = significance
2. Status + recognition = security
3. Appearance + admiration = acceptance

Obeying the rules do not work. See Ecclesiastes 1:2. Trying to keep the laws of the Ten Commandments perfectly does not work. The law could not be kept with breaking it and became a curse. See Galatians 3:9. It shows our guilt and that we need a Saviour – JESUS!

3 – What Jesus came to do

There is nothing that we can do but God send his Son Jesus to restore what was lost.

• Give us back spiritual life. See John 1:1-4 & John 11:25. What Adam lost was life. What Jesus came to give was life. The dead (spiritually) can be restored back to life. We are plugged back into God’s power. This life brings significance, security and acceptance. This can be experienced now and is life forever more.
• Most people think eternal life is something that you get only when you die. It is a whole different quality of life right now. See 1 John 5:12. God says it is true. It is true even if we don’t feel it. We are to realign ourselves with God’s truth.

We don’t have to strive for perfection. There is good news. God has made a way for you to come back to him.

Categories: 1 John