Adam's Sin and God's Justice

Why Adam's Sin Had Consequences

• God's justice and mercy cannot contradict each other; if Adam's sin was forgiven without consequence, God's justice would be compromised.
• God had given Adam a clear warning and provided him with the necessary resources to obey the commandment, including heavenly wisdom, fulfillment in his Creator, and spiritual joy.

The Relation Between Adam's Sin and Humanity

• The entire human race was present in Adam when he sinned, not as individual persons but as human nature.
• Humanity was in Adam when he was created, sinned, and died, making us collectively accountable for his transgression.
• As a result, humanity was counted as corrupt, sinful, and dead with Adam.

The Analogy of the Diseased Tree

• Adam's sin introduced corruption and corrupt nature into the world, affecting all humanity.
• The analogy of the diseased tree illustrates how Adam's sin was passed down to subsequent generations, just as a diseased tree produces bad fruit and seeds that carry the same disease.

The Distinction Between Adam's Sin and Subsequent Sins

• Adam's sin introduced sin and corrupt nature into the world, whereas sins committed afterward occur in a state of fallen humanity.
• This distinction is evident in Adam's and Eve's sin, which introduced sin into the world.