The book of Genesis describes the creation of the world and all life on earth, including human beings. The first man and woman, Adam and Eve, lived in the garden of Eden and enjoyed blissful fellowship with God. Adam cared for the garden and he and Eve ate all that the fertile ground produced. But it was not long before they both disobeyed God’s command and were sent from God’s presence. God had told them that if they ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they would surely die, but Eve was tempted to eat the fruit of that tree and Adam did the same. Instead of trusting God they rebelled against him. Their actions had devastating consequences for them and the whole human race. Adam and Eve died, and so do we all.
The Bible’s explanation of human history is the opposite of secular thinking which puts great emphasis on evolutionary progress. We are told that human beings have developed from more primitive life-forms like apes, yet human beings are capable of depths of sin and evil unknown in the animal kingdom. Many people think education is the key to human progress, yet some well-educated people have devised terrible forms of wickedness and human cruelty. Parents soon learn that explaining to their children the right way to behave doesn’t mean that they do it. When their children disobey them, they say, “Why did you do that when I told you not to do it?”
The Bible teaches us that we are all incapable of changing our sinful nature. We need God to intervene and to change us. That is why God sent his Son, Jesus, into the world. He came to save us from our sins and to restore our fellowship with God. We all need a new nature and new desires so that we can live lives that please God.
When he wrote to Christians in Rome, he explained this: “When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. The sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.”