Growing up in a Christian background, the story of Adam and Eve eating the forbidden fruit was among the frequently-narrated stories by both my parents and in church. However, being a mature Christian now, understanding this story deeply has been vital in opening my eyes to how evil befell humanity. So, what happened when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit?
When Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, they felt a huge shame and were immediately exposed to evil. This event is accounted for in the book of Genesis 3. When God called them, they immediately hid because their eyes were now open to the fact that they were naked; God knew they had disobeyed Him. This led to God cursing the earth and the whole of humanity.
Join me as I dig deep into the consequences we face because Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit and why we face these consequences, yet we are not the ones who ate the fruit. Keep reading to get the answers to these questions and much more.
Why did God put the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil in the Garden of Eden?
God put the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil to give the first man and woman free will; they were to either obey God or disobey Him. God permitted the first couple to do everything except eat from the Tree of Knowledge (Genesis 2:16-17). Theologians note that it was key for God to give Adam and Eve a choice. This is because if that could not be the case, then they probably just be robots doing what God has programmed them to do. This shows that God created man to be a free being, to be able to make decisions and choose the way to follow. The Tree played an essential role in allowing a man to have free will.
Was Adam and Eve’s sin really about eating a piece of forbidden fruit?
Adam and Eve’s sin was not really about eating the piece of the forbidden fruit but an act of disobedience. As seen above, God had warned Adam and Eve to eat fruits from any tree in the garden apart from this Tree. Therefore, the primary sin lies in the first couple of disobeying God’s instructions. Therefore, eating the fruit was just a symbol of a larger picture that Christians must hold onto today; obeying God. When we hear the voice of God, it is important to do as He says and not follow our own way.
What did Adam and Eve feel after eating the forbidden fruit?
Shame! Eating the forbidden fruit exposed the first couple to evil and shame. They now knew what it felt like to be evil. This is seen in the book of Genesis 3:8-13. After eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, man and his wife Eve feared coming before the Lord. When God called them, they hid and recognized their nakedness. God immediately knew that they had eaten from a tree. He warned them not to and cursed the serpent for deceiving the woman, and sin befell humanity.
What were the consequences of eating the forbidden fruit?
Because of sin, man, woman, and even the serpent received dire consequences. The consequences for the woman were that she would have painful labor during childbearing and that the man would rule over her (Genesis 3:16). On the other hand, Adam was cursed that he would only get food through painful toil throughout his life. Death was the major consequence of eating the forbidden fruit, and both man and woman were banned from the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:17-23). The serpent was cursed to walk on his belly all his life, and he would be crushed on his head as God proclaimed enmity between him and the woman and their offspring (Genesis 3:14-15).
Did Adam and Eve know what death was?
Though Adam and Eve did not know right or wrong, God warned them about death after he placed them in the Garden of Eden. God instructed the first couple in the book of Genesis 2:17 that they should not eat from the Tree of Knowledge or they would die. Theologians posit Adam and Eve knew about death, just that they had not experienced it. This is because death exists because the first couple disobeyed God and not because they did not know it. Even when the serpent tempted Eve to eat from the fruit, Eve was reluctant and told the serpent that God said they would die if they went against His word and ate from the Tree (Genesis 3:3).
Why do I face the consequences of Adam’s sin when I did not eat the fruit?
The Bible in the book of Romans 5:12 notes that the world inherited sin through Adam, and death was a consequence of the sin, and therefore everybody who sins eventually faces death. When Adam and Eve sinned against God, their spiritual nature immediately died, and they began getting old and eventually physically died. Therefore, anybody born of Adam’s lineage (all of humanity) inherited this sinful nature and suffered the same consequences bestowed upon Adam, and that is why in the end, we all die. That is why when Nicodemus asked Jesus in the book of John 3:7 what one can do to enter the Kingdom of God, Christ was clear that you must be born again.
As a devout Christian, I have always been passionate about the Christian faith. This inspired me to pursue a degree in Religious studies and a Masters in Theology in college. I have also been privileged to teach 4 Christian courses in a college and university. Since I am dedicated to spreading the word of God, I am actively involved in the Church. Additionally, I share his word online and cover diverse topics on the Christian faith through my platform. You can read more about me on the about us page.
