Austin Bible Church
The first test of human volition was one tree. God tested man’s volition. Negative volition was the only way man could sin in innocence. Gen. 2:9.
“Out of the ground the LORD God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” (Genesis 2:9, NASB)
The first warning was that physical death would be an end result of spiritual death. Gen. 2:17.
“but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.”“ (Genesis 2:17, NASB)
The first temptation of man was where Satan appealed to Eve’s ego and maligned God. Gen. 3:1-5.
“Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’“ The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! “For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”“ (Genesis 3:1-5, NASB)
The first sin was the sin of negative volition. Both Adam and Eve were guilty, but there was a difference. Eve was deceived. Adam deliberately sinned. Gen. 3:6; 1 Tim. 1:14.
“When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.” (Genesis 3:6, NASB)
“and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 1:14, NASB)
The first result of the first sin was when Adam died spiritually (no fellowship with God). He immediately possessed only relative righteousness (-R) and could not have fellowship with God who can only have fellowship with perfect absolute righteousness (+R). Adam acquired a sin nature from his sin. Because he first sinned, we all sinned and genetically acquire an old sin nature from our father. Gen. 3:7-8.
“Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings. They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.” (Genesis 3:7-8, NASB)
The first act of legalism was man attempting to solve man’s problems by their own works. Adam and Eve sewed fig leaves together. They were frightened because they had become separated them from God because of their sin. Gen. 3:7; Isaiah 59:2.
“Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.” (Genesis 3:7, NASB)
“But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.” (Isaiah 59:2, NASB)
The first act of grace was when God spoke to them first. He called to Adam who was head of the human race. God in His omniscience knew where Adam was and didn’t need to call. Gen. 3:9.
“Then the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?”“ (Genesis 3:9, NASB)
The first declaration of salvation was that Jesus Christ would be the seed or descendent of the woman. Gen. 3:15.
“And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.”“ (Genesis 3:15, NASB)
The first salvation for the human race was when God made coats of skin for Adam and Eve. God did all the work. The coats of skin were obtained by the shedding of blood. Heb. 9:22; 1 Peter 1:18-19.
“And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” (Hebrews 9:22, NASB)
“knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.” (1 Peter 1:18-19, NASB)
They were both spiritually dead and could have no fellowship with perfect God. God clothing them was a picture of salvation to come from their positive volition toward the Savior to come. Clothing them is a picture of receiving the imputation of God’s very own perfect righteousness (+R) at the point of faith alone in Christ. Isaiah 61:10; Gen. 3:21.
“I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, My soul will exult in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” (Isaiah 61:10, NASB)
“The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.” (Genesis 3:21, NASB)
The first issue was human good versus divine good. This is coats of skin given in grace from God versus fig leaves made by man by their own means.