Question 5: Why did Adam and Eve have to Sin?

I think I'm going to deal with this question first. Then we'll get to the answer. The thing about this question is that Adam and Eve didn't have to sin, God allowed them too. In essence, they didn't have to sin but they did. They could have lived forever in the garden eating food that was easy to grow and making babies without birth pains. Sounds pretty good to me. I know I would love to get up, not be tired because my body is still perfect, and maybe go on a walk with God in the garden with my wife and dog. But unfortunately it doesn't work that way. They both ate of the forbidden tree and committed the first sin against God. Then God took what man meant for evil and turned it into His good through the death of His son Jesus, on the cross. But that is another topic. So, what should we be asking?

Why did God allow Adam and Eve to sin?

This really gets to the heart of the matter. Why would God allow for his creation to eat from the tree? To sin? Love. As Francis Chan puts it, "crazy, relentless, all-powerful love." God gives us free will everyday out of love. He didn't want a creation of robots that eternally praise His name because they have to, God wanted a creation that would freely choose Him. That would have the ability to turn away. Thats why I believe He created the tree in the first place was to give us that choice. To say, "I'm enough for everything and I will take care of you but if you really want to, I'll let you 'try' to take care of yourself." Even after we sinned, God still sent His one and only Son to die for us on the cross (John 3:16). God allowed us to sin to show His great love and mercy. We exist on this earth to bring glory to His name and through Christ's saving act we, as believers, are living testimonies to the love, grace, mercy, and compassion of God.

That was our original purpose. God created us to glorify Him. We are to be the image of Himself but that was tainted when we sinned. So God then sent His son, the eternal and untainted exact image of Himself, to die on the cross, for the sins of mankind. He didn't create us because he was lonely or bored. He created us to worship Him. God is the only being worthy of eternal and endless glory. Therefore, because he deserves to be worshipped God chose, in His mercy, grace, and forgiveness, to save......some. He didnt have to save anyone, but he wanted to show that He is merciful, gracious, and forgiving of those who truly seek Him. True believers are that group of people. 2 Timothy 1:8-11 says:

"Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel."

We, as believers, have been chosen by God to be holy and blameless in His sight. We are to live our lives in reverence to Him and when we die we will be reborn into new bodies and spend eternity worshipping God and eternally enjoying His presence. This isn't to say that only believers are supposed to worship God, because the entirety of humankind were designed to worship God. But as Christians, through the Holy Spirit, God enables us through the renewing of our minds to be able to worship again like we used to be able to before sin.

But, on the other hand, through allowing us to sin, God also shows His justice and righteous wrath on those who continue to reject Him. The punishment of that original sin, which is passed on to us at birth is death. There is no way around it. We deserve to die. We deserve to be the example of God's righteous wrath and righteous judgment. The wrath and judgment of God is righteous not only because of who He is but who He is giving it to, deserving recipients. To think its unfair for some to be saved and some to be put to death because everyone deserves to be saved is backwards. It is unfair of God to save anyone. If we all got what we deserved we would all be burning in the pits of hell right now. There wouldn't even be a chance of redemption. We would be the eternal subjects of the "wrath of God being poured out on all unrighteousness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth..." (Romans 1:18)

So...why did God allow us to sin? Because He loves His creation enough to give them a choice. Worship Him and be the subjects of His unconditional Love or reject Him and be the subjects of His eternal righteous wrath. Either way, "we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).