What was the root of all sin? Calvin makes a good case here (under verse 6) that it was a lack of faith - not believing what God said.
"observe, that men then revolted from God, when, having forsaken his word, they lent their ears to the falsehoods of Satan. Hence we infer, that God will be seen and adored in his word; and, therefore, that all reverence for him is shaken off when his word is despised. A doctrine most useful to be known, for the word of God obtains its due honor only with few so that they who rush onward with impunity in contempt of this word, yet arrogate to themselves a chief rank among the worshippers of God. But as God does not manifest himself to men otherwise than through the word, so neither is his majesty maintained, nor does his worship remain secure among us any longer than while we obey his word. Therefore, unbelief was the root of defection; just as faith alone unites us to God. Hence flowed ambition and pride..."
Up until this point in the garden, as one children's Bible we have puts it, they were "glad to obey. But then the craft snake came by.... Should Eve eat? Or should she turn away her head and just believe what God had said?"
It appears that obedience before the Fall required faith (in God's words), just as it does after the Fall...
No comments:
Post a Comment