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The Problem of Original Sin

In this world of AI and scientific advancement, the story of Adam and Eve can appear very primitive. To some, it might even sound silly or absurd. Today, it seems to be one of the most neglected stories, though it speaks about one of the most fundamental truths: the original sin and the fallen nature of humanity. Many of us struggle to understand how an all-loving God could punish Adam and Eve—and even more so, how the consequences of their sin could be passed down to future generations—for what seems like a small act of disobedience: eating a fruit that was forbidden to them by God in the Garden of Eden.


It does sound like a primitive story. It has been criticized for centuries, yet it continues to be passed on faithfully through the Church from generation to generation. On the surface, it may seem like a fable that has lost its relevance in our modern world. But if we take a step back, reflect more deeply, and read with spiritual attentiveness, we might be left in awe of how the Bible conveys such a profound message in such a simple and symbolic way.


The Crux of the Story: Was It Just a Small Mistake?


What troubles many is the question: Why did a loving God send Adam and Eve out of Eden for one small act of disobedience? At first glance, it appears that all early humans wanted was knowledge—more precisely, the knowledge of good and evil. Was it such a great crime to desire knowledge? Even if they had disobeyed, couldn’t God, in His abundant love and mercy, simply forgive them? Was it truly necessary that the sin of Adam and Eve be passed on to all future generations? And above all, was that mistake so serious that God the Father had to send His only Son, Jesus, to suffer and die on the Cross—a horrific and humiliating death—as a penalty?


Such questions may disturb us and make it hard to fully embrace the salvation story. They might even cause some to grow distant from the Christian faith.


A Misunderstood Story: It Was Not About Mere Knowledge


If we think that God was angry with Adam and Eve just for eating a fruit or desiring knowledge, then we have misunderstood the entire narrative. Adam and Eve did not lack knowledge. In fact, they were given authority over every living creature.

"And God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.(Genesis 1:28)


Adam even named the animals according to their kind (Genesis 2:19–20). They were created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27), and they lived in intimate communion with Him. They walked with the Source of all Goodness—God Himself. Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good—except God alone.” (Mark 10:18)  They knew what Goodness was, for they were created in His image. They lacked nothing.


The Subtle Deception of the Serpent


When Satan tempted Eve, he deceived her with subtle and cunning words. He twisted the Word of God, making it sound as though she and Adam were missing something essential—something they were entitled to possess.

"Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?" (Genesis 3:1)


The serpent planted a seed of greed in Eve’s heart. For a moment, they forgot that they were the creation and not the Creator. They wanted to be like God, to decide for themselves what was good and what was evil.

This is what happens when we entertain evil thoughts, even passively. If we don’t cut them off at the very inception, they grow, enter our hearts, and eventually take control over us.


Created by God’s Own Hands


Throughout the creation narrative, we see that God created everything by His Word:

"And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light" (Genesis 1:3). But when it came to humanity, God chose a different approach. He formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (Genesis 2:7). Woman was created from man's rib (Genesis 2:22). This shows how special and dear humans were to God. The authors of Genesis emphasize that human beings were not just spoken into existence like everything else; they were crafted by God's own hands. This is a powerful image of divine love and intimacy.


Right from the time of creation, God loved us deeply. We were close to His heart. Being handmade by a Holy God, we are called to live holy lives in communion with Him.

"But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’"
— 1 Peter 1:15–16


The Entrance of Sin


Unfortunately, sin entered the world through greed and pride. The Lord, who is the source of all Goodness, had created Adam and Eve Good and holy. But Satan, the source of evil, filled their hearts with evil.

Out of their freedom of choice, they chose to embrace evil.

The moment they ate the forbidden fruit out of greed and avarice; they were immediately filled with shame. They had lost their innocence and could no longer stand in the presence of God.

"Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves" (Genesis 3:7)


They hid themselves even before God confronted them. Evil cannot stand in the presence of Goodness. It flees from its holiness. While they remained obedient, everything was freely available to them—even the Tree of Life. Had they not sinned, death would not have entered the human story.

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23)


Inherited Sinful Nature


Today, we see the same pattern in ourselves. Many of us still refuse to acknowledge God. We desire to live independently, as our own masters—our own gods. Just as a new born baby automatically inherits its parents’ citizenship and wealth, so too do we inherit both the merits and the demerits of our first parents. No one teaches a child how to be selfish or disobedient. Yet, by the age of two, such traits begin to manifest. Studies have shown that even by six months, a baby’s brain reacts more strongly to negative stimuli than positive ones. This is the effect of original sin on human nature. "Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me."(Psalm 51:5)


Hope Through Christ


But this is not the end of the story. God, in His infinite love, gave humanity a second chance—through His Son, Jesus Christ, who paid the price for our sins.

"For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive."
— 1 Corinthians 15:22

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
— Romans 5:8


Now, it is up to us. While we live in this world, we must choose to reject evil and return to Goodness through Jesus Christ. The door to eternal life has been reopened.

The question is: Will we choose to enter?

"I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live."
— Deuteronomy 30:19

Let us now make every effort to choose the Good and enter into eternal life.