Lesson #15—The Forbidden Fruit

Shorter Catechism Q & A #15

Q. What was the sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created?

A. The sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created, was their eating of the forbidden fruit.

Memorize Q & A—Exposition

God created man upright, from this estate he fell (Eccl. 7:29). Man was created to do right, love truth, do his duty, be honest; in other words, he was given a moral character. He rather chose immorality and became a covenant breaker (Prov. 2:13). Therefore, be directed to the right path (Prov. 4:11), and preach righteousness (Eccl. 12:10).

What does it mean?

1. Discuss Genesis 3:6–8, 13.
   What was the nature of the sin committed by Adam and Eve?
   What was the initial result of that sin?
   What was their response in hearing the voice of God?
2. Discuss 2 Corinthians 11:3.
   How are we like Adam and Eve in our sinful state?

What is our practice?

What should the response be as we are convicted of the sin in our lives? How is the saving grace of God active in our daily living? How does this help us in dealing with sin in the lives of others?

Quotes for thought and discussion: The Fall = Disobedience

“As a pure test of obedience man was given permission to eat of every tree of the garden except of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. In regard to that tree he was told: ‘In the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.’ But man deliberately and defiantly disobeyed that command. Through that disobedience he not only corrupted his moral nature, but made necessary the infliction of the prescribed penalty. In view of God’s previously expressed good will toward man, the large degree of liberty granted to him, and his full knowledge of the consequences, this disobedience was especially heinous; because through it man in effect transferred his allegiance from God to the Devil.” (Loraine Boettner,  Studies in Theology, 271)

“And what is more, even as we do grow in years, so by wicked thoughts, words, and deeds, committed against the law of God, we bring forth corrupt fruits, worthy of an evil tree: in which respect we through our own desert, being subject to the wrath of God, are in danger of just punishment, so that we had all been cast away from God, had not Christ, the Deliverer, brought us back again.”  (Second Helvetic Confession, Of Man’s Fall…)

View table of contents