We are all familiar with the concept of a fall. We have seen nations and governments fall and never rise back to their previous prominence. We have seen public figures fall through scandals. Perhaps we have had friends, family, or even we ourselves have fallen through some moral failure and wrecked our lives. But have you considered the fall of our Father Adam?
The story of the fall is found in Genesis chapter 3. It is of great importance that we understand what happened in the fall of Adam for at least these two reasons. (1) The scripture teaches that Adam fell as a representative of man. "For as by one man's disobedience, many were made sinners." Romans 5:19. That means you and I have a share in his fall. (2) Somebody once said "If you're wrong on the fall, you're wrong on it all." That is true. What we believe about what happened as a result of Adam's fall will determine what we believe about everything else.
To understand the fall, we must begin with God's warning to Adam not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. It was a visible reminder to Adam of God's authority over him. God said, "In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." Satan comes along to Eve and says, "Yea, hath God said, ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden ?" And he went on to say "Ye shall not surely die." Satan was not denying that God said it. He was calling into question if God really meant exactly what He said. He promised Eve she would be like God if she did eat, which was simply another way of saying she would no longer be dependent upon God if she ate. She ate, Adam ate, and just like God said, they died.
Obviously, they did not die physically on that day. But they did die spiritually. They lost their innocent natures. That was evidenced by the shame they experienced in their nakedness. They no longer relished God's presence, but tried to hide from Him. They manifested their evil natures in not taking responsibility for what they did. Adam actually blamed God for what happened. He who once walked in fellowship with God, now hated God and blamed God for his fall. He became spiritually dead. That is why Paul said in Ephesians 2:1, "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins." We have inherited his spiritually dead nature. "You were by nature children of wrath, even as others" Ephesians 2:3.
What can a dead man do? Nothing, as far as the functions of life go. It is the same for those who are spiritually dead. A spiritually dead person is unable to perform the functions of spiritual life. He cannot believe, he cannot repent, he cannot come to Christ any more than a dead man can do things like taste, see, or smell. A dead man is unable to do these things. Even so, a spiritually dead man is unable to perform the functions of spiritual life. This is the teaching of scripture..... Romans 3:10-12, Romans 8:6-8, Ephesians 2:1-4. Adam fell, became spiritually dead, and we all fell in him. That is why we are all sinners!
There are two rock solid conclusions we can draw from this. These conclusions are taught in scripture.
First, no man can do anything to save himself, or even contribute in the slightest degree to his own salvation. Salvation by works is out of the question for one who is dead in sins. The idea of free-will is utterly false. A man dead in sins can no more use his will to contribute to his salvation than a dead man can will himself back to life.
Secondly, salvation must be all by God's grace. If salvation is dependent on any contribution from the sinner, none will be saved because a man dead in sins is unable to make that contribution.
We cannot honestly deal with scripture and deny either of these conclusions. In light of this, thank God, the Bible does teach that salvation is all of grace. From election to glorification, and everything in between, "By grace are ye saved." This is good news if you believe what the Bible teaches about the fall of man.