The Garden-variety Of Faith

Contrary to popular belief, Adam and Eve did not have perfect fellowship with God in the garden of Eden. They did live in a perfect environment, but the life God had given them was that of a subordinate spirit.

As a matter of fact, God said that eating of the tree of knowledge actually caused Adam and Eve to become more like Him. This further confirms their subordinate spirit. Remember, they were only made in the image of God. They never possessed the fullness of God's Holy nature themselves. Think about this: God had given them commands in the garden; what to do, what not to do, so obviously they weren't even in tune with God's mind for the garden, much less aware of the impact their lives would make on the rest of humanity.

As well, regardless of any temptation they may have experienced, if they had perfect communion with God, how could they have sinned? Further still, they had yet to even eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. So their nature to sin was inherently within them. And sin did enter the picture when, through temptation, they disobeyed God's commands. They weren't strong enough to resist. God had not given them the ability to remain faithful to Him. When Satan introduced the option to choose between themselves or obey God, they responded from the source of their nature that was within them. If indeed Adam and Eve possessed the Spirit of God, they would not have coveted the tree of knowledge. There is no relationship between being presented with options and having the ability to choose between one or the other, simply by knowing God's commands. Choice was not available to Adam and Eve; only the opportunity to exercise the nature within them.

When God removed Adam and Eve from the garden, this was in no way a Spiritual separation. It was a separation from the tree of life. The curses God declared were physical and their separation from the garden was physical. The intimacy they lost was one of perfect provision for the nature of their humanity. God told them they would die if they ate from the tree of knowledge because the consequence of their disobedience was that they would not receive the promise of eternal life. They would be removed from the tree of life. There is nothing that supports the belief that Adam and Eve had Spiritual intimacy with God. They only lost the promise, which began the frustration and futility of all creation. (Romans 8:18-25)

Now Adam's lack of human fellowship is one reason God formed Eve. After having named all the animals, there was no suitable helper found for Adam. But he was elated when Eve was brought to him. "This one at last is the bone of my bone and the flesh of my flesh!" It is evident that God chose not to fulfill this particular lack of human intimacy in Adam. It was to be filled by Eve. As well, God didn't have Spiritual intimacy with the first three humans; Adam, Eve, & Cain. There were only visitations. Certainly, God walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden and personally met with Cain, but Spiritual intimacy made its entrance with Abel. (See Hebrews 11)

How exactly did this first instance of intimacy take place? It was by faith. How does one come to have faith? Why wasn't there faith in the Garden? Was it left to the choice of man? We see that was not possible. Faith, the very substance of salvation, is not of works, so that no one can boast. Faith, we should know, is a gift from God. "And he said, 'I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The LORD.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.'" (Exodus 33:19)

In Hebrews 11, we see a list of Old Testament heroes of faith. These people had faith because they believed without having first seen. They were heroes because they had faith. Every one mentioned had the faith to believe that God would do as He promised, regardless that His commands did not appeal to their natural understanding. Therefore, faith is the only intimacy that anyone can have with God.

The reality of man is His selfish nature. The reality of life are those who live by faith in the Son of God, whether before or after the cross. This faith is known when, by the power of the Holy Spirit, one is able to surrender their own understanding, learning obedience through suffering. Just like Jesus did. They are those to whom God has given His Spirit.

So, anyone who has been called to and walks this path has been sealed for the day of redemption. By the power of the Holy Spirit they have followed the same path to their cross as Jesus did.

We see faith in Jesus at work in the old covenant, even those under the law. Abraham, willing to sacrifice his only son; the brass serpent held up by Moses; the temple sacrifices, and on an on and on throughout the Old Testament. Every one of these were a shadow of Christ and He would redeem everyone who looked to Him, from Genesis to Revelation; everyone the Father had given Him.

PJR

"For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, 'Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.' Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for 'The righteous shall live by faith.' But the law is not of faith, rather 'The one who does them shall live by them.' Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree'— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith."
(Galatians 3:10-14)