Day 173

Of Free Will.

Chapter 9, Paragraph 2.

“…but yet was mutable, so that he might fall from it.”

Scripture Lookup

Genesis 3:6

Reflection

Adam and Eve were righteous. They knew God’s law, loved it, and were able to keep it. They had open and unashamed fellowship with God and each other. Their interactions with creation had no hint of wrong.

And yet…

…with such an ability to will and choose good, there was also an ability for Adam to change his mind. He could will to disobey God and act on that disobedience. This is proven to us in Genesis when he took the fruit from Eve and ate it. The upright man, righteous and holy, plunged from such a happy state to a miserable condition. And it was entirely his choice. Despite blaming everyone else around them, Adam and Eve were fully responsible for their action. Adam was not so severely tempted as to be unable to resist. He had the ability to freely choose what was pleasing to God, but he willingly disobeyed.

What Adam and Eve did was disgraceful. Lest we be too harsh with them, though, let’s remember that we freely choose to sin as well. Christians, who have the ability to overcome temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13), still fail each and every day because we decide to do so. This makes Christ’s intercession on our behalf all the more necessary and urgent, so that we may continue to rely on His work, and not on our own efforts. Through His provision may find a way of escape, and resist evil.

Questions to Consider

• Do you consider Adam and Eve worse sinners than yourself?