"The Fall" is foundational

Romans 5:12 NLT

When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam's sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.

Genesis 2:15-17 GW

Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to farm the land and to take care of it. [16] The LORD God commanded the man. He said, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden. [17] But you must never eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil because when you eat from it, you will certainly die."

The poison of sin runs through the veins of every human being. No one has to be taught to do wrong. It comes naturally because we all have a fallen nature.

However, the humanistic view is that everyone is basically good which is the exact opposite of Scripture.

My nearest and dearest's mum held to that belief and she was a teacher held in high esteem in the fledgling kibbutz movement. Her premise was that each child was inherently good.

So why then does sin look so enticing?

Yes, we do have God's hallmark in us from creation, but we have inherited Adam's rebellion and are fatally flawed.

The Fall, as a foundation stone in the Bible, relates that Adam consumed the forbidden fruit (which Eve had first eaten) in direct, open-eyed rebellion against God's warning.

Genesis chapter 3 recounts the act of original rebellion known as "the Fall" and, the fatal consequence thereof, which was passed on as a spiritual death-virus to each and every person.

There is the rub - if you don't believe that there is original sin in your life, you won't look for a remedy.

If there is no absolute moral compass to follow, why then should someone look for the right way?

That's why so many pass over The Cross as an inconsequential event. Who needs a Saviour or a sin offering, if you don't recognise your own fallen nature?

Hear the words of the Psalmist:

Psalm 51:3-5 GW

I admit that I am rebellious. My sin is always in front of me. [4] I have sinned against you, especially you. I have done what you consider evil. So you hand down justice when you speak, and you are blameless when you judge. [5] Indeed, I was born guilty. I was a sinner when my mother conceived me.

David, especially after his willful rebellious act of adultery with Bathseba, leading to the deliberate death of her husband Uriah, recognised his sin - and not just that one, but then could see how rotten was his heart. He knew he needed to be cleansed.

Each of us needs to acknowledge our sinful nature, only then does the Cross of Jesus become crucial and foundational.