1. All was perfect and upright, fresh from the hands of the Creator. Genesis 1:31; Ecclesiastes 7:29.

2. Jehovah intended for man to live for ever. Genesis 2:9; Revelation 22:1-2 ; 21:4.

3. But before man could be established to resist evil at all times, he must be tested. Genesis 2:17; 3:1-8.

a. But he failed. "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." Romans 5:12.

1. So their death was immediately introduced. "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." Genesis 2:17.

2. There was no escape. "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23

"For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death." Romans 7:5).

3. Why?

a. Who is life? "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." John 14:6.

b. What is the natural result if we separate ourselves from this source of Life? "He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." 1 John 5:12.

c. What separates us from God? "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear." Isaiah 59:2.

d. So when Adam and Eve sinned, they separated themselves from God who is the source of Life and they thus deserved to die immediately.

e. But what is sin? "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." 1 John 3:4 (Romans 7:7).

1. The Law says if you sin you must die. (Romans 6:23).

2. How shall we escape?

a. By cherishing enmity against sin. Genesis 3:14, 15.

b. There was a provision made by which we can cherish enmity. Enmity = ill will, mutual hatred, hostility, animosity.

c. This animosity was the True Light placed in all of us. John 1:9.

3. In these verses (Genesis 3:14, 15), the death of the serpent (devil) is prophesied.

a. But before his death, he would bruise the heel of the Seed (Jesus).

b. Bruising of the heel == salvation for sinners and victory over death. Romans 5:6.

c. How can Christ gain the victory over death? Hebrews 2:14, 15.

d. He pledged a ransom before man was placed on probation. Revelation 13:8.

4. Adam and Eve had to realize that only by shedding of blood can even the smallest sin be forgiven and cleansed. Hebrews 9:22.

a. Only one sin cannot be forgiven and cleansed. Matthew 12:31, 32.

b. For this purpose an animal was slain. Genesis 3:21.

e. Thus in a simple way, man was ever to keep before Him what salvation would cost him.

5. In order to show in further detail the price of salvation, God commanded that a sanctuary be built. Exodus 25:8.

a. Because of sin, man was separated from God. Isaiah 59:2.

b. The sanctuary brings together God and man: "That I may dwell among them."

c. Thus through the sanctuary service, the Edenic plan is restored whereby God and man can dwell together again. Revelation 21:3, 4.