1Gen 3:8, 10, 24; ²Eph 2:2–3; ³2 Tim 2:26; ⁴Gen 2:17; Lam 3:39; Rom 6:23; Mt 25:41, 46; Jude 7

In WLC 23, we saw that "The fall brought mankind into an estate of sin and misery." We studied what the estate of sin into which man fell was from WLC 24-26. In the present Q&A, we are concerned with the misery of the estate into which man fell.

In a word, all the miseries or sufferings that are known and experienced by man in this world are brought by the Fall. Because we are born in this world and live in this world all our lives, it is easy for us to fail to realise that the pains and sufferings were not part of the original creation of God and therefore are really unnatural intrusion and additions, which exists only because of the presence of sin. But if we pause for a moment to contemplate how heaven would be like, and compare that with our present situation, we will have a fairly good idea of what are the things that came about through the Fall. For example, we know that in heaven there would be no more deaths, pain, or tears, or sighing, or quarrels, or fears, or disappointments, or discouragements, or any such things. So we know that these things are part of the fallen world, or part of the estate of sin.

Our present Q&A, do not speak of these effects directly. It speaks rather of three things, which in fact are chief causes or sources of misery of man as they originate from the first sin. Because of indwelling sin, we do not naturally see these things or even think of them very much. Nevertheless, they are real, and are far more significant than the effects (such as quarrel, sorrow, and tears), which we dread. So, then Christians, ought to contemplate about these things and tremble at their horror, while being filled with gratitude that Christ has and is delivering us from them. Let’s consider these things.

Firstly, "the fall brought upon mankind the loss of communion with God." This effect of the Fall was immediately apparent to Adam and Eve, for after they ate the forbidden fruit, they could no more enjoy God’s fellowship, but hid from him in guilt (Gen 3:8-10). This was the beginning of man’s alienation from God. All mankind became "enemies in your mind by wicked works" (Col 1:21), and "haters of God" (Rom 1:30; cf. Mt 6:24). But more significantly, we became God’s enemies (Rom 5:10), and "by nature the children of wrath" (Eph 2:3) and hateful in God’s sight on account of sin. We came under "His displeasure and curse." This is graphically manifested in God’s expulsion of Adam and Even from the Garden of Eden, to which, He would not permit them to enter again (Gen 3:24). Though fallen man in ignorance and love of sin, do not naturally lament this lost of communion with God, Christians ought to grieve about it and realise that although they have been made alive (Eph 2:1), the remnant of corruption will continue to hinder their communion with God. And this thought should stir them to strive after holiness.

Secondly, on account of the Fall, man by nature became "bond slaves to Satan." We are entrap in the "snare of the devil" and "are taken captive by him at his will" (2 Tim 2:26). The Fall made men the children of wrath, who having original sin in place of original righteousness, are now by nature wholly inclined to serve the devil (Jn 8:44), rather than seeking good or righteousness (Rom 3:10-12). Again, while the unregenerate would not care about this fact, believers ought to live with the conscious knowledge that when they sin or refuses to obey God’s Word, they are in some sense serving Satan as the unregenerate do habitually.

Finally, the Fall made all mankind "justly liable to all punishments in this world, and that which is to come." We will be looking in detail at the punishment we face in these two realms, in the next two questions. But for now realise that all sorrows and pains in this life and the life to come traces to the Fall, when man first incurred death: spiritual, physical and eternal,—by eating of the forbidden fruit (Gen 2:17; Rom 6:23).

There are those who question the existence of God because of the presence of pain in this world, but the Bible teaches us that pain and sorrow exists as a punishment imposed by God upon man because of the Fall and, because of our continual rebellion against God. Yes, Christians have our sins paid for in Christ (as we shall see), but a remnant of corruption remains, for which we must face chastisement in this life, though we shall be made perfect in holiness upon our death, and will not experience any more pain or sorrow. But such as remain outside Christ will experience eternal death or everlasting torment for their sins.