The Origin of Christian Theology And the Fall of Mankind

Look closely at the origin of Christian theology by going all the way back to the beginning: Genesis.  Here, if you read closely, you will find you are privy to the very first "discourse about God"; Christian theology. (See the definition of Christian Theology.)

First, a very important side note:  Gen 2:25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.  

Not ashamed.  Because of their innocence, they had a direct one-to-one relationship with God.  Yet, childlike as they were, they had dominion over all that God gave them.  They did not stress or worry.  They only had ONE rule to go by: 

• Gen 2:16-17 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 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.

God said what?  "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."

Then, the origin of Christian theology  - a discourse about God - without inviting God - with the Enemy.

• Gen 3:1-7 Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Indeed, has God said, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'?"
• 2 The woman said to the serpent, "From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat;
• 3 but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.'"
• 4 The serpent said to the woman, "You surely will not die!
• 5 "For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
• 6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.

Eve said what?  "God has said, 'You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.'"

At the very origin of Christian theology, God was misquoted!  Eve's grave errors here were 1) not inviting God to participate in this discourse, 2) not knowing what God, Himself actually said about the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil and 3) mistaking an outsider's word for the truth. 

The Fall of Mankind, began simultaneously with the origin of Christian theology.  It concluded with a decision made on the basis of the very first theological discussion recorded in Biblical history.

• Gen 3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. Gen 3:8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

Now, they are naked and ashamed and hiding from God.  Soon, they will have the law and with the law comes the curse of the law: The knowledge of Sin = Guilt. 

• Rom 3:19-20 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.  Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

With guilt, comes death:     ...for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.  No more one-to-one relationship.  No more Garden of Eden.  No more rest. 

Discourse about God versus knowing God - Knowledge of Good and Evil versus knowing God - Life altering decisions based on theology.  It's the venom the snake used then and it's the venom he uses now.  

So, what now?  As difficult as it may seem (and it is extremely difficult) forget the knowledge and the theology and choose life.  The Tree of Life was a choice then and it is a choice now.

Enter God's Rest.  Enter the Garden of Eden.  Without the venom, there is no reason to fear the snake.