Q17 INTO WHAT STATE DID THE FALL BRING MANKIND? The Fall brought mankind into a state of sin and misery.

A young, 24-year-old, policeman received training for high speed driving.

While on night duty he went to his sister’s 18 th birthday party and showed off his high speed driving skills to a family member.

He drove at speeds over 100mph. He was acting totally on his own. He was not under authority.

His evening ended in disaster… He lost control of the police car and ended up hitting a grandmother walking home with her husband. She died as a result of the crash.

The young man’s evening ended with him sobbing ‘I killed her… I am going to prison!’ Choosing to act outside his authority ended up with him facing the judge and being condemned.

Like that young policeman – Adam’s sin had far greater consequences than he ever imagined.

THE WHOLE UNIVERSE WAS Disrupted Storms Earthquakes Volcanoes Meteorites

‘ For we know that the whole creation groans and labours with birth pangs together until now.’ (Romans 8:22)

THE WHOLE UNIVERSE WAS Decaying

‘FOR DUST YOU ARE, AND TO DUST YOU SHALL RETURN.’

‘…the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.’ (Romans 8:21)

THE WHOLE UNIVERSE WAS Doomed

‘…the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.’ (2 Peter 3:10)

HUMANITY IS UNDER GOD’S JUDGEMENT NOW The whole of humanity is under God’s judgement. Adam and Eve were banished from the garden and lost access to God’s immediate presence. Humanity was subject to toil and frustration in life. Danger and pain would be associated with childbirth. All their relationships were disrupted. They and we experience guilt and remorse. They and we experience aging and death.

HUMANITY FACES GOD’S FINAL JUDGEMENT ‘I t is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.’ (Hebrews 9:27)

JESUS CAME TO WARN US OF THE JUDGEMENT ‘But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!’ (Luke 12:5)

JESUS CAME TO SAME US FROM THE JUDGEMENT ‘I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.’ ( John 12:47)