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NASB | Genesis 2:16 The LORD God commanded the man, saying, "From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Genesis 2:16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "You may freely (unconditionally) eat [the fruit] from every tree of the garden; |
Bible Question:
Lionstrong, If the state of grace and fellowship with God which Adam and Eve lost through sin has been restored to us by Christ's sacrifice, have we also thereby lost the free will that Adam and Eve had in Eden before the fall while they were still in that original state of grace? Emmaus |
Bible Answer: Hi again Emmaus, I understand that RC's have several definitions of grace. Protestants have several too, but the first is the unmerited favor of God, that is, to give us a good that we don't deserve. Through Christ God extends his unmerited favor to sinners. He gives us faith in Christ and life eternal that we do not deserve. Our parents, in an unfallen state continued to earn God's favor, that is, God did not need to be gracious to them as they continued in perfect obedience. Not until they through disobedience fell out of his favor did God graciously cover their shame (Gen 3:21). So the Protestant understanding of Scripture is that our first parents were not in a state of grace before the fall. And they did not lose grace in the Fall, because they never had it or needed it before the Fall! Peace, Lionstrong |