Why is humanity punished for Eve's sin 6000 years ago although God is All Forgiving?

Answer 1

One thought:

We are not being 'punished' for what Adam and Eve did, but are suffering the natural effects of their selfish choices.

At Genesis 2:15-17, The Bible tells us that God placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden in perfect condition, with clear direction and only one restriction. They were to:

-Cultivate and care for the garden (Genesis 2:15)

-Eat vegetation and any fruit that grew on the trees (Genesis 1:29)

-Fill the earth with humans (Genesis 1:28)

-NOT eat from only ONE specific tree (Genesis 2:16+17)

This restriction had a purpose.

Humans were created to be in subjection to God and look to him for direction(Jeremiah 10:23). The "Tree of Knowledge" represented God's sovereignty (his RIGHT to rule...to make the rules for his creation for their own good). Having it in the middle of the Garden was:

-a reminder of his rulership

-constant assurance of God's love and care for his creation and

-a way for mankind to say 'thankyou' to their creator, for all he'd given them, by giving to God something that he didn't automatically have...their obedience. (Micah 6:8)(Matthew 7:21).

When Adam and Eve ate from that ONE restricted tree, they were actually rejecting God's rulership, in favor of what they thought was their OWN. Satan had promised them that if they ate from this tree, they would benefit from deciding right and wrong for themselves(Genesis 3:1-6). This was a lie, as mankind was never created to live independently of God. Adam and Eve's disobedience, took away their perfection, their everlasting life in their earthly paradise home(Genesis 1:28), and basically switched their allegiance from the Creator, to Satan(Romans 6:16), to whom they were now listening(John 8:44). In so doing, 'imperfection' eventually caused Adam to die (Genesis 5:5), and was introduced into all his human descendants causing sickness and death and all the problems we face today(Genesis 3:17-19)(Romans 5:12). Sin causes death, and all the suffering related to our inherited imperfection (James 1:14+15) (Romans 6:23) and was passed on naturally because you can't get something clean from something Unclean(Job 14:4). God IS forgiving, but still expects obedience to his laws. He understands the situation and has arranged a way for us to regain our perfection and have the opportunity to reclaim our everlasting life on earth (Matthew 5:5/Psalm 37:10,11,29)(Genesis 3:15/John 13:35) if we do what Adam and Eve did not; that is: be OBEDIENT to God in all things (Matthew 7:21-23)(1 Samuel 15:22). Though experiencing the terrible result of sin on the human family, we have the opportunity to show our loyalty to God by our obedience to his commands, and the ones who endure faithfully TO THE END will be saved (Matthew 24:13) and regain what was lost(Isaiah 45:18/55:11).