When God created them, he must have known that they wouldn't be able to resist temptation. But not only did he punish them very harshly, he also punished all of their descendents.
Why didn't he just forgive them and give them another chance?
2007-02-25 07:40:45 · 13 answers · asked by Billybww 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Sure would have made Jesus' life a little less tragic!
2007-02-25 07:54:59 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Adam and Eve were perfect humans- they were able to distinguish between right and wrong without being clouded by imperfection like we are. They were also given free will like we are today. God doesn't force us to serve Him- He gives us the choice and we make it. Adam and Eve deliberately chose to sin. They knew better, but still did it.
If God would have pardoned them and given them a "do over", it would have made Him out to be a liar, and it "is impossible for God to lie." God's punisment wasn't harsh- He had told them from the beginning what would happen if they chose to disobey Him. They would "positively die" if they ate from the tree of knowledge of good and bad.
God didn't punish the rest of us for their sin: our imperfection is Adam and Eve's fault. "Through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin. . . ." That scripture goes on to say that through another man, Jesus Christ, imperfect mankind was given the chance at eternal life again. If God hadn't made the loving provision of the ransom sacrifice, then yes it would be cruel and unfair. But God DOES NOT want to see us fail or suffer- "God is love." He has given us the biggest second chance in history because He realizes that we are imperfect and fall short.
Although Adam and Eve messed things up, God and Jesus have given us the opportunity to regain what was lost. It's just up to us to take advantage of it.
2007-02-25 07:54:48 · answer #2 · answered by danni_d21 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He did forgive them in the sense that they didn't suffer eternal punishment. He told them just what price they would have to pay for their actions, and burning in hell was not one of them.
The garments God gave them were his forgiveness.( Genesis 3:21) They were made of skin, which meant an animal had to die. This was symbolic of Christs' sacrifice which covers our sin.
When you and I sin, there is always a price to pay for what we do. Sometimes if it's is just regret or guilty feelings, it' is still what we have to live with. We are no different from Adam and Eve in that sense. We have to deal with the consequences of our actions, but God has still given us salvation and forgiven us.
2007-02-25 07:59:26 · answer #3 · answered by out of the grey 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a metaphor. Humans once dwelled in the rainforests with the animals in paradise. This could've been Africa, anywhere. We didn't know we were different. But the event it documents is the moment that we became AWARE that were different from the animals, and AWARE that we are separate from the rest of the tree of life and creation and could walk without God if we chose.
Adam and Eve may not have been the first people - the story is all over place thanks to 3 000 years of "editing" - but it would seem they were first people to reject God.
God didn't punish humanity, nor did God make us separate or "cast us out" of paradise. We did that to ourselves. Where we once dwelled innocently in the rainforest naked with the animals, we know wear clothes, wage savage wars, drink coca cola and watch Bay Watch. Children can never remain innocent forever, and when they rebel against their parents, and move out, what else is the parent to do if they respect their children's free will?
God has given us chances though. In essence, by letting us "experience" the world - he's given us exactly what our ancestors wanted. That's how we descendents have been "punished" by the actions of our ancestors.
God has given us plenty more chances though. Through his prophets, through Jesus - God's plan is complete for us.
"O MY FRIENDS!
Have ye forgotten that true and radiant morn, when in those hallowed and blessed surroundings ye were all gathered in My presence beneath the shade of the tree of life, which is planted in the all-glorious paradise? Awe-struck ye listened as I gave utterance to these three most holy words: O friends! Prefer not your will to Mine, never desire that which I have not desired for you, and approach Me not with lifeless hearts, defiled with worldly desires and cravings. Would ye but sanctify your souls, ye would at this present hour recall that place and those surroundings, and the truth of My utterance should be made evident unto all of you. In the eighth of the most holy lines, in the fifth Tablet of Paradise, He saith."
(Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words)
2007-02-25 08:06:55 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
According to chrsitians..
They comitted a sin..
God did not forgive them..
And held all their children responsible for thier sin..
he put a condition that he require blood to forgive their sin..
And he did not wanted blood of sinner but someone who is sinless (surprising, according to bible one who commit sin shall die)
So, he send his son, got him killed and tortured
And than through his son's blood he forgave sin of children of Adam.
According Islam.
Adam and Eve ate the fruite and than regretted thier mistake
Ask for forgiveness from their Lord
And The Merciful lord forgave them.
2007-02-27 05:24:44 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
He did. He let them live. He gave them this earth to experience what they desired, good and evil. God just gave them what they asked for.
Of course it was God's plan for them to sin so that later he could save man from it. He is love. And in order to be shone for what He is, He needed a reciprient of his love. And in order for His love to be shone, that reciprient had to wrong Him. Because love is most evident in forgiveness. Do you understand? It was so that all would work for all.
2007-02-25 07:44:23 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is my understanding that He did forgive them. However the law had been broken, and that transgression had to be paid for. It couldn't simply be ignored, by a being of infinite justice.
2007-02-25 07:46:41 · answer #7 · answered by hasse_john 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
God DID forgive them. HE SENT HIS ONE AND ONLY SON TO DIE ON THE CROSS so that we can have another chance Jesus was THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE that SAVES US so that we CAN have another chance so that we can be in HEAVEN WITH GOD!
2007-02-25 07:51:57 · answer #8 · answered by ♥hemakesmesmile♥ 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God is not required to forgive anybody.
2007-02-25 07:48:12 · answer #9 · answered by ccrider 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are assuming He did not forgive them. Where does it say that?
2007-02-25 07:48:40 · answer #10 · answered by Jouvert 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋