Did Eve lie?

No, I am speaking of ability or potential. What I am saying is this, if on Monday I have never committed a crime, I am not a criminal (legally), but if on Tuesday I rob a bank I am now a felon (legally).

But how am I morally different? Did I not have the ability and potential to rob the bank on Monday?

And I think this is what Jesus was pointing out to people.

Matt 5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Jesus was saying that just because you haven't literally committed adultery, that does not mean you are not an adulterer. We have that in our hearts, the ability and potential is there. We are already evil before we actually commit the evil act.

Does that make sense?

And so with Adam and Eve, they must have already had the ability and potential to sin or they would not have been able to do so.

Now this is hypothetical, but couldn't Adam have lied before this? What if he got angry at Eve and killed her? Did he have this potential? Or do you believe the only sin he was capable of was breaking the one single commandment he had? I think you would agree that does not make a lot of sense.

If so, then how did man fall morally? I am not saying I am right, but this is a question I ask myself. It seems to me that the only change that occured is that they became aware when they sinned. They realized they were naked, and they realized they had done wrong. They felt guilt and shame for the first time and hid from God. Guilt and shame are not necessarily a bad thing. It is guilt and shame that brings us to Christ for forgiveness of our sins.

And what about Satan? Look at these two seemingly contradictory statements about him in scripture.

Eze 28:15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

Almost all scholars understand this to be Satan, the annointed cherub that covereth. Notice it says he was perfect in his "ways" until iniquity was found in him.

He was not created sinful. He was without sin, he was pure. But he had the ability or potential to sin from day one.

And now look what Jesus says:

John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Wow, this seems to contradict Ezekiel 28:15. Jesus said Satan was a murderer from the beginning.

But you see, it is not a contradiction, because Satan was perfect when he was created, he had not sinned, he was sinless and pure. But on the other hand, he had the ability and potential to be a murderer from the beginning as well.

Tell me, am I wrong about this? Is this unscriptural? If so, please explain why.

I am not trying to be controversial here. These are sincere questions I ask myself when I read the scriptures.

 

This one gave me a chuckle. Boy, us fellows love to think we are so macho and brave, but when the pedal hits the metal we run like mice. :laugh:

 

I think there is some truth to what you say. I think that once you start sinning, it becomes easier to continue sinning. I remember in High School that the Police came one day and spoke to us about the dangers of smoking marijuana. They said it leads to harder drugs. Now, we kind of laughed at that, because there is nothing in marijuana itself that would cause you to snort cocaine or shoot up heroin.

But as I got older I understood. Once you compromise your morals, it becomes easier to do so again, and to go a little further. You think if marijuana didn't really hurt you, then cocaine won't either.

If you are a politician and take a bribe or campaign contribution for some favor, it becomes easier to do each time you do it.

So, I would agree that when Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, it did start a downward spiral, and man has become more and more corrupt as time goes by.

I don't agree with you here, the scriptures say God cannot be tempted to sin. But don't ask me to explain, it is beyond my comprehension.

I have always wondered about the apostle John, when he was called up to heaven. The scriptures say he was in the spirit, so I do not believe he was physically there. But he fell down to worship an angel and was told not to do so.

Rev 22:8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

This is a fantastic passage, it shows John making an error in heaven. Will we still be fallible after we have been raised from the dead?