WE BELIEVE: that man was created by God by a specific, immediate act and his image and likeness morally upright and perfect, but fell by voluntary transgression. Consequently, all men are separated from original righteousness, being depraved and without spiritual life. Gen 1:26-31; 3:1-7; Romans 5:12-21.

Introduction.

The first three chapters of Genesis give us a detailed account of the creation of this world and the creation of man. What is quite clear is the perfection of God's creation; everything was good. Man being created in God's image was good, sinless and in harmony with his Creator. What we then proceed to witness is the degeneration of the human race from perfection to moral abasement. This is called "The Fall of Man".

I. MANS CREATION.

1. God created man by a specific and immediate action,not by a series of progressive and interspersed actions. Man was created perfect in the first instance. He was created in God's image and likeness, reflecting God's perfection in His spirit, mind and body.

Gen 1:27, "So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him, male and female He created them".

Gen 2:7, "The Lord God formed man out of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living being".

2. Man was immediately given dominion over the world and the animal kingdom.

Separating man as a unique creation, special, distinct, and above the rest of God's creation.

Gen 1:28, "...fill the earth and subdue it, have dominion over the fish of the seas, over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves on the earth".

II. MAN'S INITIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.

1. Given stewardship of the Garden of Eden.

Gen 2:15, "Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend and keep it."

2. Given one restriction which meant they had an ability of choice.

God had given them a free will. Gen 2:16-17, "...of every tree of the garden, you may freely eat, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat for in the day that you eat of it, you shall surely die."

3. Given authority to name the animals.
Gen 2:19, "and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name."

4. God would walk in the Garden in the cool of the day and commune with man.

Gen 3:8, "And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the Garden in the cool of the day."

III THE FIRST HUMAN SIN RESULTING IN THE FALL OF MAN.

1. Satan interferes with God's word.

This is one of the enemy's oldest ploys - a distortion of God's Word to place some doubt in the mind of Man.
3:1, "...Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?'"

God didn't say that at all.

2. Eve distorts the real meaning of God's Word.
Gen 3:1, "God has said, 'You shall not eat of it, nor shall you touch it lest you die.'"

God didn't make His commands unreasonable, as is suggested in the statement "nor touch it". The very addition of that statement causes discredit to be cast on the character of God.

3. Satan attacks God's word and then proceeds to attack God's character.

Gen 3:4, "You shall not surely die".
Gen 3:5, "For God knows that in the day you eat of it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God".

This gave Eve the impression that God was holding back something good from them. Maybe God was insecure about His position and didn't want them on His level. Here is Man's g

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