I spent some time (not very much, mind you) trying to find out more about this idea of innocence versus holiness. I still do not fully understand why the guy on the radio made a distinction or seemed to imply that they were mutually exclusive in the case of Adam and Eve. I know where this guy goes to church. And since he said that this is something his pastor “always” says, I decided to visit his church’s website. After about 15 minutes of searching, I finally found the page delineating what they believe. Here is what they believe about humanity:

What We Believe About Humanity
Man was created by a special work of God, in His image and is the finest of the creation – God said, “It is very good!” Man was created innocent but with a free choice whereby he sinned against God and fell from his original state. Because Christ died for all, every person is worthy of respect and Christian love.

Just so you know, this is a Southern Baptist church. One thing that bothers me about their “What We Believe” page is that the writer does not reference a single verse of scripture to support their beliefs. On this page, they explain what they believe about God, the Church, Jesus, Man, Salvation, the Trinity, Worship, Baptism, etc., and all of that without one scripture reference. Since there aren’t any references, I’m not sure where their beliefs find their foundation.

I am guessing that the man on the radio said Adam and Ever were innocent but not holy based on the sentence, “Man was created innocent but with a free choice whereby he sinned against God and fell from his original state.” If Adam had been an holy individual, then he would not have chosen to sin. That makes sense.

However, we know based on Genesis 1:27 that Adam and Eve were created in the image of God. Part of “created in the image of God” includes righteousness, holiness, and uprightness (Ephesians 4:24; Ecclesiastes 7:29). Adam and Eve possessed those qualities.

I want to try to make two important points before I move on, though. First, Adam’s and Eve’s holiness is not a characteristic that issued from themselves. As created beings, their holiness came from God, the only One holy in and of Himself. Holiness and righteousness were part of their nature because that is the way God made them.

Second, Jesus, Adam and Eve are the only people ever to walk the face of the Earth who had free will. By that I mean that they are the only people who had natures with a disposition toward God. They had the capacity to choose good or evil; that is free will. All the rest of us, born in the image of man (Genesis 5:3), inherited a sin nature by which we are bound and enslaved to sin (Ephesians 2:1-3). We lack the capacity to be inclined to anything other than sin and self. Yes, we make choices. No one forces us to do anything. We are not puppets. BUT without the grace of God granting a new heart and a new nature, we cannot choose to do anything other than sin. Does that mean that unregenerate individuals do not do good things? No. Many people who do not know God do all kinds of things that we would consider good, however, anything that does not issue from faith is sin (Romans 14:23).

Back to Adam and Eve. It is because they were holy and righteous and upright and walked with God daily that THAT sin is so heinous. They enjoyed sinless perfection. God called them, “Very good.” They were absolutely free to choose and they chose to sin. They chose unbelief. They walked and talked with God Himself, but when tempted they turned away from Him. That has to be one of the most unbelievable moments in all of history.

And that is why the punishment of death and complete separation from God is not too harsh of a punishment.

I can’t really relate to Adam and Eve prior to the Fall. The temptation and everything that follows, well, we can all relate to that. I understand getting caught. I can understand wanting to hide. I can understand being found naked and wanting to cover up. I know what that feels like. Imagine that sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach. Your hair stands on end. You break out in a cold sweat. You can’t breathe. You want to hide but you’re stuck like a deer in the headlights.

We know that Adam and Eve were innocent and holy because of their actions immediately following their sin. They knew they had sinned. They knew they were no longer holy. They knew they were not like God anymore. They knew they had changed. Stripped of their glory, they tried to cover themselves, to clothe themselves in their own righteousness and enjoy life in the garden like they did just moments prior. But we know it doesn’t work that way.

Jesus is the only way back.