The concept of the Law of God as given to Adam is foundational in understanding the relationship between God and humanity from a biblical perspective. The Law, in its earliest form, is seen in the commands given to Adam in the Garden of Eden, which set the precedent for divine instruction and human obedience.

Creation and Command

In the Genesis account, God creates Adam and places him in the Garden of Eden, a place of abundance and harmony. Here, God establishes the first law by giving Adam a specific command. Genesis 2:16-17 states, "And the LORD God commanded him, 'You may eat freely from every tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; for in the day that you eat of it, you will surely die.'" This command represents the initial expression of God's law to humanity, emphasizing obedience and the consequences of disobedience.

The Nature of the Law

The law given to Adam was both a test of obedience and a means of maintaining the order and sanctity of creation. It was a simple yet profound directive that underscored the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of man. The prohibition against eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was not merely about the act itself but about trust and submission to God's will.

Theological Implications

The law given to Adam carries significant theological implications. It highlights the concept of free will, as Adam was given the choice to obey or disobey. This choice underscores the moral responsibility bestowed upon humanity. Furthermore, the law reveals the character of God as just and holy, setting a standard for righteousness that reflects His nature.

Consequences of Disobedience

Adam's eventual disobedience, as recorded in Genesis 3, resulted in the fall of man, bringing sin and death into the world. This act of transgression had profound effects on the human condition and the created order. Romans 5:12 explains, "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned." The breach of God's law by Adam necessitated the need for redemption and foreshadowed the coming of Christ as the second Adam, who would fulfill the law perfectly.

Continuity of the Law

While the specific command given to Adam was unique to his situation, the principle of divine law continued throughout biblical history. The moral and ethical dimensions of God's law, as initially revealed to Adam, are echoed in the Mosaic Law and ultimately fulfilled in the teachings of Jesus Christ. The law serves as a guide for righteous living and a reflection of God's eternal standards.

In summary, the law given to Adam is a critical element in the biblical narrative, establishing the framework for understanding sin, redemption, and the ongoing relationship between God and humanity. It sets the stage for the unfolding of God's redemptive plan through the ages.Genesis 2:16,17
And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Romans 5:12-14
Why, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed on all men, for that all have sinned:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Law Anterior to Moses.
... thou not covet. For the primordial law was given to Adam and Eve in paradise,
as the womb of all the precepts of God. In short, if ...
/.../tertullian/an answer to the jews/chapter ii the law anterior to.htm

Sixteenth Proposition of Arminius
... such was the case in that particular law given to Adam ... the reasons for this denial
have been already given in my ... I grant that the ordination of God does nothing ...
/.../the works of james arminius vol 3/sixteenth proposition of arminius.htm

Fourteenth Proposition of Arminius
... But that general law could not be observed without supernatural grace; " Therefore,
it ... imposed only on those to whom supernatural grace was given by God. ...
/.../the works of james arminius vol 3/fourteenth proposition of arminius.htm

Eighteenth Proposition of Arminius
... cannot be acquired by the powers of nature alone; secondly, the law, given to Adam,
could ... But yet he was able to keep the law, otherwise God is unjust ...
/.../the works of james arminius vol 3/eighteenth proposition of arminius.htm

On the Comparison of the Law and the Gospel
... therefore, both as it was first delivered to Adam and as it was given by Moses ... For
one and the same God is the author of both, who delivered the law as a ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/disputation 13 on the comparison.htm

Death by Adam, Life by Christ
... The sentence annexed to the transgression of that commandment, which was given as
an especial test of Adam's obedience ... They now approve the law of God as holy ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 2/sermon xli death by adam.htm

"For the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus Hath Made Me ...
... over us, and therefore it is called a law of sin. ... that it hath over us, by virtue
of God's justice, and ... The Lord in his righteousness hath given over all the ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon vii for the law.htm

On the Commandments of God
... A. These two Commandments of the love of God and of our neighbor contain the whole
law of God because all the other Commandments are given either to ...
/.../kinkead/baltimore catechism no 4/lesson 29 on the commandments.htm

"For what the Law could not Do, in that it was Weak through the ...
... law to give him life, though it was first given out as ... so that there was no
impossibility then in the law, by reason of the strength which God gave man. ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon x for what the.htm

Letter ii (AD 1126) to the Monk Adam
... must regard the scandal which you have given to the ... inviolable sacrament"as the Saviour
says: What God hath joined ... dead the wife is freed from the law of her ...
/.../some letters of saint bernard abbot of clairvaux/letter ii a d 1126 to.htm

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Law: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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