Q15. What was the sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created?

Q. 15. What was the sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created?
A. The sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created, was their eating the forbidden fruit.

Fruit. Eating Fruit. It sounds absurd that this was the sin that led to the fall of humankind and that each one of us lives with the consequences each moment of our lives.

Of course behind the act of eating lies far more than just taking fruit. In 2 Corinthians 11:3 we’re told that Eve was deceived by the devil. He comes in the form of a serpent and casts doubt on God’s word: ‘Did God really say“. He exaggerates God’s command, “you shall not eat from any tree in the garden“. Eve corrects him but draws the lines where God has not drawn it saying that she cannot touch it too. God had not mentioned touching the fruit when he gave the prohibition. The Devil then senses his moment and comes in with the lie, “You will not surely die” and claims that God is holding something back from Adam and Eve. If they will just eat the fruit “they will be like God.” He attacks the character of God, and they fall for it. (Genesis 3:1-7)

Tragically Adam and Eve believed the lie and fell. Genesis 2 ends with them being naked and knowing no shame. Their relationship with God, with themselves, with one another and with creation is all good. But at the end of Genesis 3, their relationship with God is broken, they are at odds with themselves, each other, and with creation.