Why Is Death the Appropriate and Necessary Consequence to Sin?

The English word “sin” is translated from the Hebrew word חַטָּאָה‎ chatta’ah (khat-taw-aw’), and the Greek word ἁμαρτία hamartia (ham-ar-tee’-ah), both of which have the sense of having missed a mark, goal, or path, of falling short; to err or be mistaken, wandered away from what is right or good. The missing necessitates a discernible target to miss. Paul’s letter to the Romans makes a critical point:

Romans 4:15 “for the Law works indignation; for where no Law is, neither is transgression.”

Romans 5:13 “For until law, sin was in the world, but not imputed there being no law.”

Paying attention to what Paul wrote, not once but twice, we learn that “sin”, which is ‘transgression”, the missing of the mark, or falling short, is predicated upon a “law” having been given that establishes the mark or target to be hit. When no “mark” has been specified, it is not considered a “miss” when it is not met. When no “law” is specified, it is not considered to have been violated, since it has not been given.

Jesus’ own words to the Pharisees challenging His warning:

“And Jesus said, ‘For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.’

And some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, ‘Are we blind also?’

Jesus said to them, ‘If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, “We see,” therefore your sin remains.’” John 9:39-41

Inability to “see” prevents one from being able to acquire knowledge and appropriately respond to circumstances. Jesus told these hypocritical ones that, had they been unable to perceive and identify what was right, they would not be held responsible for their errors, but because they themselves confirm that they do indeed see, they are therefore guilty of the trespass – the violation of what they admit to knowing is right.

God created a perfect universe, completely free from evil or degradation. God created earth with everything needed for both the well-being and the healthy pleasure of every living creature. God’s sole requirement was that His image-bearer, the human family, remain free from the knowledge of evil. As noted previously, Adam and Eve possessed only the knowledge of good from the day that God created each of them. They lived in a perfect environment, supplied with every perfect gift, in fellowship and regular community with God.

God’s purpose for God’s universe was fulfilled in its continued goodness, which necessitated that nothing evil or corrupting be introduced into it. At the moment that evil were to enter this perfect environment, it would cease to be pure, but would become contaminated with evil. As Paul warned, “A little leaven leavens the whole lump” (1 Cor 5:6; Gal 5:9) Jesus used the same analogy in His warning of His disciples to beware of the “leaven” of the Pharisees, which the gospel writers clarified was in reference to the Pharisees wrong teaching.[1] Only one rotten berry will ruin a whole basket; likewise, the entrance of sin into God’s pure world would end its purity. Once the degradation began, it would continue and worsen indefinitely, unless an arresting influence was borne upon it. That arresting influence is death: “… in the day that you eat of it, dying, you shall die.” (Gen 2:17)

Adam and Eve, like ourselves, were fully-informed concerning the “law” of God’s land. They were not “blind” concerning what was required by God. While not relevant, insofar as all unrighteousness is sin (1 John 5:17), God gave this couple a sole and simple “law” to follow. It deprived them of no necessity, nor of any form of pleasurable benefit. That single “law” cost them nothing in their exquisite and perfect home. He asked no actual sacrifice, obligated not so much as a minuscule deprivation of any sort. Rather, God’s “law” for our first parents was to abstain from “eating from”, or consuming, from the tree, or source, of the knowledge of good and evil. His prohibition was against that which would bring harm and destruction. The requirement should have been both desirable and easy to follow; why would they want to partake of something harmful to themselves and detrimental to their beautiful and happy life? God was not being unreasonable, nor harsh, nor had He simply established some “test” for them to fail, in order to show that He was bigger, stronger, smarter – and capricious. Rather, He was protecting them from self-destruction.

God’s intention for humanity was to live eternally in His presence, in His perfect world, in goodness and happiness. We were to mirror His attributes in our living, and honour Him as Creator, and Lord, which He is. Instead, humanity spat in God’s face, effectively rebelling against His authority, and destroying the pristine work of His hands.

Nothing in Scripture suggests that either Adam or Eve felt some dissatisfaction with their lot. We have few historical details about what life was like for them, and virtually no reflection on that subject in the subsequent records that mention them. The inclination to disregard God’s warning does not appear to have arisen independently from Satan’s interference. Life was good, they were happy and satisfied with their situation.

Yet, when a total stranger, masquerading as a garden creature (Gen 3:1-14; Rev 12:9; Isaiah 27:1) proposed to Eve that God had spoken lies – “And he said unto the woman, ‘Sure, has God said, “You shall not eat of every tree of the garden” …. You shall not surely die; for God knows that in the day you eat of it, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.’” Genesis 3:1-4 – implying malice on God’s part, Satan persuaded Eve to disbelieve what God had told her, preferring instead the appeal of benefits otherwise unrealized that were claimed by her enemy. Eve acted on her faithlessness toward God, believing instead the lies of the serpent, and wilfully rebelled against her Sovereign, taking of the fruit of the tree forbidden, and giving some to her husband. For his part, Adam was more guilty than Eve, being the agent to whom God originally expressed His prohibition, including the explanation of the consequences if Adam were to err. As Paul explained to Timothy, Eve was deceived (1Tim 2:14). But as he wrote in his letter to the Roman congregation, Adam was fully guilty; Adam sinned, incurring the death that God had warned him would result from that consumption. (Romans 5:12) As Paul further explained, “The wages of sin is death…” – wages are earned, the recompense due for what has been worked – “…but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23. A gift is something given without cost to the recipients, given out of kindness or love or consideration. Adam’s sin earned the outcome that God had warned would result, but God had made a way to overcome the dreadful reality of that outcome, that would bring eternal damnation upon every person who lives, from Adam to the end of time, without a remedy which we had no means to effect for ourselves.

The faithless violation of God’s righteous prohibition constitutes treason against the universal Sovereign. The subordinate that would rebel against the Sovereign must not be permitted to remain in open defiance, nor to influence others under that Sovereign. Treason against an human sovereign traditionally resulted in the death penalty. Treason against the Sovereign Creator of the Universe likewise results in expulsion from the presence of the Creator, into that everlasting fire “where their worm does not die and their fire is not quenched.”[2] Adam earned the sentence of death by his treason.

Important also to note is the ingratitude demonstrated by the first humans to the Creator Which had given them everything they needed, and anything they could reasonably desire. They did not labour for food; the garden produced abundantly everything they required. The incomparable quality and variety of foods in the garden provided delightful flavours and complete nutrition; both palate and well-being were fully satisfied in what God provided them without effort on their part. To entertain the possibility that God had somehow deprived them of some benefit by prohibiting one product, was to entertain an accusation against both the provision and the love of the Creator. It implied a right to be dissatisfied with the abundance that had been provided and a justification to take upon oneself the correction of such a deprivation. The variety, the succulence, the abundance at their hand without breaking a sweat, was despised: God has deprived us of this one thing, the benefits of which must not be missed by us. We will take upon ourselves to correct this deficiency and take to ourselves this benefit to which we are entitled; we shall eat what God has prohibited. When God confronted the disobedient couple, both offered excuses, casting blame on someone else. God’s chastening of Adam bore witness to this aspect of his offence: “And to Adam He said, ‘Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, saying, “You shall not eat of it,” cursed is the ground for your sake. In trouble shall you eat of it all the days of your life. Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to you and you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your face shall you eat bread, till you return to the ground; for out of it were you taken; for dust you are, and to dust shall you return.’” Genesis 3:17-19

A righteous human, living forever, is a blessing and benefit. A sinful human, living forever, is the increasing corruption and contamination of everything that human touches. By his violation of God’s clear prohibition, Adam introduced wickedness and corruption to God’s perfect creation. Once Adam tasted the “fruit” of evil, the temptation to repeatedly partake would be difficult to avoid – Satan would be happy to provide repeated opportunities, given the success of his first effort to stumble God’s image-bearer. We all experience the reality that, having consciously and wilfully chosen to engage some action that we know to be wrong, our ability and even our inclination, to resist future temptation is reduced, and we find ourselves falling again and again into wrong-doing. Sin increases, and with it, the consequences: the negative influence on others we encounter (1 Corinthians 15:33 “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.”) as well as increasing degradation of the system occupied by the sinful.

For this reason also, the termination of the occupation by the sinner of the environment is necessary to limit the negative influence of the sinner on that environment. A defiant rebel who has been permitted to continue in the world, will draw others whether by design or example, into doing what suits them, while knowing that it’s wrong. Thus: And the LORD God said, ‘Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever,’ therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubims at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way of the tree of life.” Genesis 3:22-24

To summarize, to wilfully disobey God is treason against the universal Sovereign. Treason results in expulsion from the jurisdiction of a sovereign; God’s jurisdiction is universal, therefore sin earns death. Corruption of the whole by the introduction of a flaw into a previously-flawless system, requires the removal of the source of corruption; such removal is merited by the agent causing the degradation. And finally, as each individual demonstrates the willingness to rebel in their own turn, they become a negative influence on the others in their company, making the removal of that influence appropriate. Therefore, death is earned by the traitor.

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[1] Jesus also used leaven in reference to faith in a parable concerning the kingdom of God; ie: Mt 13:33, but this one does not bear on this study.

[2] Re 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

Mr 9:46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.”

Mt 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.