Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-11-12
DID GOD CURSE ADAM?
A Lay sermon by Evangeline.
Genesls III. 17. 1s. he.

numbers of people. and many of them
Intelligent people too. who labor un-
der the impression that God cursed
Adam in the garden OF Paradise
when He pronounced sentence upon
him for his disobedience.
Let us turn TO the text-and Il
would be a good idea IL the reader
would read the whole OF the third
chapter OF Genesis aud study the con-
text as well as the text itself. As
my space is limited shall confine my
self to that part Of the chapter which
1 relates directly to Gods sentence
upon Adam in the garden of Para
disc: And unto Adam lie said. Be
cause thou hast hearkened unto the
voice or thy wife. and hast eaten OF
the tree. of which 7 commanded thee.
isaying, thou shalt net eat of it,
cursed is the ground for thy sake:
in sorrow shalt thou eat OF Il all or
thy life: thorns also and thistles shall
ii bring forth TO thee; and thou shalt
eat the herb OF the zelda in the sweat
or thy face shalt thou eat bread. till
thou return to the ground; for out
I of 1t vast thou taken: FOR dust thou
art. and unto dust shalt thou return"
| Note the language of the Lord. He
does not say cursed be thou. or thou
art cursed: but, cursed be the
ground. The man, the cuIprit. is
arratgned before his Judge who sums
up his crime in all OF its horror and
enormity-Because thou hast heark-
ened unto the voice OF thy wife in
stead OF hearkening unto my voice
and hast eaten OF the tree OF which
commanded thee not to eat. Cursed
be---what? The man? No: not
according to the text. but. cursed be
1 the ground" Il is plain enough
therefore. that God did not curse
Adam. The sentence was necessarily
severe, IL could not be otherwise. but
| II did not contain a curse upon Adam
nor upon his race.
The baleful effects Of the curse nm
on the ground and the execution of
the sentence Of death upon man have
entaiied untold woes upon the gen
erauons from Adam down to the
present As TO the penalty. Il was.
as we have said, severe. but IL was
1 INFINITELY Just. See Gen. II. I6. II.
| Inc man was created in the image
OF MS creator; perfect physically.
mentally and spiritually; and design
ed TO live forever on condition that
ne obey the command OF his Maker
Had he kept the commandment of
COO ne would never have died. And
who knows 10 what heights OF glory
the Lord may have finally elevated
him?
| But he broke the commandment
and per the penalty he died. Had
ne kept the law OF God he. and un.
! born generations would have been
eligible 20 life eternal and inconceiy.
able glory. But he forfeited II all
hy his disobedience. But thanxs be 10
God for the hope OF salvation extend
ed to us through the birth. life. SUI.
ferings. death. resurrection, ascension
and intercessiOn OF our Lord and Sa.
vior Jesus Christ.
For IL by one mans offense death
reigned by one; much more they
which receive abundance OF grace am
or the gift OF righteousness shall
reign In cfe by one-Jesus Christ %
Romans V. II.
Contemplating these things. how
can we refrain from exclaiming with
n. raul, 20, the depth OF the riches
both OF the wisdom and knowledge
or God! how unsearchable are His
judgments. and His ways past finding
out. And, realizing the great obi.
Saton we are under, and the debt of
gratitude we owe for this great sal
walton. We cannot withhold another
exclamation which we catch from the
lips OF the sacred writer, to wit: For
am persuaded. that neither death
nor life' nor angels nor probabilities
nor powers nor things present. nor
things TO come. nor height. nor depah
nor any other creature. shall be able
TO separate as from the love OF God.
which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord
Romans VIII. So. 80.
Thou hidden source of calm re-
pose.
Ihou all-sufficient Love Divine.
My help and refuge from my foes.
Secure ] am II thou art mine,
And To- from sin. and grief. and
shame,
hide me. Jesus, in thy name
Thy mighty name salvation Is.
And keeps my happy soul above:
Comfort IL brings. and power, and
peace.
And JOY. and everlasting love:
To me. with thy great name, are
given