Q19. What is the misery of the condition people fell into?
All people by their fall lost friendship with God, are under his anger and curse, and deserve all the suffering of this life, death itself, and the punishment of hell forever.
Scripture Proofs — King James Version
Genesis 3:8, 24
“And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. … So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.”
Ephesians 2:3
“Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”
Galatians 3:10
“For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.”
Romans 6:23
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Matthew 25:41, 46
“Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. … And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.”
Parent Guide
Discuss this question together
Discussion Questions
- 1
What did all people lose because of the fall?
- 2
What does it mean to be "under God's anger and curse"?
- 3
Why does this answer mention punishment in hell forever?
Illustration
If you break a neighbor's window, several things happen at once. You lose the neighbor's trust, you face their displeasure, and you owe a debt you may not be able to pay. The fall brought all of those things at once. People lost friendship with God, came under his righteous anger, and earned a punishment they cannot pay off.
Application
This is a hard truth, and it should make us take sin seriously. This week, thank God that he did not leave us without hope. He sent a Redeemer, which the next question will teach about.