Did our first parents remain as they were created? – Attempts at Honesty

Question 13Question 13 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism asks. “Did our first parents remain as they were created?

The answer is, “Left to the freedom of their own wills, our first parents sinned against God and fell from their original condition.

Our first parents did what they were commanded not to do. They ate the fruit. But man’s rebellion in the Garden of Eden did not take God by surprise.

It is hard to get our heads around this, but God created us even though he knew we would rebel and Jesus would have to come to fix it.

The author of Hebrews wrote about Jesus, “who for the joy set before Him endured the cross.” You and I are that joy. Jesus endured the Cross so that we can be in relationship with him.

Every good story has some tension or a struggle in the plot followed by a happy ending. The story of the people of God is no exception. I will repeat the summary of the Bible that I quoted in my post about Question 12, “God made it, we broke it and Jesus came to fix it.

Our first parents created the tension and the happy ending is possible because Jesus endured the Cross. Jesus came to fix the damage that has been done to us and to fix the damage that we have caused in ourselves.

Give

Subscribe to the Daybreak Devotions for Women

Be inspired by God's Word every day! Delivered to your inbox.


More from Mark H. McIntyre

  • Please Pray for my Trip – Attempts at Honesty

    God has opened the door for me to go on a short-term mission trip to Istanbul, Turkey with Scottsdale Bible Church June 27 – July 6, 2025. We will be sharing God’s love and will be serving the Lord by ministering to Syrian refugees living in Turkey.

    2 min read
  • How to fight spiritual battles – Attempts at Honesty

    “There are plenty of problems facing the world today. We can worry about them. We can talk about them. We can protest in the streets. We can form organizations that pressure politicians to solve them. We can give money. We can write blogs. The one thing we must do is pray. If Samuel does not pray, David is never identified as the solution to Israel’s problem. Do you see the connection? Are you frustrated with your nation’s chief executive? Pray. Are you fearful concerning your city’s poverty or crime sprees? Pray. Are you worried about your nation’s moral fiber? Pray. Are you fretting about your children and their walk with God? Pray. Pray and listen. The two go together. Then be ready to act—not to rush out and solve the problem yourself.” — Fearless by Faith: How to Fight Today’s Spiritual Battles by Brother Andrew, Al Janssen

    1 min read

Editor's Picks

  • featureImage

    What Lurks in Murky Waters

    “He who hates, disguises it with his lips, and lays up deceit within himself; when he speaks kindly, do not believe him, for there are seven abominations in his h…

    5 min read
  • featureImage

    Where Is Your Bubble?

    When I was recently remodeling our house, I would stop at different points and check to see if what I was working on was level. Doing so makes a difference in how the finished product looks. It is …

    2 min read
  • featureImage

    Struggling Together in Prayer

    I was in the restroom touching up my makeup before speaking to several hundred women. When I looked in the mirror, thoughts began swirling in my mind. What am I doing here? What do I possibly have to say to these women that could make any difference in their lives? I am not capable of walking to that podium tonight. Read more...

    5 min read

More from Mark H. McIntyre

  • Please Pray for my Trip – Attempts at Honesty

    God has opened the door for me to go on a short-term mission trip to Istanbul, Turkey with Scottsdale Bible Church June 27 – July 6, 2025. We will be sharing God’s love and will be serving the Lord by ministering to Syrian refugees living in Turkey.

    2 min read
  • How to fight spiritual battles – Attempts at Honesty

    “There are plenty of problems facing the world today. We can worry about them. We can talk about them. We can protest in the streets. We can form organizations that pressure politicians to solve them. We can give money. We can write blogs. The one thing we must do is pray. If Samuel does not pray, David is never identified as the solution to Israel’s problem. Do you see the connection? Are you frustrated with your nation’s chief executive? Pray. Are you fearful concerning your city’s poverty or crime sprees? Pray. Are you worried about your nation’s moral fiber? Pray. Are you fretting about your children and their walk with God? Pray. Pray and listen. The two go together. Then be ready to act—not to rush out and solve the problem yourself.” — Fearless by Faith: How to Fight Today’s Spiritual Battles by Brother Andrew, Al Janssen

    1 min read