The essence of the first sin lay in the denial of the divine will; an elevation of the will of man over the will of God. It was a deliberate transgressing of a divinely marked boundary; an overstepping of the divine limits. In its last analysis, the first sin was, what each and every sin committed since has been, a positive disbelief in the word of the living God. A belief of Satan rather than a belief in God. It is helpful to note that the same lines of temptation that were presented to our first parents, were presented to Christ in the wilderness (Matt. 4:1-11), and to men ever since then (1 John 2:15-17). Satan's program is short and shallow after all. 4. THE RESULTS OF THE FALL. a) On Our First Parents--Adam and Eve. The results of sin in the experience of our first parents were as follows: The ground was cursed, so that henceforth it would not yield good alone (Gen. 3:17). Sorrow and pain to the woman in child-bearing, and subjection of woman to the man (Gen. 3:16). Exhausting physical labor in order to subsist (Gen. 3:19). Physical and spiritual death (Gen. 3:19; 3:3; 5:5; Rom. 5:12). Of course, with all this came also a fear of God, a shame because of sin, a hiding from God's presence, and finally, an expulsion from the garden (Gen. 3:8-11, 32-24). b) On the Race--Various Theories. There are three general views held with regard to the effect of Adam's sin upon the race. Before looking at the strictly Scriptural view in detail, let us briefly state these three theories: That Adam's sin affected himself only; that every human being born into the world is as free from sin as Adam was. The only effect the first sin had upon the race was that of a bad example. According to this theory man is well morally and spiritually. This view of the case is false because the Scriptures recognize all men as guilty and as possessing a sinful nature; because man, as soon as he attains the age of responsibility commits sinful acts, and there is no exception to this rule; because righteousness is impossible without the help of God, otherwise redemption would be by works of righteousness which we have done, and this the Scripture contradicts. According to this view man is perfectly well. (The Pelagian theory.) That while Adam's sin, as guilt, is not imputed to man, he is yet destitute of original righteousness, and, without divine help, is utterly unable to attain it. God, however, bestows upon each individual, at the dawn of consciousness, a special gift of His Spirit, which is sufficient to enable man to be righteous, if he will allow his will to _co-operate_ with God's Spirit. According to this view man is only half sick, or half well. This view also is false because the Scriptures clearly state that man is utterly unable to do a single thing to save himself. (The Semi-Pelagian theory.)