Catechism 13-15

I was preparing for our Adult Bible Fellowship and thinking about the Westminster Catechism questions 13, 14, and 15 which has to do with Adam and Eve and the first sin. At first it seems like the first sin was almost petty. It is like a child snatching a candy when he knows he shouldn't. But upon further reflection the first sin is tragic and not petty at all consider the following:

1. Man had the complete freedom to do right and obey God. He had no propensity to disobey and even Satan could not make him disobey but only cause man to doubt what God had said was correct.
2. Man was forewarned of the consequence of disobedience. It was not a surprise the he went and hid from God after he disobeyed. He knew what it was obey and instead he chose to disobey. When he disobeyed he knew what was coming so he went and hid from God.
3. The person man disobeyed was the person he knew to be God and the creator of everything, and everything God had decreed as good.

Because of these I have concluded that the first sin is surely tragic and not petty at all. Thankfully the second Adam, Jesus, came to obey and fully keep what Adam could not. Thanks be to God who has sent his Son who knew no sin to become sin for us.