The only man and woman to live inside the conditions of Eden were Adam and Eve, but their fall led to their expulsion from the garden sanctuary. The exile of Adam and Eve meant the exile of manhood and womanhood. The reverberations of their rebellion spread throughout the world, leaving nothing untainted. After the Fall, we’re still embodied creatures bearing the image of God (Gen. 5:1–3; Jas. 3:9), but we now live in a sin-cursed world where its corrosive effects are evident, especially in our relationships. This article will explore three challenges that manhood and womanhood face in a fallen world.
AVOIDING RESPONSIBILITY
Before leaving the garden, Adam and Eve experienced firsthand what their sinful instincts sounded like out loud. God asked Adam, “Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” (Gen. 3:11). The obvious answer was yes, but Adam deflected: “The woman, whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate” (Gen. 3:12). When God asked the woman what she had done, she answered, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate” (Gen. 3:13).
The man and the woman avoided taking personal responsibility for their choices. Instead, they
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