Genesis 3

[Guest thomasaquinas3]

My cousin and I were talking earlier, and he had come across a question with Genesis 3:21-24. I was unable to direct him, so I said I will see what I can find out. Here is what the verses say, so that you don't have to run and get your bible. "For the man and his wife the Lord God made leather garments, with which he clothed them. Then the Lord God said: "See! The man has become like one of us, knowing what is good and what is bad! Therefore, he must not be allowed to put out his hand to take fruit from the tree of life also, and thus eat of it an live forever." The Lord God therefore banished him from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from which he had been taken. When he expelled the man, he settled him east of the garden of Eden; and he stationed the cherubim and the fiery revolving sword, to guard the way to the tree of life."

It is, to both my cousin and I, a confusing passage. My cousin said that it almost seems like God was afraid of us becoming like Him. But that doesn't seem to fit with what the Church teaches. So, any help on this one would be much appreciated. Thank you and God bless!

[Carson Weber]

Great question thomasaquinas3!

Adam and Eve tried to become like God without God, which involves the grave sin of idolatry by way of pride.

In God's plan of Creation (and Salvation), he has created man with the supernatural end (man does not have a natural end, which is one of the great mysteries of Creation, for we were created for God, who is above human nature!) of participating in his life and love, to be like him by sharing in God's divinity, which is a life of unhindered love.

God wants to make us like him, but with him and according to his will. When we attempt to become like God without God, that is idolatry. When we attempt to become like God with God according to his will, that is salvation (which involves our deification as Christians).

The entire Old Testament is a story of Israel repeating Adam's sin of wishing to be its own master, following its own inclinations, failing to serve out of selfless love. In Jesus, the perfect representation of a sinless Israel, we have man acting in accord with God's will, which he had for Adam in the beginning. When we analyze the life of Jesus, we see what Adam should have been: a suffering servant who protected his Bride Eve from the dangerous serpent in the sanctuary of the Garden of Eve as High Priest.

Jesus succeeds where Adam and Israel failed. He follows the will of the Father, giving of himself for his Bride, the Church, as our High Priest, and in doing so, his human nature is glorified through the Resurrection.

When we become partakers of the divine life (2 Peter 1:4) as Christians, we are enabled to grow in this divine life and we regain the likeness unto God, which Adam lost (sanctifying grace). We become like unto God in accord with God's will.

When Genesis speaks of how Adam did indeed become like God, this is a sort of riddle. Adam became like God, knowing good and evil, while he really lost his likeness unto God, which he was made in. The image remained in Adam, while it was marred. Thereafter, man experiences a deformed image of God, which bears the weight of concupiscence: disordered Passions, a darkened intellect, and a weakened will.

I know this is a lot and it's very complex.. I'm just throwing a lot at you at once. Read through it slowly again if you have to and absorb as much as you can. It will greatly benefit your understanding of Salvation History and God's plan for you in Christ, which fulfills God's plan for Adam.