Falling Upward
Tullian Tchividjian Blog | December 13, 2011
In his book Theology is for Proclamation, Gerhard Forde writes about the fall of mankind:Adam and Eve fell into sin. The fall is really not what the word implies at all. It is not a downward plunge to some lower level in the great chain of being, some lower rung on the ladder of morality and freedom. Rather it is an upward rebellion, an invasion of the realm of things "above," the usurping of divine prerogative. To retain traditional language, one would have to resort to an oxymoron and speak of an "upward fall." This, after all, is precisely what the temptation by the serpent in the garden implies: "You will not die... you will be like God, knowing good and evil" (Genesis 3:4-5). A line had been drawn over which Adam and Eve were not to step. They were not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. There was a realm "above" which they were to leave to God; if they did not, their death would result. But the tempter insinuated, "Don't believe it for an instant! God is only jealous of the divine preserve! God knows that if you step over the line you will not die but become gods. You have something going for you! You have divine qualities, you have an immortal soul." So the step is taken. It is rebellion, an upward fall.
The first Adam ventured up into the "realm of things above" and brought death. The second Adam ventured down into the "realm of things below" and brought life.
The temptation for Christian's is to think that once God saves us we move beyond the First Adamic impulse to fall upward. The truth is, however, that even after God saves us we continue to fall upward--trying to claim for ourselves (in such subtle ways) the glory that belongs to God alone; trying to secure for ourselves the rescue that God alone can provide. "The essence of sin is man substituting himself for God, while the essence of salvation is God substituting himself for man. Man asserts himself against God and puts himself where only God deserves to be; God sacrifices himself for man and puts himself where only man deserves to be." (Stott)
Comments:
December 19, 2011 at 01:07 PM
Liz
I think Gerald Ford did trip up a great deal.
December 16, 2011 at 11:58 AM
Mitchell
We never go back to Adam. Nor would we want to. Adam's unfallen humanity was child-like innocence without knowledge of good and evil. There can be no return to this. Rather we move on to new creation. Our life is the life of the risen Christ. It is a life that cannot sin. As by the Spirit we live the new life we treat flesh as finished and live to God. In this way sin has no domonion over us.
December 16, 2011 at 04:29 AM
I think I just tripped a little. :D
December 15, 2011 at 11:48 AM
Tullian, Your synopsis of the Gerald Ford quote really hit home with me. "The first Adam ventured up into the “realm of things above” and brought death. The second Adam ventured down into the “realm of things below” and brought life."
Thank you for your dedication to preaching the Gospel. God is using you in such powerful ways for His glory and for His purposes.
December 15, 2011 at 11:33 AM
So we, like Adam, "imperfectly avoid the fall" and take measure of how we "imperfectly avoid the fall" so we can be assured that we are getting better at "imperfectly avoiding the fall."
I'll stick with repentance and confession and trust God to finish what He began in the first place with His continuing gift of Grace and mercy through Christ.
December 15, 2011 at 07:01 AM
John,
so be it, I couldn't agree more. We can avoid this fall (imperfectly)
(1)"for sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace." (Romans 6,14) and
(2)"for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." (Philippians 2,13)
God bless you!
December 15, 2011 at 04:51 PM
Susanne,
Ha! Sometimes I can't help myself... I have to take a 'stab.'
December 15, 2011 at 02:55 PM
Mitchell,
as for your first sentence: you're a real linguistic artist! Lol
December 14, 2011 at 07:43 AM
Might it be possible that there is also an invasion of the realm of things above us, which is corresponding to the will of God? Reading Matthew 11,12:
"From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force."
Sounds like a kind of (positive) usurpation. Or am I completely wrong?
December 14, 2011 at 04:48 PM
And we avoid this fall (imperfectly to be sure)by reminding ourselves that how can we who have died to sin live any longer therein.
December 14, 2011 at 04:47 AM
Pastor
an invasion of the realm of things above us. One would not think of sin as such. but it makes sense.
December 13, 2011 at 10:43 AM
Thanks for this thought-provoking post...
Considering everyday life, I discover the temptation to fall upward, when I begin to feel too sure on myself, on my thinking, on my "good" emotions and all works cohering.
December 13, 2011 at 10:01 AM
'The ascendancy of the uninterrupted self.'
December 13, 2011 at 03:06 PM
Pastor
very well put together, I like Gerharde Forde very much.
You refered to a falling up in your message, in a reference to Willy Wonkas chocolate factory. When the grandfather and grandson. drank a imperfected soda which made them float up, but there was a fan at the ceiling. I vaguely remember that scene.
December 13, 2011 at 01:52 PM
[...] Tullian has an insightful, short post on the essence of the Fall. Here are his concluding thoughts: The temptation for Christian’s is to think that once God saves us we move beyond the First Adamic impulse to fall upward. The truth is, however, that even after God saves us we continue to fall upward–trying to claim for ourselves (in such subtle ways) the glory that belongs to God alone; trying to secure for ourselves the rescue that God alone can provide. “The essence of sin is man substituting himself for God, while the essence of salvation is God substituting himself for man. Man asserts himself against God and puts himself where only God deserves to be; God sacrifices himself for man and puts himself where only man deserves to be.” (Stott) GA_googleAddAttr("AdOpt", "1"); GA_googleAddAttr("Origin", "other"); GA_googleAddAttr("theme_bg", "ffffff"); GA_googleAddAttr("theme_text", "555555"); GA_googleAddAttr("theme_link", "557799"); GA_googleAddAttr("theme_border", "dddddd"); GA_googleAddAttr("theme_url", "b4c24b"); GA_googleAddAttr("LangId", "1"); GA_googleAddAttr("Autotag", "religion"); GA_googleAddAttr("Tag", "gospel"); GA_googleFillSlot("wpcom_sharethrough"); Like this:LikeBe the first to like this post. Posted by Mark Filed in Gospel Leave a Comment » [...]
Sam Ferox
November 30, 2012 at 02:59 AM
Are you all aware of the Mormon view of the "Fall of Adam"?
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS) are infamously known for thinking the Fall was "necessary".
Here is a video on Mormon thought on this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHMuWB2xrvo