...for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. — Genesis 2:17b
God gave a warning to Adam and Eve not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for they would surely die if they did. Even though the warning was given, Adam and Eve disobeyed and ate. Just as God had told them, in that day they died. We know they did not die physically, because they lived many more years; so we must conclude they died that day spiritually. Spiritual death, or separation from God, came into their nature, and they were forced to live out of the soul realm. Spiritual death, which is the seed to sickness, disease, guilt, condemnation, and the curse, had come upon mankind. God did not get mad at Adam and spiritually kill him. God did not get mad at Adam and judge him by killing him spiritually. Adam chose spiritual death, and he received what he chose. Adam became a new creation, a new spiritual being which never existed before–-instead of faith, he had fear; instead of fellowship with God, he hid from God; instead of blessing, he received the curse. Everything God had made was good; it was created for man because of God’s love for man. God never intended man to be guilty, condemned, fearful, sick, and depressed. Man chose his position in life through disobedience to the warning of God. God is a good God.
