What was the sin committed by Adam and Eve in the Garden? We know that it was disobedience to God’s commands, but what is the reason for the disobedience? What lies under the disobedience? I have heard many people say that it is pride that Satan tempted them with. I even used to say that pride was the root of all sin, but now I think it goes even deeper than pride. What is a deeper sin than pride? First, let’s look at the other character in the story to see what this sin really is. Who was tempting Eve (and Adam since he was with her)? It was the serpent, the dragon, the adversary, the accuser. We have come to call him Satan, but his name was Lucifer. What made Lucifer fall? Was it just pride? Was it just that he wanted to be like God? I must wholeheartedly say no. Lucifer’s fall wasn’t just pride. It was deeper, much deeper. Lucifer wanted to be equal to and independent from God. That is what he tempted Eve (and Adam) with. “If you eat it, you won’t surely die, but your eyes will be opened and you will know good from evil like God.” He was basically saying, “Eat from this tree and you won’t need God any longer. You’ll know what He knows. You can be autonomous. You can be sovereign over yourselves.” I feel this is a deeper motivation than just pride. Pride is bad, but autonomy, saying you can survive completely apart from God is far worse. Like I said, I used to say that all sin was basically a form of pride, and, in some ways, it is. But all sin really comes from our desire for autonomy, to be independent from God and others, that we don’t need God, that I am my own authority, I am sovereign over myself, that I can do things on my own, that my ways are best.

Stealing is saying I will provide for my own needs without relying on God’s provision. Lust/Pornography/Masturbation/Fornication/Adultery is saying I can meet my sexual and emotional needs better than God can. I don’t need to follow His plan for marriage and commitment. Murder is saying that justice belongs to me and not God or it comes from my sovereignty is more important than your life. Disobedience stems from autonomy, I am sovereign over myself and I don’t submit to your authority over me.

Autonomy from God is what sin really boils down to and is exactly what the sinner gets in the end. They are separated eternally from Him and all of the goodness He had provided them over their lives. Don’t let that be you.