We read in Genesis 3:6-7, “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.”  Before eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, Adam and Eve were in a state of innocence.  Just like a baby has no hesitation to be naked because of its innocence, so were Adam and Eve.  It was after eating that “the eyes of them both were opened.” 

By eating of “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” our first parents realized their sin in disobeying the Lord.  Confusion and shame were created.  Innocence was lost and guilt began.  They immediately “sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons” in order to cover the nakedness of which they were now aware.  Their eyes were opened, but not to a view of higher happiness; they were opened only to a sense of their sin, and consequently of their guilty shame.  Disobedience did not bring joy to them, it brought sorrow. 

Notice that their covering of fig leaves did not relieve them of the sense of their nakedness.  As the Lord sought them in the garden, Adam responded by saying, “I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.” (Genesis 3:10).

The Lord pronounced judgment on the serpent (verses 14-15), Eve (verse 16), and Adam (verses 17-19).  Afterwards, they were driven from the garden “lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever.” (verse 22).  What a remarkable act of GRACE.  Rather than allow Adam and Eve access to the tree of life, where they might partake and live forever in that sinful state, the Lord “sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.” (verse 23).

However, before sending the guilty pair out of the Garden of Eden we read in verse 21, “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.”  The Lord killed two animals to clothe them.  In other words, there had to be death involved to truly cover their sins.  It is obvious, isn’t it, that this is a type or a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ dying to put away our sins.  We learn in 1 Corinthians 15:3 that, “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures.”  It was the wonderful plan of God that His own dear Son would die for us…that He would “bare our sins in his own body on the tree…” (1 Peter 2:24).  Long before Adam and Eve committed that act of sin by disobeying God, the plan was already made that Christ would die for the sins of mankind so that, “whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16). 

We have a comparison of the actions of Adam and Christ in Romans 5:18-19, “Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”  Sin entered the world through the DISOBEDIENCE OF ONE MAN (Adam).  Even so, righteousness is offered to all because of the OBEDIENCE OF ONE MAN (Christ).  We read in Philippians 2:8 that the Lord Jesus “humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”  My friend, Christ died for you.  He died for me.  He died that through faith in Him, we might have eternal life and life with Him forever.  (377.4)