1 Corinthians 15:22 tells us, “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”  The Lord does hold Adam accountable for the original sin in the Garden of Eden, but He certainly does not excuse Eve from her sin.  Let’s read 1 Timothy 2:13-14, “For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.”  ADAM WAS NOT DECEIVED.  He willingly partook of the forbidden fruit, while Eve was deceived into eating and disobeying the word of the Lord.

Let’s look carefully at the order of events in Genesis 2:16-18, “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.”  Notice that it was before Eve was created that the Lord instructed Adam not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  We do not read that the Lord ever directly instructed Eve to refrain from eating.  I think we can safely assume that it was Adam’s responsibility to make sure Eve knew and understood the Lord’s command.

Genesis 3:1-5 tells us of how the serpent tempted Eve.  It was obvious that Eve did not have an exact knowledge of what the Lord had commanded and was vulnerable to being misled.  She gave in to the temptation she was offered.  Genesis 3:6 says, “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.” 

Eve was attracted to the tree because she perceived it was good for food, it was pretty, and would make her wise by eating it.  This corresponds exactly to what we are told in 1 John 2:16, “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”  Notice that when Eve ate of the fruit that she “gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.”  Doesn’t that show us that Adam was there as Eve was tempted and partook of the forbidden fruit…yet he did nothing to stop her?  Indeed, he also ate the fruit.  So, while Eve was tricked, Adam was not.  He knew the truth…he simply disobeyed the truth! 

Romans 5:12 tells us, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.”  So, Eve ate the fruit first, but this verse tells us that Adam caused sin to come into the world. 

God created Adam from the dust of the ground.  He created Eve from Adam’s rib.  Adam was created first, then Eve.  It is clear that Adam was the leader and it was Adam’s responsibility to lead and provide for his wife. This leadership role was clearly demonstrated when God talked with Adam and Eve following their sin. Even though Eve sinned before Adam, God searched for, and questioned Adam first. (Read Genesis 3:9-11), thus indicating that Adam was the responsible one.  Of course, they were both wrong and both were punished for their sin, but Adam bears the greater responsibility. 

Thankfully, there is another Adam.  We read in 1 Corinthians 15:45, “And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.”  This ‘last Adam’ is the Lord Jesus Christ.  Adam was “made a living soul”, while Christ became a “life giving” soul by giving Himself on the cross to give all those who believe on Him eternal life.  John 3:36 assures us, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”  (437.4)