The doctrine of the fall, with all of its dire consequences, shines with awful clarity in Scripture: Romans 5:12, “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned.”
The effect of the fall was shame, the never-failing companion of sin. “They knew they were naked” (Genesis 3:7). Their peace and purity were gone.
The effect of the fall was the darkness of the mind. “Adam and his wife hid from the presence of the Lord…” (3:8).
The effect of the fall was slavish fear. When God asked Adam why he hid, he replied, “I was afraid” (3:10). They were now afraid to look upon God whose presence was their heaven and joy.
The effect of the fall was to refuse responsibility or to repent (3:12).
