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John wrote:

Hi, guys —

  • Was Man's sin against God inevitable?
  • Even if Adam and Eve did not sin, isn't it likely that, at some point, their descendants would have sinned against God since the devil was free to roam and tempt mankind?

John

  { Was Man's sin against God inevitable seeing their descendants would have sinned anyway? }

John replied:

Dear John —

This is an interesting question and we must tread lightly. We are dealing with paradox and a mystery. Hence discussion of the matter, will inevitably lead to some incidental heresy.

  • Why?

Because paradoxes and mysteries are things we accept on faith . . . the Revealed, but we can't fully understand them.

  • Was man's sin or fall inevitable?

Yes and No. For the exact same reason. God gave man free will, although He created man without original sin and concupiscence (the tendency, inclination, or desire to sin) but man is also weak and therefore subject to temptations. If he truly has free will, then there is an innate ability to choose to do wrong so we can't say that God created man, predesignating him to sin.

So in the sense, it was not inevitable. Man could have chosen not to sin. Mary was preserved from original sin, by grace, and by grace, she was given the ability to persevere also by grace and therefore didn't fall into sin so it is possible that, theoretically, man starting with Adam, would not fall.

We can dissect the Genesis Narrative and theorize many things. We do know this. Man's sin was necessary. We chant this at every Easter Vigil in the Exultet:

  • O happy fault, O necessary sin of Adam, which gained for us so great a Redeemer!

If man had not sinned, there would be no need for Our Redeemer. And although Adam and Eve lived in a paradise state, it is not the same Glory for which God intended man. Jesus gave Himself for us, in order to give Himself to us. And in so doing, He makes us participants in the His Divine Nature. God created Man to rule and reign with Him, over the entirety of Creation, including the angelic and spiritual realm. Adam and Eve, had bodies limited by time and space. Even though in a state of perfect grace, with no concupiscence, they had human desires and needs. They had to eat, sleep, etc. but when we are resurrected, we will have Glorified Bodies, like Jesus has. We are part of His Body and at the same time His Bride. None of this would have happened had Adam not sinned.

Now much of this is speculation but as I said, this is mystery.

  • Could God have done this a different way? <Yes.>

But God writes straight with crooked lines and works all things for the good of those who love Him.

A careful reading of the Scriptures shows us that God is a God of Plan B. Plan A always involves God letting us do things on our own, whether it's not:

  • eating the forbidden fruit, or
  • keeping the law, only to show us that we can't do it on our own.

That we need Him and that He has Unconditional Love and mercy for us.

I'm not sure if this helps you. I hope it does but we can't break this down into a mathematical equation.

It's truly mystery and paradox.

Warmly,

John

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