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Creation of Man

The study of the first Dispensation begins with the account of the creation of man.  Genesis 1:26 states that God created man in His own image after His likeness.  Genesis 2:7 gives the detailed account of how God accomplished this:

“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (Gen. 2:7)

The Hebrew word translated “formed” is yatsar, which has reference to a potter molding a piece of clay.  The Hebrew word for “ground” is adamah, which literally means “red earth,” from which Adam derived his name.  God actually formed the body of man from the dust.

“Out of the ground the LORD God (also) formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air” (Gen.2:19), but the unique feature that distinguished the creation of man from that of the animals was the infusion of the Spirit from God.  When Adam breathed his first breath from the mouth of the Almighty, he became a living being.  This is a picture of the Triune God in operation.  Man is a triunity of body, soul, and spirit.  Man has a body, he acquires a soul, but he is a spirit, even as “God is a Spirit” (Jn. 4:24).  God first molded a lifeless body out of the ground, and then breathed into “the breath of lives” (the Hebrew is plural).  This breath of life became the spirit of man, which gave him life:

“The body without the spirit is dead“(James 2:26).

“It is the Spirit who quickens (gives life)” (Jn. 6:63.

When God placed the spirit within the body, the result produced a third part, and man became a living soul.  This may explain the plural “breath of lives.”  The in-breathing of God became the spirit, and simultaneously, but its action upon the body, produced the soul.  Therefore, man is a trichotomous being - body, soul, and spirit:

Superior Intelligence of Man

Adam was created with an intelligence far superior to that of fallen man for it is recorded:

“And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them:  And whatsoever Adam Called every living creature, that was the name thereof” (Gen 2:19).

It was in this perfected state that God took Adam and “put him into the Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it” (Gen 2:15).  After Adam surveyed all of the animal kingdom and inspected the beautiful garden of God, it became evident to him that “there was not found a help meet for him”(Gen 2:20).

We have Genesis 2:18, 21-23 and thus, the man and the woman were both created on the sixth day of creation, Adam being in existence only a few hours before God formed his wife.  Their perfection and innocency are described by the fact that they were both naked and were not ashamed (Gen. 2:25).  No doubt, they were clothed with the Shekinah Glory of God, as would be obvious!

Definition of Dispensation of Innocence

The Dispensation of Innocence is also named due to the fact that this was a period of time when man was responsible to God in total sinlessness, innocence, and freedom from guilt.  The length of this Dispensation, although not expressly stated, could not have been more than six days for the following reasons:

1. Only one Sabbath day’s rest is recorded (Gen. 2:2).
2. Satan, undoubtedly, would have been swift to bring temptation before man.
3. Adam and Eve had not as yet consummated their relationship (Gen. 4:1).
4. There had not been sufficient enough time for either of them to visit the Tree of Life (Gen. 3:24).

Edenic Covenant

The Edenic Covenant was given by God to govern the life of man in his unfallen state.  The terms were simple:

1. To be fruitful and multiply and replenish the Earth (Gen. 1:28)
2. To subdue the Earth and have dominion over the animal kingdom
3. To be vegetarian, eating only herbs and fruit (Gen.1:29).
4. To dress and keep the Garden of Eden (Gen 2:15)
5. To abstain from eating of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, under penalty of death(Gen 2:17).

Test of this Dispensation

The one particular test that God placed before man during the Dispensation of Innocence was the command that he should not eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.  God’s purpose in testing man was to determine whether or not he would be obedient before God and could be trusted to carry out the responsibilities of ruler-ship.  Lucifer was anxious to see that man would fail this test, so that once again he could gain dominion over the Earth he once enjoyed.

Serpent.

The instrument Satan used as his mouthpiece to bring temptation before Eve was the serpent.  The animal, in this case, should not be confused with a common snake, for this serpent did not become such until after the Fall.  We are given several statements that describe him as probably a beautiful being:

1. He was a beast of the field, but was more subtle, cunning, and crafty than the others (Gen 3:1).
2. He could talk and carry on intelligent conversation (Gen 3:1-6).
3. Eve was not frightened by his presence, but was amazed at his reasoning abilities and was actually deceived by his words (Gen.3:1-6).
4. He evidently walked upright (Gen 3:14).
5. He was close to Adam and Eve, and had knowledge of God’s Plan for them (Gen. 3:1-15).

The modern concept of Satan as a red devil with horns and a pitchfork is obviously not true.  Satan will use whatever tactics are available to him to lure an unsuspecting soul into his trap.  If necessary, he can transform himself into “an angel of light” (II Cor. 11:14).  Such was the case with Eve, for he chose that which would attract her the most effectively.  If Eve had avoided the tree altogether, it would have been impossible for her to have eaten of the forbidden fruit.  This is the reason why it is o vitlaly important to “abstain from all appearance of evil” (I Thess. 5:22).

We all know the story.  The serpent began his conversation with the woman by doubting God’s word - “Has God said….?”  He proceeded with contradicting God’s Word - “You shall not surely die”  Satan has used that lie since the beginning and it is even in a majority of the churches now days.  The serpent then tempted Eve with the very desire that brought about the fall of Lucifer - “You shall be as gods” (Gen.3:5; Isa. 14:14).  Genesis 3:6 shows the progression with which Eve succumbed.  The first temptation of man had to do with food and the first temptation of Jesus had to do with food - turning stones into bread (Lk. 4:3)  Satan tempts man easiest in the area of his appetites, and he tempted Eve with all three categories of temptation the world has to offer:

1. The lust of the flesh
2. The lust of the eyes; and
3. The pride of life (I Jn. 2:16)

Eve saw the tree, she took of the fruit, and did eat.  As is usually the case - others are affected by their own sin - She gave to Adam and “he did eat”

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