For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. — ROMANS 3:23

Man did the unthinkable! Given dominion over all the works of God’s hand, Adam was originally the god of this world. But Adam knowingly committed high treason against God by selling out to Satan the dominion which God had originally given him. Adam’s treason was done on such a legal basis that God could not annul the contract He had made with Adam, and which Adam had passed on to Satan. Hence, Satan, not Adam, became the god of this world (2 Cor. 4:4). And thus began Satan’s destructive reign.

So spiritual death — which is separation from God — came to man. When God came down in the cool of the day to walk and talk with Adam, God called, “Adam, where art thou?” And Adam said, “I hid myself.” He was separated from God!

Another aspect of spiritual death — having Satan’s nature — also came to man. The devil became man’s spiritual father. Notice Jesus said to the Pharisees, “Ye are of your father the devil . . .” (John 8:44). Man is spiritually a child of the devil. He partakes of his father’s nature. This explains why man cannot be saved by conduct. Man cannot stand in the Presence of God as he is, having the nature of his father, the devil, in him. If man is ever saved, he must be saved by someone paying the penalty for his sins, and someone giving him a new nature.

Confession: Thank You, Father, for my new nature. Thank You, Father, that You have made provision for me to be a “partaker of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4).