The fundamental law is that sin brings death: 'the soul that sinneth, it shall die.'
This law was first given to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, where eating the forbidden fruit would result in certain death. It was reaffirmed through Ezekiel and applies to all humanity because all have sinned in Adam. Les Feldick explains that this law leaves no alternative but death, yet God provided a 'loophole' through Christ's substitutionary death.
Genesis 2:17 — The first statement of the law that sin leads to death, given directly to Adam.
Ezekiel 18:4 — Restates the same law in different words, emphasizing the soul that sins must die.
The Bible establishes from the beginning that the consequence of sin is death. In Genesis 2:17, God commanded Adam, '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.' This is the first fundamental law regarding sin and death. Centuries later, the prophet Ezekiel reiterated the same principle: 'The soul that sinneth, it shall die' (Ezekiel 18:4). The New Testament confirms that this law applies to all humanity. Romans 5:12 states, '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.' This universal application is further emphasized in Romans 3:23: 'For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.'
Les Feldick teaches that the very first law God gave to humanity was the command to Adam and Eve that eating from the tree of knowledge would result in certain death. He emphasizes that this law is absolute and inescapable: 'Surely die.' Les explains that Ezekiel later reiterates the same law in different words: 'The soul that sinneth shall surely die.' Since all humans are descendants of Adam and born in sin, every person is subject to this death penalty. There is no way to escape it through human effort. However, Les highlights that God provided a 'loophole' to this law. That loophole is that Christ died in our place. By identifying with Christ through faith, believers can die in Him—His death counts as ours. This is substitutionary death. Les also stresses that the old Adamic nature must be crucified and put to death, as it is sinful and subject to the law's demand for death.
Les Feldick reminds us that the very first law, if we may call it that, was given to Adam and Eve concerning the tree. God said, 'The day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die.' This established the principle that disobedience leads to certain death.
Les points out that Ezekiel uses different language but conveys the same law: 'The soul that sinneth shall surely die.' This shows that the principle established in Eden remains unchanged throughout Scripture.
Les explains that because all humans are sons of Adam and share his sinful nature, the law demands death for every person. No one escapes this requirement because all have sinned, as Paul wrote in Romans 3:23. Death is not just a physical event; it is the necessary consequence of sin.
Les Feldick describes a 'loophole' that God provided: Christ died in our place. By identifying with Christ through faith, we can die in Him, satisfying the law's demand. This is substitution—Christ taking our penalty.
Les teaches that our old Adamic nature must be crucified and put to death. Since it is sinful, it is subject to the law requiring death. This crucifixion with Christ is an act of God, not something we do ourselves.
Romans 6:7-12 — Can a Believer Still Sin After Being Set Free?
And you know, that's just one of the facts of teaching. You don't just tell people something once. It's that over and over and over again that finally begins to make sense of these things. Well, anyway, our television audience, we want to know again.
First Law to Adam and the Loophole
Les explicitly calls the command to Adam 'the very first law' and explains that the only escape from 'surely die' is dying in Christ.
The Loophole Explained
Les describes the law 'the soul that sinneth shall surely die' and the loophole that Christ died in our place, calling it substitution.
Adam's Sin and Death's Entry
Les teaches that before Adam sinned, nothing died; with sin came death, which passed upon all men.
Death Through One Man
Les explains Romans 5:12 that sin entered through Adam and death through sin, and so death passed to all.
Why Did Adam's Sin Affect All of Us? Romans 5:10-14
It's part of the fall of Adam that we should detest death. All right, let's go on. Verse 13, now finishing verse 12, and so death passed upon all men, and consequently in fitting with Romans 3, 23, all men have sinned. Everyone's a sinner, because it started with Adam.
First Law and Crucifixion
Les reiterates the first law given to Adam and connects it to the necessity of being crucified with Christ.
Physical Death and the Curse
Les clarifies that physical death is a result of Adam's fall and part of the curse, giving context to the law's scope.
Genesis 2:17: 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.
This is the first law given to humanity, establishing the principle that disobedience results in death.
Ezekiel 18:4: Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
This restates the law in clear terms, confirming that the soul that sins must die.
Romans 5:12: 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:
This New Testament passage shows that Adam's sin brought death to all humanity, since all sinned in him.
Romans 3:23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Paul states that every human has sinned, making the death penalty universal.
Romans 6:6: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
This verse shows that the believer's old sinful nature is crucified with Christ, satisfying the law's demand for death.
The first law is given in Genesis 2:17, where God tells Adam that eating from the tree of knowledge will result in certain death: 'thou shalt surely die.'
Yes, because all have sinned in Adam, as Romans 5:12 states, death passed upon all men. Everyone is subject to the death penalty due to their sinful nature.
God provided a 'loophole' through Christ's substitutionary death. By identifying with Christ through faith, believers die in Him, satisfying the law's demand.
It means that our old sinful nature is put to death with Christ on the cross. This is an act of God, as Romans 6:6 explains, so that we no longer serve sin.
Watch the Teaching: Romans 6:7-12 — Can a Believer Still Sin After Being Set Free?