The concept of living in a “fallen” world is central to the Christian faith. It refers to the biblical teaching that when Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, it brought sin and death into the world and created a separation between God and humanity (Genesis 3). The state of the world today – filled with evil, suffering, and brokenness – is a direct result of the “fall” of humanity into sin.
So what are some of the key things the Bible teaches about living in a fallen world?
1. The world is full of sin and its effects
One of the clearest results of the fall is that sin became pervasive in human society and all of creation. The apostle Paul describes the fallen state of the world this way:
“Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned” (Romans 5:12).
He sees sin as almost like a disease that has infected every person and aspect of life on earth. There is no part of human society – governments, cultures, families, etc. – that is free from the effects of sin. Even nature itself was impacted by the fall and experiences disorder and corruption (Romans 8:20-21).
2. The world is under the influence of Satan
The Bible presents Satan as the “prince of this world” (John 12:31) and “the god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4) who wields influence over the fallen, rebellious systems of the world. While God is still sovereign, Satan exercises a pervasive influence over the thoughts, values, behaviors, institutions, and structures humans have built apart from God. The world’s systems often manifest the enemy’s opposition to God’s kingdom and purposes.
Therefore, as long as we live in a fallen world, Christians must be on guard against the temptations and deception of the devil who prowls around seeking people to devour (1 Peter 5:8). We must resist conformity to his schemes (Ephesians 6:10-12).
3. The world opposes the ways of God
The apostle John wrote, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world – the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life – is not from the Father but is from the world” (1 John 2:15-16).
He saw a fundamental disconnect between the fallen world system and God the Father. The world’s values are often self-centered, ungodly, materialistic. Fallen human society organizes itself without God and often in opposition to His values. That’s why Jesus taught that Christians would face persecution from the world (John 15:18-21) and should expect suffering when standing up for Him.
4. The world is under God’s judgment
The fallen state of the world also means it rests under the righteous judgment of God because of sin. For example, the apocalyptic judgments in Revelation reflect God’s unfolding judgment on a disobedient world.
The Bible says God has set a day when He will judge the world through Jesus Christ: “He has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed” (Acts 17:31). Until then, we live in an abnormal time where evil often seems to go unpunished.
5. Living in a fallen world affects human nature
The fall also introduced an inner brokenness and propensity toward sin in human nature. We see evidence of this in the inner struggles Christians have between their redeemed spirit and the flesh (Romans 7:14-25). Our minds and consciences are corrupted by the fall (Titus 1:15). Evidence of humans’ separation from God and failed stewardship is seen in sickness, physical death, broken relationships, and more.
While the human race retains the image of God, that image has been seriously marred by the fall. Our very nature cries out for redemption and renewal by God.
6. It is a place of suffering and groaning
The cumulative effects of sin and the fall have filled the world with human pain and tragedy. As Paul reflected on the suffering he saw, he wrote that “the whole creation has been groaning” (Romans 8:22) as it awaited future redemption. The fall subjected creation to bondage and decay (Romans 8:21).
Of course, God is compassionate toward those who suffer. But a fallen world is filled with illness, relational ruptures, natural disasters, pollution, death, war, addiction, poverty, corruption, terrorism, moral evil, and more. Such sufferings prompt Christians to cry out for God’s intervention to make all things new again.
7. Christians are called to be salt and light
Because we live in a fallen world, Jesus calls His people to go into the world as salt and light to help preserve what is good and push back the darkness (Matthew 5:13-16). We do this through acts of service, moral courage, compassion, advocacy for justice, ethics in business, faithfulness in education, support for the disadvantaged, care for creation, prayer, sharing the gospel, and more.
While the world’s fallenness cannot be completely reversed prior to Jesus’ return, Christians can make a foretaste of the kingdom real in how we live. As Abraham Kuyper famously said, “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry: ‘Mine!'”
8. It is a temporary place awaiting restoration
Living in a fallen world is the current norm but not the eternal destiny for believers. Jesus assured His disciples He would return one day to take them to an eternal home in heaven (John 14:2-3). Peter said Christians are temporary residents in this world looking forward to the world to come (1 Peter 2:11).
The Christian hope is focused on the resurrection of the dead and the restoration of all things at the return of Jesus (Acts 3:20-21). God promises to redeem this fallen world and restore it to its original goodness – only even better. The book of Revelation depicts the New Heavens and New Earth that God will create for eternity.
9. God is at work to redeem this fallen world
Despite the fallenness of the world, God loves humanity so deeply that He sent Jesus to be the Savior of the world (1 John 4:14). All who put their faith in Christ are saved from sin and death.
God also pours out His Spirit to empower His church to join in His redemptive work in this fallen world (Acts 1:8). He has not abandoned the world but is patiently at work to restore it through Christ.
The invitation of the gospel goes out to all people, and the church serves as the light of hope. Each Christian should see their vocations and daily lives as opportunities to do kingdom work that anticipates the new creation to come.
10. We look forward to the removal of the fall’s curse
Christians living in a fallen world have hope because we know this is not the end of the story. Jesus took the curse of the fall upon Himself on the cross (Galatians 3:13-14) and will finally eliminate it completely when He returns to make everything new.
John describes the culmination of God’s purpose in Revelation 22: “No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him” (v.3).
The climactic promise is that God “will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4). Maranatha!
Key Points:
- The world’s fallen state is the result of human sin and separation from God.
- Sin, evil, and suffering pervade a fallen world under the influence of Satan.
- The fallen world opposes God’s truth and persecutes His people.
- God’s righteous judgment rests on the fallen world, though Christ offers redemption.
- Human nature itself is marred by inner brokenness and an inclination toward sin.
- This fallen world groans with suffering as it awaits restoration.
- Christians are called to be salt and light by doing kingdom work.
- God is patiently at work redeeming the fallen world through Christ.
- The Christian hope centers on the new creation to come.
- The curse of the fall will finally be removed when Jesus returns.