The Dispensation of Innocence
The dispensation of innocence refers to the period of time in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve lived in perfect communion with God before the fall. This was a time of utmost blessing and favor from God, as well as a test of obedience to His commands. The key factors of this dispensation include:
God’s Relationship with Humanity
In the Garden of Eden, God walked in perfect fellowship with Adam and Eve. Genesis 3:8 indicates that He would come to the garden and walk with them in the cool of the day. Humanity was created for intimate relationship with their Creator. There was no sin to separate them from God. He provided abundantly for their needs in the garden and gave them wisdom and understanding beyond what any human has possessed since. Psalm 8:5 declares that God made humanity “a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned [them] with glory and honor.”
The Garden of Eden
The garden was a miraculous paradise, containing “every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food” (Genesis 2:9). It included the tree of life, which if Adam and Eve had continued to eat from it after the fall, would have allowed them to live forever in their state of sin (Genesis 3:22). The entirety of creation was perfect and unmarred by sin, decay or death in every way. It was a place of provision, pleasure, and untold natural beauty.
The Creation of Eve
God declared that it was not good for Adam to be alone, so He put Adam into a deep sleep and fashioned Eve from his rib (Genesis 2:18, 21-22). Eve was created to be Adam’s helpmate and complement. Their marriage was the first divinely established human institution. The union of man and woman in marriage reflects Christ’s relationship with the church (Ephesians 5:32).
The Command to “Be Fruitful and Multiply”
Before the fall, God blessed Adam and Eve and commanded them to “be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it” (Genesis 1:28). Without the curse of sin, bringing forth children would have been only a joy and privilege, unsullied by pain. Adam and Eve were to produce offspring who bore God’s image and exerted dominion over creation.
The Test of Obedience
Along with the blessing to be fruitful came a test of obedience. God commanded Adam not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, warning him that in the day he ate of it, he would surely die (Genesis 2:16-17). This provided an opportunity for Adam and Eve to prove their love and trust toward God by obeying his word. Sadly, they failed the test.
The Serpent’s Temptation and the Fall
Genesis 3 records the temptation and fall of humanity into sin. The crafty serpent sowed seeds of doubt about God’s goodness, leading Eve to eat the forbidden fruit in hopes it would make her wise like God. Adam also ate, and their eyes were opened to shame, guilt and fear. They tried to hide from God’s presence. The tragic cosmic effects included:
– Loss of innocence
– Separation from God
– Curses on creation
– Pain in childbirth
– Marital strife
– Physical death
– Expulsion from Eden
Even so, God did not leave humanity without hope. He promised that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15). This pointed ahead to the coming Messiah who would destroy the works of the devil and redeem God’s people.
God’s Interaction with Humans During Innocence
During the dispensation of innocence, God interacted with Adam and Eve on an extremely personal level. There was nothing hindering their relationship. He spoke audibly with them, made covenant commitments, gave them direct commands, taught them, provided for them daily, and walked with them in intimacy. The loving rulership and fatherly care that Adam and Eve experienced during this brief era is unparalleled until the eternal state when God will once again dwell with His people (Revelation 21:3).
The Outworking of the Edenic Covenant
Along with the test to not eat from the forbidden tree, God established the stipulations of what is known as the Edenic covenant. As with all covenants that God makes, there were blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. Had Adam and Eve passed the test and resisted temptation, humanity would have been propelled toward fulfilled destiny. Their offspring would have populated the earth and exercised godly dominion over it. Pain, sorrow and death would have been unheard of. Complete joy and satisfaction would have resulted from continued fellowship with the Lord. However, the tragic disobedience of Adam and Eve led to the swift enactment of the curses – expulsion from Eden, pain in childbirth, marital strife, physical death, and separation from the tree of life (Genesis 3:14-24). Creation itself was subjected to the bondage of corruption (Romans 8:21-22). From that point on, God’s relationship with humans was changed. Communion was severed. The dispensation of innocence had ended in failure.
Human Government During Innocence
During the dispensation of innocence, the primary human institution was marriage between Adam and Eve. As the first husband and wife, they served as a pattern for the divine blueprint of marriage – one man and one woman becoming “one flesh” for life (Genesis 2:24). There were no other people alive during this era, so larger-scale human government was unnecessary. The stewardship God granted to Adam and Eve was that of tending the garden, being fruitful and multiplying, exercising dominion over the animals, and abstaining from the forbidden fruit. Their obedience would have led to an ordered multiplication of human society. But due to sin, the human conscience became corrupted and hostile to loving submission toward God and one another. Ever since, more complex government structures became necessary to restrain evil and prevent societal chaos. Human government originated in the mind of God, but it was not His original desire or ultimate plan for social order. The return of Christ will usher in perfect divine government for eternity.
God’s Plan of Redemption Evidenced
Despite the tragedy of the fall which terminated the dispensation of innocence, God did not immediately execute the full extent of the curse upon Adam and Eve. Along with the judgments, He gave comforting promises of an ultimate victorious seed and clothed their shame (Genesis 3:15, 21). God revealed that, although sin had entered humanity, He still loved what He had created in His image. He put enmity between Satan and Eve, showing that people were not destined to be endlessly controlled by sin. There was hope for redemption. God’s covenant commitments are unbreakable, and His eternal plan cannot be thwarted. The dispensation of innocence ended in seeming defeat, but the protoevangelium promise of Genesis 3:15 hinted at creation’s future restoration through the redeeming work of Christ.
The Foundational History for All Time
The opening chapters of Genesis have profound importance, laying the groundwork for everything that follows in Scripture. Every major doctrine emerges from Genesis 1-3 in seed form. The dispensation of innocence gives crucial insights into God’s original intent for humanity. It provides the context necessary to understand the redemptive plan that unfolds throughout the rest of the Bible. The beginnings of creation, marriage, family, work, Sabbath rest, the people of God, sin, judgment, atonement, and covenant all originate here. Genesis 3:15 is often called the “seedbed” of the entire Bible. Without what is revealed in these formative chapters, the rest of the Bible would make little sense.
Life Application for Today
Although the dispensation of innocence was short-lived, it continues to have relevant application for life today:
1. All people still bear God’s image and possess inherent dignity and worth.
2. Marriage between one man and one woman is still God’s design and should be held in honor.
3. Fulfilling the creation mandate by working, creating culture, and exercising godly dominion over creation brings glory to God.
4. Enjoying the natural world and bounty of creation is a gift from God, although now tainted by the fall.
5. Tragically, sin still prevents perfect communion and harmony between God and humans.
6. Redemption is still urgently needed. Salvation comes only through faith in Jesus Christ.
7. One day God will again dwell in perfect intimacy with His people and creation will be liberated from the curse.
In summary, the dispensation of innocence spanned from the creation of Adam and Eve until their expulsion from Eden. It provides the backdrop for the redemptive mission of Christ, which will culminate in the removal of the curse and restoration of God’s kingdom on earth. Even in judgment, God’s mercy and faithfulness shine. The dispensation of innocence displays the heights of blessing available in communion with God as well as the depths of damage resulting from disobedience. Yet despite humanity’s failure, God determined to provide redemption through Jesus. Innocence was lost, but those who place faith in Christ are declared righteous in Him. They are given unlimited hope and the absolute certainty of eternal life with God in paradise.