Why Did God, in His Omniscience, Give Adam

the Choice to Sin?

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God gave Adam the choice to sin so that Adam would love God more. Although that answer may seem hard to understand at first, the story of Simon the Pharisee and the Sinner illustrates the basic truth that those people who have been forgiven much love God much. Therefore, when Adam sinned, God provided redemption by faith in Jesus Christ and so Adam experienced the loving forgiveness of God. As some people recognize the size of their sin, they likewise recognize the depths of God’s love in forgiving them for great sin. So, let us look at Luke 7:36-50, which, in my mind, provides the perfect answer to the question about why God allowed Adam to sin.

36 Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, 38 and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume.

Jesus accepted the invitation of Simon the Pharisee to eat lunch with him. While Jesus was in Simon the Pharisee’s house, a woman brought a costly alabaster vial to the house. She had a particular purpose in mind concerning Jesus. She came to anoint Jesus to demonstrate her great love for Jesus. She wet His feet with her tears and wiped His feet with her hair, kissing His feet and anointing them with perfume. She visibly showed everyone her love for Jesus.

Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner.”

Simon the Pharisee witnessed what the woman did for Jesus, but condemned the sinful woman for touching Jesus. Simon the Pharisee also rejected Jesus as a prophet, because He let the woman touch Him. Simon the Pharisee had passed judgment upon both Jesus and the woman and condemned both of them. Jesus then taught everyone a great lesson about the relationship between love and forgiveness.

And Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he replied, “Say it, Teacher.” 41 “A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?” 

Jesus asked very penetrating questions. In this case, Jesus asked Simon the Pharisee about forgiving debts. Jesus focused upon the amount forgiven and the corresponding the amount of love for that forgiveness.

43 Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have judged correctly.” 44 Turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet.46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume.

Having illustrated the relationship between the amount of forgiveness and the amount of love, Jesus then applied those concepts regarding amount of forgiveness and the corresponding amount of love to Simon the Pharisee. Jesus contrasted (1) the love of the woman for Jesus demonstrated by her actions with (2) the lack of action by Simon the Pharisee. Clearly, the woman loved Jesus more than Simon, as revealed by their actions or lack thereof towards Jesus. She loved Jesus more because she had been forgiven more.

47 For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 Then He said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.” 49 Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?” 50 And He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Jesus concluded His teaching about the relationship between the amount of forgiveness being directly related to the amount of love by explaining the reason He told Simon the story about the debtors. Jesus then turned to the woman and said her sins had been forgiven. Upon hearing Jesus make that declaration, the others at the table questioned how Jesus could forgive sins. Jesus answered their question by saying that the woman’s faith had saved her and she could go in peace.

In conclusion, this passage provides a perfect answer to the question about why did God, in His omniscience, give Adam the choice to sin or not. Of course, God knew that Adam would sin, but sin and death would not be the final result of Adam’s sin. Adam would experience the great forgiveness of sin and so love God more. Therefore, God gave Adam the choice to sin or not, but God knew that Adam’s sinful choice would ultimately lead Adam to love God more for His forgiveness of sin. Likewise, everyone who turns to Jesus by faith alone for salvation will love God more and more as each believer experiences the love of God that grows within us as we comprehend that we love God more as we realize how much He has forgiven us.

HALLELUJAH !