Coming to a fresh understanding of the Fall and its consequences has been an important ingredient in rebuilding my life after a period of clinical depression.
The Fall is usually referred to in connection with man in a state of sin prior to conversion, and is dealt with in the context of gospel preaching. Similarly my study of Christian doctrine at Bible college dealt with the Fall in the context of our state before salvation. I firmly believe in original sin and the need for personal salvation, and rejoice that I was saved as an 11-year-old back in 1964. But the doctrine of the Fall has a wider application too.
Five lessons
I have been learning a number of lessons, which are related to a broader, fuller understanding of the Fall. I am fallen, but I also live in a fallen world, which contains many consequences of sin. Unless I recognise the fallenness of the world I live in then I am in danger of acting wrongly in many situations.
