I have been emphasizing the errors of the Reformed theologians in the 17^th century. But their errors can also be found in the writings of Luther. Both Luther and Calvin studied theology under the Roman Catholic Church. They also studied law as a profession. Both followed the theories of the Roman Catholic theologians although Calvin was more careful not to go beyond what was written in the Bible. I believe that the Reformation was not without limitations. We know that Luther and Calvin did not talk much about the Book of Revelation. We now can see that the Bible must be interpreted as whole. Because God does not change like people do, we conclude that the end was planned before creation. God has ordained the third reformation so that we get rid of bad theories and focus on the coming kingdom.

My view of Adam in the garden of Eden is not new. It is orthodox as Irenaeus wrote that Adam was made immature. Worshipping Adam is NOT God’s will. I read Luther’s view on Adam. It appears that Luther had wrong understandings of Adam. I think both the Roman Catholic church and the Protestant church share the same view of Adam. That is Adam was perfect, had the Holy Spirit, and was full of the knowledge of God. I do not think it was Luther’s fault that the Protestant theologians hold the wrong understandings of Adam. The Protestant theologians learnt theology through the writings of the Roman Catholic theologians. Owen, in particular, is known for his much reading of different theology books and writings. Some believe that he tried to bring the Roman Catholic and the Protestant together. As it is wrong to separate what God has joined together, it is also wrong to join what God has separated.

With Luther’s ideas of Adam, one inevitably concludes that Adam did not need Christ in the garden of Eden. Luther concentrates on the sin that Adam committed instead of why he sinned or what he lacked. Concerning this, Calvin did not want to speculate on why God let him fall. The Reformers heavily relied on Paul’s writings starting with Luther. Paul’s writings draw our attention to the original sin if they are misinterpreted. Paul’s intention was to praise Christ’s work on the cross. But speculative theories have taken our attention from God’s mercy on the cross to Adam in the garden of Eden.

I believe that Luther used the term, the active (meaning the active obedience of Christ (AOC)) and the passive righteousness, which he had learned from Anselm and other Roman Catholic theologians. The Roman Catholic church and also the Protestant church have been interpreting God’s righteousness in relation to the law (or God’s command in Adam’s case). If the law brought righteousness, there was no need for Christ because God could have helped Adam to continue to keep God’s command. But Adam’s righteousness was mere uprightness. Adam lacked the knowledge of God and could not overcome temptation. Besides, the theologians have missed the fact that God’s mercy is also righteousness. God proves Himself righteous by doing righteous deeds. That righteousness was shown on the cross.

But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, … (Romans 3:21)

But the LORD of armies will be exalted in judgment, and the holy God will show Himself holy in righteousness. Then the lambs will graze as in their pasture, and strangers will eat in the ruins of the wealthy. (Isaiah 5:16-17)

So then, as through one offense the result was condemnation to all mankind, so also through one act of righteousness the result was justification of life to all mankind. (Romans 5:18)

Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; Yes, our God is compassionate.The Lord watches over the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me. Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has dealt generously with you. For You have rescued my soul from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from stumbling. (Psalm 116:5-8)

Concerning Romans 3:21, Luther appears to have understood the meaning. But he did not separate the righteousness by faith from the righteousness (in fact, uprightness) by works as if faith came because works failed. From the beginning, God planned righteousness by faith. Missing this important truth may be the reason Luther suffered from depression. His misunderstanding of Adam‘s righteousness resulted in emphasizing the original sin and punishment. The Pharisees and the teachers of the Law considered righteousness that comes from keeping the law. They judged Christ and put Him to death. They did not understand Christ when He said:

Go and learn what this [Scripture] means: ‘I DESIRE COMPASSION [for those in distress], AND NOT [animal] SACRIFICE,’ for I did not come to call [to repentance] the [self-proclaimed] righteous [who see no need to change], but sinners [those who recognize their sin and actively seek forgiveness].” (Matthew 9:13, from the Amplified Bible)

Here Christ quoted Hosea 6:6:

For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

If God only wanted the Israelites to keep the Mosaic law, the sacrifice is more important than showing mercy. If God only wanted Adam to keep His command externally, He would have saved him from eating the fruit and let him live in the garden of Eden.

We must understand that God’s will is in making the kingdom. God wants His children to be like the Son, who knows, understands, believes, and loves God.

As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, For He will bear their wrongdoings. (Isaiah 53:11)

The knowledge of God can only be gained through the Son (the Word) and the Holy Spirit. Adam could teach us nothing about God. His inability to overcome the temptation is the evidence that he did not know God as the Son does. Therefore, we must wear the Son’s righteousness that came through His work on the cross. We become righteous because we believe in the Father and the Son, who saved us from the eternal damnation. True faith comes from true knowledge of God.

In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will live securely; And this is His name by which He will be called, ‘The LORD Our Righteousness.’ (Jeremiah 23:6)

From the story of the young ruler in Mark 10:17-27, we learn that we do not have self-sacrificing love. Only God has such love. That love was shown on the cross.

Looking at them, Jesus said, “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.” (v. 27)

Christ did not say this verse to tell people there are some rich people going to heaven. Christ told the ruler to keep the law and show self-sacrificing love, not because he could do it. Rather, He told him so that he would believe in Him. God’s love is beyond human ability and imagination. If the same condition was applied to Adam as to Christ, we know that he did not seek God’s mercy or show self-sacrificing love for Eve. It is not because Adam ate the fruit, and the fruit made him evil. Adam trusted his own wisdom.

The man said, “The woman whom YOU gave to be with me, she gave me some of the fruit of the tree, and I ate.” (Genesis 3:12)

When Adam sinned, he blamed both God and Eve. Therefore, it is right to view that Adam was immature and was no way near to Christ’s maturity.

I do not think that what God wants from His people is only to obey all His commands. However, theologians believed that was the case. With their understandings of Adam, his fall happened by chance without God’s knowledge. Moreover, Adam could have saved all mankind while Christ saves only some. We still need to take the burden of the original sin because what Adam lacked was the will and efforts to keep God’s command according to their theory.