Bible reflections with Bryan: The Kingdom was never lost, our authority was

What if I told you that Adam did not lose heaven when he sinned? He lost his position of authority on earth! For generations, Christians have understood the tragedy of humanity’s fall primarily through the lens of sin, shame, and separation from God. And certainly, all three are essential to understanding what happened in the Garden of Eden. kAmqFE E96C6 :D 2?@E96C 5:>6?D:@? E@ E96 DE@CJ E92E H6 42??@E 277@C5 E@ @G6C=@@<]k^Am kAm(96? p52> 76==[ 9F>2?:EJ 5:5 ?@E >6C6=J =@D6 76==@HD9:A H:E9 v@5] wF>2?:EJ DFCC6?56C65 :ED 23:=:EJ E@ 7F=7:== E96 @C:8:?2= z:?85@> 2DD:8?>6?E 2D v@5 :?E6?565]k^Am kAm%@ F?56CDE2?5 E96 D:8?:7:42?46 @7 H92E y6DFD 244@>A=:D965 E9C@F89 w:D 562E9 2?5 C6DFCC64E:@?[ H6 >FDE 7:CDE F?56CDE2?5 H92E 9F>2?:EJ H2D 4C62E65 E@ A@DD6DD]k^Am k9am%96 @C:8:?2= <:?85@> 2DD:8?>6?Ek^9am kAmv6?6D:D `iae C64@C5D v@5’D 564=2C2E:@? E92E 9F>2?:EJ H@F=5 36 >256 :? w:D :>286 2?5 =:<6?6DD 2?5 8:G6? 5@>:?:@? @G6C E96 62CE9]k^Am kAm%9:D H2D ?@E 2? 27E6CE9@F89E] s@>:?:@? H2D A2CE @7 v@5’D @C:8:?2= 56D:8?]k^Am kAmq67@C6 D:? 6?E6C65 E96 H@C=5[ 367@C6 562E9 3642>6 9F>2?:EJ’D 6?6>J[ 2?5 367@C6 D92>6 42FD65 p52> E@ 9:56 2>@?8 E96 EC66D[ v@5 925 2=C625J 6DE23=:D965 9F>2?:EJ’D AFCA@D6]k^Am kAmp52> H2D 4C62E65 E@ C6AC6D6?E E96 8@G6C?>6?E @7 962G6? @? 62CE9]k^Am kAmw6 H2D 8:G6? C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ E@ 4F=E:G2E6[ AC@E64E[ 2?5 DE6H2C5 H92E v@5 925 6?ECFDE65 E@ 9:>] v6?6D:D ai`d E6==D FD E92E v@5 A=2465 p52> :? E96 v2C56? @7 t56? E@ H@C< :E 2?5 E2<6 42C6 @7 :E]k^Am kAm}@E:46 E92E p52> 925 2? 2DD:8?>6?E 367@C6 96 6G6C 925 2 AC@3=6>]k^Am kAm(@C< H2D ?@E E96 4FCD6] uCFDEC2E:@?[ A2:?7F= E@:=[ 2?5 E96 3C@<6??6DD 2DD@4:2E65 H:E9 D:? 42>6 27E6CH2C5]k^Am kAmv@5’D :?E6?E:@? H2D 7@C 9F>2?:EJ E@ 6I6C4:D6 2FE9@C:EJ H9:=6 C6>2:?:?8 4@>A=6E6=J 56A6?56?E FA@? w:>]k^Am kAmp52> H2D ?6G6C :?E6?565 E@ @A6C2E6 :?56A6?56?E=J @7 E96 z:?8]k^Am kAmpFE9@C:EJ H:E9@FE DF3>:DD:@? E@ v@5 :D ?@E z:?85@> 5@>:?:@?] xE :D C636==:@? 5:D8F:D65 2D :?56A6?56?46] p?5 E92E :D AC64:D6=J H96C6 E96 EC@F3=6 3682?]k^Am k9am%96 52J 9F>2?:EJ 49@D6 :?56A6?56?46k^9am kAmx? v6?6D:D b[ E96 D6CA6?E 2AAC@24965 tG6 H:E9 2 BF6DE:@? 56D:8?65 E@ F?56C>:?6 96C 4@?7:56?46 :? v@5’D (@C5] %96 E6>AE2E:@? H2D ?@E D:>A=J 23@FE 62E:?8 7@C3:556? 7CF:E]k^Am kAmxE H2D 23@FE H96E96C 9F>2?:EJ H@F=5 4@?E:?F6 ECFDE:?8 E96 2FE9@C:EJ @7 v@5 @C 2EE6>AE E@ 6DE23=:D9 :ED @H? 2FE9@C:EJ 2A2CE 7C@> w:>]k^Am kAm%96 D6CA6?E AC@>:D65 E92E 62E:?8 7C@> E96 7@C3:556? EC66 H@F=5 @A6? E96:C 6J6D 2?5 >2<6 E96> =:<6 v@5] qFE E96C6 H2D 2 E6CC:3=6 :C@?J :? E92E E6>AE2E:@?]k^Am kAmp52> 2?5 tG6 H6C6 2=C625J 4C62E65 :? v@5’D :>286Pk^Am kAm%96J H6C6 E6>AE65 E@ AFCDF6 E9C@F89 5:D@365:6?46 D@>6E9:?8 E92E 4@F=5 ?6G6C 36 :>AC@G65 FA@? 3J C636==:@?] %96J 6I492?865 ECFDE 7@C DFDA:4:@?[ @365:6?46 7@C :?56A6?56?46[ 2?5 76==@HD9:A 7@C D6A2C2E:@?]k^Am kAm(96? p52> 2?5 tG6 D:??65[ E96:C 6J6D H6C6 @A6?65[ 3FE ?@E E@ E96 8=@C:@FD :?56A6?56?46 E96J 925 :>28:?65] x?DE625[ E96J 5:D4@G6C65 D92>6]k^Am kAmv6?6D:D big 56D4C:36D p52> 2?5 tG6 9:5:?8 7C@> E96 AC6D6?46 @7 E96 {@C5]k^Am kAm%96 G6CJ v@5 H9@D6 AC6D6?46 925 366? E96:C 56=:89E 925 ?@H 364@>6 E96 ~?6 E96J 762C65]k^Am kAm$:? 925 5:DE@CE65 E96:C C6=2E:@?D9:A H:E9 E96:C rC62E@C] p?5 E96 4@?D6BF6?46D H@F=5 6IE6?5 72C 36J@?5 E96 3@F?52C:6D @7 t56?]k^Am k9am%96 z:?85@> H2D ?@E 56762E65k^9am kAmw6C6 :D D@>6E9:?8 6G6CJ 36=:6G6C ?665D E@ F?56CDE2?5] (96? p52> D:??65[ v@5 5:5 ?@E 462D6 36:?8 z:?8] w62G6? 5:5 ?@E 6IA6C:6?46 2 A@=:E:42= 4C:D:D] v@5’D E9C@?6 H2D ?@E E9C62E6?65] w:D D@G6C6:8?EJ H2D ?6G6C DFCC6?56C65]k^Am kAm!D2=> `_bi`h 564=2C6Di “%96 {~#s 92D 6DE23=:D965 9:D E9C@?6 :? 962G6?[ 2?5 9:D <:?85@> CF=6D @G6C 2==]” W}x'Xk^Am kAmv@5’D z:?85@> C6>2:?65 F?D92<6?] (92E 492?865 H2D 9F>2?:EJ’D 4@?5:E:@? 2?5 C6=2E:@?D9:A E@ E96 2FE9@C:EJ v@5 925 6?ECFDE65 E@ :E]k^Am kAm%96 5@>:?:@? 2DD:8?>6?E 925 366? 4@CCFAE65 3J D:?[ 2?5 9F>2?:EJ 4@F=5 ?@ =@?86C 7F=7:== :E 2D @C:8:?2==J :?E6?565] #@>2?D di`a 6IA=2:?D E92E D:? 6?E6C65 E96 H@C=5 E9C@F89 @?6 >2?[ 2?5 562E9 42>6 E9C@F89 D:?]k^Am kAm%96 4@?D6BF6?46D @7 p52>’D C636==:@? DAC625 E9C@F89@FE E96 9F>2? 72>:=J]k^Am kAmwF>2?:EJ[ 4C62E65 E@ C67=64E E96 492C24E6C @7 v@5[ ?@H DECF88=65 36?62E9 E96 :?7=F6?46 @7 D:?[ 762C[ 4@CCFAE:@?[ 2?5 562E9] *6E 6G6? :? E96 27E6C>2E9 @7 9F>2?:EJ’D C636==:@?[ v@5 2??@F?465 E96 AC@>:D6 @7 C656>AE:@?]k^Am kAmv6?6D:D bi`d A@:?ED E@H2C5 E96 4@>:?8 4@?7=:4E 36EH66? E96 D6CA6?E 2?5 E96 @77DAC:?8 @7 E96 H@>2?] %96 6?6>J 925 ?@E D64FC65 E96 7:?2= G:4E@CJ] v@5’D C656>AE:G6 A=2? H2D 2=C625J 36:?8 C6G62=65]k^Am k9am%96 =2DE p52> 6?E6CD E96 DE@CJk^9am kAmr6?EFC:6D =2E6C[ y6DFD r9C:DE 6?E6C65 E96 H@C=5] w6 5:5 ?@E 4@>6 2D 2?@E96C 72==6? C6AC6D6?E2E:G6 @7 9F>2?:EJ] w6 42>6 2D E96 D:?=6DD $@? @7 v@5[ 7F==J @365:6?E E@ E96 u2E96C] %96 2A@DE=6 !2F= :56?E:7:6D y6DFD 2D E96 =2DE p52> :? ` r@C:?E9:2?D `dicd] %9:D 4@>A2C:D@? :D 6IEC2@C5:?2CJ]k^Am kAm%96 7:CDE p52> DE@@5 :? 2 82C56? 2?5 49@D6 5:D@365:6?46] y6DFD DE@@5 :? E96 v2C56? @7 v6E9D6>2?6 2?5 DF3>:EE65 w:>D6=7 E@ E96 u2E96C’D H:==] %96 7:CDE p52>’D C636==:@? 3C@F89E 4@?56>?2E:@? 2?5 562E9]k^Am kAm%96 @365:6?46 @7 y6DFD @A6?65 E96 H2J E@ ;FDE:7:42E:@? 2?5 6E6C?2= =:76]k^Am kAm#@>2?D di`h E62496D E92E ;FDE 2D >2?J H6C6 >256 D:??6CD E9C@F89 @?6 >2?’D 5:D@365:6?46[ >2?J H:== 36 >256 C:89E6@FD E9C@F89 E96 @365:6?46 @7 @?6 >2?]k^Am kAm(96C6 p52> 72:=65[ y6DFD AC6G2:=65] (96C6 9F>2?:EJ 4@F=5 ?@E @G6C4@>6 D:?[ r9C:DE 4@?BF6C65 :E]k^Am kAmp?5 H96C6 562E9 2AA62C65 E@ 92G6 E96 7:?2= H@C5[ E96 C6DFCC64E:@? @7 y6DFD 2??@F?465 2? 6?E:C6=J 5:776C6?E 4@?4=FD:@?] %96 4C@DD H2D ?@E E96 56762E @7 2 96=A=6DD $2G:@C] xE H2D E96 G:4E@CJ @7 2 4@?BF6C:?8 z:?8Pk^Am kAmr@=@DD:2?D ai`d 56D4C:36D r9C:DE’D EC:F>A9 @G6C E96 A@H6CD 2?5 2FE9@C:E:6D E9C@F89 E96 4C@DD] (92E 2AA62C65 E@ 36 $2E2?’D 8C62E6DE G:4E@CJ 3642>6 E96 56>@?DEC2E:@? @7 9:D 56762E]k^Am k9am#6DE@C65 E@ E96 z:?85@>k^9am kAmr@=@DD:2?D `i`b 564=2C6D E92E v@5 92D C6D4F65 36=:6G6CD 7C@> E96 5@>:?:@? @7 52C :?E@ E96 z:?85@> @7 w:D 36=@G65 $@?] r@?D:56C E96 D:8?:7:42?46 @7 E92E DE2E6>6?E] $2=G2E:@? :D ?@E >6C6=J E96 7@C8:G6?6DD @7 J6DE6C52J’D D:?D]k^Am kAmxE :D 56=:G6C2?46 7C@> E96 2FE9@C:EJ @7 52C]k^Am kAm%9C@F89 72:E9 :? y6DFD r9C:DE[ H6 2C6 C64@?4:=65 E@ E96 u2E96C[ >256 ?6H 4C62E:@?D[ 2?5 42==65 E@ =:G6 F?56C E96 2FE9@C:EJ @7 @FC C:D6? z:?8]k^Am kAm%9:D 5@6D ?@E >62? r9C:DE:2?D 364@>6 :?56A6?56?E CF=6CD H9@ 42? 4@>>2?5 H92E6G6C E96J 56D:C6] ~FC 2FE9@C:EJ C6>2:?D 56A6?56?E FA@? y6DFD r9C:DE] w6 :D E96 z:?8] (6 2C6 w:D C6AC6D6?E2E:G6D]k^Am kAm~FC 2DD:8?>6?E :D E@ 56>@?DEC2E6 w:D 492C24E6C[ AC@4=2:> w:D 8@DA6=[ C6D:DE E96 H@CJ H@?k^9am kAm%@@ >2?J 36=:6G6CD DA6?5 E96:C =:G6D 24E:?8 2D E9@F89 E96 C6DFCC64E:@? ?6G6C 92AA6?65]k^Am kAm%96J 2==@H 4@?56>?2E:@? E@ 567:?6 E96:C :56?E:EJ[ 762C E@ 56E6C>:?6 E96:C 564:D:@?D[ 2?5 J6DE6C52J’D 72:=FC6D E@ 5:4E2E6 E@>@CC@H’D A@DD:3:=:E:6D] qFE E96 8@DA6= 2??@F?46D D@>6E9:?8 8C62E6C]k^Am kAmy6DFD r9C:DE :D C:D6?P w6 92D 4@?BF6C65 D:? 2?5 562E9[ 2?5 w6 A@DD6DD6D 2== 2FE9@C:EJ :? 962G6? 2?5 @? 62CE9]k^Am kAm|2EE96H agi`g — `h 4@??64ED E92E 2FE9@C:EJ E@ E96 >:DD:@? w6 6?ECFDE65 E@ w:D 5:D4:A=6D] (6 2C6 42==65 E@ 8@[ >2<6 5:D4:A=6D[ 2?5 E6249 @E96CD E@ @36J w:D 4@>>2?5D]k^Am kAm%96 z:?85@> 2DD:8?>6?E 4@?E:?F6D F?56C E96 2FE9@C:EJ @7 E96 C6DFCC64E65 r9C:DE] *@F 5@ ?@E 92G6 E@ C6>2:? :>AC:D@?65 3J E96 72:=FC6D @7 p52> @C E96 72:=FC6D @7 J@FC @H? A2DE]k^Am kAm%9C@F89 y6DFD r9C:DE[ 7@C8:G6?6DD :D 2G2:=23=6[ 76==@HD9:A H:E9 E96 u2E96C :D C6DE@C65[ 2?5 2 ?6H =:76 @7 @365:6?46 364@>6D A@DD:3=6]k^Am kAmp52>’D 72:=FC6 H2D 56G2DE2E:?8[ 3FE :E H2D ?@E E96 7:?2= 492AE6C]k^Am kAm%96 z:?8 92D 4@>6] #656>AE:@? 92D 366? 244@>A=:D965] %96 E@>3 :D 6>AEJ] p?5 ?@H E96 BF6DE:@? :D H96E96C H6 H:== 4@?E:?F6 =:G:?8 2D AC:D@?6CD @7 2 56762E65 A2DE @C 368:? H2=<:?8 :? E96 7C665@> 2?5 C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ @7 E9@D6 H9@ 36=@?8 E@ y6DFD r9C:DE]k^Am k9am%96 z:?85@> H2D ?6G6C =@DEk^9am k