In my previous post evaluating the Book of Mormon’s account of the fall of man, I revealed how 2 Nephi in the Book of Mormon subtly alters the account of The Fall. It does so by teaching that Eve eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil was ultimately good for the human race— that it gave man the capability to become like God. The LDS church does not deny our need for Jesus, but teaches that we needed the fall AND Jesus to attain Godliness. I argued that this was wrong and anti-God at its core.

In this post I would like to bring clarity to Satan’s definition of “becoming like God” in order for all of us to better understand what he is encouraging Eve to pursue. The bible does support a pursuit of becoming like God, therefore it is important to evaluate if it is the same pursuit as the one that is encouraged by Satan or different. Looking at the method of the biblical pursuit verses the pursuit encouraged by Satan will help us distinguish between the two. 

Satan tells Eve that it is the knowledge of good and evil that is the key to being successful in this pursuit. He says in Genesis 3:5, “…in the day that you eat from it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” It is important to note that this means of obtaining wisdom to be like God is a means that can only be accomplished through disobeying God. Through separating from Him.  As such, we know that the end goal of this particular pursuit is not submission to and unification with God, but equality with God. 

Now let’s compare this to the biblical pursuit of God-likeness. In direct opposition to this, the bible teaches throughout that wisdom is obtained, not through disobedience to God, but in fear of Him. Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” This is demonstrated through obedience and submission to him. Psalms 111:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments.” 

Contrary to what Satan told Eve, true wisdom would have been obtained through her continued obedience to God. In Romans, rather than advocating for Christians to become more God-like through knowledge of good and evil, Paul exhorts his audience to “be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil.” Furthermore, Peter in 2 Peter 1:3 says that “His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him [Jesus] who called us by His own glory and excellence.” His divine power given to us through the true knowledge of Jesus is all that we need to live a godly life. That is the means through which we can become more like God.

Do you see the difference? One pursuit calls us away from relationship with God to pursue it and the other calls us into a relationship with God to pursue it. Adam and Eve would have grown in true wisdom and godliness through communion with Him rather than leaving Him.

The fall did not provide anything that humans needed to become who God wanted us to be. The only thing needed is relationship with God the Father, God the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Fall was us leaving that relationship, and Jesus brought us back.