Our story begins before the fall

Too often, the “Fall of Man” becomes the first chapter of our theology. We view everything through the lens of sin and salvation, as if history only began when things went wrong.

When you open a book, the first chapter shapes the way you read the rest of the story. If you start in the middle, you’ll misinterpret the beginning, and the ending won’t make much sense either.

That’s exactly what happens when we think about human history and God’s purpose but start from the wrong point. Too often, the “Fall of Man” becomes the first chapter of our theology. We view everything through the lens of sin and salvation, as if history only began when things went wrong.

Yes, the Fall is real. Yes, redemption through Christ is absolutely essential. But is that where the story begins?

More than a rescue mission

If we begin with the Fall, then we end with man at the center. Life becomes a cycle of sin, forgiveness, and restoration—as if God’s greatest achievement was patching up a broken creation. It makes man’s mistake the headline and God’s purpose a footnote.

But think about it: was humanity created only so God could rescue us? Was Christ’s cross merely a reaction to Adam’s failure? If so, then sin—not God—becomes the driving force of history.

Deep inside, we know that can’t be true. God’s eternal purpose cannot be reduced to a repair project.

The story begins before the fall

The Bible doesn’t start with Genesis 3. It starts with Genesis 1—God creating mankind in His image, blessing them, and entrusting them with stewardship over creation. Before sin entered the picture, there was glory, intimacy, purpose, and fellowship. That is our true beginning.

Redemption, then, is not the main event. It is the rescue operation to bring us back to God’s original design: to share His life, to reflect His glory, and to fill the earth with His presence.

The Fall explains why redemption was needed, but creation reveals what redemption is for.

Why the starting point matters

Here’s why this matters. If you start with the Fall:

• The gospel becomes mostly about forgiveness.

• Salvation is about getting back to something we lost.

• The end goal is man’s restoration.

But if you start with creation:

• The gospel becomes about union with God.

• Salvation is about moving forward into God’s eternal plan.

• The end goal is God’s glory filling all things.

One view makes man the center. The other makes God the center.

Re-centering our story

When we begin at the right place, we see Jesus not just as the “fixer of our failures” but as the One through whom all things were created and in whom all things will be united (Colossians 1:16–17; Ephesians 1:10). His cross is central—but not because sin is central. The cross is central because Christ is central.

This changes everything. The Christian life is not merely about escaping sin, but about entering into God’s eternal purpose. Redemption is the doorway, but the destination is fellowship with Him and participation in His Kingdom.

So here’s the challenge: shift your starting point. Don’t begin your story in Genesis 3. Begin it in Genesis 1. Then you’ll see your life not just as a problem to be fixed but as a calling to be fulfilled.

After all, God didn’t create you simply because you fell. He created you because He had a purpose that goes deeper than sin, a purpose sealed in Christ before the foundation of the world.