Someone asked the question, "why did God punish everyone over what Adam and Eve did in the Garden, rejecting God to follow the lies of the devil?
Here was my answer:
"God knew that the nature of man would choose sin before choosing God. It was the nature of man that God had to change through acceptance of Christ and what He did on that cross. When we became born again the "WAY" we thought changed and we no longer wanted to sin."
"All human beings would do what Adam and Eve did if they were given the same choices. We know this by what people do automatically before they are born again."
"It wasn't the particular sin that God punished Adam and Eve about, it was their propensity to choose sin over God."
The punishment was given to make life more difficult, helping them realize they needed God. Mankind would never choose God if things were easy, they would roll along enjoying life never thinking of Him.
Romans 3:20 "
because by the works of the Law none of mankind will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes knowledge of sin."
It was the sinful heart that God had to deal with, showing mankind just how sinful they are before they will see their need for God and be grateful for what He provided, even the shedding of the blood of His only son Jesus Christ to redeem man.
When anyone says to us God does not love us because of the punishment, be sure and tell them, He died a brutal death and was separated from His Father to save us, it is not possible to have more love than that.
He also made it so easy it's hard for some to believe it would be that easy. All we have to do is confess we are sinners and trust in Christ and He does all the changing and cleansing, after that He takes us home to live with Him in paradise forever.
Couldn't get any easier or more wonderful than that.
Some may say; "but I lost all my friends", or "life seemed to have gotten harder", yes, but these are trials God goes through with us, we are not alone. We must go through the trials to build our faith and trust in Christ. People are lazy when things are easy, God allows us "no pain, no gain" as some would say, in order to build spiritual muscles and wisdom that lasts for eternity.
What we learn through our Spiritual BootCamp will serve us in the Millennium and into the new earth forever. Hallelujah!!!