But for the commandment of God in the Garden of Eden, 'not to eat of fruit of the Tree of Good and Evil,' Adam would not have paid attention to the fruit of that tree. The threat that he would die if he ate that fruit created fear and, at the same time, great curiosity in his mind. When the serpent told, if they ate of that fruit they would become like God, Eve was tempted and ate the forbidden fruit and gave it to Adam. As soon as he ate it he became guilty and became aware of his nakedness. They covered up the nakedness with fig leaves and hid themselves from God. When God asked Adam, 'who told you you are naked; did you eat the fruit of the tree of good and evil?' Adam thought he could hide himself and the mistake he committed from the sight of God. Instead of accepting responsibility for his action he put the blame on God, saying, 'the woman you gave as companion gave me the fruit and I ate it.' When asked, Eve blamed the serpent.
God became incredibly angry and cursed the serpent, the woman, and Adam and created permanent enmity among them. In place of the fig leaves he placed garments of skin to cover up their nakedness and told them that they were dust and unto dust they would return. He kicked them out of the Garden and put guards of angels at the entrance to prevent the re-entry of the evicted criminals. Adam and his descendants, all their life, try to cover up their nakedness and hide their shame-fullness, expecting punishment for the mistake they committed. Through the ages, the guilt which was strongly induced through the drastic punishment God gave, prompted them to commit greater sins and prove to themselves to be condemned sinners deserving severe punishment.
Jesus taught that God is love and forgiveness is correction, through the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Jesus told that the Father in Heaven knows the Truth. Regardless of the mistake his son committed, the Truth that he is His son, remained true. He knew the mistake that the son committed would not change that Truth. He knew that when the son recognized the Truth, he would return home. The Father paid no attention to the mistake the son committed and accepted him into the house wholeheartedly, celebrating his return.
Jesus taught that through forgiveness guilt could be transcended and the Original State of Mind (Innocence) could be regained and celebrate life in its fullness thereafter.