RE: Adam and Eve ...that was the first punishment for the first sin.. People continued to sin therafter. If they hadn't, Jesus wouldn't have had to bother, I suppose... but he had to deal with the sins of the whole human race ie everyone who came after Adam and Eve. Jeez check me, the agnostic commenting on this stuff! Time I went to bed ..

Adam and Eve were the first humans. They got the first punishment for not obeying God, when they were thrown out of the Garden of Eden they were no longer as close to perfect as they could get, in other words became frequent sinners. The world became ever more wicked, and so, Jesus came to Earth and died on the cross to cleanse us of our sinfulness. No one will be perfect, but you can get closer if you walk with God. That is why.

I would like to answer your question but you are trying to have someone answer a question that if you asked five or more Christians more than likely they would all have different answers. To help you out a little GOD did not punish Adam and Eve. He told Adam that he could eat from all the trees in the garden except one. That was the tree of Good and Bad he told Adam the day you eat of this tree you will surely die so God didn't punish Adam, Adam by not listening to his Father punish his self or i should say by Eve listening to Satan playing all innocent she ate some and her eyes were open i would have liked to have been there to hear the spill that she put on Adam because if it had been me I would have said "Girl" your own your own. I had another rib I'm sure i could have got me another women. But he was whipped if you know what i mean so by Adam and Eve not listening to the one and only rule God gave them. So Adam and Eve was cast out of the Garden of Eden and was not allow back in. Adam sin that means every child that was born came from Adam life line so all men had sin. There is a lot of reading,facts, reserch I more or so gave you basic answers. You'll find people that will disagree on some of what i said the best way would be to get a Bible an read a chapter or two a day. Get one that's eazy to under stand.

DO you understand why i said you could ask the question to five Christian and more than likely get different answers. Adam was perfect so the person to take Adams place had to be perfect also being all humans were sinners Michael the Archangel who was perfect and being GODS son was born Jesus to the virgin Mary and Joseph the carpenter. Jesus being Tempted by Satan many times through his life stayed true and it was his own people that had him crucified so he paid the ransom for mankind. So he came into all the country around the Jordan preaching baptism (in symbol) of repentance for forgiveness of sin. LUKE 3:3.

The crucifixion doesn't absolve anyone unless they repent. Jesus said: "But unless you repent, you too will all perish." (Luke 13:3)

The reason Adam and Eve couldn't be the sacrifice is because a perfect sacrifice was required. Jesus was without sin. Adam and Eve were flawed because they had sinned.

It is because Jesus was God. ANY sacrifice of his could have been sufficient for us, because HE's God. But Adam and Eve were human, therefore imperfect. He chose to die the way He did because it would make a better impression on us, and we would realize what He really did for us.

Adam and Eve were created perfect. They chose to sin, and had been warned explicitly that the result would be death. Imperfect humans could not produce perfect children. So all of their offspring were born with a predisposition to sin. Frankly, we can't help it. According to the Bible 'the wages sin pays is death'. So each of us who has sinned, when we die, we pay for our sins. We 'break even'. (Psalm 49:7-9)  Not one of them can by any means redeem even a brother, Nor give to God a ransom for him;    (And the redemption price of their soul is so precious That it has ceased to time indefinite)    That he should still live forever [and] not see the pit. Jesus had no sins of his own to pay for. He could take the value of his perfect human life and use it to pay for our sins. He died in our place. This gives each of us the OPPORTUNITY to gain everlasting life. The punishment God inflicted upon Adam and Eve would satisfiy justice, but would not provide their offspring a way to be saved.