Have we inherited a fallen nature and inhabit a fallen universe? If so, any other explanation that a loving God would create a world with death inherent surely is incomprehensible to a moral person?

This text is from a transcript of a talk by David Gooding, entitled ‘Are You Worth More than a Pig?’ (2007).

Ah well, to the first part of your question—do I believe that we inherit a fallen nature, my personal answer is, yes, I do. I believe what the New Testament says: 'By one man's disobedience, sin entered into the world and death by sin' (Romans 5:12) I think we are in some sense damaged goods, if you don't mind the expression.

I myself think that that is a very kindly doctrine. It tells us straight that we are not personally responsible for our weaknesses. It also tells us that, if we have been damaged through what our forefather did, then we can be saved. Not by our own effort, but by what somebody else did. That somebody is Jesus Christ our Lord. To quote the New Testament verse:

For as by the one man's [Adam's] disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience [Christ's] the many will be made righteous. (Romans 5:19)

So that is what I hold. And I've no doubt that, when man sinned against God, his state of reference to the universe around him was changed.

One thing I would question with you, perhaps—and that is for a bigger discussion at another time, which I would certainly welcome: when God created the universe he said it was good, all of it 'very good' (Genesis 1:31). Does that necessarily mean that everything was safe?

For instance, we all now enjoy the benefits of electricity, but electricity isn't safe. Since its discovery it has caused a large number of deaths, has it not? And if it's not used properly it can still cause death. It wouldn't be electricity if it didn't. And therefore, when God says he made everything good, I don't think that that necessarily means that everything was safe. That is my provisional answer to you, but the rest would require another half an hour.