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Genesis Framework

GF 36 Genesis 3.22 (Part 1)
May 15, 2016
Part 36

NKJ Genesis 3:22
Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever” --

Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”

The Tree of Life.

There were two trees; the Tree of Life, and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Before we can discuss the details of the Tree of Life, we will need to draw out a perspective that clarifies the relationship that man had to both trees there in the Garden of Eden.

NKJ Genesis 2:15-17
15 Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.
16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat;
17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."

God originally established the creation covenant with man as a covenant of works; one of sanctions, based on reward and penalty, blessings and curses.

The sanction of God; such as…

"Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."

…is essentially a sacred prophecy from God.

sanction: to render sacred; something that gives binding force of a law, as the penalty for breaking it, or a reward for carrying it out; a coerce measure, imposed to prevent a violation.

We have learned from the Scriptures and understand that the function of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was that of a probation tree, and as a judgment tree. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil offered a significant focal point of opportunity for man to advance
in kingdom glory in his relationship with God, conditioned on man’s obedience. The tree was present in the Garden so that man’s entrance into the promised Sabbath-rest of glory in the Lord would not be delayed forever.

The purpose of the tree was actually positive, and not specifically designed to put man in jeopardy of losing his state of beatitude with God, but to bring him on the way toward its consummation and entrance into the Sabbath-rest in the glory of the Lord; again, conditioned on a positive outcome of the test of man’s obedience.

This whole scenario at the tree figures very much like the temptation Christ Jesus faced by the Devil there in the wilderness; the difference being that Christ passed His test of probation, whereas man had failed.

The tree of the knowledge of good and evil was symbolic more of what man was to do rather than of what man might acquire by a disobedient act of eating from the tree.

Man had been expected to adhere to God’s sanction, “to tend and keep” the garden as a sanctuary of God; which meant that Adam was supposed to have demonstrated his faithfulness to the Lord by taking action required to defend the sanctity of the Garden, by coming
against the evil-intending, evil-speaking Serpent-Satan, and throwing him out of the Garden.

While the reference to “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” initially might seem to suggest that the fruit of the tree was some sort of prize, and that by partaking of it man would acquire enhanced knowledge of good and evil, such was not the case, neither was it God’s intent.

The fact is, Adam had already been given knowledge intrinsic to his having been created in the image of God. His knowledge fully qualified and obligated him to act in behalf of the interests of God and to function as a righteous protector and judge over the affairs of the Garden.

NKJ Genesis 3:4-7
Then the serpent said to the woman,"You will not surely die. "For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."

Man was to use the knowledge of good and evil which he already possessed, to help him adhere to God’s sanction, “to tend and keep” the garden sanctuary of God; rather than to consider the tree as a resource from which he might acquire new knowledge of good and evil.

Unfortunately the Serpent-Satan was able to convince them that defying God’s sanction would bring to them an autonomous and glorious existence apart from a relationship with God, and so they acted in faith, trusting in the false words of the Devil, their new-found god.

Man was already well equipped to discern with clarity between good and evil, to evaluate, to render a judgment, and to expel from the Garden any unholy intruder.

It was also understood that the stipulation of God would bring a curse upon anyone who would break His sanction.

After Adam’s wife was formed out of Adam, she would have received the same qualification as Adam, as servant-priest created in the image of God.

She was no less qualified to function as a righteous judge in matters requiring discernment and evaluation.

As a fully qualified “helper” to Adam, she had been charged with the same function as Adam, as co-equal in her knowledge and ability to maintain and protect God’s holy sanctuary, with the exception that the ultimate responsibility for fulfilling their co-function belonged to
Adam.

If you have been thinking, Eve really had no idea what she was doing when Satan came to her, think again.

God is a just God, and if ignorance had been the major factor in this case, she would probably have been exempted from a personal curse; God may have skipped His conversation with her, and have only included her in the general curse along with the rest of all mankind, under the federal headship of Adam.

NKJ Genesis 3:4-7

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.

Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.

What man did actually acquire by coming against the sanction of God was the curse and death commensurate with the exercise of pride, envy of God, misdirected trust, lust for special wisdom-knowledge, doubt as to the integrity of God, a quest for autonomous existence
apart from a relationship with God, a desire for self-glorification, a gnawing sense of guilt, manifested as the sense of being exposed and uncovered (nakedness) in the presence of God… the wages of sin against God.

But thanks to the completed works of Christ Jesus the Son, in fulfilling every work requirement leading to the reward of an eternal life of glory with God in our behalf, we are no longer under the old covenant of works and wages, but under a new covenant of saving grace and gifts.

Because of Christ the Son of God, the Son of Man, we have the focal opportunity to be saved from the curse of death brought upon us in Adam, commensurate with a life hereafter apart from God’s presence, and to receive a glorious afterlife in His presence for eternity, as a gift
from God.

Many will be surprised on the Day of Judgment when they discover that it was just as the Word of God says; only the righteousness of Christ is able to save you. All men are sinners and no one can save himself. God is just, so He must punish sin; but He is also merciful, moreover gracious, and offers His Son as the perfect sacrifice in order to purchase a place for you in heaven, which He offers to you as the free gift of eternal life.

Jesus is God Incarnate

In order to pay the debt of our sins, He came from Heaven, having been sent by the Father, where He lived a life of perfect obedience to the Father even unto the shameful death upon the cross in order to pay the debt of your sins.

This gift must be received by faith, believing that Jesus’ perfect life and Cross Work was His complete and necessary Atonement for your sins, in your behalf.

Faith is a gift that comes by the Power of God the Holy Spirit working in a person’s innermost being.

The Holy Spirit has the authority and power to quicken your dead spirit, to make it come to life.

If you have not done so before this moment, ask Jesus to forgive you your sins, tell Him you’ve stop trying to be your own savior, and ask Him to come into your life right now, and to give you eternal life.

Then, in faith believing, thank Him for the gift that He is giving you, the one He paid for in full in your place, in Jesus’ name, AMEN