There were two trees in the Garden by Art Katz

 There were two trees in the Garden - Part 2 by Art Katz

Topic: Garden Of Eden
Scripture(s): Genesis 3  \t
Description: If the Tree of Life was as equally accessible to Adam and Eve, why did they scorn and reject that tree, and prefer instead to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil? Is the Tree of Life equally unattractive today, and why are we disposed to the thing that seems outwardly attractive? With an introduction on the ‘cleaving’ of man to woman.

https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/singlefile.php?lid=3341&commentView=itemComments

Thank you for posting Brother Jeremy.

It is taught by the right man. Art Katz ministry is blessed and will continue to be a blessing, in Jesus Christ name Amen!

And it such a nagging annoyance to know "Evil"...

What is there to know except that it is NOT Good and therfore, NOT GOD...so away with "it"...

If only it were that easy to dismiss it. What do we want with Evil? What is so necessary about it? And why isn't the "Good" enough and sufficient, like "El-Shaddai" says He is?

It saddens me to know that everyday, I choose something that I do not desire (like Paul says when he calls himself a "wretch"). Bondage, I am beginning to call this thing "Evil". To know evil is sheer bondage. Why would I want that? What is so undesirable about Life? What was this Tree lacking which made it less desirable than the other Tree, I wonder?

And I noticed that the Tree of Life was not protected with a flaming sword until we fell. Should we have chosen it first? Would that have made the difference?

We didn't choose it at all. Not only did we not choose Life, but we ignored it.

Even after we fell, we did not seek out the Tree of Life perhaps as a healing remedy to the sickness we just ingested. But God forbid that! The Tree of Life was not to be a "second" option. It could have been a first, though, but defintiely NOT second. Yet, we cannot have Life after seeking Evil.

Christ became the Second. Why couldn't He be First? Like in our daily lives, you know. Was that Tree of Life, the Cross of Christ? Did it look too hideous to us, scary with its flesh and blood hanging from it? Was it not as "pleasing to the eye" as a Lie?

Sometimes, I fantasize about going to the Tree of Life first. And then, the forbidden tree is no longer an option. To know Life first only to never have to know Evil. THat sounds more like it, saints! The fruit of this Tree of Life perhaps, would have eliminated our desire to know "Evil". It would have given us what we needed to reject what God forbid. We would have loved Him too much to disobey. Why do we have to know "Evil" to love Him?

Love-in-Christ,

KP

I have not yet listened to Art's message about the Trees. But it sounds like I agree with him already.

The "Tree of Life" was / is the Cross. It makes perfect sense. Doesn't Christ encourage us to eat and drink of Him? And Communion could be linked to eating/drinking of the Tree of Life.

Yet, the Cross is among the most beautiful vision one could look upon.

Another problem I have with our disobedience in the Garden was this:

Eve believed the serpent's promise that her "eyes would be opened" - upon eating - yet, they must have already been open for her to see that the fruit "was pleasing to the eye". How could she perceive this if her eyes were not yet opened (according to the serpent)?

BroitherTom said:

"God quickly expelled them as an act of mercy, lest they forever be eternally stamped in sinfulness; knowledge or not."

Where did "eternity" come in? Is there a link between the Tree of Life and "eternity"? Oh, to have eaten of that Tree of Life FIRST. Surely, there was something in the fruit of Life which would have "saved" us from the other Tree.

The serpent would have me reason that there was some inevitable necessity in man's encounter with evil. As though "salvation" would have no meaning lest we "knew" what we were being saved from.

Nah, salvation not only delivers me from something, but also "to" something. Something far more necessary to Life than knowledge of good and evil.

Love-in-Christ,

KP

hi, it was not just adam and eves problem. for people here on this sight are forever eating at the tree of religion, with all the rules and regulations and a God that is mean and is out to get you. we are still saved at the cross and the mercy that great and the grace that is free. God is the total provider of eternal life. Jesus is our propitiation(mercy seat).we are the objects of His great love. one tree offers doctrine the other deliverence.Jesus said "depart from Me , you worker of iniquity for i never knew(had an intimate relationship )with you. Christianity is all about the tree of Life.this also proves we have eternal life(zoe)when we are in Him.jimp

Hi, jimp!

Jimp said:

"people here on this sight are forever eating at the tree of religion, with all the rules and regulations and a God that is mean and is out to get you."

I do not have a religion, Jimp. And I am the only one "out to get" me. God, like you said is saving me. I hope that he gets me and that I will stay.

MaryJane said something marevelous the other day about there being no necessity for evil in our salvation. That it is possible to be only concerned with the "Good" of God and disregard the evil.

I hope that this is true.

Love-in-Christ,

KP

Saints!

The Word of God has graciously entered into this intertextual relationship with the sermons and writings of the saints. Isn't this neat?!?

As I have been reading through a sermon by Spurgeon entitled: "The Peculiar Sleep of the Beloved" (March 4th, 1855 at Exeter Hall, Strand) - based on the following Scripture:

"For so He gives His beloved sleep" (Psalm 127:2)

This sermon has contributed insight into the question about why we rejected the Tree of Life.

Spurgeon unwittingly contributed to my suspicion that the Tree of Life was/is the Cross. But it is also the Word of God made flesh, as Spurgeon addresses the infidel who rejects the truth of God's Word:

"If it is God's Truth let us have it exalted. It may not suit you, but let me remind you that the Truth that is in Jesus never was palatable to carnal men and I believe never will be. The reason you love it NOT is because it cuts too much at your pride. It lets you down too low."

BULLSEYE!

Love-in-Christ,

KP
(1) The discussion about the Trees