Jesus Christ the Tree of Life: eat and live forever. But what is the tree of the knowledge of good and evil?

Believers, God's word says "the letter kills." But in many places of worship, people are still struggling to be under the letter that kills- trying to obey the law to get right with God and to receive from Him. What does this have to do with the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and how is Christ the Tree of Life? See Genesis 2:17-

"but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.”

God made this tree and told Adam not to eat of it or else he would surely die in the day that he ate. Many of us have wondered at the stupidity of Adam and Eve, even told ourselves that we would have been obedient if we were the ones that were first created. Plus, the Tree of Life was right there in the garden. Why didn't they eat of that one instead?... until we realise that many who profess Christ are still eating from this tree of the knowledge of good and evil and shunning the Tree of Life!

But how can one eat of this tree today, since we seemingly no longer have access to it? How is it possible to disobey God the way Adam and Eve did, even to the point of choosing the tree that kills over the Tree of Life? It is by trying to be godly (be like God) by human effort aka feeding from the law which gives the knowledge of what is good and what is evil. Paul’s analogy in Romans 7 (MSG) shows us that the law is a type of the forbidden fruit:

"The law code started out as an excellent piece of work. What happened, though, was that sin found a way to pervert the command into a temptation, making a piece of “forbidden fruit” out of it. The law code, instead of being used to guide me, was used to seduce me."

The tree of the knowledge of good and evil is a picture of the law, which gives the knowledge what is good and what is evil. Satan perverts the law into a temptation and makes a piece of the forbidden fruit of it. What he told Eve was not a bad thing; afterall, what is bad in desiring and trying to be godly? In fact, God wants us to be like Him, but His way is different.

As he did with Eve, Satan, through his ministers on the pulpit, is still seducing people with the law: essentially telling you that the way to be godly (be like God) is by human effort at doing the very good thing of obeying the law- trying to be godly by human effort, just as Eve believed. Believer, this is death! Galatians 5:4 tells us- "For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God's grace."

Because of the message of these Satan's ministers, many in the church are trying to be godly today but are doing so after the example of Adam and Eve; many are being deceived into thinking that they can be righteous (be like God) by human effort aka attempting to obey the Ten Commandments, doing good things and shunning evil by human effort. But see what Romans 3:20 says about this: "For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are."

It is no coincidence what is written in 2 Corinthians 3:6- “…for the letter [of the Law] kills [by revealing sin and demanding obedience], but the Spirit gives life.”

Just like the tree, the letter kills. Also like the tree, this death is not necessarily immediate. See Genesis 2:17 (YLT) - "and of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, thou dost not eat of it, for in the day of thine eating of it -- dying thou dost die.'"

Psalms 90:4 says of God "A thousand years in Your sight are like a day that has just gone by,"; Moses wrote this concerning God's view of the life of man. Adam did not drop dead physically immediately after his death sentence came into effect; he had kids and died at almost 1,000 years aka one day gone by in the sight of God before physical death happened. But the life he lived was far from what he freely enjoyed in Eden. It is a picture of what many who are trying to be godly by human effort at attaining godliness are living today. See Genesis 3:17-

17 And to the man he said, “Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat, the ground is cursed because of you. All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it. 18 It will grow thorns and thistles for you, though you will eat of its grains. 19 By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made. For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return.”

This death from law-keeping in a bid to be godly is a process that begins with guilt from sin and condemnation of which there is none for all who are in Christ (Romans 8:1.) Then comes “death begun” in the form of fear (of judgment for sins committed,) stress, depression, silly mistakes, oppression, plenty work and little to show for it, lack, sickness, discontent and every earthly ill that is as a result of Adam’s disobedience. Physical death and the second death in hell follow after these symptoms of death.

Like Adam and Eve, some who profess Christ cover themselves with “fig leaves" of works of the law, trying to cover their nakedness of sin with things like obedience to the Ten Commandments and other religious rituals like paying tithe before they appear before God, all works of the law and a type of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. But wonderful as they are, doing these things cannot save anybody. Isaiah 64:6 describes them as "a menstrual rag":

"We are all like one who is unclean, all our so-called righteous acts are like a menstrual rag in Your sight.."

See the Orthodox Jewish Bible translation: "But we are all as the tameh (unclean thing), and kol tzidkoteinu (all our righteousness, our righteous deeds, works) are like beged iddim (filthy rags, a garment of menstruation);..."

These are the good things we do by our own power to get God to bless us and to secure a ticket to heaven; they are like a menstruation rag in His sight!

Many boast in these works, and believe that these “good deeds" can cover their nakedness (unrighteousness.) Such think Christianity is all about “I will do my best to obey the law and do good things and Jesus will see that I have done so much and reward me for my effort.” This is to be neither cold nor hot- neither under law nor under grace. Christ counsels such in Revelation 3:

17 Because you say, “I am rich, and have prospered and grown wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked [without hope and in great need], 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold that has been heated red hot and refined by fire so that you may become truly rich; and white clothes [representing righteousness] to clothe yourself so that the shame of your nakedness will not be seen; and healing salve to put on your eyes so that you may see.”

Remember what God did to Adam and Eve who clothed themselves in fig leaves aka self-righteousness to cover their nakedness? See Genesis 3:21- "The Lord God made garments from skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them."

Only the garment of righteousness that The Lord God provided for us by Himself through Christ will suffice. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." Any righteousness from works of the law is like a menstrual rag and cannot cover the shame of nakedness.

No matter what part of the forbidden fruit (the law) one eats from, even the good part, the result is the same: Death. The knowledge of good and evil, when deployed to the pursuit of godliness, only leads to death. The good one does under law kills just as fast as the bad. What our common sense tells us is the right/lawful thing to do is often not the Spirit thing to do. This is why a good CEO can do a good thing by rewarding a hardworking employee with a new car but the grateful employee and his family end up dying in a car crash on their way home from dedicating the same car to God in their church. The prodigal son might have delayed going back home if someone who thought he was "doing what God wants" had been kind to him and saved him from the pig-pen.

Just as eating from the tree made Adam and Eve see that they were naked (lacking in righteousness,) the law only shows us how sinful (lacking in righteousness) we are (Romans 3:20.) In fact, this is the purpose of the law according to God's word - to show everyone up as guilty before God. See this in Romans 3:19-20:

"19 Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. 20 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are."

Galatians 3:19 says: "Why, then, the Law [what was its purpose]? It was added [after the promise to Abraham, to reveal to people their guilt] because of transgressions [that is, to make people conscious of the sinfulness of sin], ..."

You can never do enough law to be right with God and absolute righteousness is demanded of those who are under law or else death. It is no coincidence what is written in 2 Corinthians 3:6- “…for the letter [of the Law] kills [by revealing sin and demanding obedience], but the Spirit gives life.”

Just like the tree, the letter kills. No matter what part of the forbidden fruit (the law) one eats from, even the good part of trying to obey it in order to be a good Christian, the result is the same: Death.

Because of Adam's sin, we were all condemned to perish, no matter how many good things we did or how well we obeyed the law. God saw how hopeless our case was and sent His own Son to die our death, because He loved us so. The Spirit life that was forfeited through Adam and much more is restored to us through Christ. Romans 5:19 tells us:

"By one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous."

The above verse makes it clear that acts of sin is not what makes people sinners. People are made sinners because of Adam's disobedience. And so sinners commit sin automatically. Same goes for righteousness. Righteous acts and law-keeping cannot not make anyone godly/righteous. Only that righteousness which is from Christ's obedience suffices for God the Righteous and it is free for all who believe. And so we who believe get to live right, yet not us but Christ in us.

Just as good deeds and law-keeping cannot undo the effect of Adam's disobedience in making the world sinners, our sins cannot undo the right-standing from Christ's obedience that we have before God. It is an everlasting righteousness that is apart from works of the law. See Romans 3:

"21 But now God has shown us a way to be made right with Him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. 22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are."

By God's grace, let's stop trying to be godly/believing that we can be righteous and saved by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (the letter that kills.) Let us FREELY eat freely from the Tree of Life and live forever. How do we do this? Remember Genesis 3:22-

"And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.”

Notice the words EAT and LIVE FOREVER? Now see what Christ says in John 6:51-58:

"I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world...54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day...58...He who eats this bread will live forever.”

Again, notice the words EAT and LIVE FOREVER from Christ? Jesus Christ is the Tree of Life. Because He loved us so, God Himself made provision for us to eat of the Tree of Life- Jesus Christ- and live forever (not perish as was our lot under law, but have everlasting life.) and we find this in the most popular verse in the bible- John 3:16-

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."

Believing Jesus- that He has overpaid the price of our past, present and future sins (Heb. 10:12;) that we are made godly (righteous) forever by His obedience (Romans 5:19) and not by our filthy rags "fig leaves" of law-keeping and good works; that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1) and that in Him, there is no generational or other curse hanging over our heads (Gal. 3:13) - is to eat from the Tree of Life. Partaking of His body and His blood (Holy Communion,) while discerning His body, is to eat from the Tree of Life.

Jesus Christ is the Tree of Life. Freely partake of Him and eternal life is yours.

Remember the Lord God commanded Adam: “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely...;" We all now have the same choice as Adam and Eve did. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil is a picture of the law that gives knowledge of good and evil. Like Eve, many in the church are still trying to obey the law in a bid to be godly (be like God.) This is the broad road that leads to destruction and many are on it. The letter kills. The people on the broad road that leads to destruction are those who believe that their human effort at law-keeping and doing works in order to be godly (be like God) matters. Such depend on their works of the law to get from God like the Pharisees and thus reject Christ's gift of righteousness which is apart from works.

Believer, believe right! Good works are EVIDENCES of our salvation, not CONDITIONS. With the Lord as our Righteousness, we are already like Christ (godly) because we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and not because we paid tithe and did our best to be obedient. 1 John 4:17 says:

"By this love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment, because just as Jesus is, so also are we in this world."

As Christ is, so are we in this world. Not when we go to heaven but IN THIS WORLD. In Him, God has made us to be like Himself. Human effort cannot do it. Satan and his agents on many pulpits are still seducing people the same way he seduced Eve to think that she was not like God already and that she could be godly by human effort. We see this lie every day in sermons that reflect: “Yes you are saved by Grace but now you have to be godly by obeying the law and making sure that you don't sin so that God will not turn His back on you.” This is death!

Matthew 1:21 says of Christ: “She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

How can our Saviour who came to save us from our sins use those very sins that He came to save us from as an excuse for not saving us?

Friend, the result of eating from the law is the same as it was in the garden of Eden: Death. The barrier to salvation is human effort at trying to be godly and trying to earn eternal life by human effort. This is to reject the gift of righteousness and eternal life that Christ died that we might have. Paul said in Galatians 2:21-

“I refuse to reject the grace of God. But if a person is put right with God through the Law, it means that Christ died for nothing!”

The law will only expose the nakedness of those who try to be godly by doing its works. Only that righteousness that is from obedience of Christ will suffice for God the righteous. Today, our Lord God says to you: "Choose life."

Many are concerned about living morally upright lives but law-keeping to get right with God cannot help anyone. Grace saves from sins. But try to obey the law in order to be godly and sin will multiply, “For sin shall not have dominion over you for you are not under law but under grace.” (Romans 6:14.)

Beware of "men of God" who preach that you have to "play your part" by obeying the law and doing religious rituals by your own might or else God will not save you. Believer, this is how we get to live in triumph over sin and death, including death’s symptoms: Romans 5:17-

“17 For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and His gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one Man, Jesus Christ.”

2 Corinthians 3:18 says- "But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord."

Believers, the Holy Spirit transforms us to right living. Beware of preachers of a false doctrine. Such disregard the power of the Holy Spirit to transform you to the "image of the glory of the Lord, from glory to glory" and tell you to transform yourself to godliness using the arm of flesh that is bound to fail! Trying to obey the Ten Commandments, doing good things, paying tithe and generally doing works of the law in order to be like God the Righteous is the same as eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The tree is a picture of the law. Satan’s strategy hasn’t changed since the garden. Just as he deceived Eve into thinking that she wasn’t perfect in God’s eyes, his agents aka false doctrine preachers accuse you (who have been made righteous by Christ’s obedience) of your sins and imperfections and tell you that you are not godly until you eat of the law and do certain things. They never point you to Christ who came to save us from our sins, as it is written in Matt 1:21.

By God's grace, let’s stop feeding on the Law that was given through Moses and turn to Grace and Truth that came through Jesus Christ. Believe Right. Partake of His flesh and His blood with right believing (Holy Communion) and live forever. This is God's gift to us.

Don't let anyone deceive you into thinking that "partaking of the Holy Communion in an unworthy manner" means partaking when you have sinned. If this was the criteria, no one would qualify "for all have sinned!" Partaking in an unworthy manner is partaking without understanding, regard or reverence for why Christ's body was broken for us and why His blood was shed for us.

Remember Christ says in John 6 that the one who partakes of Him "has eternal life" and not "will have." Eternal life begins here on earth and all who believe in Jesus have it. Eternal life is a gift.