This passage captured my attention as I was reading this morning for two reasons. Is eternal life that close, but we can not seem to find it? I've read lots about academics speculating on the location of the Garden of Eden. As to eternal life, with the world in its present state, sometimes it feels like my life has been too long. It seems like the most popular location for the past Garden of Eden is just off shore from Southern Iraq. This is so fascinating.
Genesis 3 (KJV):22
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It seems that what we need to know about the Garden of Eden, is that it contains the Tree of Life, which is Christ. The single most important thing that we can do in this life, is to reach out, take from the Tree . . . and live forever in Eternity with Him.
That Tree in the Garden is a future reflection of Jesus on the Cross . . . that we are to reach out and figuratively eat of His Flesh, the Bread of Life, so that we would live forever. There is only one "thing" that grants Eternal Life, and it is Christ. So, whether we refer to Christ as the Tree of Life, Living Water, the Bread of Life, etc . . . it does not matter. What matters is that we turn to Him so that by reaching out and partaking of His Fruit, we would be relieved from the Curse of the Lord.
Galatians 3:13 NLT - "But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree."
How does He disassociate this Curse from our hearts? Colossians 9-15 makes it perfectly clear. But the question is this: Can we stop being ashamed of the Most Holy Word "Circumcision?"
Colossians 2:9-15 NLT - "For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. 10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority. 11 When you came to Christ, you were "circumcised," but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision--the cutting away of your sinful nature. 12 For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. 13 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. 14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross."
That Tree in the Garden is a future reflection of Jesus on the Cross . . . that we are to reach out and figuratively eat of His Flesh, the Bread of Life, so that we would live forever. There is only one "thing" that grants Eternal Life, and it is Christ. So, whether we refer to Christ as the Tree of Life, Living Water, the Bread of Life, etc . . . it does not matter. What matters is that we turn to Him so that by reaching out and partaking of His Fruit, we would be relieved from the Curse of the Lord.
Galatians 3:13 NLT - "But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree."
How does He disassociate this Curse from our hearts? Colossians 9-15 makes it perfectly clear. But the question is this: Can we stop being ashamed of the Most Holy Word "Circumcision?"
Colossians 2:9-15 NLT - "For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. 10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority. 11 When you came to Christ, you were "circumcised," but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision--the cutting away of your sinful nature. 12 For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. 13 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. 14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross."
.
• Gen 3:22 . . And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of
us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also
of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
The tree wasn't created as a source of life, rather, as an Rx, i.e. a remedy
for whatever ails you (Rev 22:1-2). When Adam tasted the forbidden fruit,
his body began to age. The tree's chemistry would've restored him to perfect
health,
"and live for ever" isn't talking about eternal life; which is a kind of life that
always was, always is, and always shall be (John 1:1-4 & 1John 1:1-2). It's
talking about immortality, which is a kind of iife impervious to age.
I like to have fun with check-out when I go shopping. They always ask me if
I found everything okay and I tell them no; I couldn't find a fountain of
youth. But of course a fountain of youth wouldn't do me all that much good
because it would freeze me at the age I am now, which is 77. The time to
drink from a fountain of youth is when you're young, so you don't get old.
_
• Gen 3:22 . . And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of
us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also
of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
The tree wasn't created as a source of life, rather, as an Rx, i.e. a remedy
for whatever ails you (Rev 22:1-2). When Adam tasted the forbidden fruit,
his body began to age. The tree's chemistry would've restored him to perfect
health,
"and live for ever" isn't talking about eternal life; which is a kind of life that
always was, always is, and always shall be (John 1:1-4 & 1John 1:1-2). It's
talking about immortality, which is a kind of iife impervious to age.
I like to have fun with check-out when I go shopping. They always ask me if
I found everything okay and I tell them no; I couldn't find a fountain of
youth. But of course a fountain of youth wouldn't do me all that much good
because it would freeze me at the age I am now, which is 77. The time to
drink from a fountain of youth is when you're young, so you don't get old.
_
Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only
true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent. John 17:3
true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent. John 17:3
Seems an odd thing to say since it contradicts what God said.
Adam and Eve were of the natural world and required a Spiritual rebirth just as we do,
in order to attain to life ever after. After they sinned, God prevented them from eating
of the Tree of Life so they would not live ever after in their sinful state. In the new
heaven and earth, we will already be in our new incorruptible, immortal bodies.
The Tree of Life will then have a different purpose.
In Ephesians chapters 3 and 2 (yes, I mean to put them in that order because it is helpful to gain a form of understanding), Paul refers to the (NLT) Mysterious Plan of God. Paul also taught that it wasn't until this Plan was given to himself and the prophets that it could be unpacked. Paul also taught that all of Israel had been put into a deep sleep, except those whom the Lord had chosen (further indicating the Mysterious Plan).
If we take what Paul said (about the Mysterious Plan) and apply it to Genesis 3:22-24, we see a possible Plan being hinted at. That Plan? That all of humanity would have to wait for the Day of Christ so that the Promises and Blessings of Abraham would be given to all who come to Him . . . and no longer just the narrow Vine, or Seed of Christ. Now, I realize many reject outside Biblical sources, but the Lost Books of Adam and Eve actually confirm this idea that I had several years ago. I was shocked to have found it, but the text says that humanity would actually have to wait 5000 years to eat from the Tree of Life . . . and Live. Again, there is a Plan, an Eternal Plan
Ephesians 3:11 NLT - "This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord."
This is why I offered the Plan above as I did. I hope this makes sense.
If we take what Paul said (about the Mysterious Plan) and apply it to Genesis 3:22-24, we see a possible Plan being hinted at. That Plan? That all of humanity would have to wait for the Day of Christ so that the Promises and Blessings of Abraham would be given to all who come to Him . . . and no longer just the narrow Vine, or Seed of Christ. Now, I realize many reject outside Biblical sources, but the Lost Books of Adam and Eve actually confirm this idea that I had several years ago. I was shocked to have found it, but the text says that humanity would actually have to wait 5000 years to eat from the Tree of Life . . . and Live. Again, there is a Plan, an Eternal Plan
Ephesians 3:11 NLT - "This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord."
This is why I offered the Plan above as I did. I hope this makes sense.
.
Although resurrection to an immortal body remains yet a future event, it's
possible to obtain eternal life right now prior to the resurrection because
eternal life pertains to a separate aspect of existence, viz: eternal life isn't
physical; it's supernatural.
Note the grammatical tense of the passage below: it's present tense rather
than future, indicating that eternal life can be had right now-- no delay and
no waiting period.
• John 5:24 . . I assure you: those who listen to my message, and believe in
God who sent me, have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their
sins, but they have already passed from death into life.
According to that passage; people lacking eternal life are dead to God and in
grave danger of the sum of all fears.
Also; according to the passages below, people lacking eternal life are
disconnected from God's son, viz: they are not his sheep.
• John 10:27-28 . . My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they
follow me: and I give unto them eternal life
• 1John 5:11-12 . .God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His son.
So whoever has God's son has the life; whoever does not have the life, does
not have His son.
_
Although resurrection to an immortal body remains yet a future event, it's
possible to obtain eternal life right now prior to the resurrection because
eternal life pertains to a separate aspect of existence, viz: eternal life isn't
physical; it's supernatural.
Note the grammatical tense of the passage below: it's present tense rather
than future, indicating that eternal life can be had right now-- no delay and
no waiting period.
• John 5:24 . . I assure you: those who listen to my message, and believe in
God who sent me, have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their
sins, but they have already passed from death into life.
According to that passage; people lacking eternal life are dead to God and in
grave danger of the sum of all fears.
Also; according to the passages below, people lacking eternal life are
disconnected from God's son, viz: they are not his sheep.
• John 10:27-28 . . My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they
follow me: and I give unto them eternal life
• 1John 5:11-12 . .God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His son.
So whoever has God's son has the life; whoever does not have the life, does
not have His son.
_
1 John 5:11-13
This sure makes it clear that Eternal Life has been granted [before] we die. We then, must patiently wait in Hope for that which we cannot see. We have been granted this most Holy Faith!
Amen! We are sealed with the promised Holy Spirit Who is the guarantee of our inheritance for/on the day of redemption.
Ephesians 1:13-14