by Linda Jackson

Created on: July 27, 2009   Last Updated: August 06, 2009

In Genesis 3:22 (New King James Version) the Lord God says, 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. There were many trees in the Garden of Eden. In this verse both the trees of the knowledge of good and evil and the tree of life are discussed. God told man not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil because if he did he would die (Genesis 2:17). When man ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they disobeyed God. Disobedience to God is sin. The wages of sin is death. Therefore, God could not allow them to eat of the tree of life and live forever. God Himself is the tree of life. All life comes from God.

God must bless us to receive of the tree of life. Some of the blessings of God are forgiveness of sins, a way of escape from temptation, righteousness and faith. These are the works of God and not you. As it says in Romans 4:7-8 (NKJV), 7 Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
And whose sins are covered; 8 Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin. See also Psalm 32:1-2 (NKJV). 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV) says, No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Romans 3:22 (King James Version Bible) says, Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference. Galatians 2:16 (KJV) says, Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. Hebrews 12:2 (NKJV) says, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

You cannot get to the tree of life until your sins are forgiven. You are led to the tree through true repentance of your sins. Part of God's plan to get you to the tree of life is Jesus would atone for the sins of the elect. Romans 5:10-11 (KJV) says, Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through

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