SF752 - THE TALE OF TWO TREES (Genesis 2 15-17)

Genesis 2:15-17

Introduction

There are two ways to gain the knowledge of good and evil.

We can know good & evil either by experimentation or by revelation.

Man by nature will choose experimentation (wet paint)

God warns man against seeking knowledge by experience

Genesis 3 Adam and Eve choice experimentation over revelation.

Experience is not the best teacher when it comes to sin.

There are two trees that are prominent in the Bible

The tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil – the tree of death.

The tree of Calvary – the tree of life

(1 Peter 2:24 NIV)  "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed."

Let us take a closer look at these two trees…

1A.      The Placement of the Trees

The first tree was in the Garden of Eden  (2:8-9)

“Eden” = Garden of pleasure, life

The second tree was at Golgotha

(John 19:17 NIV)  "Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha)."

(John 19:41 NIV)  "At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid."

The first Adam and the second Adam (Christ) both died in a garden

The first Adam chose to sin in perfect environment and died spiritually.

(Romans 5:12 NIV)  "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned--"

The second Adam chose righteousness in a sinful environment and died so we might live.

(Romans 5:15 NIV)  "But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!"

(Galatians 3:13 NIV)  "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.""

2A.      The Purpose of the Trees

1B.       The first tree brought the knowledge of good and evil by experimentation

Adam experienced the absence of good

(Romans 3:12 NIV)  "… there is no one who does good, not even one.""

Adam experienced the presence of evil

Genesis 3:7-9

Adam experienced the power of evil

Genesis 3:10

Adam experienced the penalty of sin

Genesis3: 23-24

2B.       The second tree brought the knowledge of good and evil by grace and revelation.

Christ revealed the presence of evil

Ø       The same crowd that had cheered Him now cursed and crucified Him

Christ revealed the power of evil

Ø       Jesus had to die.

(Hebrews 9:22 NIV)  "In fact, the law requires that … without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness."

(Romans 1:16 NIV)  "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes..."

Christ removed the penalty of sin

(2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV)  "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, ..."

(Romans 8:32 NIV)  "He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all…"

Ø       If God did not spare Christ when He bore the sin of man.  He cannot spare you when you bear your sin.

Ø       Your sin will be pardoned in Christ or punished in hell.

3A.      The Power of athe Trees

The first tree put a thief out of Paradise

Adam became a thief when he took the fruit.

Before he had eaten he had stolen.

Adam was banished from the Garden and God’s presence.

The second tree brought a thief into Paradise

(Luke 23:39-43 NIV)  "One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" {40} But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? {41} We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." {42} Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." {43} Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.""

Everyone is looking for the way to paradise

Ø       Jesus is the way

The thief could do nothing for himself!

Ø       He simply trusted Jesus!

Application

We are all thieves looking for paradise!

We can get there only by the second tree.

God forbade eating from the first tree – Satan encouraged it.

God calls us to partake of the second tree – Satan discourages it.

We are thieves when we keep the gospel to ourselves.

We rob ourselves of God’s blessings and others of God’s grace.