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John Pirie

June 23, 2023 11:07 am

The Gospel in Genesis Volume One Part 1 of 4 God’s loving and generous communication of the good news began right at the outset of human history. The very first example is given in Genesis chapter 3... View MoreThe Gospel in Genesis Volume One Part 1 of 4 God’s loving and generous communication of the good news began right at the outset of human history. The very first example is given in Genesis chapter 3. In fact, theologians call verse 15 the protoevangelium, or first gospel. Before we dive into the passage in Genesis 3, we should look at a few verses from Genesis chapter 2 to remind ourselves of the context. God has placed Adam into the garden and told him that he may eat freely from any tree in the garden; except one. Genesis 2:15-18 (KJV) 15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. 18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. So, God placed Adam in the garden, gave him a wife, and said, “enjoy.” There was only one rule. Do not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. As we just saw, there were two trees of special significance in the garden. So, it might seem curious that God did not tell Adam that he was not to eat from the tree of life. In fact, He said that Adam could eat freely from every tree in the garden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, so it would have been perfectly acceptable for Adam to eat from the tree of life. However, as we will see at the end of this article, after Adam and Eve had eaten from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, God forcibly prohibited them eating from the tree of life. We will pick up the Genesis account in chapter 3 after the serpent has finished planting doubt about God’s character. Genesis 3:6 (KJV) 6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. Adam and Eve were enticed to grasp for godlikeness. Everything about this fruit seemed good to their senses. The tree was beautiful, “a delight to the eyes”. It was good to eat. It was “desirable to make one wise.” The enemy told them that the fruit would make them like God, knowing good and evil. It sure seems sensible. At this point we might wonder why God ever put that tree into Eden at all. God is love. He created us to be objects of His love and to have a relationship with Him. What He did not do, and because of His character—who He is—could not do, is create us in such a way that we were programmed to love Him. That is not real love; it is manipulation and control, and it is inconsistent with who God is. Instead, He made us in such a way that we could choose to respond to His love for us and have a relationship with Him; or not to. The only way we can genuinely love God is if we have the ability not to love Him. This ability to choose how we respond to God is demonstrated when we trust Him about who He says He is. This is the reason we must walk by faith and not by the way that seems right to the flesh. Grace and peace to you. Larry For more like this, visit LarryEiss.com

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