AND LIVE FOR EVER
Genesis 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: 23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. 24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
Satan was right with his half truth to Eve in that she would come to know good and evil. But what he didn’t tell her was that she would come to EXPERIENCE evil, and not just become aware of it! So she would be made to be like Satan, once the glorious angel who now, by experience, is the epitome and embodiment of evil! And the first issue from her womb would be “of that wicked one” (1 John 3:12), and a murderer. Therefore we come to read of the entire human race the following report: And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Genesis 6:5 For by her’s and Adam’s fall sin polluted the entire human race. Romans 5:19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners,… 21 That as sin hath reigned unto death,.. 1 Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die,..”
Yet the one single Being who shall determine the eternal fate of all humanity is the Lord Jesus Christ. Belief in Him is eternal life. Failure to believe on Him is eternal death! John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
The Father has purposed to gather all existence together to focus upon His dear Son. So that every knee shall bow to him, and every tongue shall praise him! Ephesians 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: Philippians 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
For the Lord Jesus Christ is the Tree of Life, having effect upon both those with spiritual life and those who, although religious, remain in spiritual darkness. And one of the things we learn as we read our Genesis 3:22 verse is that fallen man can put forth his hand and partake of that tree, eat “and live for ever” in that lost condition.
To those who are of the spiritual nature by the heavenly birth of regeneration, he is that tree upon which they constantly feed. For these, raised spiritually and made to sit in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6), are freely afforded him as their Bread in His present earthly kingdom.
These following verses do not exclusively refer to the eternal kingdom “in Heaven,” but also to the gospel kingdom, into which those raised by regenerating grace from being dead in trespasses and sin have entered. For they are but those “eagles” which feed upon His “carcase.” (Matthew 24:28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.) Revelation 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. 22:2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Listen to his words as he describes the spiritual nourishment which those birthed by the Spirit are involved in as they maintain constant spiritual life. John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. 48 I am that bread of life. 49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. 52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? 53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
For as humans are brought into this world by birth, so is the true believer brought into the gospel kingdom. And just as the new born child is brought from his mother’s body, then cast back upon her breast to receive necessary sustenance, so the believer is cast upon Christ for his spiritual life and growth.
And he eventually comes to the place of growth where he needs the strong meat of the word of God to supply his added strength of maturity. Hebrews 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
But what of the unbeliever, although he is involved in religious practice? For him to partake of the Tree of Life is to perpetuate his spiritual death! For when the Lord Jesus Christ appeared, who Himself is the Word of God, they were exposed to Him, as the Tree of Life and now, due to their unbelief they are consigned into eternal darkness. Matthew 22:13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Consider how the apostle speaks go their “tasting” of Him as the Tree of Life, and how they are impossible to be renewed again. Hebrews 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. 7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: 8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
Listen to the Lord Jesus informing that his presence (as the Tree of Life) caused the unbelieving Jews to “have sin.” John 15:22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. They were exposed in their spiritual nakedness by Him, as were Adam and Eve, but now had no privilege to cloke their sins with just their religious fig leaves of moral works! Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
To these the Lord also clearly stated their undone condition. John 8:21 Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come. 24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
Also, we need to be aware of the danger that those are in who partake of the Lord’s supper unworthily with the true believers, implying that they are feeding from Christ’s person, which the bread of that ordinance represents. 1 Corinthians 11:26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. 27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep (have died). Therefore they are actually partaking of the spiritual Tree of Life as they partake of the bread, symbolizing His body, and doing so unworthily, in a fallen condition, shall Live For Ever in that state, eating and drinking damnation to their eternal souls.
Those sitting on the same bench, partaking of that ordinance are thereby stating that they are sustained by Christ as their Tree of Life. But the ones who are merely church members and not truly born again, are actually eating and drinking damnation to themselves, by partaking of the Tree of Life in a fallen state! And unless they are ever granted true repentance, they shall live for ever in that undone condition. “Sad, sad that bitter wail, Almost, but lost.”
They were sitting among the true believers. They were hearing the same gospel, revealing to them the same Lord! He was presented to all as the Living Bread, and as the Tree of Life. But consider their reaction: 1John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
Be very careful, dear Reader that you are not following a false gospel spirit, under a false prophet, just providing you with only an emotional warmth, rather than a true spiritual repentance! Remember that before the fall Eve could not recognize Satan in the serpent. And after the fall she could not recognize Satan in Cain. 1 John 3:12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.
Yet the Lord even recognized him in the temporary denial of Peter, who was to be the first public evangelist to preach Christ on Pentecost! Matthew 16:23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not (‘are not mindful’) the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
Carefully consider these verses to see the danger that can reside in organized religion. 2 Corinthians 11:12 But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers (that is, Satan’s ministers) also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
Proverbs 14:12 ¶ There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Make sure that you are a realized, confessed sinner as you approach any relationship with Christ, the Tree of Life! Make sure that the religious words of the mouth are but the true spiritual revelation of the Holy Spirit in the heart. Romans 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
Psalm 51:1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
May our Lord have great mercy on us as we walk before Him in this apostate age.
Pastor Gene Breed
July 19, 2023
