Free choice to choose...

No. The cross is death not life. The results of the cross can bring about life, but the cross is a symbol of death. That's why it says we are to take up our cross daily. We are to die to self.

The tree of life is the tree of life. Man will not eat of the tree of life until after this age is completed. You can see this in several spots in Revelation.

 

OT no eyes NT no eyes. Don't you see? JN 12:39 For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere: 40 "He has blinded their eyes and deadened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn--and I would heal them."

Matt 13:13 This is why I speak to them in parables: "Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.

Sure it's irresistible, sinner as I am, but if I was you skypair, I'd be worried for me as well, PR 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

I don't worry. This has a whole set of problems associated with it but who cares?

That's the opposite of my best plan. I did what the disciples did and ignored the implied insult and asked Jesus what He meant with His parables. Since He told me what they mean then I use that as proof of my standing. I know where the good soil came from.

JN 3:3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. "

I was saved from eternity but only learnt of it recently. Relatively speaking that is.

Do you know what the mysteries are?

I still didn't want to know after Jesus spoke to me. It took Him 16 years to draw me back. Some ammo for you.

God did and still does. Why, are you holier than me? I accept Rom 3 you don't. I am a dirty rotten sinner incapable of good are you not so? ' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners. ' I'd worry if I were you as you do not believe the death of Christ secures the sheep as safely as they were secure before He sacrificed Himself.

john.

 

psalms.

Yet another condition.

ISA 28:10 For it is:
Do and do, do and do,
rule on rule, rule on rule;
a little here, a little there."

ISA 28:11 Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues
God will speak to this people,

ISA 28:12 to whom he said,
"This is the resting place, let the weary rest";
and, "This is the place of repose"--
but they would not listen.

ISA 28:13 So then, the word of the LORD to them will become:
Do and do, do and do,
rule on rule, rule on rule;
a little here, a little there--
so that they will go and fall backward,
be injured and snared and captured.

john. ​

 

Amy.G.

The Tree of life is the Tree of life.

Acts 5:30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead--whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree.

I do but you don't, the scripture says: ..."The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever." Gen 3:22.

You believe we have free will? If yes, then ...you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat... Your will is interfered with by law.

Ok? How can we have free will if our will has dire consequences? Love me or go to Hell?


john.

 

Any conclusions Tim? Or, who do you think are winning?

john.

 

Congratulations on graduating from 6th grade!

Just kidding... couldn't resist. :laugh:

 

Was Adam not allowed to choose to take from the tree of life, or was he not allowed to follow through with his choice.

Genesis 3:24 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.

Why not just keep Adam from choosing to take from the tree of life?

God is Sovereign. He keeps Adam from the tree of life.

 

johnnycool:

Are you saying that when Adam ate the forbidden fruit, it was NOT of his own free will? Did God make him disobey?

 

The cross, in Roman times was a symbol of death, but now, as Christians it is a symbol of eternal life in Christ. Isn't that why you see crosses attached to church steeples?

 

I don't get your point, here. God kept Adam from ACCESSING the tree of life. So? God didn't change his nature so that he wouldn't want the tree of life. So? How does that translate into "free will must be true"?

 

So we should take modern-day Christendom's symbology and apply it to the words of Scripture?

Unfortunately we have too many 21st century colored glasses looking at Scripture, instead of seeing what Scripture said and meant during those times and adjusting our lives accordingly. I know I have been guilty of that myself.

 

An empty tomb would be an appropriate symbol of life. The cross is a symbol of death.

Who cares why people put it on steeples? Let God be true and every man a liar. People change all sorts of things for their own pleasure, but that doesn't oblige God to agree.

 

Just my observation. I never meant to ruffle feathers. To me, the cross is a symobol of eternal life because of Christ's sacrifice on my behalf. But, it's just MHO.

 

To me the Tree of Life was Jesus Himself.

Act 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Jhn 6:51 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.

Jhn 6:48 I am that bread of life.

The tree of life was as the burning bush, it was of the earth and Heaven, but the gift of eternal life was as the burning fire, it came from Heaven.

Gen 2:9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Exd 3:2 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush [was] not consumed.

 

I'm saying Adam was free to choose to take from the tree of life, though not free to take from the tree of life.

That is how I see free will, and that is what I believe. If that is not free will, sorry for the misunderstanding. I have never believed free will extended to action and outcome.

 

What is the flaming sword protecting the way of the Tree of Life?