Tree of Life

[OldRegular]

Original post byGrasshopper
Which brings us to I Cor. 15 and the "death" that was brought about by Adam. If it wasn't physical then it must be spiritual. What does that do to the Doctrine of physical resurrection?

How anyone can read 1 Corinthians 15:42ff and deny the bodily resurrection is a mystery to me. In fact the entire 15th chapter supports a bodily resurrection unless one denies the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ.

 

[Tom Butler]

I've not done enough study to have a firm opinion on this question, but I'll throw this out to see what everybody thinks.

In the garden of Eden, eating of the Tree of Life provided physical life only as long as they kept eating from it. Once God cut off access, Adam and Eve would eventually die.

The picture of the Tree of Life in Revelation suggests that all saints will have access to it--and we will have eternal life.

Is this symbolic in some way? I sorta think so. I can't see all the saints in heaven trooping over to the tree periodically to get another shot of eternal life.

Y'all take a shot at this idea, please, and tell me what you think.

 

[Grasshopper]

.
In the garden of Eden, eating of the Tree of Life provided physical life only as long as they kept eating from it. Once God cut off access, Adam and Eve would eventually die.

Then eventual physical death was part of Adam's nature when he was created. They would eventually die, whether they sinned or not unless they took of the Tree of Life.

So it wasn't sin that caused physical death but the loss of access to the Tree of Life. .

The picture of the Tree of Life in Revelation suggests that all saints will have access to it--and we will have eternal life.

Is this "eternal life" different than those of the lost who exist forever in the Lake of Fire? Not the condition they are in, which is obviously different, but the nature of their eternal life. How does eating of the Tree of Life make the eternal life different than those who did not eat?

 

[Grasshopper]

How anyone can read 1 Corinthians 15:42ff and deny the bodily resurrection is a mystery to me. In fact the entire 15th chapter supports a bodily resurrection unless one denies the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Which is why how you define Adam's death in Genesis is so important.
.

 

[Tom Butler]

Then eventual physical death was part of Adam's nature when he was created. They would eventually die, whether they sinned or not unless they took of the Tree of Life.

So it wasn't sin that caused physical death but the loss of access to the Tree of Life. .



Is this "eternal life" different than those of the lost who exist forever in the Lake of Fire? Not the condition they are in, which is obviously different, but the nature of their eternal life. How does eating of the Tree of Life make the eternal life different than those who did not eat?

See, I'm revealing how little I've studied this question. Thanks for the help.

 

[Amy.G]

So it wasn't sin that caused physical death but the loss of access to the Tree of Life. .

Gen 2:17 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.



The cause of Adam's death was eating from the forbidden tree. God didn't say "in the day thou art denied access to the tree of life thou shalt surely die".
The loss of access to the tree of life was a result of his sin. Death comes through sin.

 

[webdog]

Gen 2:17 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.



The cause of Adam's death was eating from the forbidden tree. God didn't say "in the day thou art denied access to the tree of life thou shalt surely die".
The loss of access to the tree of life was a result of his sin. Death comes through sin.

Good point. The TOL may have been the instrument God intended for man to live eternally. If Adam lived 900 years without the tree of life, maybe it only needs to be eaten from once every 1000 years or so. Who knows...

 

[webdog]

See, I'm revealing how little I've studied this question. Thanks for the help.

I think you had it right. Grasshopper is starting with the presupposition that man would have needed to be created mortal in order for the TOL to sustain eternal life. God created man immortal with the TOL as the means to this immortality.

 

[Grasshopper]

Gen 2:17 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.



The cause of Adam's death was eating from the forbidden tree. God didn't say "in the day thou art denied access to the tree of life thou shalt surely die".

Correct, did Adam die the day he ate of the Tree? Physically no, spiritually yes.

The verse doesn't say "in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely begin the process of dying."

The loss of access to the tree of life was a result of his sin. Death comes through sin.

I agree. He died when he sinned, not when he was cast out of the Garden.

 

[Grasshopper]

I think you had it right. Grasshopper is starting with the presupposition that man would have needed to be created mortal in order for the TOL to sustain eternal life. God created man immortal with the TOL as the means to this immortality.

If man was created immortal, he doesn't need the Tree unless your definition of "immortality" is different than mine.

 

[webdog]

If man was created immortal, he doesn't need the Tree unless your definition of "immortality" is different than mine.

Immortal simply means to live forever. It doesn't state how.

 

[Grasshopper]

Immortal simply means to live forever. It doesn't state how.

Then both lost and saved are immortal.

 

[webdog]

Then both lost and saved are immortal.

Very true...both the lost and saved will be resurrected.

 

[Grasshopper]

Very true...both the lost and saved will be resurrected.

So the Tree of Life gave what? Physical immortality?

 

[ituttut]

So the Tree of Life gave what? Physical immortality?

Grasshopper I say both physical, and spiritural.

 

[Grasshopper]

Grasshopper I say both physical, and spiritural.

So how does the lost man who never partakes of the Tree of Life exist in hell forever?

 

[webdog]

So the Tree of Life gave what? Physical immortality?

It would have to be as Christ gives spiritual immortality. Man was created in spiritual union, and spiritual death is separation from God. They didn't need the TOL for spiritual life...they were never separated from God pre-fall.

 

[Marcia]

So how does the lost man who never partakes of the Tree of Life exist in hell forever?

He exists forever but it is not eternal life.

I think the TOL is physical and spiritual life. We will see the Tree of Life again in heaven, because we will have eternal physical life there in our glorified bodies.

Those who are not with God will have eternal death (i.e., separation from God), not life.

 

[Grasshopper]

He exists forever but it is not eternal life.

I think the TOL is physical and spiritual life. We will see the Tree of Life again in heaven, because we will have eternal physical life there in our glorified bodies.

Those who are not with God will have eternal death (i.e., separation from God), not life.

Did God not want Adam to have "spiritual life" after the fall?

 

[Marcia]

Did God not want Adam to have "spiritual life" after the fall?

I think I should clarify. In the Garden, I think the TOL is physical, but it is also a representation of spiritual life when we see it in Revelation, imo.

Life, physical and spiritual, is through faith, from God. I think there is also a connection of the TOL to the cross.