The message of the entire Bible can be summed up in the story of 3 Trees: The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, the Tree of Life, and the Tree of Calvary.
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Christ – The Tree Of Life
Genesis 2:4-17
Jesus Christ is the focus of the entire Bible. We have seen in our study of the Book of Genesis that Christ is our Creator, and our Sabbath. This morning I want you to see that Jesus Christ is also the Tree of Life. In reality, the story of the entire Bible can be reduced to the story of three trees: the Tree of Life, the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, and the Tree of Calvary.
1. The Tree Of The Knowledge Of Good And Evil
We are introduced to the Tree Of The Knowledge Of Good And Evil for the very first time in Genesis 2:9, “And out of the ground the Lord God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the Tree Of Life also in the midst of the garden, and the Tree Of The Knowledge Of Good And Evil.” There are only two trees which are named among all the trees here in the garden – the Tree Of Life and the Tree Of The Knowledge Of Good and Evil. Both trees are in the midst of the garden, displayed prominently, easily accessible to Adam and Eve. One tree was the Tree Of Life. The other tree was the Tree Of Death. Of course it was not called the Tree Of Death, for then there would be no temptation to eat of it, and no real test to see whether man would be faithful and obedient to God. The name “the Tree Of The Knowledge Of Good And Evil” was actually a very accurate description. By eating of the tree man would know the good he had forfeited and the evil which he had plunged into.
The next time the Tree Of The Knowledge Of Good And Evil occurs is in Genesis 2:16-17, “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the Tree Of The Knowledge Of Good And Evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you shall surely die.” God allowed man free reign to eat of any tree in the garden, including the Tree Of Life, except for the Tree Of The Knowledge Of Good And Evil. As long as Adam and Eve obeyed God’s one and only law, they would live in continual fellowship with God. If they had never eaten from the Tree Of The Knowledge Of Good And Evil they would still be alive today!
If Adam and Eve refused to eat from this tree, it would mean that they would need to be in constant dependence upon God. God has the knowledge of good and evil. They didn’t. Thus, they would need to look to God to tell them what was good and what was evil, what was right and what was wrong. By partaking of this fruit, they would become independent of God. In a very real sense, every member of the human race has eaten of the Tree Of The Knowledge Of Good And Evil. When you and I live independently of God, it proves that in a real sense, we have done exactly what Adam and Eve did in the garden. When we make decisions without consulting God, and go our own way, it proves we have eaten from the forbidden tree. “All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way” (Is. 53:6).
We all know how the story goes. The serpent approached Eve, and through his cunning deception was able to tempt her to eat of the forbidden fruit. Eve then gave the fruit to Adam, and he ate. By eating of this tree, Adam plunged the human race into ruin and misery. There were 4 tragic results from the eating of the Tree Of The Knowledge Of Good And Evil.
1) Sin: This is the account of the first sin. Sin is to violate the revealed will of God. Tim Chester in his book You Can Change says, “Sin happens when we don’t trust God above everything and when we don’t desire God above everything. Sin happens when we believe lies about God instead of God’s Word and when we worship idols instead of worshipping God.” Tim Chester goes on to say that “a sinful desire is a desire that is bigger than God.” Adam and Eve’s lust for knowledge was greater than their desire for God. Since that first sin, the entire human race has followed in their footsteps. All of us have failed to trust God above everything and have failed to desire God above everything. We have believed lies about God and worshipped idols.
Paul says in Romans 5:12, “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned.” Paul’s point here is not that all men have sinned individually. His point is that all men sinned when Adam sinned. The very first line of the New England Primer in the 17th century says, “In Adam’s fall, we sinned all.” God counts Adam’s action in this regard as the actions of all his descendants, because He stood as our Representative Head. So, you and I have all eaten of the Tree Of The Knowledge Of Good And Evil. As a result we are all sinners. “For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners” (Rom. 5:19). Psalm 14:2-3 says, “The Lord has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.” David cries out in Psalm 143:2, “Do not enter into judgment with Thy servant, for in Thy sight no man living is righteous.” Partaking of the Tree Of The Knowledge Of Good And Evil has brought in sin into the world.
2) The Curse: Not only did partaking of the Tree Of The Knowledge Of Good And Evil bring sin into the world, it also brought the curse into the world.
Genesis 3:17-19, “Then to Adam He said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat from it’; cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field; by the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground.”
To the woman God said, “I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth, in pain you shall bring forth children; yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you” (Gen. 3:16).
God cursed the serpent. Henceforth he would go on his belly and eat dust all the days of his life. God cursed the woman. Henceforth she would have great pain in childbirth and be under the rule of her husband. God cursed the ground. Henceforth, he would have to work and sweat all the days of his life just to survive.
3) Death: God had told Adam that in the day he ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil he would surely die. We know that God was not talking about physical death, for man did not die physically the day he ate of the fruit. However, he did die spiritually. Something died in terms of man’s relationship with God. As soon as Adam and Eve sinned, they ran and hid themselves from the presence of God. Instead of enjoying and delighting in the presence of God, now they are hiding from the presence of God. Instead of being naked and unashamed, now they are naked and ashamed. This spiritual death in man’s relationship with God is just the beginning. Along with this spiritual death, man now begins to die physically. The process of aging began in his body, which eventually would cause him to die physically. Further, if he dies apart from God’s grace, he will face eternal death; that is eternal separation from God’s gracious presence in hell.
4) Alienation:
In Genesis 3:22-24 we see the aftermath of the first sin, “Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever” — therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken.
So He drove the man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the Tree Of Life.”
Rather than walking and communing with God in the cool of the day, now Adam and Eve are thrust out of Paradise. There was no way back into Paradise because God stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword to guard the way to the tree of life. Communion between man and God was severed. Where there was once closeness, and fellowship, now there is distance and alienation.
Folks, that is the result of eating from the Tree Of The Knowledge Of Good And Evil – Sin, Curse, Death, Alienation. Now, let’s take a look at the second tree.
2. The Tree Of Life
If the Tree Of The Knowledge Of Good And Evil points us to Sin, the Curse, Death, and Alienation, what does the Tree Of Life point us to?
1) Righteousness:
Revelation 22:14 says, “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the Tree Of Life, and may enter by the gates into the city.” Interestingly, the first tree has to do with sin, but the second tree has to do with righteousness. Those who eat from the Tree of Life are those who have washed their robes. Now, how do they wash their robes?
Revelation 7:14 says, “They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” Now, that’s an odd concept – washing robes in blood! If we put our robes in blood we would just stain them horribly. However, these robes are washed white in the blood. Whose blood is it? What blood can cleanse all sin? It’s the blood of the Lamb. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. To wash our robes is symbolic of a complete and total cleansing of our lives from every stain and blemish of sin.
Revelation 22:11 says, “Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and let the one who is filthy, still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness; and let the one who is holy, still keep himself holy.” These words are stated in the same context with the person eating of the Tree of Life. John is hearing the words of an angel announcing that now the eternal state has come. In this state, there is no possibility of change. Whoever dies in a filthy state, shall be filthy for all eternity. Whoever dies in a holy or righteous state, will be holy and righteous for all eternity. In other words, this cleansing of sin and clothing with a perfect righteousness is eternal! Adam was created innocent, but fell from his innocence into a state of sin. However, we are recreated in Christ Jesus, and when we are glorified, we will remain in our glorified state forever. There is no possibility of us falling ever again. Praise God!
2) Healing:
Notice Revelation 22:1-3, “And he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. And on either side of the river was the Tree Of Life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall no longer be any curse.”
The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil brought forth the curse. The Tree of Life brings forth the blessing of healing. There is no longer any curse. Sin has ravaged the human race. All of us are broken people because of sin. Our intellect, emotions, and will are all wrong. We think wrongly, feel wrongly, and choose wrongly. We need healing. And that is exactly what God does for us through the Tree of Life. He restores us to perfect health, physically, intellectually, emotionally, and volitionally. We are sinners, sorry and wrecked by the Fall. But we may use the leaves from the Tree of Life for our ultimate and perfect healing.
3) Life:
We ought to know that this tree would bring forth life, because it is called the Tree of Life! Just as the first tree brought death, physical, spiritual, and eternal, even so this tree brings forth life, spiritual and eternal. Revelation 22:5 says of those who partake of the Tree of Life, that “they shall reign forever and ever.” Everlasting life in the presence of God and of the Lamb is the portion for those who partake of this tree.
4) Reconciliation:
By eating of the first tree, Paradise was lost. By eating of the Tree of Life, Paradise is restored. Notice Revelation 22:3-4, “And there shall no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His bond-servants shall serve Him; and they shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.”
Instead of being turned out of Paradise, we are brought back into Paradise. Instead of being banished from the immediate presence of God, we see His face. Instead of alienation, we find reconciliation. His name is on our foreheads. I am my beloved’s and He is mine.
Do you see how the Tree of Life has the exact opposite effects as the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil has? That brings us to the third tree.
3. The Tree Of Calvary
I don’t think it is an accident that the cross of Jesus Christ is often referred to as a “tree.” The word “cross” in the NASB is often translated “tree” in other versions like the NKJV or ESV. One example is Acts 5:30 in which Peter says, “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a tree.”
The Tree of Calvary is how we partake of the Tree of Life. The cross is how we go from sin to righteousness, from the curse to healing, from death to life, from alienation to reconciliation. How is that a cursed sinner, ruined and wrecked by the Fall, who is spiritually dead, facing eternal death, alienated from the life of God can be saved from that desperate condition? The answer is the Tree of Calvary.
What Benefits Come To Us From the Tree of Calvary?
1) Righteousness: 2 Cor. 5:21 says, “God made Him who knew no sin, to become sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” How can we receive the perfect, eternal righteousness of God? It is only available through the cross. When Jesus died, He became sin for us. He bore our sins, so that we might bear His righteousness.
2) Healing: 1 Peter 2:24 says, “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.” Where does our ultimate healing come from? It comes from His wounds. It comes because He bore our sins in His body on the cross. The healing of the nations that comes from the Tree of Life was made possible by the Tree of Calvary.
3) Life: John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” How was life made available to us? By God giving up His only Son unto death.
4) Reconciliation: Romans 5:10, “we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son.” Again we find that the blessing of reconciliation comes through the death of Christ.
How Did Christ Purchase These Benefits? He purchased them by
1) Bearing Our Sin: “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross” (1 Pet. 2:24)
2) Bearing Our Curse: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us – for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree” (Gal. 3:13)
3) Bearing Our Death: “For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly” (Rom. 5:6)
4) Bearing Our Alienation: Although Christ had no reason to be alienated from His Father, for He had no sin, yet “about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’ that is, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” Christ was separated from the Father so that we could be reconciled to the Father. Christ was alienated so that we could be reconciled.
Life Application:
Turn with me to Revelation 2:7 as we conclude this message. There are a couple of questions that we need to answer about the Tree of Life.
1. Where Is The Tree Of Life? Originally it was in the Garden of Eden. However, it is no longer on the earth. Does it still exist? Yes! In Revelation 2:7 we are told, “To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.” The Tree of Life is in the Paradise of God. Well, where is that? We know that it is no longer on the earth. Since the Fall, there is no paradise on earth. Jesus told the dying thief, “Today you will be with Me in Paradise.” So, Paradise today is in heaven, the immediate presence of God. Evidently, the Tree of Life was transplanted to heaven.
2. How Do We Eat of the Tree of Life? There are two things we must understand.
- It Is A Gift: Rev. 2:7 says “I will grant to eat of the tree of life.” This means that Jesus Himself must give a person this gift. It is a gift in the same way that coming to Jesus is a gift. Jesus said, “No one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father” (John 6:65). Never get the idea that you can somehow earn, deserve, or pay for your salvation. Either it comes to you freely by grace, or you will never have it at all!
- It Is By Faith: Rev. 2:7 promises the Tree of Life to him who overcomes. Well, who is that? Remember that John not only wrote the gospel of John, but 1 John and Revelation. It would make sense that we would find our answer to this question in another of John’s writings. Well, in 1 Jn. 5:4-5 we read, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith. And who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” Who is the overcomer? The one who believes in Jesus Christ. The Tree of Life is given as a gift to believers in Christ, those who overcome by faith.
Now, let me ask you something. Are you going to be one of those who will eat from the Tree of Life in Paradise one day? You say, “well I hope so, but how can anyone know for sure?” Well, ask yourself this. Are you an overcomer? Do you believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Savior of sinners? Is He your Savior? Is all your trust in Him, and in Him alone? Have you laid your deadly doing down, and are you resting in His finished work? If not, why not? Come to Jesus today! Lay down your weapons of rebellion. Surrender to Him as your King and God and Treasure and Deliverer.
If you said “Yes” to those questions, you have great reason to rejoice this morning. God no longer sees you as a sinner, but as the righteousness of God. God no longer sees you as under the curse, but a recipient of the blessing of His healing. God no longer sees you as spiritually dead, but a recipient of His life. God no longer sees you as alienated, but reconciled through Christ’s blood. You have everything if you have Christ. If all that is true, live like it! Talk like it! Pray like it! Witness like it! Nothing is better than that! Tell everyone you know of the grace you have received through Jesus Christ!
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