Things New and Old: Therefore the LORD God drove out the man from Eden.

Things New and Old

Ancient truths revealed in the Scriptures are often forgotten, disbelieved or distorted, and therefore lost in the passage of time. Such ancient truths when rediscovered and relearned are 'new' additions to the treasury of ancient truths.

Christ showed many new things to the disciples, things prophesied by the prophets of old but hijacked and perverted by the elders and their traditions, but which Christ reclaimed and returned to His people.

Many things taught by the Apostles of Christ have been perverted or substituted over the centuries. Such fundamental doctrines like salvation by grace and justification have been hijacked and perverted and repudiated by sincere Christians. These doctrines need to be reclaimed and restored to God's people.

There are things both new and old here. "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things" 2Ti 2:7.

Friday, January 11, 2019

Therefore the LORD God drove out the man from Eden.

"Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden."

What tender mercies!

Gen 3

21 ¶Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

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.

a. What tender mercies: the LORD God made coats of skins to clothe them who despised His commandment. He provided a covering of skins through the shedding of innocent blood before sending man forth from the garden.

b. What tender mercies: the LORD God sent the man out of the garden of Eden. Why? What is the "therefore" there for? To prevent him from suicidal foolishness. Man in his state of dying was desperate in reaching for the fruit of the tree of life in order to live forever. He thought that would undo the curse of death that he had brought upon himself. He thought that's the cure. Can you imagine the curse of dying yet living forever in a dying body? Wouldn't that be truly hell on earth? Imagine a world filled with men and women in a vegetative state but cannot die!

c. What tender mercies: the LORD God drove the man out. Why such force? The criminal refused to leave, desperate for access to the tree of life. His hope lies in his return to the ground from when he was taken. That's the only way the corruption, dishonour, weakness of the sin-cursed body can be rid off. Read 1Cor 15:42-45 and thank the LORD God for His tender mercies.

d. What tender mercies; the LORD God stationed Cherubims with flaming sword that turned every way. The access to the tree of life is perfectly cut off, with no possibility whatsoever for man to reach the tree of life in his dying state.

1Cor 15

42 ¶So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:

43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:

44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.