Springs Article 2021-11 (2)

Genesis 3:1-6
Genesis 3:7-13
1 Timothy 2:8-14

Why did God put the tree of the knowledge of good and evil at the centre of the Garden of Eden?

  • To test man’s love for Him and to test man’s faith in Him
  • Your faith and love will be tested
  • The proof of faith and love is obedience!
  • Faith without corresponding actions is dead, James 2:14,26
  • If you love God, you will obey His commandments, John 14:15

What does the tree of the knowledge of good and evil refer to in our lives today?

  • The tree of the knowledge of good and evil is God’s tree!
  • It was holy unto the Lord just like the tithe (1/10 of money) and the sabbath (1/7 of time)
  • The tree was God’s way of keeping man in innocence by permission
  • The centre of the Garden represents the place of consecration and obedience
  • The centre of the garden represents the principles of tithing and sabbath

How can I stay in innocence and away from the knowledge of evil?

  • Don’t eat the forbidden fruit!
  • Trust and obey God
  • Give attention to God’s Word and incline your ears to what God is saying
  • It is better to learn directly from God than from bitter experience

What made it possible for Eve to be deceived by the Serpent?

  • She was distracted by his captivating smooth talk!
  • Distraction is the opposite of attention
  • Flirting with evil always leads to distraction!
  • Don’t flirt with evil content and evil company. Instead, abstain from all appearance of evil, 1 Thessalonians 5:22
  • Don’t flirt with the devil. Instead, resist and rebuke him, 1 Peter 5:8-9, James 4:7

What is the importance of modesty and moderation in our lives today?

  • ‘Modesty and moderation’ is a matter of your spiritual consecration to the Lord
  • Immodesty and lack of moderation is always a distraction to genuine spirituality!
  • By drawing unnecessary attention to yourself or indulging in carnality, you end up distracting yourself and others spiritually
  • The fruit of the Spirit is self-control, Galatians 5:22-23

Why did Adam eat the forbidden fruit, given that he was not deceived according to 1 Timothy 2:14?

  • Adam was not deceived. Rather, he was coerced (pressurised) by someone he loved (something he wanted)
  • Beware of pressure! Beware of the things you love/want!
  • Adam loved his wife more than God
  • Adam chose to perish with his wife rather than live alone with God
  • Idolatry is to love the creation more than the Creator
  • Idolatry is to love yourself more than God
  • Idolatry is loving material things more than spiritual things
  • Idolatry is to consume for yourself what God has reserved for Himself (e.g. not paying your tithe and/or not having time for church fellowship)

What would have happened if Adam had refused to eat the forbidden fruit?

  • Mankind would not have fallen into spiritual death
  • Adam was the one given the instruction, Genesis 2:15-17
  • The authority was with Adam as the Head, 1 Timothy 2:13
  • Authority always comes with great responsibility!
  • God would have redeemed Eve through the obedience of Adam, Romans 5:19
  • Adam failed in his responsibility over all mankind by yielding to pressure from his wife who had been deceived by Satan

2021: A Year of Sanctification

To find out more, listen to the audio sermon.