Does The Tree Of The Knowledge Of Good And Evil Typify The Law?
Hi M____,Mike,
Thanks again for your time. I pray you are patient with me. I got through the first three of your articles no problem with zero questions, but the counsel of his own will brought forth many. I just have but three more questions. Then I can't wait to read the law article.1) Was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil a type of the law?2) I'm missing something because breaking the commandment made Adam & Eve relize they were naked and were ashamed. Now Paul says Gods law is holy, just and good (Rom 7:12). Now they couldn't understand their condition until they ate and transgressed the law, but Paul says in 7:13 Was that which is good made death unto me. GOD FORBID! Rev 3:17 says it's bad to not realize you're naked, but the only way to realize it is to transgress. I'm aware in my own walk transgressing brought me to repentance (Rom 5:20, Rom 7: 8,9). It wasn't until God wrote his law on my heart I was convicted and realized I was naked and had trangressed. So is transgressing good or bad? It seems like it is good, but I'm told by Paul it's bad, I don't understand. I hope you see where I'm stumbling.3) Lastly: I'm sorry these are tedious, but I need to ask. How come when Paul writes to the immature Corinthians and even in Gal 1:6. He says he is marvelled that they would turn to another gospel. Why is he marvelled? Why doesn't he say "Well, God works all things after his own will so be patient because you possess your own souls?" He gives them numerous instructions to carry out. Why does Paul say he wished to know nothing but Christ crucified in Corinth, but further their teaching well beyond that? Why not just say who are you to ask the potter how he made you? I guess what I'm really asking is why doesn't he teach about God's total sovereignty instead of giving instructions on holy living?
Thank you again for your time, Mike, M___
Every question you ask in this letter is answered in the paper The Law of Moses Versus The Law of The Spirit.
So I am going to be very brief in answering these questions. Yes, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was typical of the law. It was the fruit of that tree which made them aware of their naked, sinful condition and made them want to hide from a righteous God.
Rom 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
Adam and Eve "knew they were naked [sinful flesh]... by the law." They were sinful flesh before they ate of the tree. But just as the law showed Paul his lustful, covetous nature, so the tree of the knowledge of good and evil showed Adam and Eve their naked sinful nature, and then they were ashamed.
The only other question I will take time for in this letter is with where you say "Paul say[s] he wished to know nothing but Christ crucified in Corinth..." No, Paul said nothing of the kind although that is exactly what the entire orthodox Christian world teaches. What Paul did say was:
1Co 2:2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
"I determined" is a far cry from 'I wished.' Paul had to force himself to speak only of the fact that Christ had died for their sins. Why was this so? Why wouldn't Paul teach these Corinthian Christians that they needed to "fill up in their bodies what was behind of the afflictions of Christ?" In the very next chapter he tells us why he could not speak of anything more than Christ and Him crucified.
1Co 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
1Co 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
1Co 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
1Co 3:4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
There; that is why Paul "determined to know nothing among you but Christ and Him crucified."
Four times in four verses Paul tells these Corinthians that they "are yet carnal... babes in Christ."
All the rest of your questions are answered in that law paper. Read that, and if you still have questions then please get back to me.
Your brother in Christ,
Mike
"I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
Christ and Him crucified is "milk of the word." It is good at first "that ye may grow thereby." But if we refuse to go beyond the milk of the Word, then there comes a point, just as in the physical world, if we eat nothing but milk as adults, we will spiritually die of spiritual malnutrition.
Four times in four verses Paul tells these Corinthians that they "are yet carnal... babes in Christ."
All the rest of your questions are answered in that law paper. Read that, and if you still have questions then please get back to me.
Your brother in Christ,
Mike
