Series: Types of Christ Series
Title: Gospel in the Trees
Text: Genesis 2: 15
Date: August 15, 2010
Place: SGBC, New Jersey
Genesis 2: 9: And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil…15: And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. 16: And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
Adam was given the responsibility by God to dress and keep God's garden, all God's trees. Adam was one with God. God was his God and Adam his son. Adam was given the right to reach forth his hand and freely choose to eat from any of the trees with God's permission, except one.
Genesis 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.
Illustration: Art at the apple farm
Adam's transgression in taking the fruit was a forsaking of his oneness with God. Simply by eating this forbidden fruit Adam declared his own self-dependence and independence. And independence from God the Life means death. Adam's whole being was defiled and Adam died spiritually, he was cut off from God.
Genesis 3: 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.
The eternal life of God is Christ the Tree of Life.
Revelation 2:7: He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
The elect of God are trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord Jesus himself.
The first Adam lost all right to keep and dress the trees of God's garden. When God put Adam out of the garden, he declared plainly that Adam, and all who would be born in Adam, could never reach forth their dirty, self-willed, sinful hand and take of Christ and live. Adam lost all right to reach forth his hand and freely eat of the tree of life. If God allowed him to do so, Adam could have boasted that by the same hand with which he rebelled against God, he also saved himself--the sword of God's holy justice would have been mocked, God's glory would have been tainted and Christ would have become of no effect unto anyone.
The Cherubims and the Flaming Sword.
Genesis 3: 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.
The right of keeping and dressing God's trees in God's garden belongs to Christ Jesus the Son of God, the last Adam.
A. The Cherubim represents the angels of the LORD.
Christ is the Angel of the LORD who came forth preaching this gospel, whose person and work declare God just and the Justifier of those who believe in Christ. His messengers are angels of God sent forth to preach his person and work.
B. The flaming sword represents the righteous judgment of God manifest in Christ and him crucified, which is declared through the gospel.
The sword of justice had to be plunged into Christ to justify his people from their sin that God might remain just in Justifying his people from our sins.
Zechariah 13:7: Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.
2. The word of God--this gospel--is sharper than any two-edged sword. The gospel is brought forth by Christ through his messengers and slays the old man of Adam within his children. And heal us in newness of life.
3. It is by Christ Jesus, the last Adam, that God's children are made to partake of Christ the Tree of Life in snow-white, innocence. This is how all glory belongs to God.
Isaiah 61: 1: The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2: To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; 3: To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
When the sinner is born anew second time Christ is made unto us Wisdom, described this way by Solomon:
Proverbs 3: 18: She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.
REVIEW--What have we learned by this gospel in the trees?
The first Adam was given charge to keep and dress the tress of God's garden, but he disobeyed the commandment of God and plunged all whom he represented into spiritual death.
Christ the last Adam fulfilled the commandments of God and dresses all the trees for whom he died in his righteousness. Through the faith that God gives, trusting Christ our Righteousness, the believer has established--done all the commandments of God--in perfect righteousness.
Revelation 22:14: Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 15: For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. 16: I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
So it is that Christ the last Adam dresses and keeps the trees of God's garden, gives the believer access to the Tree of Life and brings all his children into God's presence in paradise.
Revelation 22: 17: And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
AMEN!