THE GOODER NEWS
When most people think of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil from Genesis they conjure up a picture of something evil. Years of narrow Adamic thinking because of the "fall" have blinded man to the real problem. The word "good" in the pair seems to get lost in the evil of "evil". The "good" of the tree they fail to see is something that will cause you to be separated from God, which is death. The issue has never been just evil.
Consider the Jews for a moment and how in seeking to establish a righteousness of their own they forsook the righteousness of God. (Romans 9:31,32;10:3) That is eating of the "good" of the tree of knowledge; it still produces death. The people of God trusted in works and not the revelation of God by faith and missed out; not unlike what plagues the church today. What remains of Adam in all of us tries to offer up its own thoughts and standards rather than God's. "All our righteousness are as filthy rags." Isaiah 64:6b (KJV) Not tiny clothes of acceptability, not the minimum like a bathing suit but filthy rags that make a person unacceptable to God. We should rather clothed with Christ rather than in our own righteousness and rejected. God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble. This means that if you have pride God will oppose you (even if you are a Christian!) till you repent. If you offer up your own righteous works He must reject them as Jesus is the only acceptable offering (not tithes or good works; Only Jesus!). So it is not just the obvious "evil" of the tree of knowledge but also the "good" that produces death.
The mindset of "good and evil" sent all mankind into a spiral of death--separated from God. That tree is the measuring stick that makes our carnal mind think we can judge what is important, real or otherwise. It is a liar. In using the natural mind to measure sin we instantly establish our own righteousness everyplace sin is not found. If I fill a measuring cup half full I also know it is half empty. If I measure myself half sinful I am also half holy! Even more ironic, the Adamic/fleshly mindset thinks it can define sin and fails to see that anything that is not faith is sin. ie; good works etc. Faith says I have His righteousness. (1 Cor 1:30) "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." God says in Isaiah 55:9 (KJV). He says "But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." in 1 Cor. 2:14. (NKJ) If I judge myself outside of the blood of Christ and His word I am establishing my own system of goodness. "Test yourselves {to see} if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you-- unless indeed you fail the test?" 2 Cor. 13:5 (NASB)
CHRIST IN YOU! It is imperative that this point grows in your thinking. It is finished, you've died with Christ and have been raised with Him and are seated in heavenly places. Christ is in you and could not be if your sins were held against you.
God tells us throughout His word how to think. Let these scriptures become part of your daily meditation.
Prov. 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. (KJV)
Phil 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (KJV) Phil. 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (KJV)
Eph. 4:17-24
17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye
henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of
their mind, ....
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in
righteousness and true holiness. (KJV)
Rom. 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (KJV)
Gal 3:3 Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? (KJV)
Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. (KJV)
Col. 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. (KJV)
Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (KJV) Who will YOU express? judgmental Adam or a loving CHRIST!
God doesn't give us an option. He says Think this way! This is the tree of Life that is His Word/Himself. The mind of Christ which has been given to all born again believers but is not necessarily being used. Romans 8:6 says; "For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace." (NASB) Christians must choose which mind to use! Consider then that all who walk after the natural mind are hostile to God! (Romans 8:7.) Separated from producing His life even if they are Christian. This is also displayed when Jesus calls Peter Satan in Matthew 16:23 as He says "for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's." (NASB) Spirit reproduces Spirit and flesh reproduces flesh. (No matter how much scripture it quotes the natural mind always mishandles scripture to produce death.) Henceforth we have the reason why the Adamic mindset of "good and evil" has flourished in the "Churchianity" of today. A lack of true humility, convenient doctrines and the mishandling of scripture has kept Adam alive and well in the church that should be destroying his every work and word (Adamic thinking). Every thought in Adams "good and evil" mindset produces death. No exception! The double minded man will not receive anything from God. Living in a "good and evil" attitude will steal your joy, condemn you and make you useless in the things of faith. The world exalts knowledge because good and evil is all that it sees ("the fire of hell that is set by" James states), but we have met Jesus and have His love in our hearts. The world will know we are Christians by our love. Grace did what natural law or reason could not. The law of love is true worship to the point of dying to our own opinions and walking in His love. Only love is single minded.
Two trees are contrasted in the garden of beginnings, the knowledge of "good and evil" and "life". The tree of lives is a more accurate definition. (Picks Dictionary of Old Testament Words.) It is a Hebrew word reserved for use only for the life of God and man. We are united in this tree as we see only one tree in the book of Revelations which is Jesus Christ and His body together. The love of God expressed through the corporate Christ as one. Gods ultimate purpose is to bring us into oneness complete in Christ. Adamic thinking cannot receive this because it is either sin conscious or proud depending which part of its double minded cycle it's on. True humility is accepting what God's word says about you! The blood on the mercy seat in the true holy of holies cries out not guilty! for every person (especially for you but not only you). This is God's word. If you are in Christ it is your mindset, if you're in Adam you want to judge and condemn and will reap that death in your own life. See Luke 6:36-38 and Matthew 6:14&15. Be very sure brethren, God is Love and Love never fails. When you walk in the Spirit you kill the deeds of the flesh. Let this mind be in you... Do you think God would ask you to do or be something that you couldn't do or be ? Will you let His mind be yours ? Can you accept His scriptural direction for your life? There is more love waiting for you than you ever imagined. Don't be lied to (or lie to yourself) anymore. All heaven worships God because it is finished! Which tree are you eating of? You choose who you will express-judgmental Adam or a loving Christ. Too long has Adam been allowed to live in our churches because we have not had a high enough standard of love. God's love that Adam can't mimic.