Lesson 19

Studying the Genesis story of the original sin deeply will shed light on the immortal soul doctrine’s validity. After Adam and Eve’s decision to eat the forbidden fruit, God pronounces a curse of hard labour on the man. As a mortal, made of dirt, man returns to his base elements.

Genesis 3:19 International Children’s Bible

You will sweat and work hard for your food. Later you will return to the ground. This is because you were taken from the ground. You are dust. And when you die, you will return to the dust.”

Making sure that mankind couldn’t eat from the tree of life, God drove them out of the garden and barred them from ever returning.

Genesis 3:22-24 International Children’s Bible

22 Then the Lord God said, “Look, the man has become like one of us. He knows good and evil. And now we must keep him from eating some of the fruit from the tree of life. If he does, he will live forever.” 23 So the Lord God forced the man out of the garden of Eden. He had to work the ground he was taken from. 24 God forced the man out of the garden. Then God put angels on the east side of the garden. He also put a sword of fire there. It flashed around in every direction. This kept people from getting to the tree of life.

Inside the garden of Eden at creation, is the one and only time humans have ever had the opportunity to eat from the tree of life. Their decision to eat from the tree of knowledge got them expelled from Eden. The tree of life is kept out of mankind’s grasp until its fruit is again available to be eaten by victors in God’s kingdom.

Revelation 2:7 New Testament for Everyone

Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the spirit is saying to the churches. The tree of life stands in God’s paradise, and I will give to anyone who conquers the right to eat from it.”

What are the personal struggles that will keep you from emerging as a conquer in God’s paradise?