The forbidden fruit of sin and death

Genesis 3:2-3

Click for a description of the mark of the beast.
Click for a description of the image of the beast.

“And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’” Genesis 3:2-3

If there was a Christmas tree in the Garden of Eden this would be the one. The ornaments and candy canes on a Christmas tree are so enticing that children can hardly resist touching or eating them, even when their parents forbid it. Our parents also gave us many other treats and fruits that we could eat as we please.

God prohibited Adam and Eve from eating or touching the fruit of a certain tree in the Garden of Eden, because it would cause them to die. This command of God had both a literal and a spiritual meaning. Eating the fruit did not cause Adam and Eve to die physically right away, but it did cause them to die spiritually in that instant. At the same time, they were originally meant to live forever in the Garden of Eden, but their fate changed when they ate the fruit and were destined to die a physical death.

Because Adam and Eve sinned, we all face physical death as their descendants. We also fail to live up to God’s original plan for us, as we are all sinners. “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—” Romans 5:12 Today, sinning causes us to lose our spiritual life and contributes to the ruin and tribulation of this world and the coming of the Day of the Lord. Just as sin and death originated from Adam, salvation and eternal life are granted through Jesus Christ. “But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many.” Romans 5:15

We are tempted by worldly offerings to eat the fruit that God has forbidden. Although people may have different opinions on what constitutes worldly sins, they all share one common root. That root is disobedience to God. “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” 1 Corinthians 6:12 A sin is an act of defiance against God, who created us, or a refusal to accept Jesus Christ who offers forgiveness for our sins, or a mockery of the Holy Spirit, who dwells within us. The source of manipulation and deception that gives people their thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and words is surely offering the forbidden fruit of sin and death. The forbidden fruit is anything that separates us from the Holy Trinity.

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11