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BACKGROUND
(Specially for more Serious Students)
GARDENS
GARDEN
PARADISE
PARADISE
EDEN
EDEN, GARDEN OF
GETHSEMANE
GETHSEMANE
RESURRECTION OF CHRIST
RESURRECTION
RIVER OF GOD
The
full background to this teaching is available online at this link
THE 3 GARDENS OF GOD
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Online links to scriptures (New International Version [NIV] unless otherwise stated) are shown in blue
| THE GARDEN OF EDEN (Part 2 of 2) |
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| IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY |
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 When we think about Eden's Garden, we generally major on the fruitless, forbidden fruit fiasco. Yes, we are only too aware of the effects that Adam and Eve's decision have upon our lives today. We often blame the first married couple for our pains and sicknesses, but the reality is, had it been us, we too would also have taken that fine fruit! Besides, it is finished! It is done! We cannot reverse history!
Yet, the true heart of the story is not truly in the eating, which was almost inevitable, but rather, is found in the various clothing worn. For what transpired is a precise picture of human endeavor and God's mercy, a scenario that is played out in individual lives, right to this day.
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| HUMAN RESPONSE TO SIN |
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 The normal reaction amongst those who have an awareness of sin, through some appreciation of moral principles, is to endeavor to 'live a good life'.
This can be seen in Adam and Eve's response to the understanding of their nakedness. They responded to their moral dilemma by trying to do something about it themselves, making the world's first designer, fig leaf clothes. Not designed to attract the admiration of others, for there were no others, but rather, to try to deflect God's attention from what they had done.
Genesis 3:7
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 Today's equivalent of the same process is 'religion'. We sew together our 'fig leaves' of good behavior, which we believe will keep us in right standing with God! Living a good life. Doing our bit to help others less fortunate than ourselves. Being good people. Surely that's enough to get us to heaven?
The problem is, our solution to the problem of separation from God, as with Adam and Eve, comes from within our corrupted human understanding. It seems logical and reasonable to our way of thinking, but is not acceptable to God.
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| GOD'S RESPONSE TO SIN |
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 The beauty, and really, the main point, of the story of Adam and Eve is not the sin, but God's response to it. Contrary to popular belief, God forgave them for what they had done. He signified this by sacrificing animals in order to give them a new covering, one of the 'skins of salvation' (the first leather?) to replace the robe of righteousness they had lost.
Genesis 3:21
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 As mentioned previously, this is the first picture in the Bible of the way back to God. The first of the unsatisfactory sacrifices of the Old Testament which led to the final voluntary sacrifice of Jesus Himself on the cross for you and for me.
Hebrews 10:5-10
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 There is only one way back to God. Good works don't work! Jesus said it all!
John 14:6
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| THE EXAMPLE OF CAIN AND ABEL |
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 It took but a single generation for mankind to degenerate to the point where one man was prepared to kill another. In a classic tale of jealousy and rage Cain lost control of his reason and took his brother Abel's life. Let's review the story.
Genesis 4:1-8
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 Over the years I have heard many explanations as to why the Lord was pleased with Abel's offering but not Cain's. For both gave of the bounty of their crop. But nothing that truly satisfied me. Until now!
The only inkling of an explanation the Bible gives is in Hebrews, where it talks of Abel having greater faith than had Cain.
Hebrews 11:4
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 The key section of that verse is where 'God spoke well of his offerings.' Abel's offering was superior to Cain's. How? Why?
The answer is that Cain's offerings were of his own labors, a picture of those who seek in human wisdom and understanding to reconcile with God
through good works. They were presented to God with the wrong motivation. "See how good I am in giving this offering to you!"
Abel's offering, on the other hand, was given with an understanding of what God had done for his parents by supplying them with clothes of
salvation to wear, made of animal skins. He chose the best 'fat portions' from the best firstborn (the strongest and most perfect) of his flock. He
understood the principle of his sinfulness and the need to make restitution to God through the sacrifice of a life for his life. In fact, the best, most perfect, animal's life for his life, for only the best satisfies a perfect God.
His heart motivation was, "God, I am a sinner. Please forgive my sins" Cain's true heart of human selfishness was exposed shortly thereafter,
when he killed his brother in a fit of jealousy and rage.
Yes, Abel's sacrifice was acceptable while Cain's wasn't. Nothing has changed today! We cannot 'earn' back our relationship with God through good works but must come to Him in repentance, through Jesus, who sacrificed His life for us. Only then can we restore the fellowship with the Father enjoyed by Adam and Eve before they succumbed to the serpents (satan's) temptation.
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| THE GARDEN OF EDEN - A LEGACY |
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 Little is known about the Garden of Eden, which is not surprising given that it was the source of primitive man, where the only means of recording
history was by word of mouth down through the generations.
However the existence of such a place is recorded not only in Jewish tradition but in many other cultures throughout the region also, e.g.
Sumerians, and even in the wider world e.g. Greek. A land of peace, one of great bounty: truly a paradise, where there was no death or sickness.
While we do not know it's exact location, two of the four rivers surrounding it still exist today, the Tigris and the Euphrates. It is likely to
have been a well-watered river plain, providing natural irrigation for a profusion of trees and plants.
Gardens are highly prized throughout the Old Testament. King Solomon, when wooing his lover, idealized the garden.
Song of Solomon 4:11-16
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 God too, promised through the prophets Ezekiel and Isaiah, that the restoration of Israel would be as the restoration of the Garden of Eden.
Firstly Ezekiel.
Ezekiel 36:33-36
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 The Garden of Eden has always been regarded as a picture of the ideal paradise, one of God's eternal kingdom to be restored in final days, as we will see later.
Gardens then, came to represent the epitome of God's creativity, the place in which the glory of God's creation is most easily seen. Surely then, it is not surprising that the major acts God purposed to rectify the forbidden fruit eating experience, should also take place in and around gardens.
Let's see how.
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| <i>NEXT WEEK</i> THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMENE:
A GARDEN OF SELF-SACRIFICE |
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 Jesus committed to His ultimate self-sacrifice on the cross in a garden, the Garden of Gethsemene.
Let's investigate.
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| A NOTE FROM DAVID |
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 While the story of Adam and Eve is one of unmitigated disaster, from one point of view, it also gave God the opportunity to demonstrate His great grace in the provision of clothes of forgiveness made out of animal skins. A beautiful picture of Jesus.
Thank you Lord for your grace and goodness towards us!
SUN DIAL
This ancient sun dial reveals the hours in a day. It has a surface with hour lines and a stick or gnomon which casts a shadow as the sun advances in its daily course. The sun dial is mentioned in the Bible as far back as the time of King Ahaz. Herodotus mentions that the sun dial was in use before his time in Babylonia.
Source: http://www.bible-history.com
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So until next week.......
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD!
His servant and yours
Learn more about us at...
www.wwj.org.nz/about.php
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A DAVID'S DOODLING
827. We can't outgive God's grace to us - but we could try!
David Tait
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Check
out the WWJ website for….
More David's Doodlings: www.wwj.org.nz/dd.php
Waxing Lyrical: http://www.wwj.org.nz/waxing.php
If Only I'd Thought of it: http://www.wwj.org.nz/thought.php
Laughing at Ourselves: http://www.wwj.org.nz/laugh.php
A look at some of lifes curious questions: http://www.wwj.org.nz/why.php
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And also Isaiah: