Life began very simple. God, as a potter shapes a vessel of clay,
"formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his
nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul" (Genesis
2:7). The vessel of flesh and blood, inanimate in itself, became a
breathing creature when quickened by the breath of life, the Spirit of
God. The lifeless structure of the body became a living, breathing
entity because it had encountered the essence of all life, God. The
flesh of created man and the Spirit of Creator God set together in
perfect union.
Newly formed man lived his life in simplicity. As a child experiences
life in the warmth and safety of his earthly father, the first of
mankind experienced their lives as the object of the love of God.
Experiencing the fullest possible expression of life for man, the
original pair lived the days of their lives in the providential care of
God Himself. God provided all that was needed to experience the glory of
paradise.
It would not be long, however, until all would not be well in paradise.
Man desired not to live in the simplicity of the innocence of a child
enjoying the continually expression of God’s love. Using the God given
freedom of his intellect, he began to think that it would be better for
him to be God himself. Using "God-like" decisions, he would
attempt to direct the course of his own life. With the now perceived
ability of the freedom of choice, man would attempt to control his own
experiences in the living of life.
Paradise was soon to be no more. Man would come to trust no one.
Corruption in all forms of relationships became the way of life.
Refusing to be no longer open and honest, man began to hide his true
feelings. Others were blamed for the difficulties of his life that was
escalating out of control. No matter how much effort he put into the
experiences of living, life seemed never to achieve the peace, the joy,
or the justice he so desired. It was as if life was cursed.
It was the consumption of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good
and evil, which gave man the perceived freedom to choose the course of
his life, that brought Jesus Christ into the physical world. He said,
For judgment I am come into this world,
that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be
made blind. And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these
words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? Jesus said unto them, If
ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see;
therefore your sin remaineth" (John 9:39-41).
Jesus came to undo the alleged seeing of
man. He connected sin not with the doing of evil or the failure to do
good but with seeing. It is only when the alleged seeing of man
has occurred that good and evil then becomes the issue.
It is not the cessation of evil and the performance of good that brings
deliverance to man. Once again, the attempt to do good as opposed to
doing evil is eating the fruit of the "tree of the knowledge of
good and evil." Salvation comes to man only when the pretended seeing
of man is brought to its end.
When this deliverance occurs, man is restored to a state of innocence
(freedom from guile or cunning: simplicity). The grace of God flows in
his life producing the fullest possible manifestation of the actual Life
of God in man. Living now of the kingdom of God as opposed to the
kingdom of men, man experiences once again the free flow of the love of
God. He experiences the manifestation of Jesus Christ in all of His
glory.
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