Written by Tom Diller

The tree of Life represents the spiritual man,it represents justification by faith, it represents true righteousness through the Blood of Jesus (Romans 5:9). Romans 5:1 says,"Therefore, having been justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." I am for all good works. As christians we understand good works are very important, but we also understand that we are not saved by works. We are saved by faith.(Ephesians 2:4-10, Titus 3:5, and Romans 3:21-31).Jesus is the Tree of Life.It is very important that you remember this scripture, 1John5: 11-12," that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life," and the way we receive this life is in Romans 10:8-10. "The word is near you, even in your mouth and in your heart.If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with heart one believes into righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation". If we believe this, first and foremost, then Godly works will proceed out of us because of the faith that is in us.

Written by Tom Diller

Genesis 2:9 tells us that there were two trees in the garden, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and the tree of Life.In Genesis 2:16-17,God said,"And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, of every tree of the garden you may freely eat;but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat,for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." In Genesis3:6-7, you can see that Adam and Eve ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. And in verse 7," Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked;and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings." In an attempt to restore their righteousness before God, Adam and Eve, sewed fig leaves together as a covering. Many people today are still sewing fig leaves together in a effert to make themselves righteous before God. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil represents the "law", it represents the natural man, it represents justification by works. Romans 3:20 says, "Therefore, by the deeds of the law, no flesh will be justified in His sight,for by the law is the knowledge of sin." Trying to be saved by the law is a fig leaf. It is a salvation you are trying to earn.It is not true righteousness,it is self righteousness. Paul says in Philippians 3:8-9,"that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith. (The tree of Life).

Written by Tom Diller

Just as we grow up and mature naturally, from babes to little children,to young adults, and then to adults, we must also do so spiritually. 1Peter2:2 says," as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby." 1 John 2:12-14, refers to christians as little children, young men, and fathers (spiritually) Titus 3:5 says, "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit." The washing of regeneration is the begining of our faith.It is when we ask God for forgiveness and confess and accept Jesus Christ, and become a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).The renewing by the Holy Spirit is our christian walk. Romans 12:2, refers to it as the renewing of our minds.As we read the Word of God, we learn how Jesus speaks, how He thinks, and how He acts. As we become doers of the word,and not hearers only (James 1:22), then we purify our souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit (1peter 1:22). we become renewed in the spirit of our mind.We put on the new man which was created according to God, in righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:23-24).Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:13,"till we all come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ."What a goal ! 1John 3:2-3 says "Beloved, now we are the children of God;and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is reaveled,we shall be like Him,for we shall see Him as He is.And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure."

Written by Tom Diller

I know that in this bible study I have emphasized the importantance of reading the bible. It is important that we make it a priority, Psalms 119:105 says," Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." In Matthew 4:4 Jesus said," It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." Matthew 24:35 says, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away." You know there is a scripture that everybody likes to quote. I even hear it frequently on tv. It is John 8:32, It says,"And you shall know the truth, And the truth shall make you free."But, what you dont hear is the scripture right before it. It is the scripture right before it that makes it all work.The two scriptures should be said together. John 8:31-32 says," Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him,"If you abide in my word, you are my disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth,and the truth shall make you free."You see,to really know the whole truth, we must abide in His word,and then we will know the truth and will be His disciples indeed.

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