POP QUIZ: Why did God put the Trees of Life and the Knowledge of Good and Evil in the Garden?

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POP QUIZ Question #1):
Give 1 Scripture passage that explains WHY God put the Tree of Life AND the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in the Garden of Eden. HINT: This verse should also explicitly explain WHY God gave the original Law, which was "Eat" and "Do not Eat".

NOTE: I want only 1 Scripture only. If you don't have 1 scripture, please do not post. If you have multiple Scriptures, please pick 1 as your best answer.

Thanks!

EDIT: The answer is given in Romans 11:32
"For God has shut up all in disobedience (under Law) so that He may show mercy to all"

God created Satan, the 2 Trees, and gave the Law so that when man sinned, He could come take their place and show them Mercy. If you disobey God's Law, you die. But there is still Mercy for you.... Jesus Christ. But woe to the man who sins against God's Law AND rejects God's Mercy. For that man, there is nothing left but God's Wrath.
 
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POP QUIZ Question #1):
Give 1 Scripture passage that explains WHY God put the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in the Garden of Eden.

NOTE: I want only 1 Scripture only. If you don't have 1 scripture, please do not post. If you have multiple Scriptures, please pick 1 as your best answer.

Thanks!
Deuteronomy 30

19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
 
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Jonathan Mathews

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Deuteronomy 30

19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

Very Nice! It's CLOSE, but not the exact answer. This Scripture explains WHAT the 2 options were and WHY God wanted them to eat from the Tree of Life (so they may live). But it does not explain WHY He put the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil before them also. I'm looking for WHY God gave them BOTH and WHY God gave them the "Law" (This is a clue) saying "Eat" and "Do not Eat".
 
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POP QUIZ Question #1):
Give 1 Scripture passage that explains WHY God put the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in the Garden of Eden.

NOTE: I want only 1 Scripture only. If you don't have 1 scripture, please do not post. If you have multiple Scriptures, please pick 1 as your best answer.

Thanks!

Genesis 3

22Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil. And now, lest he reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever...”
 
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ObadiahHaidabo

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Very Nice! It's CLOSE, but not the exact answer. This Scripture explains WHAT the 2 options were and WHY God wanted them to eat from the Tree of Life (so they may live). But it does not explain WHY He put the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil before them also. I'm looking for WHY God gave them BOTH and WHY God gave them the "Law" (This is a clue) saying "Eat" and "Do not Eat".

I may be overanalyzing, but:

1. Inherent in that passage is the imperative to choose. "Therefore choose life". Glancing at a few different mainstream translations, I don't see any variation on the verb. It's always "choose".

2. To make a choice, you must have at least two alternatives. It seems clear to me that God wants our choice. In order for us to make a choice (free will), there must be a genuine alternate possibility.
 
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For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
 
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Jonathan Mathews

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Genesis 3

22Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil. And now, lest he reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever...”

CLOSE. But that's not it either. This scripture shows WHY God could not let sinful man continue to eat from the Tree of Life (lest sin endure forever). But it does not say WHY God created the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in the first place or WHY God gave the Law "Eat" and "Do not Eat".
 
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Jonathan Mathews

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I may be overanalyzing, but:

1. Inherent in that passage is the imperative to choose. "Therefore choose life". Glancing at a few different mainstream translations, I don't see any variation on the verb. It's always "choose".

2. To make a choice, you must have at least two alternatives. It seems clear to me that God wants our choice. In order for us to make a choice (free will), there must be a genuine alternate possibility.

Great attempt! But not the full answer. This scripture shows us that God wanted us to "Choose Life, so that you may live". It explains that God was giving us a choice. But it does NOT explain WHY God was giving us that choice to begin with, the choice between Life and Death. It does not explain WHY God gave us the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and WHY God said "Eat" and "Do not Eat". Great effort though. Keep searching, you're getting close.
 
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Jonathan Mathews

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For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

VERY VERY WARM! This is the closest answer yet! But it's not the answer. This Scripture explains WHAT Christ did to redeem of from the curse of the Law and it explains WHY Christ came in the the likeness of sinful flesh (That the righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us). But it does NOT explain WHY God created the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, or WHY God gave us the Law in the first place saying "Eat" and "Do not Eat". You're almost there!
 
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LoveofTruth

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POP QUIZ Question #1):
Give 1 Scripture passage that explains WHY God put the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in the Garden of Eden. It should also explain WHY God gave the Law saying "Eat" and "Do not Eat".

NOTE: I want only 1 Scripture only. If you don't have 1 scripture, please do not post. If you have multiple Scriptures, please pick 1 as your best answer.

Thanks!
Genesis 2:17. But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”

He gave man a choice to go away from Him and die if he wanted. But he warned them not to do so.

He gave them a choice to love him and abide or to depart

Showing that they are not robots .
 
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Jonathan Mathews

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Genesis 2:17. But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”

He gave man a choice to go away from Him and die if he wanted. But he warned them not to do so.

He gave them a choice to love him and abide or to depart

Showing that they are not robots .

CLOSE. But that's not the answer. Yes, this Scripture shows God gave us a choice, a free will, and it shows that we are not robots. But showing us we are not robots, but free-will beings, was not the reason the Word says God gave the Law and the 2 Trees. It was a very loving thing for God to do, but it's not the PRIMARY reason stated explicitly in Scripture for Him putting mankind under Law with the 2 choices of Life and Death. You're still missing the explicit reason given in the Scriptures. Keep up the search!
 
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icxn

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How about Romans 7:9-11?

9 For I was alive apart from the law once, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died; 10 and the commandment, which was ordained to bring life, I found to be unto death. 11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me and by it slew me.​
 
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Jonathan Mathews

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How about Romans 7:9-11?

9 For I was alive apart from the law once, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died; 10 and the commandment, which was ordained to bring life, I found to be unto death. 11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me and by it slew me.​

This is fantastic! CLOSEST answer so far! But it's not the answer. This Scriptures shows the Law was "ordained to bring life". But the same Law that was ordained to bring life saying "Eat and Live" had a death clause and the ability to kill saying "Do no eat or you will die". So why would God give a Law at all? Can't man live apart from a Law? Wasn't Adam living BEFORE the Law came? Yes! And Paul was too! Why then did God give an opportunity to sin and Death by giving the Law? Why create the Tree of Knowledge? Why create Lucifer at all? This scripture does not answer these questions... but there is one that does. See if you can find it!
 
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LoveofTruth

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This is fantastic! CLOSEST answer so far! But it's not the answer. This Scriptures shows the Law was "ordained to bring life". But the same Law that was ordained to bring life saying "Eat and Live" had a death clause and the ability to kill saying "Do no eat or you will die". So why would God give a Law at all? Can't man live apart from a Law? Wasn't Adam living BEFORE the Law came? Yes! And Paul was too! Why then did God give an opportunity to sin and Death by giving the Law? Why create the Tree of Knowledge? Why create Lucifer at all? This scripture does not answer these questions... but there is one that does. See if you can find it!
You may as well tell us what verse your thinking of

And I hope it is not this one

Revelation 4:11. Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”
 
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I do not read the Genesis myth as a fall from an original state of perfection into sin and death. The first couple were completely innocent and naive creatures. They were certainly capable of making a mistake but, without knowing good from evil, they lacked even the ability to sin. That ability came only with them eating of the "Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil". To me the story is a "coming of age story". Our mythical first couple graduated from animal status into to fully self aware human beings capable of making moral judgements. This is not an Original Sin story but rather an Original Blessing story that should be celebrated. We are not a people fallen from an original state of perfection into sin and death.

Why the expulsion from Eden? In the mythology, I believe it to be symbolic that mankind was no longer a naïve creature living in moral ignorance but had become real men and women living in a real world where there was real good and evil.

What we are is a people that is still evolving and that evolution has profoundly affected not just our bodies but our psyches as well. The world in which we evolved was a difficult and dagerous one and mere survival was of the highest priority. Selfishness became a part of who we are as a survival mechanism. This selfish instinct is no longer as necessary as in our savage past but it is still powerful. If there is an "Original Sin", this is it. Of course it is not a sin really but an innate part of our nature and it can be overcome.

In the words of John Spong: "Every living thing, plant and animal is programmed to survive. What is true of all these living things is also true of human life. The only difference is that we human beings are self-conscious, while plants and animals are not. If survival is our highest goal, self-centeredness is inevitable and thus this quality becomes a constant part of the human experience. Traditionally, the church has called this "original sin" and has explained it with the myth of the fall. That was simply wrong. Survival is a quality found in life itself. There was no fall. Self-centered, survival driven, self-conscious creatures is simply who we are. There is thus no such thing as "original sin" from which we need to be rescued by a divine invader. So much of traditional Christianity assumes this false premise."
 
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LoveofTruth

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I do not read the Genesis myth as a fall from an original state of perfection into sin and death. The first couple were completely innocent and naive creatures. They were certainly capable of making a mistake but, without knowing good from evil, they lacked even the ability to sin. That ability came only with them eating of the "Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil". To me the story is a "coming of age story". Our mythical first couple graduated from animal status into to fully self aware human beings capable of making moral judgements. This is not an Original Sin story but rather an Original Blessing story that should be celebrated. We are not a people fallen from an original state of perfection into sin and death.

Why the expulsion from Eden? In the mythology, I believe it to be symbolic that mankind was no longer a naïve creature living in moral ignorance but had become real men and women living in a real world where there was real good and evil.

What we are is a people that is still evolving and that evolution has profoundly affected not just our bodies but our psyches as well. The world in which we evolved was a difficult and dagerous one and mere survival was of the highest priority. Selfishness became a part of who we are as a survival mechanism. This selfish instinct is no longer as necessary as in our savage past but it is still powerful. If there is an "Original Sin", this is it. Of course it is not a sin really but an innate part of our nature and it can be overcome.

In the words of John Spong: "Every living thing, plant and animal is programmed to survive. What is true of all these living things is also true of human life. The only difference is that we human beings are self-conscious, while plants and animals are not. If survival is our highest goal, self-centeredness is inevitable and thus this quality becomes a constant part of the human experience. Traditionally, the church has called this "original sin" and has explained it with the myth of the fall. That was simply wrong. Survival is a quality found in life itself. There was no fall. Self-centered, survival driven, self-conscious creatures is simply who we are. There is thus no such thing as "original sin" from which we need to be rescued by a divine invader. So much of traditional Christianity assumes this false premise."
Genesis is a factual account and Jesus also speaks of Adam and Eve and the facts of those events.
 
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LoveofTruth

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I do not read the Genesis myth as a fall from an original state of perfection into sin and death. The first couple were completely innocent and naive creatures. They were certainly capable of making a mistake but, without knowing good from evil, they lacked even the ability to sin. That ability came only with them eating of the "Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil". To me the story is a "coming of age story". Our mythical first couple graduated from animal status into to fully self aware human beings capable of making moral judgements. This is not an Original Sin story but rather an Original Blessing story that should be celebrated. We are not a people fallen from an original state of perfection into sin and death.

Why the expulsion from Eden? In the mythology, I believe it to be symbolic that mankind was no longer a naïve creature living in moral ignorance but had become real men and women living in a real world where there was real good and evil.

What we are is a people that is still evolving and that evolution has profoundly affected not just our bodies but our psyches as well. The world in which we evolved was a difficult and dagerous one and mere survival was of the highest priority. Selfishness became a part of who we are as a survival mechanism. This selfish instinct is no longer as necessary as in our savage past but it is still powerful. If there is an "Original Sin", this is it. Of course it is not a sin really but an innate part of our nature and it can be overcome.

In the words of John Spong: "Every living thing, plant and animal is programmed to survive. What is true of all these living things is also true of human life. The only difference is that we human beings are self-conscious, while plants and animals are not. If survival is our highest goal, self-centeredness is inevitable and thus this quality becomes a constant part of the human experience. Traditionally, the church has called this "original sin" and has explained it with the myth of the fall. That was simply wrong. Survival is a quality found in life itself. There was no fall. Self-centered, survival driven, self-conscious creatures is simply who we are. There is thus no such thing as "original sin" from which we need to be rescued by a divine invader. So much of traditional Christianity assumes this false premise."
Romans 5:12. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”

And Jesus mentions a few times events from Genesis
 
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Jonathan Mathews

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I do not read the Genesis myth as a fall from an original state of perfection into sin and death. The first couple were completely innocent and naive creatures. They were certainly capable of making a mistake but, without knowing good from evil, they lacked even the ability to sin. That ability came only with them eating of the "Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil". To me the story is a "coming of age story". Our mythical first couple graduated from animal status into to fully self aware human beings capable of making moral judgements. This is not an Original Sin story but rather an Original Blessing story that should be celebrated. We are not a people fallen from an original state of perfection into sin and death.

Why the expulsion from Eden? In the mythology, I believe it to be symbolic that mankind was no longer a naïve creature living in moral ignorance but had become real men and women living in a real world where there was real good and evil.

What we are is a people that is still evolving and that evolution has profoundly affected not just our bodies but our psyches as well. The world in which we evolved was a difficult and dagerous one and mere survival was of the highest priority. Selfishness became a part of who we are as a survival mechanism. This selfish instinct is no longer as necessary as in our savage past but it is still powerful. If there is an "Original Sin", this is it. Of course it is not a sin really but an innate part of our nature and it can be overcome.

In the words of John Spong: "Every living thing, plant and animal is programmed to survive. What is true of all these living things is also true of human life. The only difference is that we human beings are self-conscious, while plants and animals are not. If survival is our highest goal, self-centeredness is inevitable and thus this quality becomes a constant part of the human experience. Traditionally, the church has called this "original sin" and has explained it with the myth of the fall. That was simply wrong. Survival is a quality found in life itself. There was no fall. Self-centered, survival driven, self-conscious creatures is simply who we are. There is thus no such thing as "original sin" from which we need to be rescued by a divine invader. So much of traditional Christianity assumes this false premise."

PLease go back and read the OP. This thread requires sharing 1 Scripture, which you have not done.
 
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Jonathan Mathews

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No one was able to find the answer, so I will share it.

The answer is Romans 11:32
"God has trapped everyone in disobedience (under Law) so that He might show Mercy to all."

The reason God created Lucifer and gave the Law and the 2 Trees of the Garden was that so when man transgressed and became sinful, Jesus, the Lamb slain from before the foundations of the world, could take our place, become sinful for us, die in our place, raise from the dead, and freely give us God's forgiveness, Righteousness, Mercy, and Grace. God wanted to reveal His Mercy. And if no one ever hits you in the face, you can never forgive them and show Mercy on them. Everyone has transgressed God's Law and deserves to die. But God still has Mercy available for you. If you receive Jesus Christ as God's Mercy, you can still Live. But woe to the one who both sins against God's Law AND rejects God's Mercy. There is nothing left for that person but God's Wrath.
 
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LoveofTruth

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No one was able to find the answer, so I will share it.

The answer is Romans 11:32
"God has trapped everyone in disobedience (under Law) so that He might show Mercy to all."

The reason God created Lucifer and gave the Law and the 2 Trees of the Garden was that so when man transgressed and became sinful, Jesus, the Lamb slain from before the foundations of the world, could take our place, become sinful for us, die in our place, raise from the dead, and freely give us God's forgiveness, Righteousness, Mercy, and Grace. God wanted to reveal His Mercy. And if no one ever hits you in the face, you can never forgive them and show Mercy on them. Everyone has transgressed God's Law and deserves to die. But God still has Mercy available for you. If you receive Jesus Christ as God's Mercy, you can still Live. But woe to the one who both sins against God's Law AND rejects God's Mercy. There is nothing left for that person but God's Wrath.
Not quite the answer

This happened after man sinned

And God made everything good

Even Lucifer was perfect in all his ways until iniquity was found in him.

Satan is the Father of lies and when he speaks a lie he speaks of himself .

God cannot lie

God cannot do iniquity

God cannot deny himself

God cannot change
 
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