The Tree of Life, God’s Given Grace

The Tree of Life, A Gem Hidden Since the Creation of the World

There exists a global problem that no matter ones societal status, economic or educational background, all must face. This problem is death. Though many have tried to overcome this plague, all have failed. The reason is that the problem of death is not a physical problem; it is a spiritual problem. Therefore, the solution to death (i.e. eternal life) requires a spiritual guide (i.e. the Bible). This solution is the tree of life. To teach us the path to our solution, Christ explained the nature of His words that spoke about how death originated.

Matthew 13:34-35 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: ‘I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world’

Jesus said that He would utter things hidden since the creation of the world in parables. This implies that there are secrets hidden since the creation of the world. The secret is a story with a hidden meaning. As Christ’s words always pertain to our salvation, we can understand how pertinent it is to understand the hidden meaning behind the creation story written in Genesis. Within this creation story, exists the story of Adam and Eve. Through this story, we will learn about the origin of death and the solution to death (i.e. the tree of life).

The Truth that Overcomes Death

Genesis 2:16-17 And the Lord commanded the man, ‘You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.’

In the garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were given clear instructions not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. However, after being tempted by the serpent, they disobeyed God’s command, ate from the tree and faced the punishment of death. However, was it the tree that poisoned Adam? According to the Bible, Adam lived until he was 930 years (Gen 5:5). Therefore, the tree itself did not kill Adam; his disobedience to God’s word is what brought his death. This story pertains not only to Adam and Eve but to all mankind. We sinned against God in the kingdom of heaven and thus we face the punishment of death.

Nonetheless, does this mean that there is no solution to our problem?

Genesis 3:22-24 And the Lord God said, ‘The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.’ So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.

The Bible teaches us that if Adam and Eve had eaten from the tree of life, they would no longer have had to die. Therefore, the tree of life is mankind’s solution to our agonizing problem of death. However, since the tree of life cannot be touched by sinners, God had to block the way to prevent Adam and Eve from eating from the tree. Since God blocked the way, does anyone else have the authority to unblock the way? No. The tree of life that would grant us the gift and grace of eternal life can only be provided by God. Given that the tree of life is a hidden secret, what is the reality to the tree of life?

The Tree of Life is the Passover

John 6:53-54 Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.’

The Bible teaches us that through Christ’s flesh and blood we can receive eternal life. Therefore, the reality to the tree of life is Christ’s flesh and blood. However, how may we receive Christ’s flesh and blood?

Matthew 26:17-19 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?’ He replied, ‘Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’’

So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.

Here, we see evidence of the disciples preparing to keep the Passover. Let us see how they keep this holy feast.

Matthew 26:26-28 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured for many for the forgiveness of sins.’

Christ testified that the bread of the Passover represented his body and the wine of the Passover represented his blood. Thus, the way established by Christ to eat from the tree of life is through keeping the Passover celebration.

The Love Behind Christ’s Sacrifice on the Cross

As only God can open the way to the tree of life, this is why Christ came to the earth 2,000 years ago. Let us confirm this through the Bible.

John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

2,000 years ago, Christ testified that He came to give all mankind “life to the full” or eternal life. It is important to note that Christ established the pattern of coming in the flesh to grant us the gift of eternal life.

Second Coming Christ Brings Salvation

However, in AD 325 at the Council of Nicaea, the Passover that Christ sacrificed Himself to establish was abolished by Roman Emperor Constantine. Since the Passover is the only given way for man to eat from the tree of life, does man have any hope for salvation if it is abolished? No. Thus we find ourselves in our original predicament, unaware of when our time will come when we have to pay the price for our disobedience against God.

However, Christians today speak so joyfully of the hope for heaven. How can such hope exist without any idea of how to receive the tree of life once again?

As Christ opened the way to the tree of life by coming in the flesh, what must He do in order for us to receive the tree of life once again?

Hebrews 9:28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

He must come again in the flesh to restore mankind’s salvation. What salvation does Christ bring to mankind who is destined to die? It is the tree of life from the Garden of Eden. What did Christ establish as the reality to the tree of life on earth? It is the Passover of the new covenant. Therefore, the salvation that Christ comes in the flesh again to bring is the Passover. This is the way to recognize the one who fulfills the prophecy of the second coming Christ.

In the Garden of Eden, as God blocked the way to the tree of life, only God could open the way. Through the abolishment of the Passover, the way to the tree of life was blocked off. Then, who restores the true Passover which contains the promise of the tree of life?

Christ Ahnsahnghong is the only One who has fulfilled all the prophecies of second coming Christ, including the restoration of the Passover, the tree of life. Let us give eternal thanks to God Almighty, Second Coming Christ, Christ Ahnsahnghong for having mercy on us and giving us sincere hope for heaven by restoring the tree of life, the Passover.