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TOL and eternal life

Discussion in 'Baptist Theology & Bible Study' started by webdog, Dec 20, 2007.

  1. webdog

    webdog Active Member
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    How does the Tree of Life play into mankind's eternal life?
     
  2. webdog

    webdog Active Member
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    Don't everybody jump in at once :laugh:
     
  3. David Lamb

    David Lamb Active Member

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    Perhaps it's another case of the common language dividing the two sides of the Atlantic, but I don't understand the OP. What does the phrase "play into" mean? Is your question asking us how we think the tree of life and mankind's eternal life are related?
     
  4. Amy.G

    Amy.G New Member

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    Jesus is the tree of life whom the OT foreshadowed.


    Jhn 6:50 "This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die.
    Jhn 6:51 "I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh."
     
  5. webdog

    webdog Active Member
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    I think that's a similie. Was Jesus standing in the garden of Eden with his arms out with fruit growing from Him? :D
     
  6. webdog

    webdog Active Member
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    Well, after Adam and Eve sinned, their access to the Tree of Life was denied, to the point of having it guarded. There must have been something to that tree, as John mentions it again in his vision in Revelation. It will be in the New Jersusalem.

    Since we know that we will have eternal life, and that tree does exist...will that somehow play into us having eternal life? I'm thinking there must be some kind of correlation between the two.
     
  7. Amy.G

    Amy.G New Member

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    Maaayybe...

    It was a shadow of things to come. Both gave eternal life. Just a thought.
     
  8. Brother Bob

    Brother Bob New Member

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    I agree with Amy. There is only one name given under Heaven where a man can be saved. Jesus came in many forms, Rock, Wisdom, Word, Tree of Life, bread that come down from heaven, heavenly manna, etc.

    Jhn 8:58Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

    Only one way to get "eternal" life, that I know of.

    BBob,
     
    #8 Brother Bob, Dec 21, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 21, 2007
  9. Grasshopper

    Grasshopper Active Member
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    Define "eternal life". Is it the same as inmmortality?

    Does the lost man have eternal life? How can one exist in hell forever without having eternal life?
     
  10. Brother Bob

    Brother Bob New Member

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    Eternal life is to live forever in a heavenly state, when most of us use the word. I agree the lost will also have a body that will be dying, but never die. They will have a body prepared for the Lake of Fire, where the worm dieth not and the fire is never quenched.

    I am sure you already knew that though..............:)
     
  11. webdog

    webdog Active Member
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    Well, since Scripture teaches us that believers pass from death TO life, existing in hell for eternity is not eternal life, but death (separation from God).
     
  12. David Lamb

    David Lamb Active Member

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    So I seem to have understood you correctly when I thought "play into" = "have a direct connection with". I would say that both in Eden and in heaven, the tree of life represents eternal life, that eternal life which Adam and Eve forfeited in the Fall, and which the Lord Jesus Christ purchased for His people.
     
  13. David Lamb

    David Lamb Active Member

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    I agree. Eternity in hell is eternal death, not eternal life. But of course that does not mean the people in hell are unconscious, oblivious of their surroundings.
     
  14. Brother Bob

    Brother Bob New Member

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    Seems to me that "dying and never die" is saying the same thing.

    BBob,
     
  15. webdog

    webdog Active Member
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    ...so if the ToL only represented eternal life...why was it guarded so Adam and Eve could not eat of it in order that they would become like God (live forever)? It seems to play some role in immortality from Scripture.
     
  16. Frogman

    Frogman <img src="http://www.churches.net/churches/fubc/Fr

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    It seems to me the tree of life was prohibited after the fall and therefore guarded because haven fallen, and then eating of the ToL would make man an eternal fallen creature??

    Just my thoughts.

    bro. Dallas:wavey:
     
  17. webdog

    webdog Active Member
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    Hmmm...never thought of that possibility. That would have meant that atonement would have never occured had that happened, and all mankind would have perished. I'll have to think on that one, thanks....
     
  18. Trotter

    Trotter <img src =/6412.jpg>

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    No need for the Tree of Life, as we have the Bread of Life.

    The Tree of Life was before the coming of Christ and the act of His substitutionary death. Once He took our place on the cross, the need of the tree of life was eradicated.

    The Tree of Life was also pre-sin. Once Adam and Eve sinned, they were no longer fit to be partakers of eternal life.
     
  19. Brother Bob

    Brother Bob New Member

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    The Tree of Life was not done away with, but from the time Adam and Eve were cast from the Garden of Eden, the Tree of Life was protected by flaming swords, which I believe to be the word of God, that is sharper than a two edged sword, and it is another form that Jesus came in. The Bible is full of scripture of Christ being in existance before the cross.

    If Christ, is the only way to recieve eternal life, and the Tree of Life would give eternal life, that seems to speak for itself. As He also is the Bread of Life.

    The Tree of Life is in the midst of the pure river of water of life, flowing from the throne of God and from the Lamb and its leaves are for the healing of the nations. It was in the midst and on either side. It was there when the Lord came, it also was back there before He came and it is here for us today.

    BBob, :thumbs:
     
    #19 Brother Bob, Dec 22, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 22, 2007
  20. Jarthur001

    Jarthur001 Active Member

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    Indeed you are right. The tree of Life is a picture of Christ. He is the vine,....and we have the right to eat...for we are the branches.

    Revelation 22

    14"Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.

    The fruit comes from the vine, not us the branch. The branch bears only because he "remains" or stays attached, to the Vine.
     
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