Did Adam really become as God??

[me again]

The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil.

Before they sinned, Adam and Eve knew only good. After they sineed, they knew evil, too. So, in that particular way, they became like God, in that now they knew both good and evil.

Thanks for sharing that. I was positive that no one would be able to provide an explanation that sounded reasonable -- and then you responded.

[Nicodema]

Ed, you did not answer my question though. If you would, please -- Did you or did you not intend to imply or state that I am cynical?

[Nicodema]

I believe that God wants us to be master of our own destinies and to explore the world.

Interesting.

Intriguing.

And if our destiny leads us someplace presumably verboten, then?

[there buster]

I did answer it. I described how I came to my reply.

I thought about "what is the ultimate copout?" I didn't think, "what is Nico's attitude," or "How can I send a message."

I came to the conclusion that the ultimate copout is cyncism. So that's what I wrote.

I'm a writer. Even in rough drafts, I usually pick my words with care. As you know, I object to people speculating on other people's motivations. so I do my best to avoid it. you'll note that throughout this entire thread, I've avoided telling you what you must do, or what choices you must make. I have stuck fo facts which I can know something about.

If I wanted to tell you that you were being cynical, I would have written, "That sounds cynical to me." I did not.

[Nicodema]

Thanks Ed. It wasn't clear to me before.

[David Koot]

[Nicodema]

I believe Destiny is a two-way street. It chooses us, but we must decide to pursue it.

[David Koot]

I am not certain about destiny. I am not sure if God does, indeed, have a plan 'A' for each person's life, or if, instead, God works with the choices a person makes. Seems to me that freedom of choice would suggest some leeway.

[Nicodema]

In my experience, it's reciprocal. Destiny is there to be discovered. One can reject it, I suppose, but it is insidious and has a way of seeing itself fulfilled one way or another. I have ever felt I cannot escape mine. And believe me, I've tried.

[David Koot]

But the Lord Jesus Christ broke the power of Satan on Calvary. The insidious destiny which Satan has planned for each of us, he is powerless to accomplish because of Christ. Jesus Christ has set us free from the power of Satan. He has set us free to choose our destiny.

[Nicodema]

David, would you like to join the non-sequitur society? They don't make sense, but they do like pizza.

Why would you assume my statements concerning Destiny are indicative of something Satanically engineered? Destiny is not the exclusive province of either God or Satan. It is discovering why you are here -- and then doing it on purpose. When you join and cooperate with your Destiny it is glorious. If you seek to thwart the way of your own going, you will hurt yourself. Simple as that.

[David Koot]

Why would you assume my statements concerning Destiny are indicative of something Satanically engineered?

[Nicodema]

My post did not address whether God or Satan is insidious or not. It simply stated Destiny is insidious.

Upon further review and reflection, and consultation with a dictionary, I realize I have used the wrong word. The word I sought was tenacious, not insidious. However, there is one sense in which Destiny might be perceived as insidious, and that is the way it weaves back around and catches you when you think you've escaped it. You think you've gotten away and you come to find out THAT was part of the plan too.

I believe there can be all kinds of reasons why someone is here, and that a continuity line develops throughout life which is like a golden thread or narrative. This narrative reveals those purposes to those with eyes to see and insight into themselves and the key points of their development as entities.

[David Koot]

The word I sought was tenacious, not insidious.

Ahh, that clarifies it. Okay.

[melvin mccarty]

Just a general question here. Why, with A and E, was it a case of 'one strike and you are out"?

What if we treated our children that way?

mel

[Nan]

Just a general question here. Why, with A and E, was it a case of 'one strike and you are out"?

What if we treated our children that way?

mel

Why does it take only one good fall to shatter a glass?

[Nicodema]

Who made reality thus?

That is the real question.

I was thinking about this tonight on my way home from work.

Thinking and talking it over ...

There is nothing (evil, wicked, destructive, et.c.) I could do in this world that God has not the power to undo or to put right.

Therefore, if He chooses not to ....

[melvin mccarty]

Shattering glass! I fail to see the point. But it appears I have shattered the thread! :-)

mel

[Nan]

Just that when something is broken, the original state cannot always be attained without remedial action.

It was not possible for God, in justice, to go on as if Adam and Eve had never sinned. As I see it, the character and way of God was on display to the whole universe, watching to see how God would deal with the allegations of the evil one. Restitution had to be made. It was not possible for God to metaphorically pat them on the head, tell them to be good next time, and carry on as before.

That is how I read it anyway.....as sinning parents dealing with sinning children the situation is rather different. We all need forgiveness. But some things cannot be restored, what ever we wish. Of course we should not give up on our children or tell them they have committed an unpardonable offence. We need to work with them to do what is possible and always assure them of our love for them.

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

Quote:

the character and way of God was on display to the whole universe, watching to see how God would deal with the allegations of the evil one.

I remember that idea from grade school (of the whole universe watching the human *race*) from up in their own safe little theater balconies. It always sorta made me angry....as if I somehow got the short end of the stick and ended up on the evil planet, while the *elite* got to sit and watch me suffer from their padded armchairs. It also makes me feel like there are always some voyeuristic personages getting their jollies out of watching the seemingly endless hell that some people go through.

I mean, I know God can do whatever He wishes - and if He wishes for humanity on earth to be the proving ground betwixt Him and Satan, that's the way it is. Just sorta feels defeating before the battle even starts though.

[Naomi]

[quote name='rudywoofs

I remember that idea from grade school (of the whole universe watching the human *race*) from up in their own safe little theater balconies. It always sorta made me angry....as if I somehow got the short end of the stick and ended up on the evil planet' date=' while the *elite* got to sit and watch me suffer from their padded armchairs. It also makes me feel like there are always some voyeuristic personages getting their jollies out of watching the seemingly endless hell that some people go through.[/quote']

It's interesting how we remember things as we thought as a child. I remember as a child thinking how special we are that God would go to so much trouble for me. WOW He's up there building a fine mansion on a street of gold. It'll be all mine. I won't even have to make my bed. dumb stuff like that guess I must have been a pretty egotistical child.

But, I also tried to negotiate with God. Please don’t come until I can go to school … please wait until I can play basketball … please, please

Then one day I heard and listened to the words of a song, “Wait a Little Longer, Please Jesus.” And something hit home with me …

[Sammy Lee]

Originally Posted By: melvin mccarty

Just a general question here. Why, with A and E, was it a case of 'one strike and you are out"?

What if we treated our children that way?

mel

Why does it take only one good fall to shatter a glass?

Adam and Eve was actually not stricken right away. He still lived 930 years before he returned to dust as the sentence he received in the garden of Eden.

It was out of mercy that God allows us to die because of sin.

Imagine how much suffering Adam and Eve have to endure if they were allowed to live on and on in sin until now. How severe their hearts must have been feeling the pain of guilt, plus the physical suffering that he had to endure.

God allows us to sleep for a while in the ground because He wanted to spare us from continual sorrow and suffering. The most important thing is, we have made our choice and assured of salvation, so that Satan cannot continue to harass us. We should be thankful for that. We are blessed indeed, because we are not going to face the second death, that is the real punishment actually. That is the punishment prepared for the devil and everybody and every angel who decided to be on his side. That is the time when men and angels will be returned to its real original element: ashes. Even the very atoms or molecules of the sinners and rebel angels will be melted by the fire as mentioned in 2 Peter 3:10-13

[Naomi]

Sammy,

That was beautifully stated. Thank you so much for your comments.

Naomi

[John317]

In Genesis 3 it talks about the Fall of Man, when the serpent tempted Eve and she ate and gave some to Adam and he ate, then they found out they were naked and hid from God. But then in verse 22 it says that "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.'"

Who is God talking to? And did Adam REALLY become as God??????? Was the only thing God could do to keep Adam from becoming forever as God was to keep him from eating of the tree of life? I dont understand this at all!!!

God was talking to the same One He had been talking to when He said, "Let us make man in our image." That is, the Father was talking to the One we know today by the name of Jesus Christ. If you compare other parts of the Bible, you will find that Jesus was the One who made the world, including Adam.

The verse about not letting Adam and Eve eat of the tree of life shows that God did not make sinners immortal, or not subject to death. If God had already made Adam and Eve so that they could not die, or so that their "soul" was immortal, then there would have been no reason to keep them from eating of the tree of life, because they would already have been immortal.

God wanted to protect mankind so that we would never know what evil, or sin and death, was. But once that happened, God knew He could not allow people to live forever, or become immortalized. Why? Because it would have meant death, or that someone in rebellion against God would live endlessly and that therefore there would be no end to the sin problem. God could not allow this. Therefore he drove out Adam and Eve from the Garden and placed angels at the gates to keep them from going back inside.

Please get Patriarch and Prophets by Ellen White and read the chapter about the Temptation and the Fall, and also read the Spirit of Prophecy, Vol 1, the chapter Temptation and Fall. They cover much of the same material.

[Sammy Lee]

Then why would we need the Tree of life in the new earth when we have immortality after the resurrection?