Treasured Vignettes
“Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, that we might bear fruit for God. For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were {aroused} by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death.” Romans 7:4-5
The fruitfulness that comes from living in Christ is the “abundant life.” Jesus said, “. . . I came that they might have life, and might have {it} abundantly.” The fruit of the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil” is “the Law.” A commandment is not the “Law.” A commandment is a Word for life. “The Law” bears with it penalties that range in severity, according to the type of transgression. The Law was not given first, the commandments for life were. “The Law” followed. Why, because the people listened to their flesh, their sinful passions, rather than to God. To the carnal man the commandments of Christ and the followers of Christ “smell of death” (2 Corinthians 2:15-16). The carnal man can only know “The Law” for he is already condemned (John 3:18). But Christ, Who fulfilled the Law and its penalties for us by His death, has risen from the dead. And, those who are joined to Him by faith, have died with Him and are given “new life,” eternal life abundantly. Now, we can chose to eat of “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” and suffer “the second death.” OR, we can eat of the Tree of Life and live eternally. Having once tasted of His goodness, why would I desire the forbidden fruit of the knowledge of good and evil? Think about it.
© S.M. Hudson, Hidden Treasure Ministries, December 2003. All rights reserved.
Categories: eating fruit
Labels: faith, fruitfulness, vignettes
