College Dinner Discussion: The Two Principles of Living Seen in the Two Trees in Genesis 2

     Why are just two trees mentioned in Genesis 2?  Have you ever wondered about that?  After God created Adam, He only gave him one commandment.  It's in Genesis 2:16-17:  

And Jehovah God commanded the man saying, Of every tree of the garden you may eat freely,  but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, of it you shall not eat;  ....

 What is the meaning of these two trees?  Well, last night we read Two Principles of Living---The Principle of Life or the Principle of Right and Wrong from Volume Three of the booklet Basic Elements of the Christian Life.   Most of the  students hadn't heard much about what happened in the garden of Eden, and so it was fun to share a bit of it with them.  The booklet said that these two trees are a parable of two kinds of food for man's living: 

        

"Christianity does not require that we ask whether something is right or wrong, good or evil.  On the contrary, whenever we do anything, there is a life within us which rises up to speak with us. ... Please remember, God's Word tells us that our Christian living is based on an inner life, not an outward standard of right and wrong... Today we have one question:  What does our inner life say? ... Right and wrong are not decided by an outward standard but by the inner life" (Basic Elements, P. 8).  

Unlike the Old Testament where the commandments were outside of God's people, in the New Testament the Lord is within the believers as the inner law of the Spirit of life (Romans 8:2).  We now have the Lord inside of us speaking to us all the time.   Right and wrong belong to the other tree--the tree of the knowledge of good and evil--the one in Genesis 3 that the serpent was hanging on.  Usually what happens to me is if I get caught in right and wrong, I can get mentally  hung up and miss LIFE--God's life and that's what the tree of life represents. In Romans 8:6b we have a great definition of what life feels like--"but the mind set on the spirit is life and peace"  Reading this chapter again just put a prayer in my heart--Lord help me pay more attention to what the inner life is saying!!

Blog update 5/8/13:  You can view a helpful 2-part video segment produced by Bibles for America entitled Two Principles of Living - Part 1  and Two Principles of Living - Part 2 that are based on a booklet by the same title published by Living Stream Ministry.  

Blog Update 5/22/13:   You can order your own free copy of this booklet from Bibles for America.

 Other  College Student Dinner Fellowships on This Blog:

Do You Have the Assurance of Your Salvation? 

Getting Spiritual Food From God's Word

What are the Securities of Your Salvation?

Hearing God - Dinner Fellowship with College Students

Why Should a Believer Get Baptized?

Why Should We Read the Bible?

Coming to the Lord in His Word

Did You Know God Made You With Three Parts?

What is the Key to Experiencing Christ? - A Fellowship with College Students

Calling on the Lord Makes a Difference! 

What's the Secret the Third Generation of Mankind Found?

Why Are Just 2 Trees Mentioned in Genesis 2?

Discussion with College Students--What is the Church?

Why are There Two Trees in Genesis 2 Anyway?  Part 1

Why are There Two Trees in Genesis 2 Anyway?  Part 2