Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | Genesis 2:9 Out of the ground the LORD God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Genesis 2:9 And [in that garden] the LORD God caused to grow from the ground every tree that is desirable and pleasing to the sight and good (suitable, pleasant) for food; the tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the [experiential] knowledge (recognition) of [the difference between] good and evil. [Rev 2:7; 22:14, 19] |
Subject: Freewill before the fall? |
Bible Note: This is a great discussion. It is such a joy to deliberate over the Word. God has brought us all into this forum, from so many backgrounds. Regardless of which side we fall on this issue, we all are humbled and awed by His great redeeming power! May the Lord help us all to grow in the knowledge of Him! Mommapbs: Thank you for your comments! I appreciate the kindly way that your responded. Let me throw a couple of thoughts into the mix for our consideration. Thank you for your patience! :-) How does the Bible describe the lost? Dead (Col 2:13), blind (2 Cor 4:4), slaves (Rom 6:20), and prisoners (Luke 4:18). Can a dead man live by choosing life? Can a blind man regain sight by choosing vision? Can a slave become imancipated by choosing liberty? Can a prisoner gain independence by choosing freedom? The lost are not sick, they are dead. The lost are not near sighted, they are blind. Etc. Also, John 1:12-13 tells us, "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." Note that the will of man is specifically excluded. Read through Ephesians 2, and see if you can find human will in the equation. And our savior states in John 6:44a "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him." and again in John 6:65b "...No man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father." Scripture seems to be saying that salvation is entirely a work of God. I cannot even claim to have had the good sense to submit to Him as Lord and Savior. In essence, I do not believe that the lost do not have free will. I believe that unless God saves a man, he will not even desire the things of God. A person will not choose what he does not desire. Scripture says that the lost hate God. A person will not choose what he hates. I hope that this clarifies my position. Thank you for bearing with me. :-) |