If you would and you want to
follow along, please go to Genesis chapter 3 Genesis chapter 3 I'm
gonna read the last two verses Well, I guess since there's a
paragraph marker let's read the last three verse 22 of Genesis
3 and And the Lord God said, behold,
the man has become as one of us to know good and evil. And
now lest he put forth his hand and take also of the tree of
life and eat and live forever. Therefore, the Lord God sent
him forth from the garden of Eden to till the ground from
whence he was taken. So he drove out the man. And he placed at the east of
the garden of Eden cherubims and a flaming sword, which turned
every way to keep the way of the tree of life. Hold on, sorry. Excuse me. All right. I don't have, I didn't have any
church signs this morning, but I do have a quote. This is a word for sinners, which
is us You will never know the fullness
of Christ until you know the emptiness of everything but Christ
Charles Spurgeon said that I like that It reminds me of that I
think it's in Deuteronomy and maybe in the First Kings or something
where he says, I am the Lord, what does he say? I kill and
I make alive. And he says it in that exact
order because that's the order he meant it in. You're never gonna look to the
light until you figure out that you think you're in darkness. Jesus Christ was the light and
is the light, but the darkness never comprehends it. Anyhow,
I'm going to start in verse 23. Therefore, the Lord God sent
him forth from the garden of Eden to till the ground from
whence he was taken. Now, a little background. In
the garden, Adam had fellowship with God, and that fellowship
Ended. Ended. Now after Adam's sin,
Jesus Christ, I'm just going to say God, but Jesus Christ
spoke with Adam and Eve. And matter of fact, he preached
the gospel to them the very first instance. And I like this. I like this very, very, very
much. It's in verse 15 of Genesis chapter three. And he says, and
I will put enmity between thee and the woman and between thy
seed and her seed. And that is Jesus Christ. It
shall bruise thy head and thou shalt bruise his heel. Very quickly,
very succinctly, he did. He did. He shall bruise your head, and
you shall bruise his heel. That happened about 2,000 years
ago. Now, this is both, at this time,
prophecy and promise. It's both. Because this is the
promise of Jesus Christ bruising the head of the servant and bruising
his heel at the same time. And please understand, a bruised
head is much worse than a bruised heel. Understand this also, this makes
it also very clear, very plain, there is no competition between
God and Satan. There's no competition. Satan doesn't have a chance.
Satan didn't have a chance. God said this is gonna happen.
And if God said it, guess what? That's what happened. That's
what happened. There's no competition. The Son,
Jesus Christ, did not come to compete with Satan. Again, there
is no competition. I'm reminded of 1 Samuel 17,
verse 47. And all this assembly shall know
that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear, for the battle
is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands. And trust
me, never forget, the battle is the Lord's, always. And the Lord Jesus Christ did
not does not and never will require help from you or I. It's not necessary. It's not
necessary. Now, but after this gospel message
of deliverance from the Lord and before he sent them forth,
verse 21, unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God
make coats of skins. And here's the important part
here. and clothed them. He didn't make coats of skins
and say, here, put these on. No, no, no. He clothed them.
He clothed them. In coats of skin, he clothed
them. He dressed them. He covered their
nakedness. He gave them protection. He put
these coats on them. They didn't clothe themselves. Now, I'm not going to go into
where these coats came from. I don't think I need to, because
I know where skins come from. All you need to understand here
is that Adam's fig leaves were bloodless, and therefore of absolutely
no value. No value. Blood had to be shed. Blood had
to be shed. Now this is the situation and
status of Adam and Eve before verses 23 and verse 24. Chastised
by God. Heard the prophecy, they were
told the gospel, and they were clothed in skins. Then, therefore
the Lord God sent Adam forth from the Garden of Eden. And this is what it says. What? Therefore the Lord God sent him
forth from the Garden of Eden. Very plainly, Adam was sent away. Away. He was sent out of the
garden. He was sent forth from the Garden
of Eden. But there's more. Because this
is what, one of the things that caught my eye when I was studying
this up. because you understand he was sent forth in verse 23,
then it describes it in verse 24, so he drove out the man. He drove out the man. Here's
the thing, Yahweh Elohim drove out Adam. Now this is a much different
word than sent forth. Now I've seen, I looked at a
couple of other translations and they use the same word in
both verses. No, no. Sent forth just means
basically he was sent away. That's what it means. Okay. The word drove out is much harsher
and much more final. Because here it is, what it actually
means is to drive out from a possession. Another word, divorce. Where a woman be forcibly sent
away, out. That's what the Lord did to Adam. Adam was the first divorce. In essence, the Lord God divorced
Adam from his presence and forced him away from the garden. And
so Adam and Eve left the garden never to return, never to return,
not to the garden, not to the garden now. Now let's be clear. This is one of the things I looked
at that Robert Hawker pointed out. Understand Satan was cursed. The earth was cursed. But Adam wasn't cursed. He was
sent out, he was drove out, but he wasn't cursed. Adam fell. And Adam fell. And we, therefore,
coming from Adam, are born fallen. But Adam fell. Thank goodness
he was not cursed. Adam, the earth was cursed and
Adam was rightly condemned and fell. But then again, this is
still not all. A flaming sword which turned
every way to keep the way of the tree of life. You understand
there was a cherubim and then there was a flaming sword which
turned every way to keep the way of the tree of life. Now,
I don't know the location, okay, or the layout of the Garden of
Eden, and neither does anybody else. I don't know anything about the
tree of life either except what the scripture states. It says
if you eat of the tree of life, you shall live forever. And it says that that tree of
life was in the garden. That's all I know about it. Adam did not eat of the tree
of life while he was in the garden. And now Adam was divorced from
the garden and there was a flaming sword that turned every which
way. There was no way back into the garden. And I'm going to
tell you this today, thousands of years later, right now, there's
no way back into the garden. There's not. I know some people
want to make the earth a garden. And they want to reestablish,
oh, we'd like to make it like the Garden of Eden. Can't be
done, folks. It can't be done. This earth
is cursed. Things winter, things die all
the time, every day, all around the globe. And understand, we're
in summer here, end of summer. They're hitting the end of winter
and going towards spring in Australia. That's the way the world works.
Sometimes there's always something dying. Always there's something
dying somewhere. This world is cursed. There's
no way back to the tree of life through the garden. That way
is blocked. It's blocked. There's no way. Here's the thing. We are not
going to re-enter Eden, because that way is blocked. And the
way to the garden, that's what that means. And a flaming sword
which turned every way to keep, and that means to block access
to, the way of the tree of life. That way is blocked. But I do
know the way. I do know the way. Oh, I like
that. And here it is. Revelations chapter 2 and verse
7. I'll go ahead and read that. He that hath an ear to hear,
let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. To him
that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life which
is in the midst of the paradise of God. I like that. Now, I don't know
about you, but in my younger days, I don't know if you ever heard
an Arminian preacher read this verse or preach on it, okay?
But I have. And whenever anyone would read
this verse, here's what they would ask you. Are you an overcomer? And I always thought, no, I'm
not. I was wrong, because what they would then go on to say
is to actually lie to you about what an overcomer is. Because the reason I didn't feel
like it is Overcoming to these people, explaining
it, was living the full victorious life in Christ. And I have never
felt like that in my life. You understand? Walking in victory
and not sinning. Walking and talking just like
Jesus. Have you ever heard that? They
were first called Christians in Antioch, right? And somebody
explained that by saying, oh, they walk so much like Jesus
and they talk so much like Jesus, they thought they was Jesus.
They called them Christians. No, that's not what it was all
about at all. They were called Christians in Antioch because
Christ was the one they talked about. Christ was the one that
they preached. Christ was the, what? The Savior,
the Lord. But these people, oh, I mean,
I understand, and that really, it bothered me when I was a young
fella. Because I didn't feel full of
victory, and I didn't walk and talk just like Jesus. Because
here's the thing, I knew even then, Jesus Christ is always
right, and I'm not. Now, and I will confess right
here, and right now, and I've done it before, I have never
felt worthy of the life that Christ has given me. I've never
felt worthy of Christ. And I still don't. I still don't. But that's not what an overcomer
is. That's not what it means, he
that overcometh. And I found that in 1 John chapter
five, just a few pages back. In verse four and five, for whatsoever
is born of God over cometh the world. What? And this is the victory that
over cometh the world, even our faith. Now, the next verse, whatsoever
is born of God in verse four, but then in verse five, who? is he that overcometh the world,
but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God. Now by His grace, this I can
do. By His power, I can believe Him. Through the workings of His mighty
power, I believe Him. Oh, I like that. By his grace,
through his faith, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son
of God. I did then, I do now, and by
his grace, I will tomorrow. What's that mean? I have overcome
the world. I'm not bragging. It's not because
of me. It's because of his faith. What
does it say? This is a victory that overcomes
the world, even our faith. I know where our faith comes
from. It came from the author and the finisher of faith. It's his gift. By grace are you
saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it's the gift
of God. Not of works. What's that mean? Not of works. Your works, my
works, anybody's works, except Christ's works. lest any man
should boast. I have overcome the world, not
by my works, but by his. By his power and his faith, because
here's the thing, his faith has made me whole, whole. I like that. Revelations 22 and
14 says that blessed are they that do his Commandments that
they may have right to the tree of life and may enter in through
the gates of the city. I know the way to the tree of
life and it's not through the Garden of Eden. No, it's in Christ. It's in Christ. It's in Christ. What did Jesus Christ say? And I read you this song this
morning. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and
the life. No man cometh unto the Father
but by me. Jesus Christ is the way. There is no way back to the garden. That's blocked. But Jesus Christ
is the way. He's the way. Not only is He
the way, He's the life because without Jesus Christ there is
no life. Period. Exclamation point if
you want to put one there. There is no life without Christ
and Christ gives unto His people what? Eternal life. Never ending life. Perpetual
life. It is in Him we live, we move,
and we have our being. Oh, let's say, those that are
born again, those that are born from above, those that are born
of God are given the Spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit of Christ. dwells in each of his people. Sometimes it may not feel like
it. I understand. I mean, sometimes I have felt
totally and completely alone. But I'm not. Thank God my feelings
don't determine the matter. That's all I've got to say about
that. Because if my feelings determine the matter, I'd be
in a heap of trouble. My feelings don't determine the
matter. His power, his spirit determines the matter. And he
says, they dwell. He dwells in us, abides in us. Oh, I like that. Especially when I don't feel
like it. He said, I'll never leave thee.
I'll never forsake thee. And you may come home to an empty
house someday. It happens. It happens. It's going to happen more. But
here's the thing. You're never alone in that house
if you know Jesus Christ. You're never alone. You're never
alone. Oh, you can sing and mean. How
tedious and tasteless the hours. Yeah. What? When Jesus no longer
I see. Sweet prospects, sweet birds
and sweet flowers. They're nothing to me. But he's there. He's there. Whether you feel like it, whether
you don't, he has never left or forsaken one of his children. And he never will. And let's
say the tree of life, what is it? We live because he lives. He gives eternal life to everyone
that the Father has given to him. Oh, excuse me. Now, I'm gonna tell you something.
This is thus saith Job, okay? Jesus Christ is the tree of life. He's the tree of life. He has
given unto us eternal life, perpetual life. And what'd you say? Everyone
that comes to me, I will in no wise cast out, but I'm going
to raise him up at the last day. Oh my, that's good news. That's
good news. He'll never leave us. He'll never
forsake us. He'll never cast us out, even
though we may deserve it. Let's not joke. We do deserve
it. We're horrible people. even at
our best. And if you don't know that, you
don't know nothing. Sorry, double negative or something like that,
but it'll matter. If you don't know that you are
a sinner, Christ has never spoken to you. And I understand, oh, we're all
sinners, brother. That's not what I'm talking about.
Yes, we are all sinners. But do you know you're a sinner?
Do you know it? Well, I like what Walter says.
But are you an ungodly sinner? Christ died for the ungodly.
He didn't die for righteous people. He came not to call righteous
people, but sinners unto repentance. Because you understand, when
he calls a sinner, he's never going to leave them alone, ever. He chastises every son that he
has. And if you're not chastised,
you're not a son. And actually, the scripture says
you're a bastard and not a son. That's the words of scripture.
But afterwards, oh, it's a chastisement. Oh, chastisement? Chastisement
stinks. It's grievous. It bothers you. That's why it's called chastisement.
You understand? But here's the thing, the word
chastisement means punishment, yes, but punishment with correction. What? Afterwards, this chastisement
yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness, of righteousness. God doesn't punish people just
because they're bad. He punishes you to teach you.
And trust me, folks, we need taught. We need to be taught. Oh, my. He is not a way. He is the only way. There is no other way. And all
other ways that people try to come up with lead on the broad
road to destruction. That's it. There's only two roads.
the broad way that leads to destruction, and the straight gate and the
narrow way which leads unto righteousness. Oh, I like that. And few there
be that find it. Sinners can call on Jesus Christ
anytime. Anytime. was a Henry Mann said,
honest people don't go to hell. Because honest people know they're
a sinner and they'll confess it. They know in here, in my
flesh dwelleth no good thing. Present tense, even now. Sinners can call on him any time
because he came to call sinners to repentance. Because here it
is, whenever they are laboring and heavy laden, you can call
upon the Lord Jesus Christ. Why? He'll give them rest. When they're laboring and heavy
laden, he will give you rest. Whenever they know they are ungodly,
they can call upon him because he died for the ungodly. Whenever they hurt hunger and
thirst for righteousness, they can call upon him because he
gives us his righteousness and he is our righteousness. Oh, I like that. He has clothed
us with both the garments of salvation and the robe of righteousness,
his righteousness, not ours, not ours, his righteousness. Now here's the conclusion of
the whole matter of salvation and eternal life. If Jesus Christ
has not given you life, if Jesus Christ has not done this for
you and to you, then you're lost. Then you're lost. And here's
what lost means. that at that time ye were without
Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers
from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God
in the world." That's what it means to be lost. Those without Christ, without
hope, aliens and strangers to God, well, but if you know yourself
to be a sinner, an alien, Stranger from God. Oh, I like that. I
got a hope. I got a word of hope for you
The Lord's hand is not shortened that it cannot say Neither is
his ear heavy that it cannot hear and I can tell you this
for a certain if you call any sinner that calls upon the name
of the Lord Jesus Christ He'll be saved You'll be saved. Thou shalt be saved. Ah, I like
that. He is the way, the truth, and
the life. And though the way to the garden
be barred, and blocked, and kept, the way is never blocked. No, it's not. No one blocks the
way, the truth, and the life. And no man comes to the Father
except by Him. By Him. He'll bring you in. Call upon the name of the Lord
and thou shalt be saved. Father, thank you again for this
time and this place. Help us, Lord. We know we're
weak. We know we're foolish. Some days,
Lord, we just know we're stupid. But thou hast all knowledge,
all wisdom, all power, and all glory. And you are working your
will. Known unto you are all your works
from the beginning. And we know what those works
are as whatsoever thou hast pleased. Be pleased to help us, Lord.
Strengthen us as we walk in this world. Make us feel your presence
and your Holy Spirit in our lives and in our hearts and in this
world as we are surrounded by nonsense and foolishness and
lies and everything else. Give us strength, Lord, to walk
in your path. Make us to walk in your path.
Be with Paul as he comes to preach here. Be with Walter as he's
in Ohio and all your preachers wherever they may be. We ask
in Jesus name, amen.