Table of Contrasts Related to the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge
Genesis 2:9 And out of the ground the LORD God made to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food; the tree of life in the middle of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Genesis 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you must not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you will surely die.
Revelation 22:1 Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb, down the middle of the street of the city.
Revelation 22:2 On either side of the river was the tree of life, producing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
|
Concept |
Meaning |
Impact |
Distinction |
Examples |
Application |
Interrelationship |
Relevant Scripture |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Tree of Life vs. Tree of Knowledge |
The Tree of Life represents God Himself as man's life; the Tree of Knowledge represents Satan as man's death |
The Tree of Life leads people into life; the Tree of Knowledge leads to man's fall and death |
The Tree of Life has God as its source; the Tree of Knowledge has Satan as its source |
The two trees God gave Adam to choose from in the Garden of Eden |
Believers need to choose daily to rely on God as life, not on their own knowledge |
The two trees represent two sources, opening two lines throughout the Bible |
Gen. 2:9, 17; Rev. 22:1-2, 14; 20:10, 14 |
|
Line of Life vs. Line of Death |
The Line of Life is the development of God's life in man; the Line of Death is the expansion of sin and death in man |
The Line of Life leads to New Jerusalem; the Line of Death leads to the Lake of Fire |
The Line of Life is full of light and glory; the Line of Death is full of darkness and shame |
Abel, Enoch, Noah walked the Line of Life; Cain, Lamech walked the Line of Death |
Believers should reject death and choose life in daily living |
The two lines run throughout the Bible, being the two main lines of human history |
Rom. 5:10-21, 6:4, 22-23, 8:2, 6, 10-11; Rev. 21:10-11, 23; 20:10, 14 |
|
In Christ vs. In Adam |
In Adam means in the old creation; in Christ means in the new creation |
In Adam we inherit sin and death; in Christ we receive righteousness and life |
In Adam we are born of flesh; in Christ we are regenerated by the Holy Spirit |
In Adam: sinning and falling; in Christ: being saved and resurrected |
Believers should know and experience Christ as their righteousness and life |
Adam is the first man, Christ is the last Adam; both represent corporate entities |
Rom. 5:12-19; 1 Cor. 15:22, 45-49; 2 Cor. 5:17 |
|
In Spirit vs. In Flesh |
Being in the Spirit means living in the reality of fellowship with God; being in the flesh means living in the fallen nature |
In the Spirit produces the fruit of life; in the flesh produces the consequences of death |
In the Spirit satisfies God; in the flesh resists God |
Paul serving God in the Spirit; the "I" in Romans 7 struggling in the flesh |
Believers should set their mind on the Spirit and walk according to the Spirit |
Spirit and flesh are the key to practically experiencing "in Christ" and "in Adam" |
Rom. 8:2-11; Gal. 5:16-25; Rom. 7:5-25 |
Overall Relationship Between These Four Contrasts:
These four pairs of contrasts present a comprehensive picture of two different sources of life in the Bible:
- 1. Root Level: The Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge represent God and Satan as two sources
- 2. Historical Development: The Line of Life and the Line of Death show the development of these two sources in human history
- 3. Positional Reality: In Christ and in Adam illustrate man's legal position before God
- 4. Daily Experience: In the Spirit and in the flesh reflect how people practically experience these two sources
Believers, as a "miniature Garden of Eden," have God as the Tree of Life in their spirit, Satan as the Tree of Knowledge in their flesh, and their mind between these two must make a choice. Romans 5-8 elaborates in detail how these two sources affect believers and indicates that the way to victory is to set the mind on the Spirit and live in Christ's resurrection life.
Man is transferred out of Adam into Christ (positional transfer), and experiences being transferred out of the flesh into the Spirit (experiential transfer), ultimately being swallowed up by life to become part of the New Jerusalem, fully expressing God's life and glory.
*Please refer to the 2025 International Chinese Conference Romans 5-8 - The Core of the Bible Chapter 1 The Line of Life and Death in Romans 5-8
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