THE FIRST HUMAN PAIR
To the first human pair, Adam and Eve, God gave a beautiful garden home. But he laid a command upon them: "From every tree of the garden you may eat to satisfaction. But as for the tree of the knowledge of good and bad you must not eat from it, for in the day you eat from it you will positively die."(Gen. 2:16, 17)
The tree was effectively a real tree, but it has a symbolic meaning. The tree symbolized God's right to determine for humans what is pleasing and what is displeasing to him. It involves God's sovereignty and the possibility for man to manifest his devotion and respect towards him. Sadly, Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate of the forbidden fruit. (Gen. 3:1-6)
THE GIFT OF FREE WILL
Jehovah gave Adam and Eve perfect mental abilities. This included the power of perception, reason and judgment. (Heb. 5:14) And the gift-free will. This freedom though, was relative, subject to the rule of God's laws (Jer. 10:23, 24). Therefore, when they eat of the forbidden fruit, they chose to eat, thus abused their freedom. —From Proclaimers of God's Kingdom-edited by the Jehovah's Witnesses—From Proclaimers of God's Kingdom-edited by the Jehovah's Witnesses.
See also:
FROM THE VERY BEGINNING OF HUMAN CREATION
A SPIRIT CREATURE OF GOD ENTERING THE SCENE
JEHOVAH MUST EXECUTE JUDGMENT
REQUEST A FREE BIBLE STUDY!
To the first human pair, Adam and Eve, God gave a beautiful garden home. But he laid a command upon them: "From every tree of the garden you may eat to satisfaction. But as for the tree of the knowledge of good and bad you must not eat from it, for in the day you eat from it you will positively die."(Gen. 2:16, 17)
The tree was effectively a real tree, but it has a symbolic meaning. The tree symbolized God's right to determine for humans what is pleasing and what is displeasing to him. It involves God's sovereignty and the possibility for man to manifest his devotion and respect towards him. Sadly, Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate of the forbidden fruit. (Gen. 3:1-6)
THE GIFT OF FREE WILL
Jehovah gave Adam and Eve perfect mental abilities. This included the power of perception, reason and judgment. (Heb. 5:14) And the gift-free will. This freedom though, was relative, subject to the rule of God's laws (Jer. 10:23, 24). Therefore, when they eat of the forbidden fruit, they chose to eat, thus abused their freedom. —From Proclaimers of God's Kingdom-edited by the Jehovah's Witnesses—From Proclaimers of God's Kingdom-edited by the Jehovah's Witnesses.
See also:
FROM THE VERY BEGINNING OF HUMAN CREATION
A SPIRIT CREATURE OF GOD ENTERING THE SCENE
JEHOVAH MUST EXECUTE JUDGMENT
REQUEST A FREE BIBLE STUDY!
