- Jun 22, 2015
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"And Yahweh Elohim said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil"
JW's believe A&E are without hope of salvation and are condemned to everlasting death.
Can you see the problem with the above?
The Elohim see A&E as now one of them - how can they be condemned?
Adam and Eve had become sin prone, death-doomed creatures...but without hope and condemned to everlasting death?
Absolutely not!
But how did the eating of the fruit of the tree cause them to "know" experimentally a measure of "good" unknown to them whilst in innocence?
Because, previously, there had been no basis of comparison.
The witness of "good" was all around them.
Their sin would introduce them to evil, and cause good to show up in sharper contrast.
Their eyes had been opened to discern the difference, which had not been possible when they had experienced only the one. They realised that they were no longer in a state of innocence, and, therefore, were in need of a covering; but they were ignorant of what was required in that regard.
The eating of the forbidden fruit brought home to them certain facts that it was "good" for them to know, whilst causing them to recognise the "evil" consequences of their action.
These can be epitomised as follows:
(1) It brought home the reality of sin, and of the punishment that accrues there from.
(2) It showed that the thinking of flesh ignorant of the Word of God will lead astray.
(3) It made more evident that man is dependent upon the mercy, forgiveness and grace of God, Divine qualities that God expects forgiven man to manifest towards his fellows (See Matt. 5:44-45; Rom. 5:8).
(4) It demonstrated man's need of God: the necessity for him to manifest humility, faith, loyalty, obedience.
(5) It set forth more completely a balanced view of God's character, enabling Adam and Eve to more clearly "behold the goodness and the severity of God" (Rom. 11:22; Exod. 34:6-7).
Therefore, in His wisdom, Yahweh was able to create good out of the Fall in that it enabled His virtues of love, compassion, mercy and forgiveness to be emphasised by contrast.
The eating of the forbidden fruit brought home to Adam and Eve, a true knowledge of good whilst, at the same time, causing them to experience an evil that previously was unknown to them.
If points 1-5 are agreed upon, how can the JW's teach such a damaging doctrine and totally ignore the deep lessons being shown them from Genesis 3?
I can only conclude for the moment this knowledge and understanding is yet to be revealed to them as "new light" and at some point they must change their position on this doctrine.
If condemned irrevocably how can it be said they have become like one of the Elohim?
F2F
JW's believe A&E are without hope of salvation and are condemned to everlasting death.
Can you see the problem with the above?
The Elohim see A&E as now one of them - how can they be condemned?
Adam and Eve had become sin prone, death-doomed creatures...but without hope and condemned to everlasting death?
Absolutely not!
But how did the eating of the fruit of the tree cause them to "know" experimentally a measure of "good" unknown to them whilst in innocence?
Because, previously, there had been no basis of comparison.
The witness of "good" was all around them.
Their sin would introduce them to evil, and cause good to show up in sharper contrast.
Their eyes had been opened to discern the difference, which had not been possible when they had experienced only the one. They realised that they were no longer in a state of innocence, and, therefore, were in need of a covering; but they were ignorant of what was required in that regard.
The eating of the forbidden fruit brought home to them certain facts that it was "good" for them to know, whilst causing them to recognise the "evil" consequences of their action.
These can be epitomised as follows:
(1) It brought home the reality of sin, and of the punishment that accrues there from.
(2) It showed that the thinking of flesh ignorant of the Word of God will lead astray.
(3) It made more evident that man is dependent upon the mercy, forgiveness and grace of God, Divine qualities that God expects forgiven man to manifest towards his fellows (See Matt. 5:44-45; Rom. 5:8).
(4) It demonstrated man's need of God: the necessity for him to manifest humility, faith, loyalty, obedience.
(5) It set forth more completely a balanced view of God's character, enabling Adam and Eve to more clearly "behold the goodness and the severity of God" (Rom. 11:22; Exod. 34:6-7).
Therefore, in His wisdom, Yahweh was able to create good out of the Fall in that it enabled His virtues of love, compassion, mercy and forgiveness to be emphasised by contrast.
The eating of the forbidden fruit brought home to Adam and Eve, a true knowledge of good whilst, at the same time, causing them to experience an evil that previously was unknown to them.
If points 1-5 are agreed upon, how can the JW's teach such a damaging doctrine and totally ignore the deep lessons being shown them from Genesis 3?
I can only conclude for the moment this knowledge and understanding is yet to be revealed to them as "new light" and at some point they must change their position on this doctrine.
If condemned irrevocably how can it be said they have become like one of the Elohim?
F2F
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