創世記結晶讀經(38): 生命樹與善惡知識樹_4

 

約十五 5『我是葡萄樹，你們是枝子；住在我裡面的，我也住在他裡面，這人就多結果子；因為離了我，你們就不能作甚麼。』

創三 5『因為神知道，你們吃的日子眼睛就開了，你們便如神知道善惡。』

 

善惡知識樹表徵撒但是人死亡的源頭（來二14）。這樹也表徵一切神以外的事物。…就連神所默示的聖經和神所頒賜的律法，都會被撒但利用為知識樹而帶進死（約五 39~40，林後三 6 下）。

 

生命樹叫人倚靠神，而知識樹叫人背叛神，向神獨立。這兩棵樹帶進兩條線─生命線和死亡線，貫穿整本聖經，結束於啟示錄。死開始於知識樹，結束於火湖。生命開始於生命樹，結束於新耶路撒冷這座生命水的城。

 

創世記二章所記載的兩棵樹─生命樹和知識樹，不僅僅是古老的歷史，因為今天這兩棵樹仍與我們在一起。我們若仔細讀聖經，就會發現有兩條線貫串整本聖經─生命樹的線和知識樹的線。我們可簡稱為生命線和知識線。這兩條線開始於創世記，延續於聖經接着的各卷，最後到達終點。…生命線的終點是新耶路撒冷，在那裡生命樹再次出現。在新耶路撒冷也看到生命水的河，這河流通全城。因此，新耶路撒冷這一座生命水的城，乃是生命樹的線終極的完成。知識線要結束於火湖，那是新耶路撒冷鮮明的對比。城是一座生命水的城，湖是一個燒火着火的湖。

 

按照聖經的啟示，有兩道河從神的寶座流出來，一道是生命水的流，一道是火的流。生命水的流啟示在以西結四十七章和啟示錄二十二章。在以西結書，生命水是從神的殿發出；在啟示錄二十二章，生命水是從神的寶座流出。在但以理七章九至十節，我們看見另一道流，火河，從神的寶座發出。生命水是為着復甦與滋潤，而火河是為着審判。這火河在審判里流過全宇宙。水河從神的寶座流出，要將一切積極的事物流進新耶路撒冷。火河從神的寶座發出，要將一切消極的事物掃進火湖。在聖經的開始有生命線和知識線這兩條線的開端，在聖經的末了有兩個結果，兩個完成─生命水的城以及燒火着火的湖。

 

今天你在那裡？你要往那裡去？你在那一條線上？…我們這些蒙救贖的人必然是在對的線，就是生命的線上。然而我們的生活和工作，就是我們為神生活並工作的方式，卻可能在錯的線上。…聖經首先警告人遠離知識線，而留在或回到生命線。我們一次得救便永遠得救，我們的救恩是永遠穩妥的。然而聖經警告我們，關於我們為着主的日常行事為人和工作。在加拉太書，保羅警告我們要憑着靈而行，並為着那靈撒種。…如果我們用金、銀、寶石建造召會，那工程就要存留到新耶路撒冷。…另一面，保羅也警告我們，木、草、禾桔只配被燒毀。

 

    參讀：創世記生命讀經，第十五篇。

 

John 15:5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in Me and I in him, he bears  much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing."

 

Gen. 3:5 "For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will become like God, knowing good and evil."

 

    The tree of the knowledge of good and evil signifies Satan as the source of death to man (Heb. 2:14). It also signifies all things apart from God....Even the Scriptures inspired by God and the law given by God can be utilized by Satan as the tree of knowledge to bring in death (John 5:39-40; 2 Cor. 3:6b).

 

    The tree of life causes man to be dependent on God (John 15:5), whereas the tree of knowledge causes man to rebel against God and to be independent from Him (cf. Gen. 3:5). The two trees issue in two lines─the line of life and the line of death─that run through the entire Bible and end in the book of Revelation. Death begins with the tree of knowledge (Gen. 2:17) and ends with the lake of fire (Rev. 20:10, 14). Life begins with the tree of life and ends in the New Jerusalem, the city of the water of life (22:1-2). (Gen. 2:9, footnote 3)

 

    The record of the two trees in Genesis 2, the tree of life and the tree of knowledge, is not merely ancient history, for these two trees are still with us today. If we read the Bible carefully, we will discover that throughout the Bible we have two lines─the line of the tree of life and the line of the tree of knowledge. We may refer to them in brief as the line of life and the line of knowledge. These two lines began at the book of Genesis and continue through the subsequent books of the Bible until they reach their destination....The destination of the line of life will be the New Jerusalem, where the tree of life appears once again. The river of the water of life is also found in the New Jerusalem, for it flows throughout the entire city. Thus, the New Jerusalem, a city of living water, is the ultimate consummation of the line of the tree of life. The line of knowledge will conclude with the lake of fire, a vivid contrast to the city of New Jerusalem. The city is a city of living water; the lake is a lake of burning fire.

 

    According to the revelation in the Bible, we see two streams proceeding out of the throne of God. One is the stream of living water, and the other is a stream of fire. The stream of living water is revealed in Ezekiel 47 and Revelation 22. In Ezekiel living water issues out of the house of God; in Revelation 22 living water flows out of the throne of God. In Daniel 7:9-10 we see another stream, a stream of fire, flowing out of the throne of God. The living water is for reviving and watering, but the stream of fire is for judging. It courses in judgment throughout the universe. The river of water proceeds out of the throne of God and will flow all positive things into the New Jerusalem. The stream of fire issues out of the throne of God and will sweep all negative things into the lake of fire. In the beginning of the Bible we have the start of two lines, the line of life and the line of knowledge. At the end of the Bible we have two results, two consummations—the city of living water and the lake of burning fire.

 

    Where are you and where are you going? Which line are you on?...As redeemed people we are surely on the right line, the line of life. However, it is possible that our walk and our work—that is, the way we live and work for God—might be on the wrong line....The Bible firstly warns people to stay away from the line of knowledge and remain on or return to the line of life. Once we are saved, we are eternally saved, and our salvation is eternally secure. Nevertheless, the Bible warns us concerning our daily walk and our work for the Lord. In Galatians Paul warns us to walk in the Spirit (5:16) and to sow to the Spirit (6:7-8)...If we build the church with gold, silver, and precious stones, this work will continue unto the New Jerusalem....On the other hand, Paul warns us that the wood, grass, and straw are only useful for burning (1 Cor. 3:12-15). (Life-study of Genesis, pp. 181-183)

 

    Further Reading: Life-study of Genesis, msg. 15

 

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創世記結晶讀經(39): 生命樹與善惡樹_5
創世記結晶讀經(37): 生命樹與善惡樹_3