The second way of interpreting what took place in the Garden of Eden, perhaps the most popular in our day, is to attempt to learn why eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil results in death and then to try to gain a spiritual principle from this.

The second way is popular because of human pride. The Christians of today in many instances have not been taught the necessity of dying to self, of how important it is for us to take up our cross and follow the Lord Jesus. Therefore we forever are seeking to learn spiritual principles so we can remain in the driver's seat and make these principles work for our good. We want to remain in control, as the popular saying goes.

Let us say there was a father and a thirteen-year-old son. The father told the boy not to attempt to learn to ride a motorcycle until he was older. The father knew how difficult it is to learn to ride a large, heavy motorcycle. The father told him he probably would fall over and hurt himself and not to try to learn at this time.

A few days later the boy went over to a friend's house. The friend had a motorcycle and offered to let the boy try it out. The boy got on the motorcycle, lost control, and fell over, breaking his leg.

Now suppose the boy reasoned, "I must not try to learn to ride a motorcycle until I am older and stronger or else I will probably hurt myself." He had learned a principle of safety. He was in control.

Is this all there is to it? What about the relationship of the boy to his father? Is he to obey his father only when he understands there is a principle of safety involved or does he obey his father because his father deserves to be obeyed apart from any principle of safety? What is your feeling about this issue?

Why does the soul that sins die? Is it because the soul has violated spiritual principles, or is it because the soul has disobeyed God and therefore is cut off from God's blessing?

Is God anxious to teach us spiritual principles so we can control our own state of being, or does God require obedience because He is God? God has made Jesus our King. Are we to obey our King apart from any knowledge of spiritual principles?

If we are disobedient will God withdraw from us even though we have not violated any spiritual principles?

The purpose of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is not to help man control his life. The purpose of the Gospel is to reconcile man to God! The difference between these two concepts is the difference between Antichrist and Christ.

God required Abraham to offer up his son, Isaac. When Abraham obeyed, God said, "Now I know that you fear God. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed."

God did not say, "You have learned the important principle that you should not love your son more than you do God. This principle will set you free in your personality so the nations, beholding your personal spiritual liberty will be set free as a result."

To be continued.