Knowing Good from Evil

We must know the difference between good and evil, otherwise we will be lost. But how are we to learn this?

Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognise the difference between right and wrong. Hebrews 5:14 NLT

but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.” Genesis 2:17 NIV84

“You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman.
“For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:4–5 NIV84

God created Adam and Eve. He made them in God's image, innocent and without defects of any kind. God placed them in a beautiful garden where nothing was tainted, nothing could be sick. 

Adam and Eve were designed to be happy and immortal.

But there was a problem. Lucifer, the highest archangel, had already become evil by abusing his freewill, and he had recruited a host of rebellious angels to his demonic army.

Because Adam and Eve were to rule the new earth, they needed knowledge of this battle against evil spirits, but God had not explained everything to them in the beginning.

God's first priority for the first humans was different. Their first priority was to get to know God Himself better. They needed to learn everything step by step from God Himself.

The fruit of the forbidden tree would instantly give the same knowledge of good and evil that God Himself had, according to Satan.

Did Eve understand this? The concept of ``evil'' would be completely incomprehensible to Eve if God had not explained some of it to her beforehand, but God had only taught the basic steps.

We are not called to know everything at once and always be right. We are called to know God Himself better and better as our Father, Friend and Guide.

There are police experts who are trained to identify counterfeit money. Do you think they study many specimens of forged currency? No. They study real banknotes in the finest detail.

We have only one way to recognise and reject everything that is against God. We can find this way only in close communion with God Himself.

And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. John 17:3 NRSV

… we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:3 NRSV

If we do not cultivate this close personal fellowship with God from the beginning, we will lose our way in life.

We can rely on our own Bible knowledge. Bible knowledge is indispensable, but without fellowship with God and the leading of the Holy Spirit, you will only become dry and religious like the Pharisees who persecuted Jesus.

This is the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

... but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.” Genesis 2:17 NIV84

During his earthly lifetime, Jesus challenged his disciples to follow him. This often literally meant going around with Jesus himself.

We can no longer walk with Jesus physically, but He has offered us His Holy Spirit to be our companion and guide.

If you want to hold fast to God's Word without being daily acquainted with the guidance and fellowship of the Holy Spirit, you will gradually become dry, lifeless and merely religious.

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. Romans 8:14 ESV

If you are a woman, you can also hold on to this promise.

This letter from Paul was written for the church in Rome. According to Roman law, sons were the heirs of the father but not daughters. When Paul implicitly includes Christian women here, we are to understand that women are equal in God's eyes.