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Comparing the two passages, we see that 'good and bad' and 'all things
in the earth' are synonymous.
There is a tendency with most of us to read the words of Genesis 2 as
though they were an emphasis on the word 'evil'. We must remember however
that the tree represented good as well as evil. 'Good', out of place, and
before its time, can be definitely harmful. Marriage, for example, is
'honourable in all', but that which is most blessed within the limitation of
marriage, is itself a sin if entered into apart from those Divinely appointed
limits. Again we observe that 'good' and 'evil' are not things in
themselves, but terms which refer to the actions of particular people.
We will set out, in the form of a table, a list of some
of the characteristics that distinguish the sphere of mechanical determinism
from that of moral accountability.
Creation (Mechanical)
Creation (Moral)
Title: God.
Title: Lord God.
Pronouncement:
Pronouncement:
'It was so'.
'Thou shalt not'.
Created things 'good'.
Moral creatures tested.
Created things 'held'.
Moral creatures
'held responsible'.
No option.
Freedom of choice.
Things or animals.
Persons.
Sin not possible.
Sin possible.
Faith and love impossible.
Faith and love possible.
No fellowship.
Fellowship.
'Let there be light'.
'Let us make man'.
The 'dust of the ground' and the 'living soul' (Gen. 2:7).
Having dealt briefly with the question of moral accountability and its
bearing upon sin and other related themes, we come next to a brief
consideration of the constitution of man, with particular reference to his
body. At his original creation man was given a body, made of the 'dust of
the ground', and even in the resurrection state, a body even though it be
spiritual (1 Cor. 15:44) will still be a necessity. We are rather apt to
speak slightingly of the body because of its association with sin, but we
should always remember that in itself it is a wonderful part of God's
creation.