Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday evening, Jan. 05, 2003, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia. For more outlines from 2002 and 2003, including a zipped file of all of my 1999, 2000, and 2001 sermon outlines, click on the link at the bottom of this note, and go to our website:

THE MISSING TREE IN PARADISE

Pastor Michael D. O'Neal (Proverbs 11:30) - Gospel Light Baptist Church
P.O. Box 3071 (237 Lockett Station Road) - Albany, Georgia 31706
(229) 432-0039 (church) / (229) 698-2127 (parsonage)

Scripture Reading: Genesis 2:1-9

Text: Genesis 2:9

Genesis 2:9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Introduction: There were many trees in the garden of Eden. The Bible says that in the garden was every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. Along those lines, I think of the apple, orange, fig, olive, banana, palm, cherry, and maple trees. Other trees in the Bible that are mentioned, some with a more negative association, are: the juniper tree where Elijah sat in fear and discouragement; the five trees on which five kings were hanged; the Christmas tree of Jer. 10:3; the oak tree that got Absalom; and the tree climbed by Zacchaeus.

With all of the trees that were growing in the lovely Paradise of Eden, one important tree was missing. But first, notice two prominent trees mentioned in our text:

I. THE TREE OF DAMNATION

The tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Someone has said that it wasn't the apple on the tree that was the real problem; it was the pair(pear) on the ground!

A. The tree was accompanied by a warning - Genesis 2:16-17

B. The tree was appealing to the woman

C. The tree had the attractions of the world - 1 John 2:15-16; Genesis 3:6

D. This tree was an advertisement for wisdom

The WRONG KIND of wisdom

II. THE TREE OF DELIGHT

The tree of life

According to Gen. 3:22, this tree supplied eternal physical life. When we think of this tree, we should think of eternal life, eternal bliss, eternal happiness and heaven.

A. It was not attractive to the rebels

B. It was not approached by the rebels

Lost people do not naturally seek God.

C. It finally was not available to the rebels

And now, the MISSING tree of the garden, but the NEEDED tree:

III. THE TREE OF DELIVERANCE

Galatians 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

A. This tree was symbolic in scripture - John 3:14

B. This tree stood for sin

C. This tree stained the Savior

D. This tree supplied salvation

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