Why was the tree put in the Garden in the first place? Because there must be choice if there is to be love. Does God want to be served by automatons? Apparently not. That's why the cosmos exists, to provide choices. Hard, moral choices. It has been said that God created in order to find out who his friends are. That isn't quite right. God knows who his friends are. What he gets by creation is solid evidence to support his opinion. No argument.
Paul in no way contradicts this fundamental biblical teaching in Romans 9. In fact, he confirms it. It is not that God makes people accept or refuse him. It is that, by the cross, he gives choice to all. Of course, those 'leopards' who know that they 'cannot' change their spots feel that they are given no choice. But choice is what they actually live with, every day, until they die. Then they must live with the consequences, about which they will have no choice.
1) Why was the tree put in the Garden in the first place?
God's law comes in two forms, one is to require us to do something the other is to forbid us from doing something. Both can be identified in the 10 Commandments.
In Genesis 2 Adam is given two Commandments, the first was in verse 15 where God gave Adam a chore that he must do. Second as we've already discussed, was verse 17 where God put restrictions on Adam. If God's purpose was to test Adam, as you have suggested, he did not have to plant the tree of knowledge in the garden. I don't really believe that God needs evidence to confirm his knowledge, that's a little bit ridiculous on its face.
2) Who was the tree there for if it was not to be eaten from?
So we come back to the question who was the tree put there for? I think the answer is simple, just by asking yourself who was the one who used the tree for his purpose? Of course the answer there is Satan. The first commandment given to Adam, tending the garden, carry no penalty it is only the second commandment that carried a penalty. That penalty of death is in fact Satan's goal, and he is he only one to benefit from the tree of knowledge in the garden.
3) What does it mean to have knowledge of good and evil?
I believe the answer there is also easy, God's will is good and Satan's will is evil. Because of Adam all mankind has become subject to the
will of Satan. But you say that you have a sovereign
will and you have the
will to follow the LAW.
The way I understand it you are saying that you have enough
will to determine on your own if you are going to sin in your life or live a sinless life. Then I have to make the assumption that since you chose to follow Christ you have made the decision with your
free will never to sin again.
I like to know how that is working out for you? If you have chose with your
free will to sin after you received salvation through Christ crucifixion, does this mean that Christ must be crucified again for your salvation? Or does this mean that you are incapable of living a sinless life because you do not have the
will to do so?
So how evil could one be to accept God's grace and the salvation offered to him through the blood of Christ, and then turn around and spit and Christ's faith, smile and ask again for forgiveness so that you may repeat and repeat and repeat your sinful nature. If you have the
will to stop this and you don't what does that say of you?
Of course I may be all wet and
you may be in fact without sin.4) Could God's plan go forward without the tree?
Revelation 17:17 For God has put it into their hearts to carry out His plan by having one purpose, and to give their kingdom to the beast until God's words are accomplished.
Let's move forward to Genesis 3
Then the Lord God said to the serpent: Because you have done this, you are cursed more than any livestock and more than any wild animal. You will move on your belly and eat dust all the days of your life. I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel. So God used the tree to punish Satan, and Satan will eventually receive death for his lie to Eve.
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, in Christ; 4 for He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love 5 He predestined us to be adopted through Jesus Christ for Himself,
according to His favor and will,
