Mike wrote:
Yet there was still no death until sin entered. It was sin that brought forth death. What state then existed before the fall?

Finally
1Jo 1.2 Eternal life *IS* Jesus, also at 1Jo 5.11, 20.

On the “Tree of life”
Apart from a few analogous refs in Proverbs, “tree of life” doesn’t appear again until Revelation.
Re 2.7 – Those who overcome are allowed, by God, to eat of the tree of life in paradise.
Re 22.2 - on either side of the river, (water of life) was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Re 22.14 – Some get the “right” to the tree of life.

Mike wrote:
My last post:
....because he sinned. Yet God created him with eternal life, calling his creation very good..........

Upon sin, Adam became less than he was. He can't be labeled less before the fact of it."

Your assumption (correct me if I', Wrong) here is that Adam and Eve were created with eternal life.
So ok lets run with that one.

Adam and Eve did NOT require the Tree of Life, because they would live for eternity, unless they sinned.
But they did sin.

So the tree of life was for non-eternals to eat from. But they were eternal until they sinned and were kicked out of Eden.

So the tree of life is for what?
People to munch on when the Lord grants His elect eternal life?

If we go back to life in the garden. Assuming, if we say, Adam was eternal, then the tree of life is irrelevant to him. Even if we play it that God foreknew that Adam would sin, again why plant the tree which provides immortality? God is not going to let him anywhere near it is He.

Thus the problem is why did God plant a tree with no function in the Eden "circumstance" He created.

Michael Hranek wrote:
Two ways
I think you've gotten it wrong there friend.
There is only one choice
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.
Have you really done that? If not you desperately need to and can because God Himself tells you to.

Sorry fellas you've missed the train on that one.

Two Ways:::
#1] Pelagian, Papist, Arminian, FreeWiller Heresy of salvation by works - excluding the election by God.

#2] Reformed Biblical Truth that God alone elects/chooses His own without merit on their part, or foreknown/foreseen action of the sinner.

Michael has Jesus "chosen" you yet and can you prove it, other than believing that YOU chose Him?

"For many are called, but few are chosen(Mat 22.14)

"Ye have **not chosen** me, but **I have chosen** you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit,... (Jo 15.16)

"But ye are a **chosen** generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people(1Pe 2.9)
____________

Mike
Re your last post below

Free Willer wrote:
Free Willers Unite. Calvinists always put the cart before the horse. ALWAYS.

If man selects then he cannot access salvaion.
If God Elects then He saves.

The Reformed Church always gives the glory to God.

The free willer denies God's right to sovereign election, whilst believing they can defeat sin on their own.