The Knowledge of Good and Evil

But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die. (Gen. 2:17 NKJ)

God gave Adam a specific instruction regarding a tree at the center of the garden of Eden called the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” God told him not to eat of that tree. We do not know all the mysteries surrounding the existence of this tree, but we know that the Lord put it there in the garden and that sin entered into the world through the knowledge that came in through this tree.

It might be surprising that sin took hold of humanity through knowledge. This knowledge is not a mental awareness of the existence of good and evil, or a mere intellectual transfer of information. It was a practical experience that would change the lives of Adam, Eve, and humanity forever.

After Adam and Eve ate of the tree, they immediately experienced shame and fear. To them, this “knowledge” was much more than information. It was a life-changing experience, not only for them but for all of humanity that would follow. This is how powerful spiritual knowledge is.

Man experienced death and sin through knowledge, and has been brought to life and to the experience of righteousness by knowledge of the truth. At salvation, the Word of God that carries the truth of life comes into our spirits. This knowledge of the truth triggers the born-again experience inside of us. The knowledge of God is far beyond mere mental awareness or gathering of information. It is experiential.