虽然亚当和夏娃已经有了预期的救赎，但他们当时并未得着真正的救赎，他们在性情里仍然有罪。他们若在这种情况下，就是在败坏的性情里，吃了生命树，他们就要带着有罪的性情活到永远。神不允许如此，因为象征神的生命树，是不可以让有罪的人接触的。因此，在完成真实地救赎之前，神必须封闭生命树的道路。一旦真实地救赎完成了，人才可能再接近生命树。
因此神为人预备预期的救赎之后，祂就藉着基路伯和发火焰的剑，封闭了生命树的道路。基路伯是神的荣耀的象征，火焰象征神的圣别，而剑象征神的公义。神的荣耀、圣别和公义封闭了通到生命树的道路，指明人只要是有罪的，就不准接触神这生命树（创三24）。
通到生命树的路从亚当以来就封闭了，什么时候这条路才又打通呢？马太福音告诉我们，当基督在十字架上死了的时候，圣殿里分隔圣所与至圣所的幔子，从上到下裂为两半（太二七50-51）。那幔子从上到下裂开的事实，证明这是神作的，并且证明神与人之间的阻隔从此除去了。基督的死既满足了神公义、圣别和荣耀的要求，祂的血就给我们开创了一条又新又活的路。
藉着这条又新又活的路，我们可以坦然无惧的进入隐密处，就是生命树所在之地。现在我们能够亲近神（雅四8，来四16）。藉着基督的救赎，神已经进到我们的灵里。我们需要转向我们的灵，并藉着耶稣的血进入至圣所，在那里我们能接触生命树。今天我们不再在预期的救赎之下，我们乃是在享受已经完成的救赎。这救赎给我们开创了一条又新又活的路，进入至圣所。这条路不在伊甸园中，现今乃在我们的灵里。现今我们可以坦然无惧的接触这位活神，祂就是生命树。
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The Way to the Tress of Life Closed – Gen. 3:22-24
Although Adam and Eve received the promise of redemption, they did not yet obtain actual redemption at that time. Sin still remained in their nature. If, in such a fallen condition, they were to eat of the tree of life, they would live forever with a sinful nature. God did not allow this. The tree of life, which signifies God as life, cannot be touched by those who are sinful. Therefore, before the real redemption was accomplished, God had to shut the way to the tree of life. Only after the completion of full redemption could man be allowed to approach the tree of life again.
Thus, after providing man with the anticipated redemption, God closed the way to the tree of life by placing the cherubim and a flaming sword to guard the path. The cherubim represent God’s glory, the flaming fire signifies God’s holiness, and the sword symbolizes God’s righteousness. God’s glory, holiness and righteousness guarded the way to the tree of life — indicating that as long as man is sinful, he is not allowed to approach God as the tree of life (Gen. 3:24).
From the time of Adam, the way to the tree of life was closed. When was this way reopened? The Gospel of Matthew tells us that when Christ died on the cross, the veil in the temple that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies was torn in two from top to bottom (Matt. 27:50–51). The fact that the veil was torn from top to bottom proves that it was God’s doing, and that the barrier between God and man was removed. Because Christ’s death satisfied the requirements of God’s righteousness, holiness and glory, His blood opened for us a new and living way.
Through this new and living way, we can boldly enter into the secret place, where the tree of life is. Now we can draw near to God (James 4:8; Heb. 4:16). Through Christ’s redemption, God has entered into our spirit. We need to turn to our spirit and, by the blood of Jesus, enter into the Holy of Holies — there we may touch the tree of life. Today, we are no longer under an anticipated redemption, but are enjoying a completed redemption. This redemption has opened to us a new and living way into the Holy of Holies. This way is no longer in the garden of Eden — it is now in our spirit. Today, we can boldly contact the living God, who is Himself the tree of life.