I thank God for your study on Hebrews. It really helped me understand that our Lord Jesus Christ is there waiting for us. Can you please explain to me further this verse in Genesis because I am a little confused.
And the LORD God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” Genesis 3:22.
Adam was created immortal, but became mortal when he sinned at the fall, and was destined for death. In Genesis 3:22-24, The Lord was confirming that since man had become a sinful being he could not be allowed to become immortal again, otherwise there would be sinners in eternity. So He banished Adam and Eve from the Garden where the tree of life was located, and stationed cherubim there to guard the way.
Many people overlook the fact that the cherubim were guarding the way back, not just keeping Adam and Eve out. When the sin problem had been overcome, man could become immortal again. (1 Cor. 15:53)
There’s a tradition that an altar was built outside the garden upon which innocent animals were to be sacrificed to set aside man’s sins in the meantime. If so, this would explain Gen. 4:3-7 where God said Cain should have known what kind of offering God wanted.
In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an offering–fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”