PARADISE - CAN IT BE LOST AND CAN IT BE GAINED?

The word "paradise" stirs our highest hopes.
The Greek word for paradise is paradeisos. It is used in English to refer to the Garden of Eden and then to the eternal bliss of which that Garden is a type - HEAVEN.

Paradise.
The word appears three times in the English Bible:

1. "And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise," (Lk. 23:43).
2. "How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter." (2 Cor. 12:4).
3. "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God." (Rev. 2:7).

In the Bible, the word paradise referred to one's eternal abode with God.

Jesus is the one who restores the Paradise of God.

He offers to mankind:

• The bread of life (Jn. 6)
• The water of life (Jn. 4) in the gospel... which grants us entrance into the Paradise of God.

There seems to be several themes emphasized by the word paradise.

• Paradise was lost to man through sin.
• When man sinned,
• He broke his communion with God (3:8),
• Lost access to the tree of life (3:22),
• Was subject to physical death (3:19) and
• Was driven into an environment which was hostile to him (3:18).

To prevent his re-entering the garden, the Lord placed an angel with a flaming sword (3:24).

Paradise can be regained through Jesus Christ.

Those who overcome sin's temptations through the blood of the Lamb are granted:

• Entrance anew into the Paradise of God where they once again have communion with the Lord (Lk. 23:43),
• Access to the tree of life (Rev. 2:7).

Everything that was lost through sin is restored through Christ.
Accept Him today. Paradise Lost will be gained as an eternal home.