Teaching summary
In this continuation of "As It Was in the Beginning," Pastors Leonard and Lori Rola explore the original design of humanity, created in God’s image and likeness—truly holy and truly righteous. They explain how mankind's fall came not because they were deceived about being like God, but because they chose to know evil through disobedience. The teaching emphasizes the two trees in the garden—Life and Knowledge—and how today we still choose which to eat from through our thoughts, words, and what we feed our hearts. The message encourages believers to feed only from the Tree of Life, which produces peace, health, joy, and righteousness.
Bible verses referenced
Genesis 1:26: "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and the cattle, and all the earth, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth."
Ephesians 4:24: "And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."
Romans 5:17: "For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ."
Romans 10:10: "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
Romans 3:22: "Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference."
Romans 3:24: "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus."
Romans 3:26: "To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."
Romans 4:25: "Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification."
Romans 5:21: "That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord."
Romans 9:30: "What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith."
Romans 10:4: "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth."
Romans 10:9: "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."
2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
Isaiah 53:10-12: "Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors."
Genesis 2:9, 16-17: "And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil… And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."
Genesis 3:1-5: "Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."
Ephesians 3:17-19: "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God."
Philippians 4:8: "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."
Teaching notes
Table of Contents
1. Introduction: A Message of Love and Connection
2. Recap of Part One: Created in His Image
3. What is God’s Image and Likeness?
4. The Truth About Righteousness
5. The Original Design and Free Will
6. The Two Trees: Life vs. Knowledge
7. Satan’s Statement Wasn’t a Lie
8. The Fall: What Changed?
9. Signs You’re Eating from the Wrong Tree
10. Our Daily Choice: What Will You Feed On?
11. God’s Design for the Body and Mind
12. Closing Words: Back to the Garden
Introduction: A Message of Love and Connection
Pastor Leonard begins the message with heartfelt gratitude for the global body of believers who tune into their teachings. From New York to Singapore, Pakistan, the Netherlands, Norway, England, and Canada, the pastors express their deep love and personal connection with each viewer. They emphasize that their relationship with the audience is not transactional but divinely appointed—“we believe you were given to us by God.” This sincere expression of unity sets the tone for the deep spiritual message to follow.
Recap of Part One: Created in His Image
The teaching picks up from Part 1 of the series, titled “As It Was in the Beginning.” Pastor Leonard reminds the audience that in the beginning, God made man in His own image and likeness. That image was not merely one of external dominion but of true holiness and true righteousness. This foundation is critical, as it defines the authority and identity given to man by God.
Genesis 1:26 is central here: "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and the cattle, and all the earth, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
What is God’s Image and Likeness?
Pastor Leonard expands on what “image and likeness” truly means. It doesn’t mean physical appearance but rather inner character: true holiness and righteousness. He cites:
Ephesians 4:24: "And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."
He then connects this to Romans 5:17 to show that righteousness enables believers to reign in life: "For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ."
Dominion and authority in life—over the body, finances, and relationships—come from walking in this restored image through Jesus Christ.
The Truth About Righteousness
Pastor Leonard challenges the common misunderstanding among believers about righteousness. He explains that many still quote, “There is none righteous, no not one,” not realizing that the verse refers to those outside the New Covenant.
Romans 10:10 makes it clear that righteousness is received through belief and confession: "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." To cement this, he lists numerous verses every believer should study to understand their righteousness in Christ:
Romans 3:22: "Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference."
Romans 3:24: "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus. "
Romans 3:26: "To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."
Romans 4:25: "Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification."
Romans 5:21: "That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord."
Romans 9:30: "What shall we say then? The Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith."
Romans 10:4: "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth."
Romans 10:9–10 and 2 Corinthians 5:17: are also emphasized to show that believers are made new and righteous in Christ.
The Original Design and Free Will
God created mankind truly holy and righteous, yet with free will. Pastor Leonard explains that although man was like God in holiness and righteousness, he wasn’t like God in one specific area: knowledge of evil.
Genesis 2:9, 16–17 tells us: "And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree… the tree of life also in the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil… But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."
God warned them. He didn’t want man to know evil, but gave the choice—symbolized by the two trees.
The Two Trees: Life vs. Knowledge
Pastor Lori read from Genesis 2, showing that both the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil were placed in the garden. Feeding from the Tree of Life represents feeding from Jesus. It only produces good.
The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil however, introduces evil through choice. This tree is symbolic of the law, legalism, condemnation, and self-effort.
Satan’s Statement Wasn’t a Lie
This shocking statement is clarified carefully: when Satan told Eve she would be “like God, knowing good and evil,” he wasn’t technically lying—because Adam and Eve did not yet know evil.
Genesis 3:1-5 shows this conversation clearly: "For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."
The lie wasn't the content—it was the implication that they were missing something good by obeying God. In reality, God was protecting them.
The Fall: What Changed?
After eating the fruit, Adam and Eve's spiritual DNA shifted. Fear, guilt, shame, and condemnation entered. Their awareness of evil disconnected them from their original design.
Isaiah 53:10-12 explains how Jesus—the Righteous Servant—came to bear our iniquity and restore us: "By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities."
Signs You’re Eating from the Wrong Tree
Pastor Leonard details the symptoms of feeding from the Tree of Knowledge:
– Fear
– Guilt
– Shame
– Condemnation
– Anxiety
– Sickness
– Lack
– Premature death.
These are signs of a thought life rooted in legalism or worldly input—TV, negative preaching, or thoughts contrary to God's Word.
Our Daily Choice: What Will You Feed On?
We must choose daily which tree to eat from. Feeding from the Tree of Life means feeding from Jesus, who brings abundant life.
Ephesians 3:17–19 reminds us: "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love… might be filled with all the fulness of God." The fruit of this tree is love, joy, peace, righteousness, and supernatural healing.
God’s Design for the Body and Mind
God created our bodies to thrive when rooted in love and life. Scientific insight confirms it—our bodies regenerate on a cellular level, releasing healing chemicals like dopamine and endorphins.
Philippians 4:8 serves as a command: "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true.. think on these things." Right thinking, rooted in God's Word, activates the body’s design. Feeding from the wrong tree short-circuits this, bringing stress and sickness.
Closing Words: Back to the Garden
The message closes with a call to return to the original design—truly holy and truly righteous—by choosing to feed only from the Tree of Life.
Pastor Lori urges everyone to stop feeding on the world’s negativity and legalism. Shut off wrong influences. Read the Word. Dwell on what God says. The pastors end by referencing an old youth group song: “Take a little tip from me and don’t go hanging around that tree.” The Devil tempts, but only Jesus heals.
We hope this article blessed you. Share this teaching with someone who needs encouragement, clarity, and truth. Return to the Tree of Life. Stay rooted in love. And remember—you’ve already been made righteous in Christ. Feed on Him daily and reign in life.