Adam and Eve were not condemned to death merely for eating a piece of fruit as an isolated act. The heart of the issue was that they severed themselves from the source of life by choosing autonomy over trust in God’s word (Gen 2:16–17; 3:6–7).
Each time we choose to oppose God's Word by our actions , we do that very thing. We choose rebellion against the Word of God.
Death entered not simply because a rule was broken, but because separation from God—the giver of life—had occurred
That is what happens when humanity chooses rebellion against God's Word. It is a choice for separation
"IF you LOVE Me, KEEP My Commandments" John 14:15
And so then in Ex 20:6 "Love Me and KEEP My Commandments"
Rev 14:12 'The saints Keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus"
where "The first commandment with a promise" Eph 6:1-2 in that unit of Ten is "Honor your father and mother"
(Gen 3:22–24; Rom 5:12). Even then, God did not immediately destroy them; instead, He moved toward them in mercy and promise (Gen 3:15, 21).
Indeed. God is merciful
Scripture does say that “sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4), but it also says that the law exposes sin without curing it (Rom 3:20).
True.
The Law is not the Gospel.
The Gospel, (new Covenant) writes God's Law on the heart Jer 31:31-34, Heb 8. That law where "The first commandment with a promise is -- Honor your father and mother" Eph 6:1
The solution God provides is not stricter law-keeping
Obedience to God's Word is always in His will for us. Jesus makes that clear in Matt 5.
He does not say that this is how we "earn our salvation"
Matt 7 says the born again "good true" produces good fruit.
The person that "hears My Word and DOES it" as Christ said in Matt 7.
The same thing is seen in Rom 2:4-16
, but a Substitute who fulfills the law perfectly on our behalf: “For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do… in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us” (Rom 8:3–4). Jesus did not abolish the law; He satisfied its demands (Matt 5:17; Gal 3:13).
Indeed, Christ obeyed perfectly.
By contrast "all have sinned" Rom 3.
This is not God's way of getting Christians to engage sin. Rather He is showing us the problem and showing us that it is fixed not only forgiving us from sin, but also cleansing us from unrighteousness, Heb 9 and 10 also speak to that truth.
Because of this, believers no longer owe their standing before God to the law, but to Christ alone.
The question of obedience is not "on what do you owe your standing" rather it is the question raised by Christ in Matt 7 "By their fruits you shall know them".
If we continue in rebellion against God's Word we show the lack of New Covenant, New Birth where the "Law of God is written on the heart":
Paul says plainly, “You are not under law but under grace” (Rom 6:14)
And in the same chapter tells us not to sin.
, and again, “If righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose” (Gal 2:21). To return to the law as a basis for life
Adam and Eve had to obey perfectly to live. That same rule applies after the fall which is why all mankind is doomed without the gospel.
This does not lead to lawlessness. Paul explains that whatever moral obligation remains is fulfilled by love: “He who loves another has fulfilled the law” (Rom 13:8–10; Gal 5:14).
Matt 22 Jesus said that "all the Law AND the prophets" (so then all of scripture) is based squarely on two commandments in the Law of Moses.
"Love God with all your heart" Deut 6:5
"Love your neighbor as yourself" Lev 19:18
Nothing has changed. The gospel begins in Eden outside the gates and continues to this very day "The Gospel was preached to Abraham" Gal 3:8
Obedience now flows from union with Christ,
Just as it ALWAYS did.
"WE have had the Gospel preached to US just as they also" Heb 4:1-2
not from fear of condemnation (John 15:4–5; 1 John 4:18). Our allegiance has shifted—from the law as a covenant of life to Christ
Gal 1:6-9 tells us that what you are describing above is "two gospels" .
The law was never a covenant of life for all lmankind. Only the one and only gospel does that from Adam to this very day.
So yes—the Word of God matters. And that same Word tells us that life is found not in the forbidden tree, not in the law carved in stone, but in the tree on which Christ was crucified for us (1 Pet 2:24).
which enables the New Covenant that then writes that very law on the heart Jer 31:31-34
Having been reconciled to God through Him, we now live in grateful obedience
True. But this discussion has not been a disagreement about being grateful
The good tree (born again believer) produces good fruit Matt 7, Rom 3:31