In some ways, Adam’s rebellion in Eden was much like Satan’s rebellion. This sheds more light on why it had such dire consequences for us (Romans 5:12-21). It wasn’t just a “little sin” and it wasn’t an arbitrary test. It was rebellion. And not just rebellion against God’s law, but against God’s position as God and their position as humans. Adam and Eve ate the fruit because they believed Satan – it would make them like God. This is very similar to Satan’s rebellion. He also wanted to be like God.
The Bible also says that Adam was a type of Christ. The plainest understanding of this is that he acted as our representative, just as Christ represented the elect. But Russ Lipton goes deeper:
So, while God did prove Adam’s obedience in the garden, He did not more than ask of Adam what He asked of Himself: obedience born of love. Did Adam truly love His Creator? Or did he love himself more than God? In self-denial, Adam and Eve would have discovered greater life.
Satan’s greatest lie was that eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil would make them like God. Yes, after a fashion, it did indeed. The fuller truth was that denying themselves that food would have made them like God in the way that God Himself intended.
Adam had the opportunity to do what Christ did, and willingly submit to the Father out of love. Instead, he did what Satan did, and rebelled against the Father in pride.