To reiterate, Scripture places Adam before the two specific fruit trees in the garden. Fruit is something you eat to take in; it becomes part of your being. Some say; "You are what you eat." In fact, every tree has its seed by which it may reproduce itself, "after its own kind" (Gen 1:11).

• The first tree is "The Tree of Life," it represents the possibility of man actually taking into his self-being God's very own life and nature. This would make man dependent upon God's life and nature to nourish him spiritually, empower him, and to guide him from within.
• The second was "The Tree of Knowledge of Good & Evil," which may better be termed as The of Independence from God. This would be knowledge that is independent of God. This knowledge makes man think he doesn't need God to guide him, or for anything. This is a wrong view because, this "knowledge of good and evil," without a corresponding life that could live it, will only end in failure and the frustration, and Sin. This is clearly seen by Paul's discourse in Romans 7:17-23 where Paul says, trying to do that which is good apart from dependence upon the Lord is impossible and only leads to in bondage to the Sin-spirit in man's flesh body members (cf., Rom 8:3b).

Religion often demands, suggests, or implies that you should do good works for God in order to be righteous, stand justified for salvation and please God. Some then require that such works for the "believers" to remain justified after salvation. This of course is 100% contrary to the Pauline "gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24).

Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified By the Faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

We begin our Christian life by grace through faith alone, and then... we are kept saved by God's grace working through our faith in Christ's vicarious works on the cross for us. Paul wrote; "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so (also) walk ye in him" (Colossians 2:6)

Relying upon our own good works having received, possessing, and relying upon the life of Christ, is a futile task. It only results in works that are rejected by God no matter how noble we think they are.  In the Old Testament this sort of good works is referred to as "filthy rags." "… all our righteousness is as filthy rags… (Isa 64:6).

Matthew 7:22-23 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, ... in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you (ginosko, I never was intimate with you): depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Hence, mankind in Adam, standing before these two trees, was faced with a free will moral choice for the first time... he could eat of either tree.

• Adam could eat of "The Tree of Life" and live in dependence upon God as his all.
• Or Adam could eat of "The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil," which he thought and supposed would make him to "be as gods." Adam no doubt thought he then would "apparently" be independent of God – thinking he could then be wise in his own self.

Genesis 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be DESIRED TO MAKE ONE WISE, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Thus all men born into the world today are born with the notion that they are as gods, the gods of their own lives. They proceed this deceived way until the Lord by His grace humbles them with difficulties they cannot handle, encouraging them to turn to the real LORD to be saved and become secure in Him.