To answer to this question, let us begin by establishing some foundational facts. We note therefore, that every promise of God is obtained through obedience, by faith of Jesus Christ. “For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen” (2 Corinthians 1:20); as “of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” And “Of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things” (Romans 11:36). However, there is not faith without works; and the works of faith is not revealed except faith is tested. The test of faith itself presents two opposing moral choices to the tested, which is, to obey, or to disobey. Whichever is chosen, the rule says, “To whom ye yield yourselves servant to obey, his servant ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness” (Romans 6:16). And so “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted unto him as righteousness.” Which is none other, than “The righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.”

Now, we know that eternal life is a promise of God from the foundation of the world (Titus 1:2). It was ordained even before Adam was created and as is with all the promises of God, it would be received through obedience of faith. Man’s faith of God’s supremacy was to be verified by his works of faith. The heir of promise must demonstrate the underlying fact; he must prove his believe of God’s Sovereignty. Even as the scripture says, “Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered.” Adam failed in this regard.

The last Adam, the Lord Jesus Christ would later on remedy this in the wilderness when He was tested by the Devil. Three times was Jesus tested, and three times He insisted on the commandment of God – “It is written.” Yet, at the end of His testing, the scripture said, “The Devil … parted from Him for a season” (Luke 4:13). Which Jesus, in the final hour of the testing, was careful to put His disciples in remembrance of in John 14:30,31. To them He said, “The prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on me, but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me” (John 14:30, NIV).

Incidentally, the final testing took place in another garden, the Garden of Gethsemane. There, Jesus was to learn obedience to the will of the Father. Knowing that the promise of being first Savior, and then Lord of all rested on His obedience, He agonized to the victory. “Take this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but yours be done,” He painstakingly endured. The internal conflict of flesh and self was superseded by a desire to please the Father. The Gethsemane experience was a necessary step before the crowning of the Son of God, as is in all promises of God. Had Adam the knowledge to rebuff Satan’s instigation, and to insist on the finality of God’s commandment, his obedience would have led him to obtaining the promise of righteousness with God, according to Romans 6:16.

Abraham also when he was tried, contrary to Adam, staggered not in unbelief; accounting that God was able to raise his son Isaac again from the death. By faith, he ascribed to God Lordship and Omnipotence over death, submitting to that divine injunction that prescribed, saying, “I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless” (Genesis 17:1). Righteousness was imputed as a result. Hence Abraham agreed with God, and by it obtained the right of fellowship with Him. And “Can two walk together except they be agreed?” The legacy of his obedience evidenced in his friendship with God: as it is written, “Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his master doeth” (John 15:14,15). God was constrained in due course to confide in Abraham in the matter concerning the destruction of Sodom. For “Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do?” said God (Genesis 18:17).

Furthermore, the scripture accounts that “The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a life giving spirit” (1 Corinthians 15:45). Also, “The first man is of the earth, earthly: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they that are of the earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly” Vs. 47-49; these alluding to the immortal nature of the resurrected body of Christ. From this we understand that the form of Adam at creation was earthy. Upon which also God in pronouncing the verdict declares: “In the sweat of thy face shall thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return” (Genesis 3:19). And “This I say, brethren that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.” It must first be translated into the form that can abide eternity.

Moreover, “The Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever: therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the Garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken” (Genesis 3:22, 23). This signifying, that Adam had not eternal life from creation; for when He said, “Lest He should put forth his hand, and take of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever,” He witnessed that eternal life was by “Way of the tree of life”, which Adam had not eaten as yet. Wherefore also, Jesus said, “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree, which is in the midst of the paradise of God (Revelation. 2:7). And again, “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life” (Revelation 22:14). We should note from the proceeding then, that the right to the tree of life, and therefore to eternal life is not conferred without the obedience of the faith of Christ; which is, the acknowledging of Him as Lord.

Now circling back to the question, we affirm that Adam had not eternal life by nature from creation, but that eternal life was a promise made by God before the world began, to be obtained through the obedience of faith of the Son of God.