The Eden Story still contains mysteries about human nature before sin entered which church scholarship gave up trying to unwrap; so, they simply labeled Post-Eden Adam as “fallen.” On this matter I, too, have sought for explanations—my being less satisfied with the “2 nature” theory used to exegete Romans 7.
In Romans 7 Paul outlines the hopelessness of the person (be they Christian or no) in unsuccessfully striving to please God through steadfast and faithful obedience to—however they interpret—the Law of God or the Word of God. Paul came to recognize that the temptation to sidestep off into what God would not approve of [this is a picturesque word for sin found in the Bible]—this—only exposes our weakness. Perhaps, this is the “fallenness” in our nature? Whether or not Adam was to blame, I leave to the scholars for now.
What I am suggesting is not new but basic evangelical doctrine that without the grace of God we not only could not be saved, we could not be faithful to that salvation. Temptations, as Paul noted in 1 Corinthians 10:13, requires the faithfulness of God to make us over comers. In Romans 7:25 Paul exclaimed, “I thank God” and then he proceeded to talk in chapter 8 about the work of the Spirit in a believer’s life.
Since I have gone to meddling—like every good preacher is wont to do: “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” [1 Corinthians 15:58].
Paul spoke in this verse of our “labor” in the Lord. This word strongly denotes effort—to the point of exhaustion [John 4:6]. And what is more challenging to me than—well—me? There is nothing God can’t do if we are His instruments to do it!
We know all this, but as C. S. Lewis said once, “It helps to have the band playing while we march!” That band is the inner voice of the Spirit in terms of His peace and conviction that interjects life into all 3 aspects of our nature: He “empowers” our walk [our actions]; He “inspires” our passions [our feelings]; and He “enlightens” our understanding [our mind]. All we have to do is “yield” to Him—let Him lead.
The good thing in all this is that someday we will be “like” Jesus [1 John 3:2] which, itself, should encourage us not to give up on ourselves [1 John 3:3]. He was one day like us, tempted [yet sinless] in order that some day we may be like Him [when this carnal weakness we exhibit will no longer define us] as Paul wrote, [1 Corinthians 15:43] “… sown in weakness; … raised in power….”