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God took a chance in creating a humanity with its "free-will". Otherwise, as you suggested, humanity would be nothing more than an "automation".

I agree with dgrimm60 that this was the case Ezekiel 28 15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. 16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Regarding the situation with Adam and Eve, I look at it this way. Eve was told not to partake of the fruit. She did so against the clear instruction from God not to, however, she was deceived into it because the enemy put transgression of Gods commandment between her and something she wanted- growth. The enemy said 'your eyes will be open', implying that they were currently not. She wanted knowledge and growth, and those desires I believe are natural and God given, the enemy used this God given desire in a way that perverted it from being a blessing into being a curse, just like he does with every other natural desire that people have. Adam, on the other hand, knew that he was transgressing the clear commandment of God, and it looks to me at least like he did it knowing full well that he shouldn't but did it anyway because his desire for his companion Eve was greater than his desire to follow the express commandment of God. I often wonder what would have happened had he refused to partake of it after Eve had.

Christ took our humanity in its fallen condition. The humanity He assumed at the incarnation produced "the Son of Man" and as one of us He was extremely tempted, yet He never sinned not even by a thought.

Tom says: " I have even had such people argue that Jesus didn't eat meat." I was at a meeting once where people were proclaiming the sinfulness of meat; and someone pointed out that Jesus ate meat. Those holding the meeting responded that people back then did not have the light that we have now. That's when I left. I have to agree with everything Tom has pointed out is His previous several posts. At the non-Adventist church I go to, they have a choice of wine or grape juice for communion. Nobody cares which line you get into. IMO, the Bible condemns drunkenness; it does not condemn all consumption of alcohol. I personally don't believe it would have been possible for Jesus to avoid consuming at least diluted alcoholic wine at feasts and festivals, especially if He was eating with big shots or the "sinful" masses. He accepted wine at the crucifixion. If you think having a beer with your burger or wine with your pasta is wrong, don't do it. Personally, I'm having a nice cabernet with my roast lamb at Christmas dinner.