As His creation we are ‘valuable to God’ no matter what we do because unlike any other creature we retain the image of God in us though ‘it is corrupted’. ....Jesus changed that by restoring this image through His Spirit in us....though not fully realized until we go with Him.
You said...”The temptation to sin for them came from without. Ours comes from within”....
I think up until satan was in the garden Adam and Eve’s nature was perfect......satan caught Eve’s attention through her senses and his appearance and his voice. Makes you wonder why she entertained ‘conversation’ with this creature.....did they do so with other animals? Otherwise why did she hang around? Was it simply another voice besides God’s that attracted her?
At any rate once he had her attention , and he knew he had that, he challenges what God said....”Are you sure He said this?”...using doubt as his tactic....at this point became a test of her faith as God had already spoken on this matter with God...... All she needed to do was say I’ll obey what I don’t fully understand, .... Satan tempted Eve, that by her he might tempt Adam,.... and it worked.
Some theologians believe eve’s response where she “added” to what God said...(”Nor should we touch it” which God didn’t say), proved and shows that her love and confidence towards God were already beginning to waver. As much it showed satan that she had taken the bait and had her in his grasp.....
This happens exactly the same today when people ignore what God says and or add on that which he doesn’t say.....they first doubt and then try to explain what they want to beleive rather than what God says......satan will always influence ‘an apostasy from the Word of God’ that is spoken in its context.... He distorts its correct meaning.
Eve was duped into the believing the message, not considering it may not be from God, all she needed to do was test it..... As the serpent conversed with her correcting her errors, she assumed it lead her into a right knowledge of the divine will; that her disobedience would become an advantage.
He goes in for the kill then...the serpent said to the woman,.. “You will not surely die.”... This is the first lie recorded in the scripture. And this is why Jesus attributes to Satan the title the father of lies (Jn.8:44), he is the source of all lying.....This same lie is now taught in liberal seminaries; the word of God is not exact, nor is it to be regarded as absolute truth, it does not need to be obeyed...
We also see this so clearly with Hinduism, New Age Spirituality and the Emerging church push....reincarnation was a religious continuation to this lie assuring people as the serpent did that there is no end to their physical life you will be recycled....No need to discard something that works.
Satan then moves to ‘an affront to the truth of God’.... V.5 “For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” ....The very same goal he had for himself, to be like God.
What ever the nature of man was in the garden satan clearly knew how to touch that nature....BEFORE mans fall.....and now that we all have that nature corrupted how much easier is it today...especially to those who are not “protected” by knowing God’s Word.
Actually, the first lie might have been Eve’s when she said that God told them not to even touch the tree. Where ever that part got added in, was the first lie.
Perhaps what’s when Satan knew he had Eve and could go in for the kill.