Why Didn’t God Just Forgive Adam and Eve?

Yes, God could have chosen any method He wanted. However, if God had simply forgiven Adam and Eve without repercussions then the ugliness of sin would have been shielded from our eyes. If Adam and Eve sinned without consequence then no lesson would have been learned and humanity would have always considered sin to be of little consequence.

Individuals who are never held responsible for their actions usually gradually do worse and worse things over time. If God never held us accountable for our actions then we would never grow in maturity, morality, or goodness. We’d forever be developmentally stunted childlike individuals. God knows we can be better and he holds us accountable so that we can truly become better.