Genesis 2:17. ESV “but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."
Adam and Eve when they ate of the fruit did not die physically, they died spiritually. Their eyes were opened to see that they could choose to live right or to sin. Their mindset was changed. They were naked before and thought nothing of it; now they felt that being naked was something to be concerned about. They also started to fear God instead of feeling joined to Him spiritually. This is why Adam hid from God. The connection to God was broken.
As a result, everyone born from the seed of Adam was born separated from God. We are born separated from God. We cannot end this separation by good works. Only Jesus who lived a sin free life before God, has the power to end our separation.
When we ask Jesus to forgive us of our sins and come into our life, we become born again spiritually. This second birth ends our separation from God. We are a new creation in Christ.