Sin
Sin is a tough three-letter word to get one's brain around. It is a term loaded with lots of distasteful and challenging connotations in our world. Everyone sins, but no one wants to talk about it. Bluntly put, sin is choosing our own will over God's will.

To understand the origin of sin, we need to go back to Genesis 3, the account of sin's entrance into our world. God wasn't holding out on Adam and Eve by not letting them eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He was giving them the opportunity to trust him and live in his will. But the serpent deceived Eve, and she ate the one forbidden fruit, and Adam quickly followed. That act of rebellious independence was the first sin. This turning to self instead of God has infected every human since the Garden of Eden.

If we look at the underlying motive that results in a "sinful" action, we'll realize that overcoming sin is not about changing behavior; it's about changing where we place out heart and will; it's about changing from self-rule to God -rule. Becoming a Christian is not only about turning away from a set of "sinful behaviors"; it's also about changing-and being changed -from self-focus to God-focus.

Sin is falling short of the perfect character and requirements of a holy God. Everyone sins-by birthright and by choice.
Job 1:22
Romans 3:23
Sin always results in death-separation from God, from others and from physical life. Death is the final result, and ultimate price of sin.
Exodus 30:10;32:24
Jesus died to pay the penalty for sin. Our sins are completely forgiven when we trust in him for forgiveness.
Exodus 34:7
Psalm 32:5
Isaiah 40:2;53:12
John 1:29
1 John 1:7,9
As believers in Jesus Christ, we have died to sin; that is, sin no longer needs to be a controlling power in out lives because Jesus is now our master.
John 8:34
Romans 6:2,6-11
We still live in a sinful world. We must resist sin and live godly lives by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Hebrews 12:1,4
1 John 2:1;3:9