Christians and non-Christians alike would probably admit to having at least a surface knowledge of sin. It’s almost impossible not to have some familiarity with the subject. We’ve all seen movies like The Ten Commandments or Jesus of Nazareth. Many Christians have encountered the topic on a much deeper level, either as students in a Sunday school class or as parishioners on the receiving end of a spirited sermon. Nevertheless, I have found most of even the staunchest Christians to possess only a vague and shallow understanding of the topic. Like many things in life, something may initially appear quite simple but ultimately prove to be extremely complex. Take for example a gentle spring breeze. A small breeze certainly seems simplistic at first glance, but try to define it. Is the breeze you feel caused by your own motion pushing you through still air? Is the breeze the effect of something near you moving with such force that it displaces air in a given direction…perhaps a car driving past? Or is the breeze a �

“Oh wretched man that I am, who will free me from this body of death?” (Ro 7:24)

I submit that sin is a condition, or more specifically a state. Sin is the condition or state of being spiritually separated from God. It is from this state of separation that sinful acts occur. Since there can be only holiness and justice within God, it must only be through separation from God that sinful actions are able to occur.

“Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me.” (Ro 7:20)

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery. But I say to you that every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”( Mt 5:27-28)

In frustration Paul goes on to exclaims:

This is not to be misunderstood as meaning that faith in Jesus Christ keeps us from sin. By no means! While in the flesh we are in a state of sin. Through Jesus Christ we are able to draw closer to God so that our sinful acts of the flesh may become less frequent and less severe, and so that they all may be forgiven. Amen.

Some topics in this essay:
Nazareth Christians, Apostle Paul, Bible Ro, Jesus Jo, Charles Ryrie, Church Rome, RC Sproul, Jesus Christ, Bible Ironically, Commandments Ex, jesus christ, separated god, spiritually separated, separation god, spiritually separated god, sinful acts, penalty sin death, sin defined, sin condition, god spirit, falls victim, faith jesus christ, jesus christ able, god sinful,