Sin is never a popular topic for conversation; yet it is vital to have a true grasp of what it is in order to understand how to enjoy a relationship with God.

Put simply, the Bible says that sin is lawlessness(1).  It also describes it as falling short and transgression:

• We fall short because we don't reach the high standard that God has set(2).  In fact - if we are honest with ourselves - we often fail to meet even our own and society's much lower standards.
• We transgress because we go beyond the limits that God has declared, pushing at the boundaries of what is acceptable.

It's probably also helpful to point out a few other things:

• Sin is not subjective.  God measures us against his unchanging law, not our own standards.  You and I may differ about what is right and wrong, but the defining benchmark for sin is God's law(3).
• Sin is the same in all ages.  What was sin in the time of Moses was sin during the Roman era; what was sin in Tudor and Victorian times is sin now and will remain sin for all time.
• Likewise, sin doesn't change as you get older.  What is sin for a child or teenager is equally sin for a middle-aged woman or old man.
• Sin is the same in all places.  The laws in different countries may differ, but God's law is universal.
• Sin affects all of us.  "There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins."(4)
• Sin affects every part of us.  It makes us behave wrongly; it tarnishes our speech; it twists our thoughts.  Both our body and soul are tainted by it.
• Sin is deadly serious.  Although often spoken of lightly, it will in the end lead to hell.

No wonder the Bible says we should hate sin!(5) Thinking about this should rightly cause us to despair - were it not for the escape route that God has provided: Jesus Christ took the punishment for his people's sins on the cross.  Anyone who repents from his sin and trusts in Christ will have all his sins forgiven - past, present and future.