Sin, Its Character and Universality

Sin is any lack of conformity to the will of God. It is an outrage against God and a source of untold harm to ourselves and others. It subjects us to the wrath of God (John 3:36; Romans 1:18-20; 2:5). It has eternal consequences (Romans 6:23). The Bible teaches that all are sinners and sin has so pervaded human nature that “there is no one righteous, not even one: there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God” (Romans 3:10-11). That is, it has affected our moral, intellectual and volitional capabilities, so that all fall short of God’s standards, fail to understand the gospel even when it is explained and flee from God rather than trying to seek Him out, as we should. When we understand the character and universality of sin, then we can understand the necessity for and appreciate grace. (See Romans 5:12-21; James 1:13-18; 2:10; 1 John 1:8-10.)