[Diogenesis]

Sin means “missing the target”, as in archery.

[kinsman redeemer]

“Missing the Target.”
Perfect. I’ve also heard “Missing the Mark.” (same thing)

Sin separates us from God - Because He is Holy.

We have all sinned - because we are sinners - separated from God from conception. We inherited our “sin nature.”

The penalty of sin is eternal (spiritual) death.

Christ paid the price for our sin.

Without Christ, we are separated from God. With Christ, we are God’s children, safe from the penalty of sin.

A key message from God - written in His Word, is this very subject: “Sin and the remedy.” It is the gospel. The truth.

[BwanaNdege]

I might have known that in asking this question of Freepers that I was asking a very Biblically literate audience! Diogenesis was the first of many to reply with Sin means “missing the target”, as in archery.

Exactly!

My project will attempt to contrast the root cause of "Sin" with those words, thoughts and deeds we characterize as "sins".

SIN is missing the Target.

"sins" are where we 'hit' when we do miss the Target with our words, thoughts and deeds.

The Target we miss?

Matthew 22:34-40 New International Version (NIV)

The Greatest Commandment

Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Perhaps I should have phrased my question this way:

In today's culture, which thoughts, words & deeds would be called "sins"?

Thanks for all the input, folks!

[Hoodat]

Agreed. Sin means falling short of the mark.