Principle 2: our condition

We all “fumble” at times. The Bible calls those fumbles sin.

Sin is part of our human condition. It keeps us from knowing God personally and experiencing His love and freedom. We are all sinners.

Principle 2 can be broken down into two main truths:

People are sinful
People are separated from God

Main Point | Sin is not just a list of do’s and don’ts. Sin is a heart issue of rebellion that separates us from God that needs to be addressed. Sin matters.

1. People Are Sinful

All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

big question

How would you define sin?

Write a note: If sin means to miss the mark, what are the implications of that definition on your life? Is it a list of do’s and don’ts?

While we were created to have fellowship with God, we have chosen to rebel against God by going our own independent way, or to live with passive indifference toward God. As a result, fellowship with God has been broken. This is what the Bible calls sin.

Sin, as defined in the original translations of the Bible, means “to miss the mark.” Other than Jesus, who was without sin, we have all missed the mark of reflecting God’s image perfectly and loving others unconditionally. Viewed in that light, we are all sinners.

Sin didn’t enter the world because Adam and Eve took a bite of fruit, but because they willfully ignored God’s command and did their own thing.

Write a note: What would a description or example of active rebellion toward God be? How about passive indifference toward God?

Active rebellion and passive indifference can be like interactions between athletes and coaches. Not showing up for practice, breaking team rules, or showing blatant disrespect with your words or actions demonstrate active rebellion. Silently deciding that you don’t need to listen to the coach, ignoring training, or doing what you think is best are examples of passive indifference. And we can act toward God in the same ways.

Answer the questions below. Consider sharing your answers with growth partners. If you’re completing the program solo, write your responses in a journal.

What is one thing that stood out for you from the video?
How would you define sin?
What are ways you commonly see folks trying to reach God on their own?

big question

Have you ever sinned?

On the surface, this question sounds simple. However, it is perhaps the most significant in the process of getting to know God personally.

To clearly and honestly admit that you have sinned shows our need for forgiveness. (By the way, if you answered that you’ve never sinned, go back to the top of this page and see the definition of sin.)

The requirement for connecting with God is perfection. Hence, if we as humans want to learn from, grow in, and have relationship with the God in whose image we have been created, we need to find a way to approach this perfect God. There’s no way to work back to perfection. We simply cannot do enough to approach God!

That’s where Jesus comes in. Jesus is our Redeemer—someone who can save us from the consequences of our sin.

2. People Are Separated from God

For the wages of sin is death. Romans 3:23

pause and reflect

Dig deeper by responding to the questions below. Write your answers in a journal or the notes app on your phone.

What does the word “wages” mean?
What have we earned for being sinners toward God?
So, if we all fall short of the glory of God, and the wages of sin is death, what do we all deserve?

This verse does not just refer to physical death. Our sinful condition deserves eternal separation from God.

The image above depicts the reality that because God is holy and we are sinful, a great gulf separates us from God. The bar graph illustrates how we are continually trying to reach God and establish the personal relationship with Him through our own efforts but, inevitably, we fail.

pause and reflect

Do yoiu think things like philosophy, being a good person, or being devoutly religious can help us to breach the chasm and reach God.

If the Bible says that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” does that include people like Michael Jordan? Gandhi? Hitler? How about Mother Teresa? You or me?

By the way, the correct answer to the second question is no-one. No-one is good enough to bridge the gap between them and God. Not Mother Teresa. Not even your sweet grandmother. How so?

Let’s say we measure how good a person is based on their ability to jump. If that’s the case, then someone like LeBron James would be a “better person” than you or me. However, not even LeBron would succeed if he tried to jump to the moon. It would be silly to even try!

The same could be said for us trying to be “good enough” to approach God. The chasm between even the best versions of us and a perfect God is insurmountable—even for the most spiritual person you can think of.

Why won’t religion help? Religion is man’s self-reliant construct of traditions, rules, and regulations to try and reach God. Religion as an institution is different than a relationship with Christ.