Sin: The authors of the Bible used different words to refer to sin in its many forms. The2x2s believe that sin means to miss the mark. It may refer to doing something against a person or God; doing or not doing what is right; or doing something that will have negative consequences. Sin is the general term for anything that comes short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).

Romans 3:23 – All have sinned and come short.
1 John 5:17 – All unrighteousness is sin.
Isaiah 53:6 – We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way

Sin is not only doing what God forbids; but also the failure to do what God requires: James 4:17 – Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.

Transgression is rebelling against God. It refers to presumptuous sin. It means “to intentionally choose to disobey; to willfully trespass.” When we knowingly do wrong, e.g. run a stop sign, tell a lie, or blatantly disregard an authority, we are transgressing. I John 3:4 – for sin is the transgression of the law.

Iniquity is a “premeditated choice, continuing without repentance.”

Psalm 32:5 – [David”] I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.

Sin Nature: The 2x2s believe everyone has a sin nature since Adam’s fall, but they do not refer to it as Original Sin. The Original Sin concept is that because of Adam’s disobedience, death came into the world and ever after, every person is born in sin. As Paul stated:

Romans 5:12 – Wherefore, as by one man [Adam] sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.

The sin nature leads to trespassing. A trespasser crosses a line that s/he should not cross. A trespass may be intentional or unintentional. Everyone crosses the line in thought, word, or attitude many times a day.

Sin Lists: Rom. 1:29-30, I Cor. 5:11; 6:9-10; II Tim. 3:2-4, Col. 3:5-9, Gal. 5:19-23

Worker Quote: the word ‘sin’ was like aiming at a mark with a bow and arrow and missing the mark. We all miss the mark – that’s our nature. (Brian Doecke, Williams II, WA Conv, 2006)

Worker Quote: Eve believed the Devil that wrong is not wrong, and that sin is not sin. Paul says that the transgression of Eve and the transgression of Adam, even though they were different, Eve was deceived but Adam was not. Paul says they were both under transgression. Transgression is overstepping the limits. To step outside the will of God. The only safe place is inside the will of God even if we have to suffer. Eve took the fruit to eat it and she was deceived into thinking that it was not wrong. That is still the teaching in the world today that wrong is not wrong, but sin before God is always sin. Jesus died for our sins and it doesn’t matter what man does, man may change and has changed but sin is still sin and it’s sad to see the morals in this world going down. The things that were wrong are accepted now, that is the messenger of Satan. When Adam took that fruit in his hand to eat it, he was not deceived, he knew it was wrong but he did it anyway. There are some sins of deception, sins of ignorance and then sins of presumption. He knew it was wrong. That could easily happen amongst us. We know that something is wrong but we go ahead anyway and do it. We overstep the bounds.” (Willie Pollock, Sharon, Ohio Conv., 2000)