Just as there are physical laws that govern the physical universe, so are there spiritual laws that govern your relationship with God.

"All mankind have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).

"For it makes no difference whether one is a Jew or a Gentile, since all have sinned and come short of earning God's praise." (Romans 3:22-23 JNT)

"Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin." (Romans 3:9 NIV)

"For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all." (Romans 11:32 NIV)

"For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe." (Galatians 3:22 NIV)

Man was created to have fellowship with God; but, because of his own stubborn self-will, he chose to go his own independent way and fellowship with God was broken.

This self-will, characterized by an attitude of active rebellion or passive indifference, is an evidence of what the Bible calls sin.

These Greek words are translated SIN. Within the Greek language the words we translate SIN covers acts from simple mistakes, to infractions of the law, misdemeanors, felonies, and capital crimes, and all receiving the same penalty for the commission of the act. This included intentional and unintentional acts of misconduct.

HAMARTANO - verb - to sin, to err, to miss the mark, breaking a law, committing an act of lawlessness, within the Greek culture sin can be against the Greek gods, a law, or social custom.

HAMARTEMA - noun - sin, a sinful deed, an act of disobedience, CRININAL, used to denote specific acts of sin.

HAMARTIA - noun - sin, a sinful deed, sinfulness, sin is the transgression of the law (1 John 3:4), CRIMINAL, used to denote general acts of sin.

HAMARTOLOS - adjective - sinful, sinner, criminal, heathen.

"But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger." (Romans 2:8 NIV)

"Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned--" (Romans 5:12 NIV)

"And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die." (Genesis 2:16 NIV)

"Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." (James 1:15 NIV)

The above diagram illustrates that God is holy and man is sinful. A great gulf separates the two. The arrows illustrate that man is continually trying to reach God and the abundant life through his own efforts, such as a good life, philosophy, or religion - but he inevitably fails.

The third law explains the only way to bridge this gulf...

The Law of Forgiveness is the unspoken Law, which binds the Salvation and Righteousness of God to the Believer.

Forgive and you shall be Forgiven!