SIN - (Gr. hamartia) Literally, "missing the mark."  This word in ancient Greek could describe the action of an archer who failed to hit the target. All humans are sinners who miss the mark of perfection that God has set for His people, resulting in alienation from God, sinful actions that violate the law of God, and ultimately in death. ^{(Matt. 5:48; Rom. 3:23; 6:23; 1 John 1:8.)}

The primary objective of human life is to unite with God; so any action or even thought that estranges us from God is a sin. As St. Paul tells us,  The sting of death is sin ^{(1 Corinthians 15:56)}; sin has no legalistic dimension, it is simply estrangement from Life.