“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.  And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. Romans 7:15-20

I believe we all struggle with sin. But to one person sin may not be sin. Many have concluded in their own minds what is right and wrong. 

The Bible gives us a definition of sin. Sin according to the Bible is all unrighteousness (1 John 5:17).

The Greek word for Unrighteousness is “adikia” meaning Morally, wrongfulness of character, life or act; iniquity. The Greek word for sin is “hamrita” meaning to miss the mark or wander from the path of uprightness and honour, to do or go wrong.

I have been working on finishing my daughter’s basement this past year. I have concluded it is critical to make sure things line up. One miss measurement can make everything else not align. The same is true in our lives. We need to have a straight edge in our lives that we use to test to see if we have missed the mark. 

“I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line; hail will sweep away your refuge, the lie, and water will overflow your hiding place.” Isaiah 28:17

We can use the Word of God as that straight edge. The Word of God is truth. The test to determine if you are walking in righteousness is to check to see if you have peace.

“The work of righteousness will be peace, And the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.”‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭32:17‬ ‭

Confess your sins, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9