Talking about the spectrum of sin

What exactly is sin? What was the root of the first sin?

Genesis 3 talks about the desirous feeling for wisdom woman felt towards the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Ultimately it came down to this, as far as wisdom: Satan said she would be like God if she ate. Remember God is the ultimate source, because there is no higher power than him. As such, in himself he can set defined boundaries, due to his infinite knowledge and understanding. 

The problem in Genesis 3 is man and woman took that into their own hands. Now their limited minds and knowledge had to define almost limitless issues and determine what was good and bad. They had no reference point. Before, God gave the instructions, as his perfect, holy, and righteous character set the standard. Now man and woman, adam and eve, had just themselves to use as a measuring stick. 

What was lost in Genesis 3? How does that affect our flesh?

They lost the dependent relationship with the Lord God. That which had sustained them, gave them peace, joy, and purpose was lost. The seed planted continued through their offspring. Now as humans no longer had a dependence on the Lord, but independence, they could only attempt to find peace, joy, and purpose in themselves, what they do, or in others. Realizing the tragedy that many of us can’t see in this; that we change, what we can do changes, and others change. Whereas, in the garden their dependence flowed from an immutable, that is unchanging spring (God the Father), now it must come from the ever changing. Emotional states change, wealth changes, my achievements change, my friends change, my kids change. When I find identity in those, we call that sin, I will always come back to a lack of peace, joy, and purpose. 

Describing the spectrum of sin, how do we know something is on the left side? What are some common societally accepted sins which we may not ever realize?

If closest to the center is us abiding in the Lord, and as more and more sin is prevalent in our lives it causes us to move left, or right, on the spectrum of sin. As we get further from abiding we struggle to hear God speak, we struggle to see God working in our lives, and we may “feel” abandoned because we are keeping the Savior at an arm’s distance.”They are darkened in their understand and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to their hardening of their hearts.” Ephesians 4:18

Egregious vs. socially normal sins

Workaholism

Perfectionism

Making spouse or significant other your everything (looking at you fairytales)

Finding meaning in sports, work, or a hobby

These are a few examples of socially acceptable sins, that we may not even know we are sinning. 

Romans 14:23b “...everything that does not come from a faith is sin.”