" Sin is lawlessness." This is the correct translation of 1 John 3:4.
Man's proper place is subjection to the will of God, so sin is the act of an independent will.
"Whatsoever is not of faith is sin." Rom. 14:23. That is, faith brings us into the presence of God and we walk consciously there.
"The thought of foolishness is sin." Prov. 24:9. That is, our thoughts tell what we are in nature. (Mark 7:21.)
"All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:23. That is a summing up of all that the Apostle had been saying previously. Sin is measured by the true nature of God, and that is why it says, "have come short of the glory of God."
"To him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin." James 4:17. That is the active principle of obedience in the new man. To obey it not, is to give place to the old man. (Eph. 4:22.)
The Word of God speaks of "sin" as the nature we have as children of Adam. (Psa. 51:5.) The fruit is the result. In Romans, chapters 6 and 7, we have deliverance from its power through the Spirit of life that is in Christ Jesus through faith.
OH, my Savior crucified,
Near Thy cross would I abide,
Gazing with adoring eye
On Thy dying agony.
Jesus bruised and put to shame,
Tells the glories of God's name;
Holy judgment there I found,
Grace did there o'er sin abound.
God is love I surely know,
In the Savior's depth of woe;
In the sinless in God's sight,
Sin is justly brought to light.
In His spotless soul's distress,
I have learned my guiltiness;
Oh, how vile my low estate,
Since my ransom was so great.
Rent the veil that closed the way
To my home of heavenly day,
In the flesh of Christ the Lord,
Ever be His name adored.
Yet in sight of Calvary,
Contrite should my spirit be,
Rest and holiness there find,
Fashioned like my Savior's mind.