[[catechism-of-the-catholic-church|Table of Contents]] --- - PART THREE: LIFE IN CHRIST - SECTION ONE: MAN'S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT - CHAPTER ONE: THE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON - Article 8: SIN - II. The Definition of Sin > [[3.1.1.8.p69|Previous]] - [[3.1.1.8.p6b|Next]] --- # II. The Definition of sin 1849 Sin is an offense against reason, truth, and right conscience; it is failure in genuine love for God and neighbor caused by a perverse attachment to certain goods. It wounds the nature of man and injures human solidarity. It has been defined as "an utterance, a deed, or a desire contrary to the eternal law."¹²¹ ^ccc-1849 1850 Sin is an offense against God: "Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight."¹²² Sin sets itself against God's love for us and turns our hearts away from it. Like the first sin, it is disobedience, a revolt against God through the will to become "like gods,"¹²³ knowing and determining good and evil. Sin is thus "love of oneself even to contempt of God."¹²⁴ In this proud self-exaltation, sin is diametrically opposed to the obedience of Jesus, which achieves our salvation.¹²⁵ ^ccc-1850 1851 It is precisely in the Passion, when the mercy of Christ is about to vanquish it, that sin most clearly manifests its violence and its many forms: unbelief, murderous hatred, shunning and mockery by the leaders and the people, Pilate's cowardice and the cruelty of the soldiers, Judas' betrayal - so bitter to Jesus, Peter's denial and the disciples' [[abandonment|flight]]. However, at the very hour of darkness, the hour of the prince of this world,¹²⁶ The sacrifice of Christ secretly becomes the source from which the forgiveness of our sins will pour forth inexhaustibly. ^ccc-1851 --- **[121]** St. Augustine, Contra Faustum 22: PL 42, 418; St. Thomas Aquinas, STh I-II, 71, 6.**[122]** [[psalm-51#^psalm-51-4|Ps 51:4.]]**[123]** [[genesis-03|Gen 3]]:5.**[124]** St. Augustine, De civ. Dei 14, 28: PL 41, 436.**[125]** Cf. [[philippians-02#^philippians-02-6|Phil 2:6-9.]]**[126]** Cf. [[john-14#^john-14-30|Jn 14:30.]] --- > [[3.1.1.8.p69|Previous]] - [[3.1.1.8.p6b|Next]]