The Problem: Understanding Sin and Separation
Dr Kevin Cicchino
Live One Truth Ministries
May 6, 2025
Live One Truth Ministries
May 6, 2025
The Problem—Understanding Sin and Separation
Study 1
Unit 1: The Plan of Redemption
God was not broken when we fell—but we were. And He didn’t wait for us to figure it out. He prepared the way, sent the Word, and by the Holy Spirit, He now invites every person to be reconnected through Christ.
Isaiah 59:2 (KJV)
“But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”
Isaiah 59:2 (AMP)
“But your wickedness has separated you from your God,
And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.”
Introduction: The Gospel Didn’t Begin with a Problem—It Began with a Plan
Contrary to what many believe, the gospel does not begin with mankind’s fall as a problem that caught God by surprise. God was not reacting to sin; He was revealing a plan that had already been formed in His heart from the beginning.
Man’s fall into sin did not create a crisis in Heaven—it exposed the nature of man's will and the consequences of disconnection from God. God had already prepared the answer, and the gospel is that answer: a redemptive invitation for man to return to fellowship with the Creator, but on God’s terms, not man’s effort.
The fracture wasn’t in God—it was in us. Our spirit became disconnected from God, and our soul—comprised of intellect, will, and emotions—was left to lead a life apart from the Spirit. That’s the origin of self-centered living: man thinking he is the creator of his own way, when in fact, he was created to live in total dependence on God.
This is not a temporary separation—it is a permanent spiritual condition until a man, by his own will, receives Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Until that moment, he remains spiritually dead. His thoughts may be active, his emotions sincere, and his efforts impressive, but without spiritual regeneration, he cannot walk in union with God. Man cannot function more than what he is: created. And created beings were never made to live disconnected from their Creator.
What Is Sin, Really?
Sin is not simply the bad things we do. It is a state of spiritual rebellion, a condition in which the soul takes the place of the spirit, and man lives from intellect, emotion, and will—without submission to God’s truth.
Romans 3:23 (KJV) – “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
Romans 3:23 (AMP) – “Since all have sinned and continually fall short of the glory of God.”
Sin is not just “missing the mark.” It’s choosing another mark—one that originates from man’s independence instead of God’s intent. It is a deep distortion of identity, a walking away from the voice, design, and authority of God. In doing so, we fall short of the very glory—the divine likeness and connection—for which we were made.
Separation: Not Physical, But Spiritual
Let’s be clear: separation from God is not about location—it’s about spiritual disconnection. In Genesis, when Adam and Eve sinned, they didn’t physically move away from God. They hid, but God still came walking toward them.
Genesis 3:8 (KJV) – “And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord...”
Genesis 3:8 (AMP) – “...and the man and his wife hid and kept themselves hidden from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.”
That’s what spiritual separation looks like—hiding, fear, shame, and confusion. It begins when we believe lies about God and accept thoughts that are contrary to His Word. That’s what happened in the garden, and it’s what still happens today when people live by logic, emotion, or cultural values instead of truth.
This is not just disobedience—it is deception. The enemy’s goal is to get man to rely on his own thoughts, question God’s Word, and prioritize the flesh over the Spirit. When that happens, man becomes alive in mind and body but dead in spirit.
Why This Matters: Understanding the Real Condition
Before salvation:
The human spirit is separated from God—not just distant, but disconnected.
The soul (mind, will, emotions) becomes the ruling force, often reinforced by worldly values.
The flesh (body and senses) responds to the environment, not to God.
This is the true meaning of being spiritually dead. It’s not annihilation—it’s alienation. It’s existing without divine connection, living under the illusion of independence while being bound by sin.
Ephesians 2:1 (KJV) – “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins.”
Ephesians 2:1 (AMP) – “And you [He made alive], when you were [spiritually] dead and separated from Him because of your transgressions and sins.”
Only when a person receives Christ by faith—faith that is received from God—does the Spirit of God bring their human spirit back to life and restore them into right standing with the Father.
Reflection and Application
Are you or someone you know living from the soul instead of the spirit?
Ask God to show you where your thinking or emotions have taken the lead over spiritual truth.
Have you ever understood sin as separation—not just behavior?
Meditate on how separation distorts identity and weakens the ability to live in truth.
Have you received Christ as Lord—not just in belief, but by surrender of the will?
It’s not enough to mentally agree with the gospel. New life begins when we say yes with our heart and our will.
Final Encouragement
God was not broken when we fell—but we were. And He didn’t wait for us to figure it out. He prepared the way, sent the Word, and by the Holy Spirit, He now invites every person to be reconnected through Christ.
You were not made to live from your mind, emotions, or body alone. You were made to be led by the Spirit of God, alive in union with Him.
The gospel is not about behavior modification—it’s about life transformation.
Not just being better, but being made new.
Study 1
Unit 1: The Plan of Redemption
God was not broken when we fell—but we were. And He didn’t wait for us to figure it out. He prepared the way, sent the Word, and by the Holy Spirit, He now invites every person to be reconnected through Christ.
Isaiah 59:2 (KJV)
“But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”
Isaiah 59:2 (AMP)
“But your wickedness has separated you from your God,
And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.”
Introduction: The Gospel Didn’t Begin with a Problem—It Began with a Plan
Contrary to what many believe, the gospel does not begin with mankind’s fall as a problem that caught God by surprise. God was not reacting to sin; He was revealing a plan that had already been formed in His heart from the beginning.
Man’s fall into sin did not create a crisis in Heaven—it exposed the nature of man's will and the consequences of disconnection from God. God had already prepared the answer, and the gospel is that answer: a redemptive invitation for man to return to fellowship with the Creator, but on God’s terms, not man’s effort.
The fracture wasn’t in God—it was in us. Our spirit became disconnected from God, and our soul—comprised of intellect, will, and emotions—was left to lead a life apart from the Spirit. That’s the origin of self-centered living: man thinking he is the creator of his own way, when in fact, he was created to live in total dependence on God.
This is not a temporary separation—it is a permanent spiritual condition until a man, by his own will, receives Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Until that moment, he remains spiritually dead. His thoughts may be active, his emotions sincere, and his efforts impressive, but without spiritual regeneration, he cannot walk in union with God. Man cannot function more than what he is: created. And created beings were never made to live disconnected from their Creator.
What Is Sin, Really?
Sin is not simply the bad things we do. It is a state of spiritual rebellion, a condition in which the soul takes the place of the spirit, and man lives from intellect, emotion, and will—without submission to God’s truth.
Romans 3:23 (KJV) – “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
Romans 3:23 (AMP) – “Since all have sinned and continually fall short of the glory of God.”
Sin is not just “missing the mark.” It’s choosing another mark—one that originates from man’s independence instead of God’s intent. It is a deep distortion of identity, a walking away from the voice, design, and authority of God. In doing so, we fall short of the very glory—the divine likeness and connection—for which we were made.
Separation: Not Physical, But Spiritual
Let’s be clear: separation from God is not about location—it’s about spiritual disconnection. In Genesis, when Adam and Eve sinned, they didn’t physically move away from God. They hid, but God still came walking toward them.
Genesis 3:8 (KJV) – “And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord...”
Genesis 3:8 (AMP) – “...and the man and his wife hid and kept themselves hidden from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.”
That’s what spiritual separation looks like—hiding, fear, shame, and confusion. It begins when we believe lies about God and accept thoughts that are contrary to His Word. That’s what happened in the garden, and it’s what still happens today when people live by logic, emotion, or cultural values instead of truth.
This is not just disobedience—it is deception. The enemy’s goal is to get man to rely on his own thoughts, question God’s Word, and prioritize the flesh over the Spirit. When that happens, man becomes alive in mind and body but dead in spirit.
Why This Matters: Understanding the Real Condition
Before salvation:
The human spirit is separated from God—not just distant, but disconnected.
The soul (mind, will, emotions) becomes the ruling force, often reinforced by worldly values.
The flesh (body and senses) responds to the environment, not to God.
This is the true meaning of being spiritually dead. It’s not annihilation—it’s alienation. It’s existing without divine connection, living under the illusion of independence while being bound by sin.
Ephesians 2:1 (KJV) – “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins.”
Ephesians 2:1 (AMP) – “And you [He made alive], when you were [spiritually] dead and separated from Him because of your transgressions and sins.”
Only when a person receives Christ by faith—faith that is received from God—does the Spirit of God bring their human spirit back to life and restore them into right standing with the Father.
Reflection and Application
Are you or someone you know living from the soul instead of the spirit?
Ask God to show you where your thinking or emotions have taken the lead over spiritual truth.
Have you ever understood sin as separation—not just behavior?
Meditate on how separation distorts identity and weakens the ability to live in truth.
Have you received Christ as Lord—not just in belief, but by surrender of the will?
It’s not enough to mentally agree with the gospel. New life begins when we say yes with our heart and our will.
Final Encouragement
God was not broken when we fell—but we were. And He didn’t wait for us to figure it out. He prepared the way, sent the Word, and by the Holy Spirit, He now invites every person to be reconnected through Christ.
You were not made to live from your mind, emotions, or body alone. You were made to be led by the Spirit of God, alive in union with Him.
The gospel is not about behavior modification—it’s about life transformation.
Not just being better, but being made new.
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