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Adam and Eve's sin changed our predicament.
There is a sense in which any act that separates us from God can be called sin. This broad concept covers a lot of territory. In fact, practically everything that a human being does that is not specifically an act of devotion towards God is a sin under this view. Though many Christians try to live their lives with this definition of sin, it is a defeating, nerve-wracking way to live. They are constantly worried that they may have accidentally sinned, and must ask God for forgiveness all the time.
Christians need a more practical way to think of sin. John Wesley, the founder of our theological tradition, gave us a definition that is helpful to remember. He said, "Sin is a willful transgression of a known law of God."
By this description, we see that sin is something that happens on purpose. "Willful" means that a person intends to commit the sinful act. "Transgression" means that the act itself goes against proper behavior. Furthermore, the person committing the act must know that what he or she is doing is wrong and the act itself violates a law that God has laid down.
With all those precautions in place, there is no way sin can be an accidental occurrence. Mistakes, errors in judgment, or reactions to negative factors in our lives can be done without our realization but sin cannot be.
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