The evil principle (called also the flesh, the old man), which was acquired at the fall. It is defined as lawlessness (1 John 3:4, R.V.); in fact, the two words are interchangeable. The essential principle of sin consists in a dependent being like man casting off his allegiance to God, and acting in independence, according to his own will apart from Divine rule. The death of Christ was to put away sin from before God (Heb. 9:26); eventually when Christ reigns, the principle will tease to be active anywhere on earth although it will exist in the hearts of unregenerate men, as will be seen at the close (Rev. 20:8). In the new heaven and earth there will be no sin. This principle ever remains in the believer (1 John 1:8), although he is responsible to keep it inactive. Those that think the root is gene deceive themselves.