What is "actual sin"

Sin \Sin\, n. [OE. sinne, AS. synn, syn; akin to D. zonde, OS. sundia, OHG. sunta, G. s["u]nde, Icel., Dan. & Sw. synd, L. sons, sontis, guilty, perhaps originally from the p. pr. of the verb signifying, to be, and meaning, the one who it is. Cf. Authentic, Sooth.]

1. Transgression of the law of God; disobedience of the divine command; any violation of God's will, either in purpose or conduct; moral deficiency in the character; iniquity; as, sins of omission and sins of commission.

   Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
   --John viii. 34.

   Sin is the transgression of the law.
   --1 John iii. 4.

   I think 't no sin. To cozen him that would unjustly win.
   --Shak.

   Enthralled By sin to foul, exorbitant desires.
   --Milton.

2. An offense, in general; a violation of propriety; a misdemeanor; as, a sin against good manners.

   I grant that poetry's a crying sin.
   --Pope.

3. A sin offering; a sacrifice for sin.

   He hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin.
   --2 Cor. v. 21.

4. An embodiment of sin; a very wicked person. [R.]

   Thy ambition, Thou scarlet sin, robbed this bewailing land Of noble Buckingham.
   --Shak.

   Note: Sin is used in the formation of some compound words of obvious signification; as, sin-born; sin-bred, sin-oppressed, sin-polluted, and the like.

   Actual sin, Canonical sins, Original sin, Venial sin. See under Actual, Canonical, etc.

   Deadly sins, or Mortal sins (R. C. Ch.), willful and deliberate transgressions, which take away divine grace; -- in distinction from vental sins. The seven deadly sins are pride, covetousness, lust, wrath, gluttony, envy, and sloth.

   Sin eater, a man who (according to a former practice in England) for a small gratuity ate a piece of bread laid on the chest of a dead person, whereby he was supposed to have taken the sins of the dead person upon himself.

   Sin offering, a sacrifice for sin; something offered as an expiation for sin.

   Syn: Iniquity; wickedness; wrong. See Crime.

Actual \Ac"tu*al\ (#; 135), a. [OE. actuel, F. actuel, L. actualis, fr. agere to do, act.]

1. Involving or comprising action; active. [Obs.]

   Her walking and other actual performances.
   --Shak.

   Let your holy and pious intention be actual; that is . . . by a special prayer or action, . . . given to God.
   --Jer. Taylor.

2. Existing in act or reality; really acted or acting; in fact; real; -- opposed to potential, possible, virtual, speculative, conceivable, theoretical, or nominal; as, the actual cost of goods; the actual case under discussion.

3. In action at the time being; now exiting; present; as the actual situation of the country.

   Actual cautery. See under Cautery.

   Actual sin (Theol.), that kind of sin which is done by ourselves in contradistinction to ``original sin.''

   Syn: Real; genuine; positive; certain. See Real.

n. (context theology English) sin committed by an individual, in contradistinction to original sin.

n. a sin committed of your own free will (as contrasted with original sin) [ant: original sin]

According to Roman Catholic tradition, actual sin, as distinguished from original sin, is an act contrary to the will and law of God whether by doing evil ( sin of commission) or refraining from doing good ( sin of omission). It can be either " mortal" or " venial"