Man is SINFUL and SEPARATED from God. Therefore, he cannot know and experience God's love and plan for his life.
(References on this page are from the Bible and should be read in context wherever possible; you can read these passages online via the links provided.)
Man Is Sinful
"For ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23 NIV). Man was created to have fellowship with God; but, because of his stubborn self-will, he chose to go his own independent way, and fellowship with God was broken. This self-will, characterized by an attitude of active rebellion or passive indifference, is an evidence of what the Bible calls sin.
Man Is Separated
"The wages of sin is death" [spiritual separation from God] (Romans 6:23 NIV).
This diagram illustrates that God is holy and man is sinful. A great gulf separates the two. The arrows illustrate that man is continually trying to reach God and the abundant life through his own efforts, such as a good life, philosophy, or religion - but he inevitably fails.