Most people think that the words "iniquity" and "sin" have identical meanings. They are wrong. There is a difference. This lesson will explain the differences between those two words. In so doing, we will also learn the meaning of the words "witch" and "idolatry." Let's look to the Word of God to find the truth. It is written:
James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
James 2:11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill [commit murder]. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill [commit murder], thou are become a transgressor of the law. [Acts 18:13; 1st John 3:4; Proverbs 24:9.]
We learn from these verses that the Ten Commandments are also known as the Law. We further learn that if a person breaks one of the Ten Commandments, the person is guilty of breaking all ten of the Commandments. It is written:
1st John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. [Acts 18:13; James 2:10-11; Proverbs 24:9.]
Proverbs 24:9 The thought [wickedness] of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men. [Acts 18:13; James 2:10-11; 1st John 3:4.]
We learn from these verses that transgressing the law is sin. In other words, when a person disobeys one of the Ten Commandments, the person is transgressing the law and, therefore, is sinning. God considers thinking opposite to the Ten Commandments to be foolishness. Therefore, when a person disobeys one of the Commandments, the person is doing wickedness; which is also known as sinning. It is written:
Isaiah 65:2 I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; [Deuteronomy 29:19.]
We learn from this verse that when a person follows his or her own thoughts instead of obeying God, the person is rebelling against God. In other words, when a person is rebelling against God, the person is being a bad person. It is written:
1st Samuel 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
Exodus 22:18 Thou shalt not suffer [allow] a witch to live. [Deuteronomy 18:10.]
The first piece of information we learn from these verses is that when a person refuses to obey God, it is the same as the sin of witchcraft. The Hebrew word that was translated "witchcraft" means, "divination, witchcraft." Within the Word of God, whichcraft is the using of potions, magic, and spells, to find out information and guidance from false gods by using divination because the person stubbornly refuses to believe God's truth. Some examples today of a witch are: (1) A person who seeks the understanding of life and the world around him through the use of psychedelic drugs instead of accepting God's truth. (2) A person who seeks to know what to do by reading tea leaves, palms, or tarot cards, instead of seeking God's truth. (3) A person who seeks a false teacher of the Word of God to hear teachings that make him feel good about his sinful behavior, instead of seeking a teacher who will teach him the true Word of God.
We then learn that Christians are not to allow a witch to live. That does not mean that Christians are to go hunting for witches to murder. Exodus 22:18 means that if a person is rebelling against God's truth, Christians are not to promise life through salvation to that person. One of the main reasons why Christian churches are so polluted with idolaters today is because ignorant religious leaders are telling people, no matter how wicked those people are, that they will have life, if they would accept the Lord Jesus Christ. They are wrong. A person must first repent before accepting the Lord. The very reason why John the Baptist was sent first was to tell the people to repent, so that they could then be mentally prepared to accept the Lord (who is also known as the Word of God). To repent means that the person is willing to turn away from his or her own rebellious ideas and return back to obeying God with a mindset that is willing to submit to believing and following the Word of God. Let's go over an example to better understand this truth. Let's say that Joe thinks that there is nothing wrong with the homosexual act and that it is just an alternative lifestyle. Christians are to say something like, "Joe, if you do not get rid of that rebellious idea and accept the truth that the homosexual act is abnormal, disgusting, and an abomination to the Lord, you will be condemned on Judgment Day instead of saved." If Joe refuses to accept God's truth, he is not to be a member of the Christian church. If Joe is willing to turn away from his rebellious idea and accept the truth, then, and only then, is Joe to be promised life through accepting the Lord Jesus Christ and allowed to be a member of the Christian church.
We further learn that stubbornness is the same as iniquity and idolatry. In other words, when a person thinks opposite to what God declares, the person has iniquity, also known as an idol and foolishness, within his or her mind. Therefore, when a person acts upon the stubborn idea within his or her mind, the person referred to as: "committing iniquity", "committing idolatry", "doing wickedness", or "being a sinner." Iniquity is also referred to in the Word of God as having a beam in one's eye. People who have iniquity within their mind offen wrongly judge others based upon the iniquity that is in their mind. Examples of how a person, who has iniquity within his mind, judges others to be sinful are when they say such things as: "You are evil and mean-spirited, if you do not tolerate sinful lifestyles and beliefs", "You are being a sinner if you do not support a woman's right to choose abortion", and "You are selfish, if you are not for redistribution of wealth." It is written:
Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. [Matthew 7:13-14; Luke 13:24-27.]
Matthew 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devil? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Matthew 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. [Psalm 6:8; Matthew 24:41.]
In these verses, we learn that simply claiming to be a Christian will not save a person. Only the Christians who do the will of God will be allowed into the kingdom. The will of God is that people completely obey Him by completely believing and following His only begotten Son Jesus Christ. The people that are mentioned in the 22nd verse are the type who believe that they are prophesying, casting out devils, and doing good works, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, they are people who consider themselves to be Christian. Yet, as we learn from the 23rd verse, those people work iniquity. In other words, they do work that is opposite to what God wants done. Let's go over a couple of examples. (1) God's righteous way is that people are not to do murder and they are not to shed innocent blood. A worker of iniquity thinks that the murder of unborn babies is beneficial. Therefore, a worker of iniquity goes around promoting abortion and trying to convince people that they are being evil and mean-spirited for not being pro-choice. (2) God's righteous way is that the homosexual act is abnormal, disgusting, and an abomination to Him. A worker of iniquity thinks that the homosexual act is just an alterative lifestyle. Therefore, a worker of iniquity goes around defending and promoting the homosexual act whiile trying to convince people that they should tolerate sinful lifestyles and beliefs.
What Christians need to understand is that they cannot do just any type work and label it as doing work for the Lord. The work a Christian is to do is the type of work that God wants done. So, all of the people, who work iniquity, can say, "Lord, Lord", until they are blue in the face. The Lord will say to them on Judgment Day, "Depart from Me, you that work iniquity. I never knew you."
http://dswog.com/Iniquity.htm
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