Sin and Iniquity

What is the difference between sin and iniquity?


The words, sin and iniquity, are found together in some form in about 70 verses in the Bible. Many times they are used parallel to one another, as in Psalm 38:18
- "For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin." Although we can be certain that they are synonyms and have the same basic meaning, there must also be something that distinguishes them. Let us consider these two words.

The word, sin, is the most general term for those actions which are wrong. One word picture looks at sin as missing the mark. If we think of this in the terms of an archer shooting for a bull's eye in a target, this may give us a good idea of the meaning of sin. He may overshoot the target. We do that when we go beyond God's allowed actions and commit what are commonly called sins of commission. That is, we do something we are not supposed to do. However, the arrow may also fall short of the mark. This would be a picture of sins of omission. This refers to the things we should have done but fail to do. The arrow might even go to the right or to the left of the target, but we are to follow God's word without turning from it to the right hand or the left hand (Joshua 1:7
). Therefore, anything that comes short of the perfect glory of God (the center of the target) is sin (Romans 3:23
). Sin covers all wrong doing of any sort.

In many places, iniquity also seems to be a word dealing with all kinds of sin. However, with iniquity, there is a difference. First of all, whereas sin deals with the action or lack of action that is wrong, iniquity deals more with the character or nature of the act. The word, iniquity, comes from in-equity and it refers to that which is unequal, unfair, or unjust. That explains why David in Psalm 32:5
refers to "the iniquity of my sin." His sinful actions had the character of iniquity; of being unequal.

According to "Crabb's Synonyms," iniquity in its more narrow meaning "consists of violating the law of right between man and man." The Oxford English Dictionary says that it is used especially of "wrongful or injurious actions towards another, infliction of wrong, injury." To practice iniquity is to be unjust and unequal in our dealings with others. We see this side of iniquity often in scripture. The workers of iniquity are those who eat up God's people like bread (Psalm 14:4
), speak peace when mischief is in their hearts (Psalm 28:3
), and lay snares for the saints (Psalm 141:9
) The money Judas received for betraying Jesus is called "the reward of iniquity" (Acts 1:18
).

On the other hand, God is "a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he" (Deuteronomy 32:4
). Here, iniquity is contrasted with being just and right. We are also told that "there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts" (2 Chronicles 19:7
). To show respect of persons in judgment would be unequal; so would accepting gifts as bribes. There is no iniquity with God.

Yet, although the initial emphasis of the meaning of iniquity was between man and man, we are also unequal with God. We do not return unto Him as He has done unto us. Isaiah 65:7
calls the burning of incense to false gods and blasphemies against God iniquity. We commit iniquity against God when we turn from Him to serve lesser gods. We do not treat Him right or justly when we fail to be obedient to Him. Herein lies the reason that iniquity in the Bible is so often used in a way that evidently refers to all kinds of sin. When we get right down to it, all sinful actions either treat others unjustly or they treat God unjustly. We need to come to recognize the iniquity of our sin (Psalm 32:5
).

In summary, iniquity refers to that which is un-equal in our dealings with others. In earlier English, it was especially used to refer to our unequal dealings with other men. However, with time in came to include our unequal dealings with God and therefore to include all wrongdoing. However, its use in the King James Bible retains some of this earlier distinction. And, whereas the word, sin, emphasizes the wrong action itself; the word, iniquity, emphasizes the true character of that wrong action. As Isaiah declares in Isaiah 1:13
, "I cannot away with; it is iniquity." Perhaps one reason the Father could not look on the Son being crucified was because of the iniquity (that is, inequity) of One who had never sinned bearing the sins of many. As Habakkuk 1:13
states, "Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity."

What Does Psalm 51:5 Teach?

By Kyle Pope

One of the main texts used by those in the religious world who teach the doctrine of inherited original sin is Psalm 51:5. The text reads – “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me” (NKJV). The argument is that David in this Psalm claims to have been born with sin (though the text itself says “in sin”). The conclusion from this is that this sin must refer to Adam’s sin which he had inherited, (so they say). Is this argument sound?

What Is The Context?

The context of the passage is clear: David’s anguish over his sin. The Psalm begins with an introductory note claiming – “…A Psalm of David when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.”[1]  In his sorrow over his horrible act of rebelion against God David writes the verse in question.

Key Words

There are four words in the text that are crucial to a sound interpretation:  “in iniquity” and “In sin.”

“In iniquity” – in the Hebrew is BeAvown. Be meaning “in” and Avown meaning - “evil:– fault, iniquity, mischief, punishment (of iniquity), sin” (Strong’s #5771). It is agrued that BeAvown must mean “in a state of iniquity”. This is how the Amplified Bible in their highly prejudicial translation puts it inserting in brackets “…I was brought forth in [a state of] iniquity…” This gives the false impression that “in iniquity” undoubtedly means that David bore the guilt of iniquity.[2]

Psalm 51:5 From Various Translations LITERAL King James Version – “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” American Standard Version– “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” New American Standard Bible– “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.” New King James Version– “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.” English Standard Version– “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceived me.” Revised Standard Version– “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” ANCIENT Brenton Version (From the Septuagint) – “For, behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother conceive me” (50:7). Douay Version (From the Vulgate) – “For behold, I was conceived in iniquities: and in sins did my mother conceive me” (50:7). BIASED New International Version – “Surely I have been a sinner from birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” Today’s English Version – “I have been evil from the time I was born; from the day of birth I have been sinful.” Jerusalem Bible – “You know I was born guilty, a sinner from the moment of conception.” Amplified Bible – “Behold, I was brought forth in [a state of] iniquity; my mother was sinful who conceived me [and I, too, am sinful].”

Consider another text where BeAvown is used: Genesis 19:15 records the warning to Lot to leave Sodom – “…lest thou be consumed in the iniquity (BeAvown) of the city” (ASV). This is not saying that Lot bore iniquity himself, but rather that he was “in the midst of iniquity”. This may well be the very thing that David is saying. He was born into a sinful world, and he has followed its pattern of sinfulness.

“In sin” – in the last part of the verse seems clearly to refer to the condition of David’s mother. The Greek Septuagint uses plural forms of both the word for “iniquity” and “sin” thus literally “in iniquities” and “in sins”. That could not be referring to Adam’s single act of disobedience in the garden.3[3] This is not to suggest that David’s birth came from an adulterous relationship on his mother’s part, but simply the fact that even his own mother (a universal symbol of purity) was subject to sin.

The Full Witness of Scripture

We should note that nowhere in the Old Testament is it explicitly stated that Adam’s sin was passed down! One would think that if Adam’s sin had such a monumental effect on his posterity it would at least be eluded to in the account of his sin. Yet all that is declared is: 1.) Adam and his wife were cast from Eden - Genesis 3:23. 2.) This deprived them of the tree of life (which deprived them of unending physical life) - Genesis 3:22. 3.) The man was cursed with having to work for food - Genesis 3:17-19. And 4.) The woman was cursed with pain in child birth and submission to man - Genesis 3:16.

The New Testament deals more explictly with the effect Adam’s sin had on mankind. I Corinthians 15:22 declares – “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive”(NKJV). In the context of explaining the reality of the resurrection Paul simply describes the effect of Adam’s sin – physical death.[4] Romans 5:12 describes a different effect of Adam’s sin claiming – “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.” There is little question (from the context) that this refers to spiritual death, yet how does the text say this death was passed? Through imitating Adam’s example of sin! Notice – “…thus death spread to all men, BECAUSE ALL SINNED” (Emphasis Mine).

Finally there is one very simple passage of Scripture which must be harmonized with Psalm 51:5 – Ezekiel 18:20. The pssage reads – “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son…” There is no way that the doctrine of inherited original sin can be true if this passage is also true!

Conclusion What David is saying is simple. In his grief over his own sin he lamets the very condition of the world into which he was born. He was born into a world plagued by sin and even his own mother is not free from its in- fluence. An entire system of thought has been built on a faulty and speculative interpretation of a very simple idea.    

---

[1] These introductory statements at the beginning of the Psalms are often taken to be human additions. However, this conclusion is difficult to accept with any certainty given that these notes are included within the Hebrew text on which all translations are based, as well as the Greek Septuagint (c. 200 BC) and the Latin Vulgate (c. 400 AD) translations.

[2] We should note that the preface to the Amplified Bible admits that words in the brackets – “contain …comments, whether implied or not, which are not actually expressed in the immediate original text…” (Explanation of Arbitrary Punctuation Marks, xv, Zondervan, 1962).

[3] The Septuagint is simply a human translation, so it does not offer any definitive proof, yet it does show us how Jews before the time of Christ understood this verse.

[4] Since Adam was denied access to the tree of life he died, as have all his posterity who were deprived with him - Genesis 3:22.]

THREE KINDS OF SIN.....

"THREE KINDS OF SIN"


In the Old Testament, there is one interesting scripture that enlightens us when it comes to the meaning of the word sin. It contains 3 different “sins” all in one paragraph! These are in fact, the 3 different “categories” of sin that can be committed against God. To help us understand those 3 categories…imagine in our modern world what the penalties would be if you:

1. Ran a stop light (misdemeanor)

2. Committed a murder (capitol crime)

3. Committed treason against your country (treason)


Let's examine Exodus 34:7 closely, to see more clearly the differences between the words iniquity, transgression and sin, which are all used in one place here.

“Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity (5771) andtransgression (6586) and sin, (2403) and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.” KJV

How exactly do these 3 words differ?

1. Sin is from ----“chatta’ah,” meaning habitual sins of human frailty. These are what we might even call misdemeanors. It has to do with "missing the mark." This Hebrew word Chait means an "error or mistake," but nothing that cannot be fixed. To get the real feeling for the meaning of this word sin, read this short piece written by a Jewish Rabbi. "Sin is Not What it Seems." Just hit your back button when you have finished and come back to read about the other two VERY SERIOUS sins in this verse containing 3 kinds of sins.

2. The word Iniquity comes next and it is from “Avon,” meaning capitol sins or capitol crimes of perversity or evil…such as murder or idolatry. There was a death penalty for these sins.

3. Transgression is from---- “Pesha,” This was the worst of all. It also had a death penalty. It meant to "break away from authority." It is the sin of open and knowing revolt....against God and His governmental structure...

It is the sin of "rebellion against God," which at the end of the day, is really the worst sin of all because it is willful sin, which is never repented of...better known as the unpardonable sin of the New Testament. This sin is not unpardonable because God refuses to forgive. It is only unpardonable because it is based upon a deep spirit of willful permanent rebellion.

Anciently, the daily animal sacrifices only covered “chatta’ah”offences which were the "human frailty sins" or missing the mark sins that we all commit sometimes, but no way did they cover “Avon” or "Pesha" offences which were willful capitol crimes.

Most people don't realize it, but in the Old Testament, the animal sacrifices did not cover the more serious sin of iniquity on a daily type of basis. (Murder, adultery, etc...) Nor did animal sacrifices cover the sin of rebellion on a daily basis. These had a stronger penalty than an animal sacrifice. This is why David, after he committed adultery with Bathsheba and murder said,

“You did not desire sacrifice, else would I give it.”

The iniquity of adultery and murder which David had committed were not something covered by animal sacrifice. You could not take a dove down to the temple for murder! There was a death penalty in ancient Israel for capitol offences such as these.

But God had a greater purpose for David and when David confessed His sins to God and repented deeply…he was forgiven. God still required that David pay for his sin with the loss of the baby he and Bathsheba had. Here's the point, we don’t just get forgiveness from God and that be the end of it. God's final goal is to get us to REPENT OF ALL SIN!


Grace from God is not a free license to sin....otherwise how do we explain certain sins in Revelation 21:8 which are committed by those who are thrown in the Lake of Fire and experience the second death? Also, Paul listed certain types of sins as being the ones which keep people out of the Kingdom of God. He said,

“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?" He continues to say, "Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 6:8-10

Our own situation with God concerning sin, is just like it was with David when he sinned. Had David not repented, he would not have received forgiveness from God at all. Forgiveness (grace) came BECAUSE He repented. Even Paul himself had committed "murders." It's true. Before God called him, Paul was the reason that a lot of Christians were dragged off and executed. The eloquent Stephen was one of the martyrs that Paul stood by and saw murdered at his behest. He didn't kill him with his own bare hands, but those that killed Stephen laid their coats at Paul's feet. A symbolic gesture indeed! Yet, we know that Paul will be in the kingdom of God. WHY??? Because, he repented. Like David, He did not continue to repeat his old bad behavior and sins.

It is the repeat offenders that refuse to repent that are in big trouble, especially after they understand the truth. People who are converted and have the Holy Spirit and continue to commit such sins as idolatry, fornication, adultery, homosexuality, and even chronic covetousness (the lust that drives all sins) are not OK with God just because they simply say, "I'm sorry" and then keep on doing those things! We have to stop sinning before we can get grace or pardon. (forgiveness)

Grace cannot save the chronic offender...otherwise all these sins Paul was talking about in the scripture above could not keep us out of the kingdom of God! We know that Paul is talking about people being kept out of the kingdom of God because of chronic sins. They won't stop murdering, they won't stop committing adultery, etc… from all this we see that grace does not apply to the chronic unrepentant rebellious sinner.

Thus we see, that Christ's sacrifice does not cover these two worst kinds of sins (capitol crimes against God and rebellion) on a daily basis anymore than the daily animal sacrifices covered them in the Old Testament. In other words, don't be doing murder on a daily basis and expect forgiveness from God.

----Yet, there is an annual Atonement for physical Israelites where the blood of a sacrificial goat in ancient Israel could cover all 3 types of sins. That didn't mean that they didn't have to pay for their crimes, but they did have forgiveness from God.

For Christian's, or "Spiritual Jews" that annual day of Atonement when all our sins can be covered and we can receive grace for another year comes at Passover.... It is true that all sins can be forgiven by God if repented of, but the hard part is getting the sinner to repent first. Thankfully, God is always ready to forgive us when we do repent.


Most importantly to remember is that grace is given to the humble. It is not given to those who are deep down evil such as serial killers or those who are knowingly and blatantly rebellious against God. Grace is given to those who want to repent and are struggling against their own human weakness, no matter what they have done in the past. The writer of Hebrews gives us the correct view of sin and of grace. The word grace is used 8 times in the book of Hebrews, so we know that the writer was very familiar with the subject. Did you know that we can insult the “Spirit of Grace” by deliberately sinning??? Here's how. The book of Hebrews says,


“If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, (DELIBERATE SINNING REMOVES CHRIST'S SACRIFICE) but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?" Hebrews 10:26-31


The writer says that willful or deliberate sinning insults the “Spirit of grace.” How? Because it treats Christ’s blood which was spilled to ratify the New Covenant as an unholy thing! How does it do that? Purposeful rebellion is not covered by Christ's sacrifice nor can it receive grace... Willful sin done with a rebellious attitude is tantamount to rebellion or treason against God. If willful sinners have full knowledge of God and what He requires of them and yet, they have a rebellious attitude---then they have entered the dangerous area called "the unpardonable sin." It is unforgivable or unpardonable because it isunrepented of sin or better put---willful sin. Can you reject God's law from your heart and rebel against Him and all His laws and still have a covenant with Him??? It is not possible.


In Hebrews, chapter eight, God describes the New Covenant, which you must be under to receive eternal life. The New Covenant is about repentance.

“...Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord." He continues to say,

"For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:” (This pictures repentance of sins and being connected to the true God.)


If we were to ask God for the most important thing that He could possibly give us, it would not be for a single incidence of grace but it would be for a repentant heart and that He write His law in our hearts and in our minds----because that my friend, is the New Covenant...and you cannot be saved without it.





THE CHURCHES OF GOD