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LORD, FORGIVE THOU THE INIQUITY OF MY SIN.

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Understanding the Wisdom of David's Prayers: Exploring Sin, Iniquity, and Transgression.

David the servant of the Lord was a man full of Godly wisdom and we can learn so much from his prayers. In Psalm 32:5 David says, ‘I acknowledged my sin unto thee and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord, and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.’ He isolates three different kinds of wrongdoing - sin, iniquity and transgression but adds an angle to sin by revealing that there is iniquity of my sin meaning that there can be sin devoid of iniquity and sin accompanied by iniquity.

 It is crucial for every believer to understand the meaning of each tenet and how to address them in their own lives.

 Understanding Sin

Briefly, sin is the transgression of the law of God which is written in the tablets of the hearts of men. For instance, the law says do not kill, therefore, when you kill or take another person’s life, you have committed sin. This is regardless of the motive or circumstances of the incidence. The fact that the law says do not kill and you have killed means that you have committed a sin.

Unpacking Transgression

Transgression or to transgress on the other hand is to rebel or revolt or trespass against the known law or norm. For instance, when someone steals from another, the act of stealing is the sin but the decision to steal knowing well that it is a sin to do so is the transgression. You see how the thief disregards the law of God, rebels against it and goes ahead to commit the forbidden act. This revolt in full knowledge of what is right represents the transgression. Sometimes a sin can be committed without transgression. Think about that beloved.

The Lurking Evil: Iniquity

Iniquity, often considered the mother of all evil, is what we will address in this teaching. Iniquity in the Strong’s concordance H5771 is called ‘Awvone’ which means perversity, evil fault, depravity, wickedness, or guilt. The magnitude of your sin before God is usually measured against the presence of iniquity in you. Your sin is often serious if there is iniquity accompanying it. Usually, iniquity is what governs every evil person and from it, they commit many unspeakable acts.

Understanding Sin, Iniquity, and Transgression:

Tenet

Definition

Sin

The transgression of God's law written in the tablets of human hearts. Sin breaks divine commandments regardless of motives or circumstances.

Transgression

Rebellion or trespass against known divine laws, consciously defying moral standards, such as stealing with full knowledge that it is wrong.

Iniquity

The root of evil, dwelling deep within the human soul, leading to acts of perversity, wickedness, and guilt. It magnifies the seriousness of sin and governs the hearts of evil individuals.

Understand the mystery of the Selah Psalm verses Here



The Path to Repentance

As believers, it is essential to know what plagues us so that we can acknowledge the presence of sin, transgression, and iniquity in our lives. Only by recognizing and understanding these tenets can we strive for repentance and seek God's forgiveness.

In Psalm 32:5, David sets a powerful example. He confesses his sins and transgressions to the Lord and experiences the forgiveness of his iniquity. This act of genuine repentance paves the way for reconciliation with God and the opportunity to live a life free from the bondage of wrongdoing.

In our journey of faith, let us remember the wisdom found in David's prayers. May we constantly examine our hearts, identify areas of sin, transgression, and iniquity, and seek forgiveness and transformation through the grace of God.

 Recognizing Iniquity:

The problem with iniquity is that it is found in the inward parts of a being. It inhabits the core of a person from where the issues of life flow. It dwells in the well or belly of which Jesus said that a fig cannot produce olives, and neither can a salty fountain produce fresh water!

It is the opposite of righteousness, and anyone can either have iniquity or righteousness dwelling in their inward parts, which determines their actions, whether good or evil. This is what distinguishes the children of light from those of darkness.

The children of light, who have their inward parts purged and cleansed, have righteousness dwelling within them, from where flows rivers of living water. However, those in darkness have iniquity dwelling in their inward parts, leading to wickedness.

Jesus said it is what comes out of a man that defiles them for out of those depths flows murders, sexual pervasion, and the like.

Notice that it is iniquity that was first found in the devil while he was still a resident in heaven. Ezekiel 28:15…. And that is why he was kicked out if holiness. The presence of iniquity in a man is the corrupt or fallen state of man which Jesus came to pay for.

His death on the cross ensured that whosoever took him up as their ransom, would be purged of the corrupt nature and created afresh with a clean heart which is after righteousness.

Iniquity is not the act but the motive behind the act. This is what the carnal law attempts to establish when they seek to understand the motive behind say a murder; but their investigations only scratch the surface of the whole scenario.

A conviction may be secured but believe me the problem is much deeper than that single act- the heart is corrupt and the likelihood of the person repeating the mistake or committing worse mistakes is likely because the heart is sick! There is iniquity in it.

 A case of iniquity

In most cases, people commit sins that are fueled by the iniquity in them. That is why David in Psalm 32 seeks God to forgive the iniquity of his sin. An example of a sin committed from iniquity is - you are jealous of a coworker; then out of this jealousy you fabricate lies and report him to your boss and gets him fired - so sad!

For this act, you need to repent for the iniquity which was jealousy that led you to witness falsely against your neighbour which is a sin (Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour) Iniquity manifests as strong feelings or emotions of jealousy, envy, hate, sexual perversion, immorality, pride, and all manner of evil feelings that come from within as recorded in Galatians 5:19-21.

 A lot of people will usually say this is who I am! Which is true because the corrupt nature is in their core. Every believer must examine themselves to see whether they are plagued by iniquity then repent, now that they know what iniquity is then put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true Holiness. Ephesians 4:24

When this is done, you will be rid of jealousy, competition, strife, envy, hatred, immorality, and the like. From your core will flow love, care, genuine concern, goodness, chastity, and all things pure for the Glory of God. So that the child of God can be an example to the world.

Understand the mystery of the Selah Psalm verses Here!

Can someone commit sin without iniquity?

Absolutely! As we know, iniquity is the guilt of sin, but it is possible to commit sin without any guilt. There are many occasions where people sin without iniquity. For instance, killing someone accidentally through an act or omission is a sin, but it is not because the driver had hatred or had vowed to eliminate someone. It was an accident.

God in His eternal wisdom, having foreknown that there would be instances where people commit sin without iniquity, made a way out for the children of Israel when He commanded that safe havens be set aside in every tribe that had been allocated an inheritance.

Numbers 35:6 ‘And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites there shall be six cities for refuge, which ye shall appoint for the manslayer, that he may flee thither: and to them ye shall add forty and two cities.’

This is how it worked, say for instance I am from Judah and I accidentally through an act or omission cause the loss of life of someone. The law of Moses then demanded that I had to be killed too.

However, knowing that I did not intend to kill my brother, I was allowed to run to another tribe, say Ephraim and seek refuge there from the people vying for my blood. My pursuers were not allowed to follow me there and Ephraim was tasked with taking care of me and protecting me until my accusers died or the king of my people died, then I would be free to return to my people.

This model established by God is the same one used in international law for protection of political fugitives or political prisoners.

What to do when you commit a sin without iniquity

Whenever you find yourself in a situation where you have committed a sin without iniquity, repent for the sin for God is your witness that you never meant to harm anyone. Offer your heartfelt apologies and express your innocence. Be at peace even if you must bear the punishment for the sin.

Use the model of pacification used by Jacob to bring down his brother Esau’s anger in Genesis 32:20. This will ensure that you avoid vengeful attacks on you as well as restore your relationship with the offended as it is written in Proverbs 21:14 that a gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.

How to deal with iniquity.

The only sure way to deal with iniquity is repentance, followed by a complete purge, a death to the old man and the rebirth of a new man who is made with a heart after God. This usually happens when someone is exposed to the truth of the condition of their heart, when they realize that they have iniquity in them then repent and deliberately turn away from their wicked ways as it is written in Proverbs 16:6 'By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.’

Motivational speakers will tell you to always choose to be the best version of yourself and to choose the good inside you over the bad indicating that you have both evil and good inside but let me submit to you that good and evil are mutually exclusive. You either have good inside or evil at any given time. We all start with evil for we are shaped in iniquity and in sin do our mothers conceive us according to Psalm 51:5.

After exposure to the truth through salvation in Jesus Christ who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works-Titus 2:14, we are then purged to acquire the good nature.

Anything in between is hypocrisy, lukewarmness and the Lord shall spit such out of his mouth. The purged can occasionally experience strong emotions of anger but they should not let the sun set while still angry as it is instructed in the word. They can have fleshly desires on some occasions, but the fear of the Lord keeps them from sinning against Him just like Joseph in the case of Potiphar’s wife.

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Note: As you reflect on the complexities of sin and iniquity, take a moment to examine your own heart. Are there areas of iniquity that need to be addressed? Are you willing to surrender them to God and embrace His transformative work in your life? Let this be a season of renewal and restoration as you journey deeper into the heart of God.

How to repent from iniquity (5 Steps)


1. Recognition:

Recognize that the anger, wrath, vengeance, immorality, hatred, jealousy, strife, competition, envy, malice, or seduction are not a onetime feeling but rather an evil, corrupt nature, and then desire to have the opposite of these vices. Just like David recognized while repenting in Psalm 51 that the immoral act and murder were stemming from iniquity in him thus, he asked for the recreation of his heart and the renewal of his spirit.

2. Declaration:

Declare thy iniquity - Psalm 38:18 ‘For I will declare mine iniquity: I will be sorry for my sin.’ Hide not thy iniquity before the Lord; say Lord I have harboured hatred, I have exercised seduction and caused others to stumble, I have been jealous and have used my tongue to cast others down instead of edifying them. Lay it all bare and lose all these bands of wickedness. Just like the prodigal son said in his heart, what he would tell his father, be deliberate about your disclosure and ask for help to change.

3. Faith:

In faith, take up Jesus Christ as thy ransom for the remission of thy sins. There is no remission of sin without shedding of blood therefore present Christ Jesus as your substitute by asking for the forgiveness of sins in the Name of Jesus Christ. Mention the sins if you can remember them. Be open for you can hide nothing from the Lord. He sees your heart and your reins. Repentance is a turnaround thus walk away from your wicked ways. Be keen to terminate habitual sin.

4. Renewal:

Ask the Lord for a new heart and a right spirit. Jesus came to recreate all things that is why it is written that you must be born again. With exposure to the truth of the goodness of God who gave His son so that we can be forgiven through him and the understanding that we have sinned and perverted that which is right comes true repentance.

Now that the tree of evil has been uprooted, ask God for the tree of righteousness to be planted in your core and outwardly announce to the powers of darkness that you are a new creature through water baptism. Because the presence of a wicked heart attracted wicked spirits, ask for the filling of the Spirit of God to dwell in this reborn tabernacle so that he may help and lead you in the paths of righteousness.

5. Transformation:

Walk ye as children of light. Know for sure that your body is the house or tabernacle of the Holy Spirit therefore offer your members as instruments of righteousness to always work what is pleasing unto God. Put away all evil like Paul instructs in Colossians 3:8-10. Be intentional with your change by studying the word of God even if it is a verse at a time.

The word is the water that you need for it washes your inner man clean and soon you realize that your character is changing, your interests are shifting, your desires and reactions to different situations are equally changing.

Always ask for help; pray, ‘Holy Spirit, help me’ for it is a process but one that is not painful, whose results are so wonderful and pure. Know that people around you will notice this change. Most will remark that you are a good person for surely, you are purged, and it cannot be hidden.

Conclusion

Now, in your walk with Christ, you will commit sin but let it always be devoid of iniquity. Confess those sins always so that the blood of Jesus can continually cleanse you of all unrighteousness. 1John 1:9.

 Never let iniquity reign in you ever again for God has forgiven the iniquity of your sin. Shine on O child of light and be ye led by the Spirit of God for as many as are led, they are the sons of God. Amen.


Frequently Asked Questions About Repentance, Sin, Iniquity, and Transgression

Q1: What's the difference between sin, iniquity, and transgression?

A: These three terms represent different aspects of wrongdoing before God. As David demonstrates in Psalm 32:5, they are distinct yet interconnected:

  • Sin is the transgression of God's law written in our hearts. It's the actual breaking of divine commandments, regardless of motives or circumstances. For example, killing someone is sin because God's law says "do not kill."
  • Transgression is the conscious rebellion against known divine law. It involves willfully defying moral standards with full knowledge that the action is wrong. Using the theft example from the blog: stealing is the sin, but the decision to steal knowing it's wrong is the transgression.
  • Iniquity is the root of evil dwelling deep within the human soul—what the blog calls "the mother of all evil." It's the corrupt nature that motivates and magnifies sin. As the blog explains, iniquity is not the act but the motive behind the act, manifesting as jealousy, hatred, pride, and other evil emotions that flow from within.

Q2: Can someone commit sin without iniquity?

A: Absolutely! As the blog clearly explains, it's possible to sin without iniquity. The key example given is accidental killing—such as a car accident where someone dies due to the driver's unintentional act or omission. This is sin because life was lost, but there's no iniquity because there was no malicious intent, hatred, or evil motive.

God's wisdom in establishing cities of refuge in the Old Testament (Numbers 35:6) demonstrates His understanding that sin can occur without iniquity. These safe havens protected those who caused accidental death, showing that God distinguishes between sins motivated by evil intent and those that occur without malicious purpose.

Q3: What is true biblical repentance?

A: Biblical repentance is changing your mind about your sin—no longer is sin something to toy with; it is something to be forsaken. The blog emphasizes that repentance involves five crucial steps:

  1. Recognition - Acknowledging that negative emotions and actions stem from a corrupt nature
  2. Declaration - Openly confessing your iniquity before God without hiding anything
  3. Faith - Accepting Jesus Christ as your ransom for sin's remission
  4. Renewal - Asking God for a new heart and right spirit
  5. Transformation - Walking as children of light with intentional change

True repentance is not just feeling sorry but involves a complete turnaround—a death to the old nature and rebirth of a new one created in righteousness.

Q4: How do I know if I have iniquity in my heart?

A: The blog provides clear indicators of iniquity's presence. Examine yourself for these manifestations:

  • Strong feelings of jealousy, envy, or hatred toward others
  • Pride and competitive spirit that seeks to diminish others
  • Sexual perversion or persistent immoral thoughts
  • Malice and desire for revenge
  • Using your tongue to tear others down rather than build them up

As the blog states, iniquity dwells in the "inward parts" and determines whether your actions flow from darkness or light. If you find yourself consistently motivated by these negative emotions, it indicates iniquity that needs to be addressed through repentance and spiritual renewal.

Q5: Is repentance necessary for forgiveness?

A: Yes, repentance is essential for receiving God's forgiveness. Forgiveness can only be given when the sinning party truly repents of sin, as Jesus taught in Luke 17:3-4. Forgiveness must be desired and accepted if the sinner is to be forgiven by God.

The blog emphasizes that David's example in Psalm 32:5 shows the path: he acknowledged his sin, confessed his transgressions, and received forgiveness for his iniquity. This pattern of recognition, confession, and faith in Christ's sacrifice is essential for experiencing God's forgiveness and transformation.

Q6: What should I do if I've committed sin without iniquity?

A: The blog provides specific guidance for this situation:

  1. Repent for the sin - Acknowledge before God that you never intended harm
  2. Offer heartfelt apologies - Express your innocence and genuine remorse
  3. Be at peace - Accept any consequences while maintaining your clear conscience
  4. Use pacification - Follow Jacob's model with Esau (Genesis 32:20) to restore relationships
  5. Give gifts in secret - As Proverbs 21:14 teaches, this can pacify anger and restore harmony

Remember, God is your witness that you meant no harm. While the consequences may still need to be faced, your heart can be at peace knowing there was no evil intent.

Q7: Can I ever be completely free from the tendency to sin?

A: The blog teaches that through genuine repentance and spiritual renewal, you can be purged of iniquity and receive a new heart created in righteousness. However, it also acknowledges that even the purged may occasionally experience strong emotions or fleshly desires.

The key difference is that those with renewed hearts don't let these temporary struggles control them. Like Joseph with Potiphar's wife, the fear of the Lord keeps them from sinning. The blog concludes by noting that in your walk with Christ, you may still commit sin, but it should be "devoid of iniquity"—meaning without the evil motives that once drove your actions.

Q8: How can I maintain my transformation after repentance?

A: The blog emphasizes that transformation is an ongoing process requiring intentional effort:

  • Study God's Word - Even one verse at a time helps wash your inner man clean
  • Pray for help - Regularly ask "Holy Spirit, help me" as you navigate challenges
  • Offer your body as an instrument of righteousness - Remember your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit
  • Put away evil - Actively remove sinful practices from your life
  • Confess ongoing sins - Maintain cleansing through confession (1 John 1:9)
  • Never let iniquity reign again - Remain vigilant against the return of corrupt motives

The blog assures that this process, while requiring effort, is not painful and produces wonderful, pure results that others will notice.

Q9: What if I forget to confess a sin?

A: While the blog doesn't address this specific concern, common questions include "what happens if I commit a sin, but then forget about it and never remember to confess it to God?" The blog's emphasis on God's complete forgiveness through Christ's sacrifice suggests that genuine believers who maintain a heart of repentance need not fear forgotten sins.

The key is maintaining the transformative relationship with God described in the blog—walking as children of light with hearts purged of iniquity. This ongoing relationship of confession and cleansing (1 John 1:9) covers both remembered and forgotten sins.

Q10: How do I help someone else understand the need for repentance?

A: The blog's approach suggests leading by example and sharing the distinctions between sin, transgression, and iniquity. Help others understand:

  • That everyone starts "shaped in iniquity" (Psalm 51:5)
  • The difference between surface-level behavior change and heart transformation
  • That true change requires more than willpower—it requires spiritual renewal
  • The five-step process of repentance outlined in the blog

Most importantly, demonstrate the transformation in your own life. As the blog states, when you're purged and walking as a child of light, "people around you will notice this change" and "remark that you are a good person."


  

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