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Answer
The Bible uses words such as iniquity, transgression, and trespass to indicate levels of disobedience to God. They are all categorized as “sin.” Micah 2:1 says, “Woe to those who plan iniquity, to those who plot evil on their beds! At morning’s light they carry it out because it is in their power to do it.”
The Hebrew word used most often for “iniquity” means “guilt worthy of punishment.” Iniquity is sin at its worst. Iniquity is premeditated, continuing, and escalating. When we flirt with sin, we fall for the lie that we can control it. But like a cute baby monkey can grow to be a wild, out-of-control primate, sin that seems small and harmless at first can take control before we know it. When we give ourselves over to a sinful lifestyle, we are committing iniquity. Sin has become our god rather than the Lord «For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. », (Romans 6:14).
When we realize we have sinned, we have a choice. We can see it for the evil it is and repent. When we do, we find the forgiveness and cleansing of God (Jeremiah 33:8;1 John 1:9). Or we can harden our hearts and go deeper into that sin until it defines us. Partial lists of iniquities are given in Galatians 5:19–21 and in 1 Corinthians 6:9–10. These are sins that become so consuming that a person can be identified by that lifestyle. The psalmists distinguish between sin and iniquity when they ask God to forgive both (Psalm 32:5;Psalm 38:18;Psalm 51:2;85:2).
If we continue to choose sin, our hearts harden toward God. One sin leads to another, and iniquity begins to define our lives.As it happened when David sinned with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:3-4). His initial sin of lust led to a hardening of his heart, and his sin grew deeper. He committed adultery, then orchestrated the death of Bathsheba’s husband (verses 14–15). Iniquity had taken control of David’s life. Only when confronted by the prophet Nathan did he repent with great sorrow. His sincere plea for forgiveness is described in Psalm 51. Verse 2 states, “Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.” David exemplifies someone who clearly grasped the progression of iniquity and encountered the mercy and forgiveness of God (Psalm 103:1-5).
The latter part of Romans 1 delineates the advancement of sin (verses 10–32). The ultimate outcome for those with such hardened hearts is that God hands them over to a “reprobate mind” (verse 28, KJV), and they lose the desire or ability to repent. Reprobate means “thoroughly depraved, given over to evil until the conscience is seared.” The Scripture unequivocally states that God forgives even iniquity: “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.” (Micah 7:18). However, if we persist in it, we will reap the consequences of sin, which is eternal separation from God: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23).
