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Answer
In Psalm 32:5, the psalmist declares, “I acknowledged my sin to you and did not conceal my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.’” Within this verse, the terms “sin,” “iniquity,” and “transgression” are all referenced. Essentially, these three words convey a similar concept: wrongdoing and disobedience, as outlined by God «Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. », (see 1 John 3:4). Nevertheless, upon closer inspection, each term carries a slightly distinct connotation.
The term sin and its related words appear 786 times in the New International Version of the Bible. Sin denotes “to miss the mark.” It can signify acting against God or another person «Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste; and he said, I have sinned against the LORD your God, and against you. », (Exodus 10:16), going against what is right «For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. », (Galatians 5:17), engaging in actions with negative consequences (Proverbs 24:33-34), and neglecting to do what you know is right «Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.», (James 4:17).In the Old Testament, God even instituted sacrifices for unintentional sins «And if any soul sin through ignorance, then he shall bring a she-goat of the first year for a sin offering. », (Numbers 15:27). Sin is the general term for anything that “falls short of the glory of God” «for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; », (Romans 3:23).
Sin leads to a downward progression that, without the restoring power of the Holy Spirit, we all tend toward. The sin nature is present in every human being born since the Fall of Adam (Genesis 3:6-7; Romans 5:12). If left unchecked, continual sin leads to a “reprobate mind,” spoken of in Romans 1:28. Our sin nature causes us to gravitate naturally toward selfishness, envy, and pride, even when we are trying to do good. The apostle Paul alluded to his propensity to sin when he wrote, “For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out” «For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. », (Romans 7:18).
The sin nature leads to trespassing. A trespasser is someone who crosses a line or climbs a fence that he should not cross or climb. A trespass may be intentional or unintentional. Trespass can also mean “to fall away after being close beside.” Peter trespassed when he denied Jesus (Luke 22:34, 56-62). We all “cross the line” in thought, word, or attitude many times a day and should be quick to forgive others who do the same.
Me “But if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”, (Matthew 6:15).
Transgression refers to deliberate sin. To transgress is to choose to intentionally disobey; transgression is willful trespassing. Samson intentionally broke his Nazirite vow by touching a dead lion (Numbers 6:1-5; Judges 14:8-9) and allowing his hair to be cut “that he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother’s womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.”, (Judges 16:17); in doing so he was committing a transgression. David was referring to this kind of sin when he wrote, “Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered” “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered.”, (Psalm 32:1). When we knowingly run a stop sign, tell a lie, or blatantly disregard an authority, we are transgressing.
Iniquity is more deeply rooted. Iniquity refers to a premeditated choice; to commit iniquity is to continue without repentance. David’s sin with Bathsheba that led to the killing of her husband, Uriah, was iniquity (2 Samuel 11:3-4; 2 Samuel 12:9). 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.” In David’s psalm of repentance, he cries out to God, saying, “Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin” “Wash me
Thoroughly cleanse me from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. », (Psalm 51:2).
God forgives iniquity, as He does any type of sin when we repent (Jeremiah 33:8; Hebrews 8:12). However, unchecked iniquity leads to a state of willful sin with no fear of God. The accumulation of unrepentant sin is sometimes depicted as a “cup of iniquity” being filled to the brim (Revelation 17:4; Genesis 15:16). This often applies to nations that have completely forsaken God. Continued iniquity leads to unnatural affections, which in turn leads to a reprobate mind. Romans 1:28–32 outlines this regression in vivid detail. The sons of Eli are biblical examples of reprobates whom God judged for their iniquities (1 Samuel 3:13-14). Instead of repenting, Eli’s sons persisted in their abominations until repentance was no longer possible.
The biblical writers used different words to describe sin in its various forms. Nevertheless, regardless of how depraved a human heart may become, Jesus’ death on the cross was sufficient to cover all sin (John 1:29; Romans 5:18). Psalm 32:5, quoted at the beginning of this article, concludes with these words: “And you forgave the guilt of my sin.” The only sin that God cannot forgive is the final rejection of the Holy Spirit’s call to repentance—the ultimate result of a reprobate mind (Matthew 12:32; Luke 12:10).
