Sin, Transgression, and Iniquity: Our Guilt, God’s Grace
Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 18 viewsNotes
Transcript
But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Today, we’ll explore a question that is foundational to our faith:
What is sin, transgression, and iniquity.
This isn’t just a theological question—it’s deeply personal.
The way we understand these words shape how we view God, ourselves, and the world
.
I want to start with a simple but profound truth.
Every single one of us has wrestled with all three of these things.
As Romans 3:23 reminds us, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
But what exactly does that mean?
Where does sin, transgression, and iniquity come from?
How does it affect us?
And, most importantly, what is God’s solution?
I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I have not hidden.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
And You forgave the iniquity of my sin.
Selah
I want to explore this more and look at God’s Word to unpack these questions.
But first, let us pray.
——————————————————————————————————————————————————
Let’s start by reading Exodus 34:6-7
And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.”
Notice how all three words—iniquity, transgression, and sin—appear together here.
Why does God use all three?
What do they mean?
And how do they apply to us?
Let’s dive into His Word and uncover these truths.
First of all, let’s talk about the word “sin.”
Sin means to miss the mark.
The Hebrew (chatá) and its Greek equivalent (àμaρtίa/hamartia) both mean "missing the mark" or "off the mark".
There are four basic usages for hamartia:
Hamartia is sometimes used to mean acts of sin "by omission or commission in thought and feeling or in speech and actions" as in Romans 5:12, "all have sinned".
Hamartia is sometimes applied to the context of being under the influence of.
For example, as in Romans 3:9, everyone is "under the power of sin".
A third application concerns the "weakness of the flesh" and the free will to resist sinful acts.
"The original inclination to sin in mankind comes from the weakness of the flesh."
Hamartia is sometimes "personified".
For example, Romans 6:20 speaks of being enslaved to hamartia (sin).
Sin describes any act, thought, or intention that fails to meet God’s perfect standard of holiness.
It’s not just about big failures.
It’s the daily, moment-by-moment ways we fail to reflect God's perfection.
What about the others though?
Transgression
Transgression comes from the Hebrew word pesha’, meaning "rebellion" or "to cross a boundary."
Where sin might be unintentional, transgression is deliberate disobedience.
It’s knowing God’s law and choosing to defy it.
Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered.
Iniquity
The Hebrew word for iniquity is avon, meaning "crookedness" or "perversity."
It refers to a moral distortion—a corruption of what is good.
Iniquity often points to the deep-seated nature of sin in our hearts.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
Summary: Sin is falling short, transgression is crossing a line, and iniquity is a heart condition of moral crookedness.
---
#### **I. What is Sin? (15 minutes)**
1. **Sin is Missing the Mark (Greek: *hamartia*)**
- The word most commonly translated as “sin” in the Bible comes from the Greek word *hamartia*, which means “to miss the mark.” Imagine an archer aiming at a target but falling short or hitting the wrong spot.
- **Romans 3:23** emphasizes this failure—we fail to meet God’s perfect standard of holiness.
- **Illustration:** Think of a child trying to draw a perfect circle. No matter how hard they try, the circle is always flawed. That’s us in our attempts to live perfectly apart from God.
2. **Sin is Lawlessness (1 John 3:4)**
- John writes, *“Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.”*
- Sin is rebellion against God’s authority and His laws. It’s saying, “I know better than You, God.”
- **Example:** Adam and Eve in the garden (Genesis 3). Their sin wasn’t just eating the fruit; it was rejecting God’s command and choosing their own way.
3. **Sin is Knowing the Right Thing and Not Doing It (James 4:17)**
- James tells us, *“To him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.”*
- Sin isn’t only about doing wrong but also about failing to do what’s right.
- **Challenge:** Reflect on your life. Are there areas where you know God’s will but choose not to act?
---
#### **II. The Effects of Sin (15 minutes)**
1. **Sin Separates Us from God (Isaiah 59:2)**
- *“Your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you.”*
- Sin creates a chasm between us and God, not because God moves away but because we do.
- **Illustration:** Think of a cloudy day. The sun hasn’t stopped shining, but the clouds block its warmth and light. Sin does the same to our relationship with God.
2. **Sin Brings Death (Romans 6:23)**
- *“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”*
- This refers to both physical and spiritual death. Without Christ, sin leads to eternal separation from God.
3. **Sin Enslaves Us (John 8:34)**
- Jesus said, *“Whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.”*
- Sin traps us in destructive patterns. It promises freedom but delivers bondage.
---
#### **III. The Solution to Sin (20 minutes)**
1. **God’s Love and Grace (Romans 5:8)**
- *“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”*
- Even when we were trapped in sin, God provided a way out through Jesus.
2. **The Blood of Christ (1 John 1:7)**
- *“The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”*
- Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross is the only solution for sin. No amount of good works can erase our guilt, but His blood washes us clean.
3. **Repentance and Obedience (Acts 2:38)**
- When Peter was asked by the crowd what they should do after realizing their sin, he replied, *“Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”*
- Repentance is turning away from sin, and baptism is the act of obedient faith through which God forgives us and adds us to His church.
4. **Living in the Light (1 John 1:9)**
- *“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”*
- Christians are not sinless, but we are forgiven. As we walk in the light of God’s Word, His grace continues to cleanse us.
---
#### **IV. Practical Applications (10 minutes)**
1. **Examine Your Life**
- Use David’s prayer in Psalm 139:23-24: *“Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me.”*
- Are there sins you need to repent of today?
2. **Guard Against Temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13)**
- God promises a way out of every temptation. Identify your weaknesses and lean on Him for strength.
3. **Share the Gospel**
- Sin is universal, but so is the offer of salvation. Tell others about Jesus so they can be free from sin’s power.
---
#### **Conclusion (5 minutes)**
Sin is a serious problem, but praise be to God for His perfect solution in Christ! If you are struggling with sin or have not yet obeyed the gospel, don’t delay. Today is the day to turn to God.
Let’s close with 1 John 2:1-2:
*“My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.”*
Come to Him today, and let Him cleanse you from sin.
**Invitation Song**
---
Let me know if you'd like to adjust or expand any part!
