"What is the difference between iniquity, sin, and transgression?" After Reading Jeremiah 16, my eyes were opened to the difference between sin and iniquity.

David speaks these words to the LORD. Psalm 32:5, “I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.”

 Sin means “to miss the mark.” It can refer to doing something against God or against a person (Exodus 10:16) Sin is the general term for anything that “falls 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 will continue in our sinful nature.

Sin If left unchecked, leads to a “reprobate mind,” spoken of in Romans 1:24. Our sin nature causes us to gravitate naturally toward selfishness, envy, and pride, even when we are trying to do good. 

Paul, speaks these words about trying to be good.  “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” (Romans 7:18).

The sin nature is about trespassing. As mentioned in the Our Father prayer, “ forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us” 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 (Matthew 6:15).

When we transgress, we choose to intentionally disobey; transgression is willful trespassing. “Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered” 

Iniquity refers to a premeditated choice; to commit iniquity is to continue without repentance. Jesus said, “ depart from me ye workers of iniquity” iniquity and sin are not the same. 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” (Psalm 51:2).

Conclusion; God forgives any sin, trespass, iniquity and transgressions, as long as we repent, turn away from our sinful nature, become a new man in Christ. 

Iniquity left unchecked, will lead to willful sin without fear of God. A cup of iniquity.

Regardless of how  depraved a human heart has become, Jesus’ death on the cross is sufficient in covering all sins.

The only sin God cannot forgive is the final rejection of the Holy Spirit’s drawing to repentance. May you all be blessed by the grace of God. HE wants you to repent and come to HIM, surrendering yourselves and dying to self, setting yourselves free from the bondage you are in. “ To live is Christ, to die is gain” Amen.