In my devotions this morning as I was reading Psalm 32 I came across “Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered”. Aren’t transgressions and sin the same thing? This got me to thinking, what’s the difference was between sin, transgression and iniquity. They are all sin of some sort. But what is the real difference? So I did a little research and this is what I found.
Sin is “to miss the mark”. It’s doing something against God or someone. It’s the opposite from what is right. Sin is the general term for anything that “falls short of the glory of God”. (Rom. 3:23). It’s not only doing what God forbids; but also the failure to do what God requires. “Anyone, then , who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” - James 4:17. All humans have a sin nature which began at the Fall of Adam (Gen 3:6-7; Rom. 5:12). Sin nature leads to trespassing.
Rom. 1:29-30, 1 Cor. 5:11; 6:9-10, 2 Tim. 3:2-4, Col. 3:5-9, Gal. 5:19-23 gives us a list of sins, but there are many others not mentioned here.
Transgression or trespassing is rebelling against God. It’s means to intentionally choose to disobey. It’s knowing and doing a sin before we commit it. It’s falling away from being close. Sin misses the mark and transgression is crossing over a boundary. An example is parking in a no parking zone even though there are clear boundaries, but still willfully doing so. It’s knowingly running a stop sign or telling a lie. An example of this is when Peter denied Jesus (Luke 22:34, 56-62).
Iniquity is a premeditated choice without repentance. It’s opposite of righteousness. It’s intentionally choosing to disobey. It’s an act deeply rooted in sinful need or desire. An example of this is David’s sin with Bathsheba (2 Sam. 11:3-4; 12:9).
It’s hard to distinguish between sin, iniquity and transgression/trespass. They are all sin because they all separate us from God. When we sin we miss the mark and cross the line. For the lost, they are totally separated by sin and have no union with God. For the Christian, ongoing sin put distance between them and God. They are still eternally secure in their salvation, but their communion with God suffers because of sins, iniquities, and transgressions.
The good news is God forgives sins, transgressions, and iniquities when we repent. “I will cleanse them from all the sin they have committed against me and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against me.” - Jer. 33:8. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” - Heb. 8:12).
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