The Bible is very descriptive. It uses different words to portray different aspects of reality. For example in Psalms 51 verses 2 and 3, there are three words that are used to describe a common understanding or concept of sin. It says here, "wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions"
You see there are three words here, iniquity, sin and transgressions. You say what's the difference, they all are about sin, isn't it? Ya, they are, they're all about sins. Iniquity is sin, sin is sin, transgressions is sin.
But you see there are some subtle realities that may enhance our understanding with regards to sin. The word `iniquity' refers to the perverseness of a man's heart. So `iniquity' refers to the wickedness and the evil that is within our hearts that causes us to commit sin.
The word `sin' simply means to miss the mark. So it means that we've failed to arrive or to reach what God desired for people, for us.
The word ` transgressions' is a kind of trespass. In other words there is a clear boundary, there's a clear sign, do not go beyond this line, but we go still beyond that line.
So put together sin tells us that we've missed the mark, we've failed to arrive, or we've failed to arrive, we've failed to reach what God desires for us.
Transgressions refers to that rebellion in us. We miss that mark or we fail to arrive at God's desire or standard, because we rebel against Him, transgress against Him. And the reason why we do all that is because of the iniquity, the wickedness, and the sinfulness, and the evil within our hearts.
So basically, we have to recognize that when we sin, we miss the mark, we rebel against God, and we do that because of the wickedness and evil that is resident in us.
So when David says "wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, cleanse me from my sin, for I acknowledge my transgressions," I think it's something significant. It teaches me that when I confess my sin, I don't just confess the fact of the sin, but I also confess the thought of my sin. It is because of my wickedness that I rebelled against you, God, and I was wrong.
True repentance recognizes that the fault lies within us. We don't blame it on someone else, we don't blame it on even the Devil. He tempts us, but really it's because of our own lust and wickedness that has fallen for it.
So today let's humble ourselves, not just to confess the fact of sin, but the thought of sin, because God's forgiveness will flood into your life. God bless.
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