What is sin? Some have defined it as missing the mark. If that is all it is, then life can be seen as no more serious than target practice. Ultimately, sin is an offense to God’s holiness. It is actions, mindsets, thoughts, and a heart that operates out of alignment with and stands in direct opposition to the heart, mind, and will of God. This is why James writes the following:
James 4:4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?
The root of sin is pride and rebellion. We want to do what we want, and we don’t want anyone to tell us any different. God created us to be like Him and to enjoy relationship with Him. Our sin distorts His image in our lives and destroys intimacy.
Another definition of sin is that which defiles, dirties, rots, corrodes, and makes impure. It requires a purifying or refining process to be made clean and to be restored to its original condition. This is why animal sacrifice was never enough. It covered the sin but could never restore our souls. Its like painting over rusted metal – it may look nice for a while, but the decay is still taking place underneath. This is what Jesus meant when he called the religious leaders “whitewashed tombs.”
Only Jesus, the Lamb of God, could make sufficient atonement for our sin. He is our High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16), the Sacrifice (Revelation 5:12), the Refiner and the Purifier of Levi (Malachi 3:2-3), and Restorer of our Souls (Psalm 23:3). “What can wash away my sin, what can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus” (1 John 1:7).
Sin causes us to miss the mark of our purpose. It is an offense to God’s holiness and character. It destroys intimacy and His image in us. It defiles us and causes us to rot from the inside out. If left unrepented, the death and decay of sin will follow us into eternity. This is why we must repent and turn to Jesus.
David highlights an important aspect of sin in Psalm 51 as he is repenting for his sin of adultery and murder. He asks God to forgive his trespass, and to purify him from his iniquity. A trespass is an action or event of sin. It is doing something wrong, or not doing something right. Iniquity, however, goes much deeper. It is the nature of sin – the mindsets, philosophies, and heart conditions that are in rebellion against God and generate evil desires that eventually become actions of sin which leads to death.
We must repent of our sin by asking forgiveness for specific trespasses, but we must also ask Jesus to cleanse us from our iniquity by His blood and to restore us by His Spirit.
2 Chronicles 7:14 If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Jesus, I love You. Thank You for today. I come before You and ask for Your mercy upon my life. I ask forgiveness for my sins. Forgive my trespasses and cleanse me from the iniquity in my heart. Wash me by the blood and retore me by Your Spirit. Help me to love You and make You the priority in my life. Amen.