Iniquity -

The word “iniquity” (in both its singular and plural form) appears 334 times in the KJV Bible.

Of the eleven Hebrew words that are translated “iniquity” in the Old Testament, the most common is #5771 “avon” which means perversity, depravity of actions. “Avon” is rooted in the Hebrew verb #5753 “avah” which means to twist and distort, to act perversely and commit iniquity. “Perversity” is defined as the state of being stubbornly unyielding, deliberate unruliness.

The Holman Bible Dictionary writes: While both the Hebrew and Greek word for “sin” means to fall short and miss the mark; the main Hebrew word for “iniquity” (#5771 “avon”) describes the crooked or perverse spirit associated with sin. Sinful persons have perverted their spirits and become crooked rather than straight.

The Dakes Bible defines “avon” as perverseness, to be bent or crooked. It signifies not merely that which is wrong, but the tendency to do wrong. This inclination lies in the disposition and nature and not merely in the act of transgression.

We could say, therefore, that “sin” describes the act of falling short of the promises of God, while “iniquity” describes the stubborn character and personality that causes the action of sin.

In the New Testament, the most common word translated “iniquity” is
#458 “anomia” which is derived from the Greek “a” (negative) and “nomos” (law) and therefore means to live in opposition to the law of God, being lawless or wicked. It suggests contempt of Divine law and therefore rejection of the will of God.

I John 3:4 says, “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth (#458 “anomia”) also the law : for sin is the transgression of the law (#458 “anomia” - rebelling against God’s truth).” The Amplified says, “...for that is what sin is, lawlessness (the breaking, violating of God’s law by transgression or neglect - being unrestrained and unregulated by His commands and His will).”

The parts of our personality and character that we have not yet yielded to the Holy Spirit causes us to live in opposition to the laws and principles of God. When you live an unrestrained and unregulated life, “iniquity” will rule in your heart and build a wall of separation between you and God.

Isaiah 59:2 tells us, “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear.” The Amplified says, “But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God...”

Psalms 66:18, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.”

Iniquity separates us from the blessings of God. It gets into our soul and controls our actions, our opinions, and our feelings. But God has provided a way for us to break the curse of “iniquity” through the blood of Jesus.


God’s cure for iniquity -

Titus 2:14 speaks about the sacrifice of Christ and says, “Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Christ has redeemed you from all iniquity!

The word “redeem” comes from the Greek #3084 “lutroo” which means to release on receipt of a ransom. In other words, Christ paid the ransom note and released you from the controlling power of iniquity.

The Amplified translation says that Christ gave Himself, “...that He might redeem us (purchase our freedom) from all iniquity and purify for Himself a people.... who are eager and enthusiastic about [living a life that is good and filled with] beneficial deeds.”

While it is certain that all men are guilty before God, because all have sinned and fallen short of the His glory (Romans 3:23); nevertheless, Christ has paid the price for all men to be set free from the shackles of sin and empowered them to live a good life in Him.

Isaiah 53:6, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” God laid upon Jesus all the iniquity of mankind.

Isaiah 53:5, “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.” Christ was wounded, bruised, and chastised for the iniquities of man; so that we can now go free from the controlling effects of sin and receive the full benefits of God’s forgiveness and mercy.

Isaiah 53:11 tells us that Christ became our substitute when He hung on the cross, “He (God) shall see of the travail of His (Christ’s) soul, and shall be satisfied: by His knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for He shall bear their iniquities.”

The word “bear” is translated from the Hebrew verb #5445 “cabal” which means to bear or carry the full load and burden. Christ took upon Himself the full load of our iniquity (all the shame and all the guilt). So that now, anyone that places their faith in the sacrifice of Christ can live free from the shackles of sin.

Psalms 103:3 declares, “Who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diseases.”

Christ came to fulfill the Old Testament Law and to become the “scapegoat” of Leviticus 16:21, “And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness.”

Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the children of Israel would gather together and watch the High Priest transfer their iniquities upon the “scapegoat”. Then, they would carefully observe as the goat carrying their sins was led outside of the camp.

Leviticus 16:22, “And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.”

In the New Covenant, Christ has become our “scapegoat” and removed all sin and iniquity from us in the eyes of God. Psalms 103:12, “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”

Psalms 32:2 says, “Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.” The word “imputeth” comes from the Hebrews #2803 “chashab” and means to think about, to meditate on, to regard. In other words, in Christ, the LORD is never mindful of your iniquity. In God’s eyes, you are spotless and totally forgiven because of the sacrifice of Christ.

II Corinthians 5:21, “For He (God) has made Him (Christ) to be sin for us, who knew no sin’ that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”


Iniquity has Consequences -

However, if we choose to deny the sacrifice of Christ and continue to live in sin, there will be consequences. Jeremiah 5:25 says, “Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you.” Iniquity creates a detrimental spiritual environment in which the blessings of the Lord are withheld from us.

We can see the consequences of iniquity in the book of Numbers. When God delivered the children of Israel from their bondage in Egypt, He intended to bring them quickly into the land of Canaan. But Israel refused to obey God and insisted on sending spies to search the land. This lack of trust in God and the evil report that the spies brought back became a seed of iniquity and a stubborn rebellion that cost them dearly.

Numbers 14:34, “After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise.”

Their stubborn and unyielding attitude caused them to wander in the desert for forty years instead of entering into God’s promise. Numbers 14:33 says, “And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness.”

Psalms 107:17, “Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are they afflicted.”

Daniel 9:13 makes this statement, “As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth.”

The phrase “made not our prayer” is translated from the Hebrew #2470 “chalah” which means to be worn down in strength, to become wearied, sad, grieved, wounded and sick. In other words, when the stubbornness and rebellion of Israel caused them to be worn down and grieved in their sin, they should have humbled themselves before the LORD and turned from their iniquities. Instead or repenting, they refused to turn from iniquity, and evil came upon them.

The nation of Israel and the people of Jerusalem have perpetually been troubled with conflict and war because of their iniquity. Daniel 9:16, “...because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us.”

When Cain refused to offer a sacrifice for his sins, and instead relied upon the work of his hands, Genesis 4:5 tells us that God did not accept his offering. Angry and filled with rage, Cain murdered his brother, Abel, and drew upon himself the judgment of God.

Genesis 4:13, “And Cain said unto the LORD, my punishment (#5771 “avon” - iniquity) is greater than I can bear.”

The stubborn and unyielding heart of Cain unleashed the damning character of iniquity to come upon him and destroy him. He said, the consequences of my iniquity are more than I can bear.


Iniquity in Canaan -

The first use of the word “iniquity” in scripture is when the LORD described the spiritual condition of the tribes that occupied Canaan. In Genesis chapter fifteen the LORD cut covenant with Abram and told him that his seed would one day inherit the land of Canaan (Gen. 15:7). However, it would be many years before Abram’s seed could take possession of the land because Genesis 15:16 says, “...for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.” (Gen. 15:16).

Adam Clarke writes: “From these words we learn that there is a certain pitch of iniquity to which nations may arrive before they are destroyed, and beyond which Divine justice does not permit them to pass.”

In other words, when the level of “iniquity” rises to a certain measure of perversion, God will intervene with judgment.

We can see this principle demonstrated when the LORD came down to destroy the city of Sodom. When the angels hastened Lot to leave Sodom, the reason they gave was, “...lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.” (Gen. 19:15).

The men of Sodom and Gomorrah were so depraved and wicked, that the LORD told Abraham, “...the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous (#3513 “kabad” - to be heavy, grievous and burdensome).” (Gen. 18:20). The iniquity of Sodom had become a heavy and grievous burden to the Holy God. Verse thirty-two informs us that there weren’t ten righteous men left in the city. They had reached the point where their iniquity was full; which compelled God to release His judgment upon their city.

You must understand that the LORD is a holy God. Isaiah 63:15 says that God looks down upon the earth, “....from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory....” In other words, “holiness” (and the glory that His holiness produces) is the atmosphere (the ambiance, the environment, the climate) from which God operates. God’s perspective of the universe, His thoughts, His plans, and every word that He speaks originates in the environment of “holiness.”

Genesis 6:5 says, “And God saw (“ra’ah” - to view from His abode of holiness) that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”

We can only imagine how profound the hurt must have been for God to have witnessed His prized creation become diminished by sin and forfeit the crown of glory that “Holiness” created for them.

That’s why the next verse says, “And it repented the LORD that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him at His heart.” The NIV says that God’s heart was filled with pain.

When a perfect being such as the Holy God has pain, how intense must that pain be? In fact the Hebrew word for “grieved” is #6087 “atsab” which carries the idea of vexation and torture. “Holiness” is excruciatingly vexed and personally tortured by the iniquity and wretchedness of man.

Many people have a difficult time understanding why the God of love and mercy would order the complete annihilation of Sodom and later the destruction of the tribes of Canaan. But when you understand the nature of God’s holiness, you can begin to comprehend His actions.

Leviticus 18:25 describes the land of Canaan under the rule of the rebellious tribes, “And the land is defiled (#2930 “tame” - to be unclean, impure, contaminated): therefore I do visit (#6485 “paqad” - observe, reckon, number, charge) the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants.” Their iniquity had come to the full and it was now time for the “seed” of Abraham to possess the land.

The Canaanite tribes routinely practiced incest, sacrificed their daughters to demonic gods, caused their children to be burned to death as a sacrifice to the god Molech (Leviticus 18:21), practiced beastiality (sex with animals, Lev. 18:23) and many other forms of wicked and vile behavior.

In Leviticus 18:24 God warned Israel, “Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you.”


Generational curses -

If we have been cleansed by the blood of Christ, then, why do good people still do bad things? To find the answer to that question, you must look beyond the pain and suffering of life, beyond what you can see with your physical eye, and ask the Lord to show you the root, the real cause, the progenitor that causes you to do bad things.

In John 4:24, Jesus said, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth (#225 “aletheia” - truth as in nothing hidden, nothing concealed; the reality lying at the base of an appearance).”

If you pull back the superficial curtains of your life and examine your personality with complete honesty and transparency, some of you will find that the iniquities that you are struggling with are the same problems that defeated your mother and father. Has anyone ever told you that you act just like an aunt, or some other family member. Well, some iniquities are passed down from generation to generation and seem to follow some families forever.

The Bible talks about, what I call, generational curses. These are strongholds of “iniquity” that are passed from father to son, and mother to daughter.

When God appeared to Moses, He not only declared His character, but also defined the character of some families on earth. Exodus 34:6-7 says, “...The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth. Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.”

The word “visiting” is translated from the Hebrew #6485 “paqad” and means to reckon, to pay attention to, to be visited upon. Strong’s Concordance says that “paqad” means to oversee, charge, deposit or appoint. In other words, while God’s character is to be merciful and gracious, His willingness to forgive does not cancel out His righteousness and holiness. He sees that some strongholds of iniquity are passed down from generation to generation. He watches as some fathers deposit their iniquity into their children, and into his children’s children.

I’m sure you’ve known some families that seem to be cursed with alcoholism, or bound by a spirit of poverty, consumed by strife and gossip, or perpetually live defeated lives. The phrase, “like father like son”, or “like mother like daughter” is true.

We are a product of the environment that we were raised in. Patterns are established in our lives at an early age; and, no matter how much we hated to see our parents do certain things, when we grow older, we find ourselves doing those same things in our adult life.

Psalms 51:5 says, “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” The Amplified says, “Behold, I was brought forth in a [state of] iniquity; my mother was sinful who conceived me [and I too am sinful].”

However, Jeremiah 32:18 gives us hope, “Thou (God) shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest (#7999 “shalam” to make a covenant of peace, to make peace with) the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them...” In other words, you can break away from the strongholds of iniquity that have been passed down from your father. God will make peace with you and break your family’s cycle of sin.

God promises in Leviticus 26:40, “If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers....” then He will, “...remember my covenant.... I will not cast them away...” (vs. 42-44). In other words, if we repent and turn to the LORD, He will pardon us and break the chains of iniquity that originated with our fathers.

Ezekiel 18:2-3 says the same thing, “...The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge. As I live, saith the Lord GOD, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel.” You can break free from the “sour grapes” and the bad attitudes that your father carried all through his life.

Verse twenty adds, “...The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father...” “...when the son hath done that which is lawful and right.... he shall surely live.” (vs. nineteen).

You can draw a blood line, and say: the sins of my family will not pass down to my children. I am the redeemed of the LORD, and the curse of iniquity is broken off of my life and out of my children’s life.


Breaking the cycle of iniquity -

When we turn to the LORD God and humble ourselves before Him, the cycle of “iniquity” will be broken from our lives.

Proverbs 16:6 tells us, “By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.” The mercy of God brings forgiveness and washes you from a lifestyle of sin; and the truth of God’s Word renews your mind and purges iniquity from your life.

Hosea 10:13, “Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity: ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way...” When you allow wicked and evil thoughts to fill your mind, iniquity will be birthed in your soul and control your actions.

But, Hosea 10:12 says that the same principle holds true for the sake of righteousness, “Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy: break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till He come and rain righteousness upon you.”

If we sow the righteous truth of God’s Word into our hearts and minds, we will reap the mercy of God. If we break up our fallow ground and plant the seeds of God’s Word in our heart, God will rain down righteousness upon us and break the cycle of iniquity.

Romans 6:19, “...as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.”

Before Christ, we yielded our minds to impure and unholy thoughts that produced a wicked and unrighteous lifestyle. But now, through the blood of Christ, we have been given the power to transform our lives by yielding our minds to the thoughts of righteousness and holiness.

The TCNT says, “Once you offered every part of your bodies to the service of impurity, and of wickedness, which leads to further wickedness... Now, in the same way, offer them to the service of righteousness, which leads to holiness.”

This is a simple concept. Righteous thoughts will produce righteous deeds; which in turn creates a spirit of consecration and holiness in your life. Unholy thoughts produce unrighteous deeds that lead to feelings of condemnation and guilt.

The believer is no longer bound and shackled to live an unholy lifestyle. He can now turn from his past life with its evil ways of acting and thinking, and adopt a new, holy lifestyle by putting on his new man in Christ.

Listen to the prayers of David:

Psalms 32:5, “I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.” Don’t hide your iniquity from God; go to Him and confess your sins and let Him cleanse you.

The Amplified says, “...I will confess my transgressions to the Lord [continually unfolding the past till all is told] - then you instantly forgave me the guilt and iniquity of my sin...”

Psalms 38:18, “For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.”

Psalms 51:2, “Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.”

Psalms 119:133, “Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.” “Dominion” is translated from the Hebrew #7980 “shalat” which means to domineer, to exercise power over, to dominate, be the master, to lord over.

You can make the decision to break the domination of “iniquity” from your life by confessing your sins to the Lord and by receiving His mercy and forgiveness.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1:9). “...He will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and continuously cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action].” (Amplified translation).

With God’s help, you can break the cycle of iniquity!


Iniquity originated in satan -

Ezekiel 28:13-19 speaks about the fall of satan and the seed of “iniquity” that first appeared in him. Verse fifteen says, “Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.” The phrase “found in thee” is translated from the Hebrew verb #4672 “matsa” and means to come forth, to appear or exist. Iniquity was originally birthed in satan; and then, satan polluted mankind with his perverseness.

The word “iniquity” is translated from the Hebrew #5766 “evel” and means violent deeds of injustice, wickedness, depravity, and perverseness. “Evel” comes from the root #5765 “aval” and means to distort (morally), to act unrighteous. Every form of evil, perverseness, and iniquity have their origin in satan, the fallen angel.

Ezekiel 28:18 continues, “Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities (#5771 “avon”), by the iniquity (#5766 “evel”) of thy traffick; therefore I will bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee...”

Just as “iniquity” destroys human lives, satan’s iniquity is the cause of his destruction as well. The Amplified says, “You have profaned your sanctuaries by the multitude of your iniquities and the enormity of your guilt.... Therefore I have brought forth a fire from your midst; it has consumed you, and I have reduced you to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all who looked at you.”

There is a consuming fire burning deep in the center of Lucifer’s being, continually eating and burning away his strength and beauty. He must be in a great deal of pain and mental anguish.

Before satan is put away, the Bible says that in the last days satan will inspire the “antichrist” to appear as the personification of evil and he will spread iniquity throughout the earth. II Thessalonians 2:3-4 calls him, “...that man of sin.... the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped...”

But before the antichrist is defeated by Christ, Paul writes that he will deceive many people on the earth and cause them to believe a lie. II Thessalonians 2:9 says, “Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.”


Iniquity and the last days -

In Matthew 24:12, Jesus described the spiritual climate of the world in the last days, “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” Iniquity will increase upon the earth during the last days, until the world resembles the days of Noah and the time of Sodom and Gomorrah.

But Paul tells us that there is a restraining force, active on the earth today, that is preventing iniquity and sin from completely taking over this planet. II Thessalonians 2:6-7 says, “And now ye know what withholdeth that he (the antichrist) might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth (#2722 “katecho” - to hold back, detain, hinder) will let, until he be taken out of the way.”

The Amplified says, “And now you know what is restraining him [from being revealed at this time].... For the mystery of lawlessness (that hidden principle of rebellion against constituted authority) is already at work in the world, but it is restrained only until he who restrains is taken out of the way.”

The restraining force mentioned in this verse refers to the Body of Christ. As long as we are here, preaching the gospel and doing the work of the Kingdom, iniquity and the antichrist cannot take control of the earth.

Jesus said as much in Matthew 24:14, “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”

Once the church is taken out of the way, in what the Bible calls the catching away of the church in I Thessalonians 4:15-18, then the antichrist will be released to work his plan. II Thessalonians 2:8 continues, “And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.”

Jesus will destroy the antichrist and all his armies when He returns to the earth to deliver Jerusalem in what the Bible calls “the second coming” of Christ.

Before Christ returns, the Bible tells us that angels will be commissioned by God to separate the wheat from the tares during the last days. In Matthew 13:29 Jesus taught that men are not able to discern the good seed from the tares that the devil has sown in the earth. Therefore, in the time of the harvest, “The Son of man shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire...” (Mt. 13:41-42).

Notice that the angels first gather out of Christ’s kingdom all things that offend (#4625 “skandalon”) and then they gather “them” that do iniquity. We derive our English word “scandal” from the Greek “skandalon”. Vine’s Dictionary says: in the New Testament “skandalon” is always used metaphorically, and ordinarily of anything that arouses prejudice, or becomes a hindrance to others, causing them to fall by the way.

First, Christ will instruct His angels to remove the stumbling blocks and scandals from His Kingdom; and then they will remove those that are doing “iniquity” (#458 “anomia”), or those people that are living in opposition to the laws and principles of God.

Then, God will judge the world as Isaiah 13:9-11 says, “Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger.... And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity...”


Are you ready -

In Matthew 7:21-23 Jesus taught, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” Many will expect to receive entrance into heaven, but will be denied. They will remind the Lord that they have prophesied and cast out devils in His name; but Jesus will reply, “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:23).

Jesus will say to them, I never knew you. In other words, they were never born again. They were never inspired by God to speak what they spoke or anointed to do what they did. They were deceived because they allowed “iniquity” to control their lives.

The Amplified says, “...I never knew you, depart from Me, you who are wickedly [disregarding My commands].” The NEB says, “...I will tell them to their face...” Knox says, “...you that traffic in wrong-doing...” The Philipp’s translation says, “...you have worked on the side of evil...”

Iniquity makes our heart callous and blinds our eyes to the truth of God’s Word. It deceives us and convinces us that we are right when God says that we are wrong.

In Matthew 23:25-28, Jesus taught about religious hypocrites who appear to be clean and holy on the outside, but are full of iniquity on the inside. He said they, “...appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.”

Then He continued in verse twenty-eight, “Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.”

The word “hypocrisy” is translated from the Greek #5272 “hypokrisis” and means to dissimulate and pretend to be something that you are not, to act like a stage player. It comes from the root #5271 “hupokrinomai” which means to decide to speak or act under a false part, to impersonate, to pretend, to play a part. Adam Clarke says it means to wear a mask and impersonate a character different from your own.

God does not want you to be a pretender. He wants you to be a genuine and sincere Christian. He wants your heart to be cleansed by the blood of Christ and your mind washed with the Word of God. He does not want you to pretend to be holy and righteous; He wants you to be genuinely upright and holy.

II Timothy 2:19 says, “...And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity (#93 “adikia” - unrighteousness, injustice).” Vine’s Dictionary defines “adikia” as the condition of not being right, whether with God, according to the standard of His holiness and righteousness, or with man, according to the standard of what man knows to be right by his conscience.

You can depart from iniquity. You can be free.

Speaking about Jesus, Hebrews 1:9 says, “Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.” You must renew your mind and learn to love the right things and to hate the wrong things.

If you do these things, Hebrews 8:12 says that God, “... will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.”

If you repent and turn to God, Hebrews 10:117 says, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them. And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.”



(See article: Forgiveness, New Man, Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing, Sanctification)