Sin: According to the Scriptures
Dear Seeker,
- To inquire about Forgiveness of Sins, proceed to How Do I Receive God’s Forgiveness for My Sins?
- To see an Overview of what Sin is, according to the Bible, continue below.
There are many Truths contained within the Good News of the Kingdom, as seen in the New Testament Scriptures. The first fundamental Truth to be grasped by all Believing Ones, as a child of Yahuweh, is that we have been redeemed, or bought by the spilled Blood of Yahushua Messiah, and as a result, our sins are forgiven:
“…the Father… hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins…” (Colossians 1:12a, 13-14)
One of the most important, but misunderstood New Covenant Truths, however, is that the New Testament Believers, even after they have been redeemed and forgiven by the Blood of Messiah, are warned continually to stop committing iniquity and sin:
“Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.” (1Corinthians 15:34)
“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not…” (1John 2:1a)
“The Lord knoweth them that are his…Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” (2Timothy 2:19b)
In 1Corinthians 15:34 above, why does the apostle Paul urge Believers who do not yet know Yahuweh, to awake to Righteousness, and to stop sinning? Here we get the first ray of light, to tell us that Believers who continue to commit sin, do not know Yahuweh.
In 1John 2:1a above, why does the apostle John write to little children, urging them not to sin? Here we see that it is the spiritually immature, as spiritual children, who continue to sin.
In 2Timothy 2:19b above, why does the apostle Paul urge every one of the Believers to depart from iniquity? It is because Yahushua knows them that are His, by what they do.
With such warnings and exhortations, it appears these warnings given to us from Yahuweh, to cease from sin and iniquity, have a serious purpose. Have Believers in some way mis-understood the Biblical issue of Grace, and then mis-applied how the Blood of Messiah cleanses us from all sins? This brief overview will dig into the Scriptures, to discover and reveal the reasons for these warnings.
The Definition of Sin – According to Scripture
What is sin according to the Scriptures?
The simplest and most concise definition of sin is given in Scripture:
“…sin is the transgression of the law <458> ‘anomia’ [iniquity; unrighteousness; violation of Law; lit. ‘destitute of the (Mosaic) Law’] (1John 3:4b)
“All unrighteousness <93> ‘adikia’ [unrighteousness; injustice; iniquity; ‘an act of unrighteousness’] is sin…” (1John 5:17a)
In the above passages, the apostle John tells us that sin is transgression [disobedience] of the [Mosaic] Law, which is the collection of written commandments, statutes, ordinances, and precepts found in the Old Testament section of the Scriptures, commonly called the Bible. John then tells us that unrighteousness, also called iniquity, is also sin.
It is significant that the New Testament definitions of iniquity and unrighteousness are identical to the definitions of sin found in the Old Testament. The words iniquity and unrighteousness both describe those who have departed [fallen away] from walking in a straight [upright] path of obedience to Torah [Law], but are instead walking in a crooked path of disobedience to Torah [Law].
What do these Scripture definitions tell us? They tell us that any disobedience to the Torah [Law] is sin. The most basic commandments for mankind are found in Exodus 20:1-17, and are called the Ten Commandments. Though there are many other commandments and statutes found throughout the Scriptures, the Ten Commandments are a fundamental part of Yahuweh’s eternal commandments. As a whole, they reveal Yahuweh’s basic ‘Rules of the House’ for His children. Any disobedience to His House Rules is called sin.
For example, we are commanded, ‘Do not steal’ (Exodus 20:15). If we take something not belonging to us, we are in disobedience to the eternal Law of Yahuweh, His Torah, His collection of eternal instructions for mankind. We have committed a sin.
Likewise, Messiah tells us in the Torah, ‘…You shall fear [reverence, honour, respect] every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths…’ (Leviticus 19:3a). If we obey the first half of the passage, to fear [reverence, honour, respect] our mother and father — but fail to obey the second half of the passage, to keep Messiah’s sabbaths — we are then in disobedience to Messiah’s eternal instructions for mankind. We have committed a sin.
The Result of Sin
But what is the result when Born-Again Believers continue to commit sin? Let’s see what the Scriptures tell us.
Recalling that the Bible definition of sin is ‘transgression of the Law’ [Torah], notice what the apostle Paul says:
“What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” (Romans 6:15-16)
In the above passage, we are reminded that the apostle Paul is writing to Born-Again, Blood-redeemed, followers of Messiah. He tells us clearly that continuing to sin [transgress the Law] leads to death, but obedience [to the Law—to all of Messiah’s eternal Words] leads to Righteousness.
Now notice that the apostle James gives us the same message:
“Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” (James 1:15)
In the above passage, the apostle James is telling us — the Born-Again Believers of today — that continuing to sin [transgress the Law] produces death. And so we see throughout the New Testament, Believers are exhorted to stop sinning [transgressing the Law] (Rom 6:1-2,11-15; Romans 11:22; Eph 4:26; 1Jo 2:1,3:9). But how is it possible to stop sinning? Notice the following passages:
“…our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” (Titus 2:13b-14)
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Romans 6:1-2)
Beloved, we see above in Titus 2:14 that our Messiah has redeemed us by His Blood, from all iniquity [disobedience to the Law]. He has set us free from slavery to sin — from our compulsion to sin, and from our inability to cease from sin. The apostle Paul then reminds us that we should no longer continue in sin!
We have seen that the first result of sin is death. Now let’s look at another result of sin:
“Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?” (Romans 2:23)
In the above passage, the apostle Paul is speaking to those who know the Law [Torah], yet continue to disobey the Law. Paul is asking them [and us today], “Do you not know? Do you not realise, that continuing to sin [transgress the Law] through breaking the Law, you dishonour Yahuweh our Elohim [our Mighty One]?”
So what should we do if we sin? First let’s notice a few passages:
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13)
If we sin, we are advised to confess the sin, and ask Yahuweh’s forgiveness, and then forsake the sin. Using Bible words, we might say that we are to repent [change our thinking about repeating this sin], then turn or become converted [turn around in our actions, and walk in a different direction, meaning that we cease committing this sin].
If we are Believers, we are called to Repent! Yahuweh is calling His Redeemed People [Born-Again, Blood-washed Believers] to turn, and return to Him, by forsaking their wicked ways, and by beginning to be obedient to all of His Word (See Isaiah 44:22; 2Chronicles 7:14).
The Reader may wonder, “Why have we not heard these things taught in our congregations?” Let’s look into this question.
False Concepts of Sin and Iniquity
Today, most congregational Leaders and Pastors do not teach fully Scriptural words or concepts. Instead, they have unknowingly embraced many man-made doctrines, including some re-defined word definitions of their respective Theologians.
For example, notice that most Pastors and Theologians today define sin as “missing the mark,” but fail to say that “hitting the mark” [as one shooting an arrow] is a Hebrew word picture describing obedience to Torah. By omitting the reference to Torah, they simply ignore the issue of iniquity, and create a false concept of sin and iniquity. Let’s see the results of having a false concept of iniquity:
“And because iniquity <458> shall abound, the love [agape] of many shall wax cold.” (Matthew 24:12)
“Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law <458>.” (1John 3:4)
“And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity <458>.” (Matthew 7:23)
“But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity <93>.” (Luke 13:27)
Let’s notice two things in the above passage in Matthew 24:12:
- Yahushua said that agape love would wax cold because of iniquity. It is agape love, whose source is Yahuweh Himself, that is found only among ‘Believers.’
- The Greek word for iniquity used here is ‘anomia,’ Strong’s number <458>, which means “transgression of the Law”. Here we see that agape Love grows cold, when there is, among the ‘Believers,’ an increase in Transgression [disobedience] of the Law of Moses.
Next, notice the above passage in 1John 3:4. Notice the Scriptural definition of sin is “transgression of the Law,” which is again the same Greek word anomia that defines iniquity.
Then, notice in Matt 7:23 and Luke 13:27, that Yahushua Himself tells us in advance, that the reason He will say to the Foolish Virgins, “Depart from me…” is because they will be considered workers of iniquity. This tells us in simple terms that the Foolish Virgins were continuing to transgress the Law, which we have seen is the New Testament definition of sin.
We then see the results in Matthew 25:1-13. The Foolish Virgins were not allowed to enter in with the Bridegroom.
So now we see that our entering in with Messiah might be at stake, simply because of sin — which is iniquity. Let’s see why this is true.
Our Salvation: Coming Out vs. Entering In
We recall that the Israelites in Egypt were set free by the Blood of the Passover Lamb. They were brought out from bondage of serving Pharaoh in Egypt, and were led into the wilderness, in order to prepare them to enter in to the Promised Land of their inheritance.
In the same way, we too have been set free by the Blood of Yahushua the Passover Lamb. We too have been set free from bondage of serving satan in the world system, and led into the wilderness of this life, to prepare us to enter in to the Promised Land of our eternal inheritance.
As we saw in Salvation: According to the Scriptures, our redemption by the Blood of the Lamb was the come out stage of our salvation. The Israelites came out by Blood, and were baptised in the cloud and in the sea (1Corinthians 10:1). Like the Israelites, we too have come out by the Blood of the Lamb, and have been baptised in water, and in the Holy Spirit.
The enter in stage of our salvation, as we saw however, is not determined by the Blood. The Israelites were set free by the Blood of the Lamb, and then baptised in the cloud and in the sea, yet they were not allowed to enter in — because of their disobedience to the Law [Torah].
Like the Israelites, we too must enter in only by obedience — by ceasing from sin and Iniquity — by ceasing from transgressing the Law.
Warning! Beware!
We must repeat the warning for Believers today:
As Blood-bought, Born-again Believers, we are warned to heed their example, lest we fail to enter for the same reasons. This brings us back to satan’s purpose for Re-defining of Bible words and their meanings by the Theologians.
Throughout the Scriptures, sin is revealed as Transgression of the Law, iniquity, and unrighteousness. So, why have the Theologians changed the New Testament definition of sin?
There is one simple reason. It is because if satan can not prevent you from coming out by the Blood of the Lamb, he will try the next best thing — he will try to prevent you from entering in, by deceiving you with false teaching — which leads you into walking in disobedience to the Law [Torah].
Even satan knows the Scriptures. He knows that sin, which is transgression of the Law, will prevent the Believers of this generation from entering in with Messiah. Notice the following passage:
“Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered [Lit, ‘prevent, forbid, restrain‘].” (Luke 11:52)
Notice in the above passage, it is not those that were coming out by the Blood, but those entering in that the lawyers prevented. Now notice the following:
“And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.” (Matthew 19:16-17)
“Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” (Revelation 22:14)
“Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. (Luke 13:24)
In the above passages, it is clear that entering in is the issue. Again, many have come out by the Blood of the Lamb. Satan could not prevent their redemption and forgiveness by the shed Blood of Messiah, so he will simply try to prevent them from entering in.
And in order to prevent you from entering in, satan must get rid of any New Covenant doctrines that relate to the Law. The Scriptural definition of New Covenant sin is based on disobedience to the Law of Moses. So according to satan’s plan, the term sin had to be re-defined so that Law could be removed from New Covenant Truth. For it is disobedience to the Law of Moses that will prevent the New Covenant Believers from entering in!
Satan is counting on preventing the gullible [“Naive and easily deceived or tricked”] Believers from entering in. These are those who do not search the Scriptures for themselves every day, as did the Bereans, to see whether a teaching is true, or not (Acts 17:10-11). We recall that the Scriptures the Bereans used were the Old Testament Scriptures, for the New Testament had not yet been written.
It is the gullible Believers today who are easily deceived, and who will be among the Foolish Virgins. It is the foolish [foolish; enticed; deceived] who believe every word put forth by their spiritual Leaders, including their man-made traditions and Doctrines of Men (Proverbs 14:15).
Notice that Yahushua tells us in the above passages, in Matthew 19:16-17 and Revelation 22:14, that it is those who keep His commandments [obey all of the Scriptures, including all of the Old Testament commandments], by His enabling Grace, who will enter in. Now we can better understand why Yahushua will say to those who commit iniquity [those who transgress the Law], “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:23).
Likewise, we can perceive why the Bridegroom will say, “I know you not” to the Foolish Virgins (Matthew 25:10-12), for they do not know that the writings of Moses are part of ‘MY’ commandments, as Yahushua calls them (John 14:15).
Now that we have seen the great importance of understanding sin, and why we must avoid continuing in sin, we will now look at a few highlights in the New Testament on how we are to deal with sin.
The Wages of Sin
Many understood the following passage when they were first redeemed, and forgiven:
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
“I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” (John 10:9)
The above passages are shown to emphasize the truth some may not have seen: Eternal life is a gift, but is the result of entering in. And even the entering in is also ‘by me’ as Yahushua puts it — it is by His Grace — the power and ability He gives us, as He lives within us, and enables us to walk as He walked, keeping the commandments — thereby enabling us to enter in.
We see also that sin continues to earn wages, as an earned recompense, even for Believers. And that wage is still death, or no life if we fail to enter in, according to Yahushua’s words in Matt 19:17 and Rev 22:14.
Knowledge of Sin vs. Consciousness of Sin
Many Biblical concepts of sin are closely related to Law. Since the teaching of New Testament concepts of Law has been corrupted, our Biblical understanding of sin has suffered accordingly.
One of these concepts related to the Law that we must grasp, if we hope to grow to maturity, is the difference between knowledge of sin, and consciousness of sin. Let’s begin with the passages below:
“For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience<4893> of sins.” (Hebrews 10:1-2)
“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience<4893>, and our bodies washed with pure water.” (Hebrews 10:19-22)
Notice in the above passages in Hebrews, the Old Covenant is being compared to the New Covenant in one important feature. Under the Old Covenant, an evil conscience remained, even after sins were committed, and then purged by Blood and forgiven. This is because the blood of bulls and goats can cover sin, but can not remove sin (Hebrews 10:4).
In contrast, under the New Covenant, after sins are purged by the Blood of Yahushua and forgiveness occurs, there is no more consciousness of those purged sins, nor does the heart continue to have an evil conscience. This is true because the Blood of Yahushua cleanses and removes the sin, and forgives us [remission] of that sin, if we acknowledge that sin before Yahuweh (Hebrews 10:16-22; 1John 1:7-9).
And so the issue in Hebrews chapter 10 is not the knowledge or awareness of how sin is defined — for this is necessary — but is the issue of a cleansed conscience. That is, by the New Covenant, after purging by the Blood of Yahushua, there is no more consciousness of those purged sins of the past, nor does the heart continue to have an evil conscience regarding those purged sins.
Now compare the passages below, and notice that the subject is completely different:
“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge<1922>[‘perceive; recognise; acknowledge’] of sin.” (Romans 3:20)
“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission [‘forgiveness’] of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” (Romans 3:24-26)
“What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known<1097> [‘know; perceive; understand’] sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.” (Romans 7:7)
In the above passages, we see two things:
- It is the Law [Torah] that gives us the knowledge, or awareness of what sin is, by Yahuweh’s definition;
- It is the sins of the past that are cleansed by the Blood of Yahushua, and for which remission [forgiveness] is given, for those who believe in Yahushua;
So we see that when we first believed, when we initially confessed our sins and repented of them, all sins of the past were purged [forgiven]. Notice the passage states remission is for sins of the past. If we confess our sins and receive forgiveness today, we must not assume that our forgiveness is automatic, for sins we commit tomorrow.
Instead, by reading the Scriptures, we are to develop an on-going discovery and recognition of sin. We recognise sin wherever we see that our actions fail to be in agreement with what the Scriptures actually say. By studying the Scriptures carefully, we are then able to identify the sin, both before and after it is committed — with the intent of confessing and forsaking, and then avoiding that sin.
Now notice in Romans 3:20 and Romans 7:7 there are two different Greek words used, Strong’s number <1922> and <1097>, meaning “know, perceive, discover, recognize, find out, understand, and acknowledge.” It is this on-going awareness and acknowledgment of our day-by-day sins, and resulting cleansing and forgiveness of those sins, of which Believers are instructed by the apostle John:
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1John 1:8-9)
Notice there is a need for awareness of sin, before we can acknowledge the sin, and be cleansed. According to Paul (Romans 3:20), it is only by the Law [Torah] that we have an awareness of what sin really is.
Let’s now look in a little more detail at the apostle Paul’s description of how New Covenant Believers are to properly use the Law.
The Law is Good — If a Man Use it Lawfully
The goal of the Law [Torah; Father’s instructions] is love (1Timothy 1:5). Love is defined as keeping, or walking according to Father’s Commandments (1John 5:3; 2John 1:6). John also tells us that disobedience to Father’s Commandments, to His Law [Torah] is the definition of sin (1John 3:4). Likewise, Yahushua tells us that in order to abide [remain] in His love, we must keep His commandments (John 15:10).
Thus in order to remain in His love, and to maintain our relationship with our Heavenly Father, we must have an ongoing means of identifying, and of removing and cleansing of sins — of our disobedience to Torah. This brings us to recall what the apostle Paul tells us:
“But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully [in accordance with or agreeable to the Law];” (1Timothy 1:8)
One New Covenant purpose for the Law [Torah], to be used lawfully as Paul would say — is the intended work of the Law on the Believer to bring knowledge [recognition] of sin. First the Law [Torah] is to reveal the sin, which speaks of death; the Blood of Yahushua then cleanses and removes the sin; and the Spirit of Life in Messiah Yahushua then brings life. Let’s look briefly at this process.
The purpose of the Spirit of Life in Messiah Yahushua is to bring Resurrection Life into the lives of every Believer. As we give up, and surrender each area of our life, one area at a time, we do so by the knowledge of sin in that area. The purpose of the Law [Torah] in this case, is first to bring a death sentence, to tell us we are guilty.
Resurrection can only occur where there is first a death. It is important to understand that Messiah Yahushua died in our place, and that we must personally identify with His death, burial, and resurrection. When we are first saved, we are to be immersed in water [baptised], and by this we identify ourselves with Yahushua’s death on the cross. When we come up out of the water, we identify ourselves with His resurrection.
And though we obey (Romans 6:11), and have reckoned, and continue to reckon ourselves dead to sin, and alive unto Yahuweh through Messiah, we still tend to commit sins, as the apostle John told us in the above passage in (1John 1:8). There is then required the on-going identification of death, burial, and resurrection for sins we commit.
As a practical matter, we die to our sins, one area at a time. We first become aware of sin by the conviction of the Holy Spirit, as He reveals to us the words of the Law [Torah]. We then confess and forsake the sin, and verbally sprinkle the Blood of Yahushua over the ‘Ark’ of the Testimony, our body, thanking Him for His Blood He shed for us on the cross. The Spirit of Life in Messiah Yahushua can then bring Resurrection, only after the Law [Torah] has dealt a death blow to us in that area.
Yahuweh’s purpose as described above can be seen in the following passage:
“Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. (2Corinthians 3:6)
Here we see NOT a comparison of Old Covenant vs. New Covenant, as some have thought, but we see how the Law [Torah] is intended to work lawfully under the New Covenant — to first bring death by what is read in the Letter, so that by conviction of sin and repentance, the ministry of Resurrection Life may then occur by the Spirit.
The Bondage of Sin
As we saw in Salvation: According to the Scriptures, Israel is our example in many ways. When we acknowledge our forgiveness by the Blood of Yahushua Messiah, he then sets us free from the bondage of sin, and places Himself within us as a Seed that is to grow, and produce fruit.
Yahushua then encourages us to choose wisely, but He still gives us a choice of whom we will obey:
“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” (Romans 6:14-16)
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” (Galatians 5:1)
“But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” (James 1:25)
“Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord… 5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:” (Romans 1:3a, 5)
“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.” (1Peter 1:1-2)
“Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:11)
Remember that in the above passages, Peter, Paul, and James were addressing Born-again Believers. Let us notice the following points:
- The dominion of sin was now broken.
- The Believers now could choose whom they would obey. Previously when under the dominion of sin, they had no choice, but to sin.
- The Believers are exhorted to stand fast, to remain at liberty, and not go back under the Bondage of sin.
- The Believers are reminded that the Liberty that brings perfection, [completeness], does not come from being only a hearer but by being a “do-er” of the Law. From what we have seen by the definition of sin, one who is being a “do-er” of the Law is one who is not sinning.
- The Believers have received Grace for the purpose of obedience; the Strangers [Gentiles] are reminded that they, too, are elect unto [for the purpose of] obedience.
- We are then told that it is Messiah-in-us who produces the fruits [works] of Righteousness, again reminding us that it is only by His Grace that we are enabled to walk in obedience.
Additional insight into sin and bondage, as well as Biblical Grace, can be seen in articles referenced at the end of this article.
Now we will look at a mystery.
The Mystery of Iniquity
There are 27 mysteries listed in the New Testament. Every of these mysteries are important, but the nature of these it that they are still mysteries — they are hidden from view, until such time as Yahuweh unlocks them, making them come into view, to further His purposes.
The Mystery of Iniquity is one such mystery. Notice the following:
“For the mystery of iniquity< 458> doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.” (2Thessalonians 2:7)
So we see in the above passage, this is the Mystery of anomia. As we have seen above, it will be this matter of anomia that will be the reason some will hear, “Depart from me.” Let’s look a little deeper into this word anomia.
In the section above, under the heading Definition of Sin, we saw the Greek word for iniquity is anomia. There are 3 separate, related words used in the New Testament for iniquity, Strong’s numbers <458>, <459>, and <460>. These three Greek words all describe those who are destitute of, depart from, violate, or have contempt for, the Law of Moses — and who, as a result, are considered wicked.
The working of the mystery of iniquity among the Born-again Believers can be seen, and understood in the following passage:
“Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.” (Hosea 10:13)
As we saw in Righteousness As The Light, the Seed, the plant springing up from the Seed, and the fruit, are all one and the same kind. In the above passage in Hosea, we notice the following points:
- The Seed plowed into the soil, is the [bad] Seed of Wickedness;
- The Reaping or Harvest, is Iniquity;
- The Fruit is Lies that are eaten, or taken in. The Fruit of Lies is the same as the Seed of Wickedness, and is the same with the Harvest of Iniquity;
- The context of the entire passage, is the word that is spoken to Israel, and as a euphemism is called Ephraim, who is himself a prophetic picture of the congregation of New Testament Believers.
Thus we see in the passage in Hosea, exactly how the Mystery of Iniquity operates among Yahuweh’s people. The entire history of the congregation of Believers is one of mixing truth with lies, and of twisting Scriptures into man-made doctrines, resulting in wicked behaviour among the hearers.
According to the Scriptures, it is the Pastors and Leaders who are charged with feeding the Flock of Yahuweh. It is these same Leaders, however, who twist the Scriptures, making them say what they are not intended to say — into Lies — resulting in Transgression of the Law.
Let the Reader now give testimony. Dear Reader, have you not heard Pastors or other Leaders try to convince their people, that obedience to the Law is not for New Testament Believers? Have you not heard these Pastors say that any New Covenant Son who obeys His heavenly Father’s commandments, is putting himself under a curse?
How absurd! Anyone having children would not believe this nonsense in the natural world — why would someone be gullible enough to believe it in spiritual matters?
The test of any idea or notion, is complete agreement with all of Scripture, and with all the words of the Prophets [See Are You in The Faith? Examine Yourselves: The Simple Scripture Test]. What do the Scriptures say about the notion that it is not ‘necessary’ for Believers to keep His eternal Law? Notice the following:
“Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law.” (Psalms 119:53)
“He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.” (Proverbs 28:9)
According to the Scriptures, the Pastors and Leaders who make these claims are unknowingly walking in the darkness of the Mystery of Iniquity. As a result, these Pastors and Leaders — and the multitudes that follow them — will not be allowed to enter in to the City of the King, in the Promised Land. The Mystery of Iniquity will have done its work among the wicked. It will be because of their iniquity, just as Yahushua said, that they will hear the words, “Depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
Note also that the Scriptures equate stumbling-blocks with committing iniquity (See Ezekiel 7:19; 14:3,4,7). A stumbling-block is any iniquity or sin that prevents us from walking with Messiah in The Way of Righteousness. The hour is coming, and now is, for the end-time Elijah company to prepare the Way before Messiah, prior to His appearing, by removing the stumbling-blocks from the Way of His people (Isaiah 40:3; 57:10; 62:10; Malachi 3:1; Matthew 3:3; Mark 1:3; Luke 3:4).
Summary
We have seen that the Good News of the Kingdom includes many warnings to avoid sin.
We have seen that sin and Iniquity are defined in Scripture as transgression of the Law of Moses, and that the Scriptural definitions are different from the man-made definitions so popular today.
We have looked at some of the New Testament highlights of sin, and have contrasted them to some of the popular teachings of today.
We have seen the Mystery of Iniquity and how it works among the Believers today.
We have seen that many of the Biblical concepts of sin are intimately connected to the Biblical concepts of Law and Commandments. For this reason the Reader is encouraged to see what the Scriptures say about how the Law relates to the New Covenant, as discussed in some of the articles below.
Related Articles:
and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.” (Rev 3:3)