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"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." 1 John 3:4
Sin in the Bible is defined as the transgression of the law of God. A transgression is an act of violating a law or rule. To transgress means to go beyond the boundaries or limits, in this case going beyond the boundaries of God's laws. The holy laws of God are designed to set order and establish a righteous code of conduct for us to live by in honor of Him. When we violate that code, it is called sin.
Lucifer, the anointed cherub that covered (see Ezekiel 28:14), is the originator of sin. In Ezekiel 28:15, God described Lucifer as being perfect in all his ways until iniquity was found in him. In Isaiah 14:12-14, particularly verse 14, it is said that Lucifer wanted to exalt himself above all creation and be like God. The moment Lucifer began thinking this, he was sinning against God.
Renamed Satan, meaning "adversary" or "opponent," he introduced sin into the world when he tempted Adam and Eve with the notion that they too could become gods if they ate the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3:5). When Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, they broke the law of God which explicitly spoke against eating from the tree of knowledge (see Genesis 2:16-17). And from that day on, sin entered the world.
As a result of Adam and Eve's disobedience, death would pass on to them and all their descendants. This is why we die to this very day; no amount of technology or advanced medicine can stop it, because it has been spoken by God. Death by definition is separation from God, who is life. When we disobey God's laws and commandments, we are doing the same thing that Adam and Eve did in the garden, committing sin. And the consequence of our sin will always lead to death.
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23
In the Bible, you will see three terms for sin: trespass, transgression, and iniquity. These terms are used to indicate the severity of a particular sin. Now, this doesn't imply that one sin is less evil to God than another. All sin is equal in God's eyesight, whether it's lying, stealing, killing, or committing immoral sexual acts like fornication. However, a careful examination of the three words will help shed some light on their slightly different meanings.
The word "trespass" means "the act of crossing the line," that is, "violating or overstepping the boundaries of the law." It can also mean "falling away from after being close beside." Peter, who was close to Jesus, trespassed against Him when he denied Him three times (Luke 22:34, 55-62). As believers, when we disobey God's moral laws, especially when we have been close to God, we are by definition trespassing or overstepping the boundaries of His laws.
A trespass can be intentional or unintentional; sometimes we may sin out of ignorance. And while there is no excuse for sin, God does give us grace when we sin. This allows us to rebound from our mistakes and continue to seek His righteousness without us being destroyed upon the first error we make when we try to keep God's law.
The word transgression is often used in the Bible to mean intentional disobedience and willful trespassing. We often intentionally sin against the Lord even when we know it's wrong. For example, we may take something we know doesn't belong to us, or we may lie to someone knowing it will hurt them. This sin is considered a transgression. Many in the modern world are willfully transgressing the law of God. Most people know having sex outside of marriage, drinking, men being with men (Leviticus 18:22), and the like are sinful acts, yet people continue to do them without regard for their own lives, others' lives, or most importantly God's laws. Such sinful acts will not go unpunished, for the Lord is a just God and will deal with each person according to their sin (John 12:48; Romans 2:2-3; Hebrews 13:4).
Iniquity is a premeditated sin, an escalating and/or repetitive sin that a person continues without repentance. It is a sin that, if left unchecked, leads to a reprobate mind, a soul that is thoroughly wicked and completely resistant to the commandments of God. Lucifer can be considered the first reprobate because of his festering pride that drove him to rebel against God.
A reprobate mind is the result of someone who refuses to repent even when provided with multiple warnings from God to turn away from their iniquity. Being in this state makes it almost impossible for one to turn away from their sin. This is why Jesus told us to repent of our sins.
"From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matthew 4:17
We mustn't allow our hearts to be hardened against the Lord, like the Egyptian Pharoah in Exodus and the children of Israel in the wilderness.
"Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years." Hebrews 3:7-9
Iniquity is a deliberate sin that can make one heartless and callous toward the convictions of God, so it goes beyond transgression. David's sin with Bathsheba is an example of how one's transgression can lead to iniquity. He took Bathsheba from her husband Uriah behind his back and committed adultery with her. Then he set Uriah up to be killed after David couldn't get him to go home and lay with his wife to hide the fact that Uriah's wife committed adultery against him (read 2 Samuel 11:3-27).
Just think that David was the servant of the Most High, yet he committed a grievous sin against the Lord. But his sin did not go unpunished (2 Samuel 12:9-12). Nathan the prophet came to him and told him that because of his iniquity, his son which he had with Bathsheba would die (2 Samuel 12:14).
The prophet Micah said in the following verse:
"Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand." Micah 2:1
We should never allow sin to fester in our lives, no matter how small it may seem to be. The end result of our unrepented sin will always be death and torment in the lake of fire (Revelation 21:8). But even the worst sin can be forgiven by God because of His mercy and love for us.
"Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy." Micah 7:18
God's mercy and His love for us are greater than our sins. This is why He sent Jesus, His Son, to earth to die for our sins, so that we can return to Him and be cleansed of our unrighteousness and not have to die and go to the lake of fire. By Jesus' death on the cross, we have grace, which abounds greatly.
"Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 5:20-21
God is able to forgive our iniquities, no matter how large, as long as we have a repenting heart toward Him. After being chastised by the Lord through Nathan the prophet, David repented and sought God for His forgiveness. Psalm 51 is a chapter in which David confessed his sins and cried out to God to forgive him. In verse 2 he asked the Lord to cleanse him from his iniquity.
"Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me." Psalm 51:2-3
You have a chance today to repent of your past and present sins. Don't wait until it's too late. If you are not saved, turn from your wicked ways and seek the Lord with all faithfulness that He will heal you and make you a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17). Be like David and confess your sins before God and He will forgive you (Jeremiah 33:8; Hebrews 8:12).
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9
If you are saved yet struggle with sin, ask God to help you. Ask Him to increase your love for Him, to teach you how to love Him with all your heart, soul, and mind. Love should be the motivation for our relationship with God. When our love for Him is great, it becomes easier to keep His commandments. Let us be thankful for the salvation He has provided for us and that each day is another opportunity to seek His righteousness.