Integrity- People of God

Have you ever wondered what the differences were between sins , transgressions and iniquities? It took looking at the original Hebrew words to get a better understanding of these differences. God is a very deliberateGod and nothing is done without purpose. Therefore, all these words have significance and it is important that we understand what God is saying when He speaks concerning each of them. 

The three main words, in Hebrew, that were used to define the fallen state of mankind were translated as; 

The Hebrew word chattaah or sin is to error or to commit an unintentional act and it is first mentioned in Genesis 4:7.  God speaks to Cain and tells him if he does well (walk in purpose), he will be accepted but if he does not, then sin (chattaah) is laying at his door waiting to keep him from his potential and from fulfilling his purpose.

We should pay close attention to those things that are laying and waiting to trap us and to keep us from reaching our full potential and our destiny. The enemy has watched mankind from the beginning he is familiar with their family traits, their various cultures and their societal rankings and watches to see their actions and reactions to situations.  The enemy is looking to see which, offenses, failings and indulgences have the greatestpropensity to trip that person or will help get them addicted to some obsession. The preoccupation of sin, the constant thinking and meditation on the wrong things are the weights that bring some people down. Their minds are not free to focus on their own purpose and are hindered in their thinking from measuring up to their created providence and destiny.  

Genesis 4:6-7 So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire isfor you, but you should rule over it.” NKJ

The seed of anger and jealousy was laying and waiting for Cain as he compared his offering with his brother’s offering. The enemy will always try to have people compare themselves with others and this will lead either to envy and jealousy or entitlement and pride. There is a constant luring of deceit by the enemy to see if he can entice people to accept his lies and take the bait of his deception.

The opportunity for sin is always be available but the decision should be made before the occasion of sin is acted upon. When God reviles a truth to us, it is at that moment we must make a decision to obey that truth. Some people want to wait, to deliberate and consider that truth at some latertime. The scripture says the enemy will come and try to steal that word of truth and we should be vigilant in our observance of God’s word. 

We should give consideration and give a place in our hearts and minds to ponder the person of Jesus this is how we resist the devil, we submit to God. To dwell on anger, bitterness, pride and jealousy are traps of the enemy and they open of avenues to allow him access to cultivate depraveactions.

Cain did not obey God’s warning and he allowed his anger and jealousy to give birth to an act of murder. Had Cain listen to God’s caution and tookcontrol of his anger and put it under subjection, he could have been able to prevail in that battle and fulfill his God given purpose; to reflect the image of God in the earth. Instead Cain allowed sin to rule and have dominion over him and thus derailing his destiny. 

The Hebrew word Persha or transgression, is to violate or act against a law, a rule or a code. It is first seen in Exodus 23:21, God is telling the people of Israel to obey the voice of the Angel who was sent to keep them in “the way,” which is God’s way and plan for them.

Exodus 23:20-21 Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared.  Beware of Him and obey His voice; do not provoke Him, for He will not pardon your transgressions; for My name is in Him. NKJ

God has a way that is supernatural.  The kingdom Jesus brought to earth is spiritually discerned with methods and principles that are understood spiritually. It is not part of this natural world system so those who are only of this natural world cannot comprehend this kingdom of God. Those who are in the family of God have access to this kingdom. God’s people must learn how to operate in His kingdom and to live by His principles on earth. Some people are waiting to go to heaven thinking that is when they will see God’s kingdom, but God’s kingdom has come to earth and His people must learn how to live and operate in it. 

God has given us His word and His Son Jesus to guide us in His way and yet many people lack a personal relationship with God. Many are entangled with the traditions of men, the do’s and the don’ts of tradition rather than knowing and being the love of God on the earth.  We see people stray and transgress from God’s path because they fail to recognizeHis path, His truths and His kingdom principles.  People will wander off course and miss their mark and God’s purpose for their lives because they followed a person and not God.  Some fail to operate in the good news of God’s Kingdom because they do not know the love God has for them and all those who are hurting. 

The Hebrew word Avon or iniquities – is to act knowingly evil, perversity, willfully and stubbornly in spite of God’s word and the punishment of iniquity. The Hebrew word Avon is first seen in Genesis 4:13 after Cain killed his brother he said to the Lord, “my avon, (evil, perverse, presumptuous, willfully disrespectful act of disobedient and the punishment of this act) is greater than I can bear.” The word in this passage is avon and was translated as punishment. The Hebrew meaningmost often used for avon, is knowingly evil, wicked and gross presumptuous and the punishment of that iniquity. Some Hebrew scholars says this meaning lines up with the context of the scripture. 

Genesis 4:13   And Cain said to the Lord, “My(avon)punishment isgreater than I can bear! NKJ

God had warned Cain that sin was laying at his door but Cain ignored God’s warning and presumptuously disregarded God’s word. When Cain recognized the punishment of his willful disrespect of God was before him, he said it was more than his soul could bear and endure.  Cain knew the people would try and kill him and even in this God and His mercygave Cain a promise that no one would slay him.

Many people will try and say they are being punished by God but the truthis they are living with the reaction to an action or in a state of cause and effect of their own choices and consequences. The enemy will try and usethe same tactics today against mankind, anger, hate, pride and jealousy to provoke people into iniquity. The people who allow hate to continuously consume their thoughts and lives will eventually allow their actions to lead them into the same type of deliberate and willful act of disobedience to God. This is often the result of the root problem, which is pride, entitlement and self-centeredness. At some point there must be a letting go of the pride and the hurt and a prayer of forgiveness in order to be released from our past so to move forward into destiny. 

God’s love for us far outweighs our sins, transgressions and iniquities. Jesus came that we may live in our true identity, purpose and destiny, but it is our choice to ask Him to come into our lives and transform us into His likeness. God’s love allows us an opportunity to ask for forgiveness, to accept the completed work of Jesus. It is when we bow before Jesus as our Lord that we begin to be transformed into a new creation that reflects God’s love on earth.