INTRODUCTION TO FREEDOM FROM SIN
Greetings, dear reader, and welcome to this teaching on the topic of freedom from sin. As a Christian, I believe in the transformative power of Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross, which offers us liberation from the bondage of sin. In this teaching, I will explore the foundational principles of this freedom and how it can be experienced in our daily lives.
Background Story
Sometime ago a dear brother from the United Kingdom asked me to pray for his friend's wife who was fighting with cancer of the blood.
As we were praying for the sister the Lord opened my eyes of understanding to spiritual truths about sin that has changed my life permanently in a good way.
Though the sister did not recover and went on to sleep, I had the opportunity of sharing this message first with her and the brother who had invited me to minister, and I am assured she is resting from her works with the Lord.
This message is going to be pivotal, and our response to it may determine our eternal destiny. It has the potential to be transformative, impacting both our present lives and our eternal destiny.
You will either cross the river Jordan into the Promised Land or remain to die in a spiritual wilderness experience.
In a world where voices vie for our attention, it is crucial to discern the true voice of the Bible and listen to its message without distortion or human opinions.
In this teaching, we embark on a journey of understanding, unlearning, and relearning, as we delve into the depths of scripture to uncover the path towards freedom from sin.
Drawing inspiration from scripture, which urges us not to let sin reign in our mortal bodies, but rather present ourselves as instruments of righteousness to God, we explore the concept of freedom and its profound implications.
Romans 6:12-16 (LITV) says, "Then DO NOT LET SIN REIGN in your mortal body, to obey it in its lusts. Neither present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as one living from the dead, and your members instruments of righteousness to God. For your SIN SHALL NOT LORD IT OVER YOU, for you are not under Law, but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under Law, but under grace? Let it not be! Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves as slaves for obedience, you are slaves to whom you obey, whether of sin to death, or obedience to righteousness?"
Freedom, encompasses the liberty and authority to rule over our lives and the domain we inhabit. The first territory we are called to dominate is our own bodies, specifically the element of sin that seeks to enslave and control us.
Through the application of faith principles in Jesus Christ, we can break free from the power and consequences of sin, receiving forgiveness for our past transgressions.
Sin, is a condition resulting from the initial disobedience to God, acts as a barrier between humanity and its Creator.
The Implications of Sin
Sin, in its broadest sense, refers to any thought, word, or deed that deviates from moral and ethical principles. It encompasses actions that harm oneself, others, or disrupt the harmony of the universe.
Sin creates a barrier between an individual and their spiritual potential.
Sin affects our overall well-being, relationships, and spiritual connection. It generates feelings of guilt, shame, and remorse, leading to inner turmoil and a sense of disconnection from the divine.
The consequences of sin can manifest as emotional distress, strained relationships, and a general sense of dissatisfaction with life. Recognizing these implications is crucial for embarking on the path to freedom from sin.
Benefits of Freedom from Sin
But, the sacrificial death and resurrection of Christ offer us deliverance from the power of sin in the present and the hope of a new life.
Empowered by the Holy Spirit, believers can overcome destructive habits, addictions, and behaviors that contradict God's will, experiencing true freedom in Christ.
In order to grasp the concept of freedom from sin, we must first comprehend sin itself and its multifaceted dimensions. According to the Bible, sin manifests in four distinct dimensions: transgression, sin, iniquity, and guile.
Each dimension represents a specific aspect of our fallen nature and the various ways in which sin operates in our lives.
Through a meticulous examination of these dimensions, we uncover the intricacies of transgression, which involves willful rebellion against God's law, and sin, which encompasses missing the mark and deviating from the path of righteousness.
Furthermore, we delve into iniquity, which speaks of a deeper nature of sin, and guile, which represents deceit and treachery.
Understanding these dimensions allows us to appreciate the place of faith, confession, mercy, obedience, love, and the redemptive work of Christ.
By aligning ourselves with God's mercy and confessing our transgressions, we tap into the power of His forgiveness, made possible through the wounds endured by Jesus on the cross.
Moreover, we learn that the confession of sin is not only an act of obedience but also a demonstration of reverence towards God.
As we embark on this enlightening journey, let us open our hearts and minds to the voice of the Bible, seeking true freedom from sin and the deliverance that comes through a restored relationship with God.
May this teaching serve as a guide to unlocking the transformative power of scripture, leading us to a life liberated from the chains of sin.
WHAT IS FREEDOM?
God, in His great love and mercy, provided a solution to our sin problem through His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus, who lived a sinless life, willingly took upon Himself the punishment for our sins by dying on the cross.
Through His sacrificial death and glorious resurrection, Jesus offers us forgiveness and the opportunity to be reconciled with God.
Freedom is "free dominion," the liberty and license to rule over a domain (territory) and its elements. If you are not dominating you are not free, for whatever you fail to master will master you in life.
The first territory you were given to dominate is your body, and the element you are supposed to tame in your flesh is sin.
Though you are a child of God, if you are failing to CONTROL your body and rule over SIN in your flesh, you are a slave to SIN in your flesh.
Freedom from sin and deliverance from iniquity point to the fact that through appropriate application of faith principles in Jesus Christ, one can be freed from the power and consequences of sin, and receive forgiveness for their past sins.
In biblical teaching, sin is seen as a condition of human existence resulting from the first human disobedience to God. Sin separates humans from God, and Christ's sacrifice on the cross restores the broken relationship between humankind and God.
To experience freedom from sin, we must first acknowledge our need for a Savior and place our faith in Jesus Christ. This means accepting Him as Lord and Savior and surrendering our lives to Him.
Through Christ's death and resurrection, we can be delivered from the power of sin in their lives. As we do so, the Holy Spirit enters our lives and empowers us to resist temptation, overcome sinful habits, and live in alignment with God's Word.
Deliverance from iniquity refers to the idea that Christ not only delivers people from the guilt of their past sin but also enables them to live a new life free from the power of sin in the present and future.
Christians believe that the Holy Spirit empowers them to overcome bad habits, addictions, and other patterns of behavior that are contrary to God's will.
Sin, in its broadest sense, refers to any thought, word, or deed that deviates from moral and ethical principles. It encompasses actions that harm oneself, others, or disrupt the harmony of the universe. Sin creates a barrier between an individual and their spiritual potential.
The concept of freedom from sin and deliverance from it is a central theme in the Bible, representing the hope for a new life in Christ and the restoration of a broken relationship with God. Walking in freedom from sin is an ongoing process that requires daily renewal of our minds and hearts.
The Bible encourages us in Romans 12:2 to "not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind." This transformation occurs through prayer, studying God's Word, fellowship with other believers, and relying on the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
But to understand freedom from sin we first need to understand sin, its slavery within its dimensions.
SIN IN FOUR DIMENSIONS
Understanding the Nature of Sin
Sin, according to Scripture, is any thought, word, or action that goes against God's will and His perfect standards. It entered the world through the disobedience of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and has since plagued humanity.
Sin separates us from God and hinders our ability to live in harmony with Him and others. Recognizing our own sinful nature is the first step towards seeking freedom from sin.
The Apostle Paul reminds us in Romans 3:23 that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." None of us can claim to be without sin, and it is this very realization that leads us to seek redemption.
The Four Dimensions of Sin
I am neither a mathematician nor a scientist, but according the Bible there are only four dimensions to everything namely; width, length, depth and height.
Ephesians 3:18 (DARBY) says, "In order that ye may be fully able to apprehend with all the saints what [is] the breadth and length and depth and height."
Sin is in four dimensions namely transgression, sin, iniquity and guile.
Psalms 32:1-2 says, "Blessed is he whose TRANSGRESSION is FORGIVEN, whose SIN is COVERED. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not INIQUITY, and in whose SPIRIT there is no GUILE."
Transgression and sin are action dimensions while iniquity and guile are nature dimensions. The first dimension of sin is transgression...
TRANSGRESSION
The Hebrew word used for "transgression" here is "pesha" - a willful rebellion or disobedience against God's law or commandments. The Greek word commonly translated as "transgression" is "parabasis" - a violation or stepping over the boundaries of God's law, a trespass.
Transgression is the sin and act of commission by which one trespasses a given limit or boundary in God's law. The law has set boundaries, and when you trespass God's laws by acts of disobedience such as lying - you have committed the sin of TRANSGRESSION.
1 John 3:4 says, "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law."
The dimension of TRANSGRESSION is FORGIVEN by God's MERCY that is unlocked through the key of CONFESSION
Psalms 32:1 says, "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven..."
James 5:16 says, "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."
1 John 1:9 (JUB) says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Transgressions are the width dimension of sin and they are removed in forgiveness from the repenting person to the furthest width possible.
Psalms 103:12 says, "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us."
Some extreme teachings say that a Christian doesn't need to confess sin but only needs to confess the Word which is a lie. You have to confess that ACT of sin you committed to receive forgiveness through God's MERCY.
When you confess your transgressions, you align yourself with God's mercy which was released for their forgiveness through the wounds inflicted on Jesus on the cross.
Isaiah 53:5 says, "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."
Isaiah 53:7-8, 12 says, "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors."
When we choose to not confess our transgressions we nullify the suffering Jesus endured for our forgiveness, and put to waste the agony of His wounds.
Many times people transgress and think that they have gotten away with their transgressions because God's heart is so wide that He can choose to be quiet about it for a while, hoping that we will repent.
But if we don't confess our transgressions it is a sign of disrespect towards Him, and by so-doing we expose ourselves to His judgment. We must fear God and follow His commands.
Psalms 50:21-22 (BBE) says, "These things have you done, and I said nothing; it seemed to you that I was such a one as yourself; but I will make a protest against you, and put them in order before your eyes. Now keep this in mind, you who have no memory of God, for fear that you may be crushed under my hand, with no one to give you help."
Sadly, of the few believers who have an appreciation of the work of the cross, the majority only know how to confess their transgressions and do not know what to do with the rest. In fact, many Christians The second dimension of sin is the one also called sin...
SIN
The Hebrew word used for "sin" is "chatta'ah" - missing the mark/target, falling short, SIN OFFERING, or deviating from the path of righteousness set by God.
The Greek word commonly translated as "sin" is "hamartia" - to miss the mark, to err, or to be in a state of separation from God. The second dimension of sin is the act of omission by NOT ACTING upon God's instructions to do good works.
James 4:17 (NET) says, "So whoever knows what is good to do and DOES NOT DO IT is guilty of SIN."
Man is a product of God's workmanship and he was created to do good works unto Him.
Ephesians 2:10 (ACV) says, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God preordained that we should walk in them."
When you present your body as an instrument of righteousness (after dying to sin) to serve His purpose for your life, it is received as a HOLY and ACCEPTABLE SACRIFICE.
Romans 6:13 (ACV) says, "And do not present your body-parts as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God, as living out of the dead, and your body-parts as instruments of righteousness to God."
Romans 12:1 (LITV) says, "Therefore, brothers, I call on you through the compassions of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service."
But when you do not offer your body to God's commands and become the master of your own life, you become a SINFUL OFFERING, which is UNACCEPTABLE to God. And the devil becomes your new master.
Different dimensions of are dealt with differently using different principles, just as different doors are opened by different keys. You don't deal with the dimension of SIN by confession like that of transgression. It does not work. The dimension of SIN is COVERED by God's LOVE through OBEYING His commands of living as a SACRIFICE unto Him.
Psalms 32:1 says, "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose SIN is COVERED."
James 5:20 (NET) says, "He should know that the one who turns a sinner back from his wandering path will save that person’s soul from death and will COVER a multitude of SINS."
1 Peter 4:8 (NET) says, "Above all keep your love for one another fervent, because LOVE COVERS a multitude of SINS."
Becoming a holy sacrifice unto God is done by laying down your life as a sacrifice for the salvation of others as Christ laid down His life for your salvation.
John 15:12-15 (LITV) says, "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I loved you. Greater love than this has no one, that anyone should lay down his soul for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. I no longer call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his lord does. But I called you friends, because all things which I heard from My Father I made known to you."
1 John 3:16 (NET) says, "We have come to know love by this: that Jesus laid down his life for us; thus we ought to lay down our lives for our fellow Christians."
The New Testament is a "one another" covenant. If you do not sacrifice your own life to pray for others, and to share with others to COVER them out of what God has blessed you with, you automatically remove yourself from the COVER of God's LOVE and any trouble from the enemy shall find you vulnerable.
It is not easy to love others just as it was not easy for Jesus, but He prayed for God's will to be done against His own will. You have to engage in prayer in order to do God's will against your own will. It takes the grace of God to be consumed by His love to the degree of being willing without reservations, to die for the sake of the salvation of others.
You need to come to a place where you are willing to die for the salvation of others. I am touched by the example of the apostle Paul who expressed his willingness to be separated from Christ and be eternally condemned to hell (accursed) for the sake of the salvation of the Jews
Romans 9:1-3 (DARBY) says, "I say [the] truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience bearing witness with me in [the] Holy Spirit, that I have great grief and uninterrupted pain in my heart, for I have wished, I myself, to be a curse from the Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen, according to flesh."
Too many of the so-called Christians today are living in sin because they are not willing to do the good thing that they know. We are too full of ourselves to live for Christ by dying to self for the sake of the brethren.
You can not fast this SIN dimension of omission away. You just have to OBEY your calling to serve Christ by loving others. There is an inseparable connection between loving God and loving one's neighbor.
If someone claims to love God but has hatred or ill will towards their fellow human beings, their claim of love for God is inconsistent and unreliable. Believers must express their love for God through acts of love, kindness, and compassion towards others.
1 John 4:20 (NKJV) says, "If someone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?"
Sin (of omission) is the length dimension of overall sin.
Psalms 4:2-5 (NHEB) says, "You sons of men, how long shall my glory be turned into dishonor? Will you love vanity, and seek after falsehood? Selah. But know that the Lord has set apart for himself him who is godly: The Lord will hear when I call to him. When agitated, do not sin. Search your own heart on your bed, and be still. Selah. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness. Put your trust in the Lord."
Psalms 80:4 (NHEB) says, "Lord God of Hosts, How long will you be angry against the prayer (good works) of your people?"
Isaiah 53:10 (NHEB) says, "Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him. He has caused him to suffer. When you make his soul an offering for sin,he shall see his offspring. He shall prolong his days,and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand."
Romans 6:2 (NHEB) says, "May it never be! We who died to sin, how could we live in it any longer?"
But to obey your calling you must first deal with the nature of sin. The first two dimensions of sin (transgression and sin) are the ACTION dimensions, and next we shall move on to the remaining two NATURE dimensions guile and iniquity. We are starting with GUILE...
GUILE
The term "guile" has its origin in the Old English word "wīl," which meant "trick, deceit, or cunning." It can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic root word "wiljô," meaning "desire" or "passion."
The word "guile" entered Middle English in the 13th century, and it retained its original sense of deceit or cunning, referring to the use of sly or crafty methods to achieve one's goals.
The word "guile" is often associated with negative or dishonest behavior, suggesting a deliberate intention to deceive or manipulate others. It is commonly used to describe someone who employs clever strategies, trickery, or cunning to achieve their objectives, often at the expense of others' trust or well-being.
The Hebrew word used for "guile" is "remiyah." It refers to deceit, cunning, or treachery. It implies the use of falsehood or deception to achieve personal gain or advantage.
The Greek word commonly translated as "guile" is "dolos." It also denotes deceit or trickery, often used to manipulate or deceive others.
Guile is the corrupt and deceptive nature of the spirit that results from the lack of faith in Jesus Christ as God and from being deceived or tricked to believe in a false god or idol instead of God through Jesus Christ.
Guile is always mentioned in line with the inward condition of the spirit of a person. Jesus Christ commended Nathaniel as an Israelite in whom was NO GUILE!
John 1:47 (LITV) says, "Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him and said concerning him, Behold, truly an Israelite in whom is no guile!"
Paul rebuked a false prophet Elymas, who was full of ALL GUILE!
Acts 13:6-10 (LITV) says, "And passing through the island as far as Paphos, they found a certain conjurer, a false prophet, a Jew named Bar-jesus, who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This one having called Barnabas and Saul to him, he sought to hear the Word of God. But Elymas, the conjurer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. But Saul, who is also Paul, being filled with the Holy Spirit, and looking intently on him, he said, O son of the devil, full of all guile and of all cunning, hostile to all righteousness, will you not stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?"
Guile comes with hearing the preaching of a false gospel that will take your faith away from the true God to idols. To be deceived through false preaching of ANOTHER GOSPEL is to be BEGUILED (filled with guile). This makes one to receive ANOTHER JESUS and ANOTHER SPIRIT. And the aim is to make one who has been CONCEIVED in the spirit to MISCARRY the Seed of Christ and FORFEIT the grace of God.
2 Corinthians 11:3-4 says, "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent BEGUILED Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him."
Colossians 2:4, 8 says, "And this I say, lest any man should BEGUILE you with enticing words... Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ."
Many people are beguiled in different ways to worship false gods and especially fallen angels in the name of Jesus Christ!
Colossians 2:18-19 says, "Let no man BEGUILE you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God."
For this reason, I do NOT encourage you to pray to the "God of Pastor or Apostle or Prophet X," for who knows if their god may turn out to be a fallen angel? 🤷🏻♂️
If you have been taught that Jesus is the archangel Michael or Gabriel, I submit it to you that you are being deceived into worshipping an angel instead of God.
Some practice "spiritual magnetism" of "angels" and others call out angels of everything in prayer. Others have even gone further to changing their names after their revealed heavenly names of "angels."
This is spiritual deception taking people straight to hell. Just learn to pray to the Father in the name of Jesus Christ as the Scriptures teach. It is possible for a believer to be BEGUILED after receiving Christ and to MISCARRY and LOSE salvation.
Hebrews 6:4-8 (LITV) says, "For it is impossible for those once having been enlightened, and having tasted of the heavenly gift, and becoming sharers of the Holy Spirit, and tasting the good Word of God, and the works of power of a coming age, and having fallen away, it is impossible for them again to renew to repentance, crucifying again for themselves the Son of God, and putting Him to open shame. (For the earth drinking in the rain often coming upon it, and producing vegetation suitable for those for whom it is also worked, receives blessing from God; "but bearing thorns and thistles," it is deemed unfit and near a curse, of which the end is for burning.)"
Once you get BEGUILED after having believed, you can no longer be renewed again in your spirit. Christians who cling to worthless idols in their hearts and mix their faith practices in Christ and other things forfeit the grace of God.
Jonah 2.8 (NIV) says, "Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs."
Brothers and sisters, be careful of what you hear and the kind of preachers you listen to. If you find it hard to endure the sound teachings of God's Word like this one it is a sign that you have received guile in your spirit. As with Jesus Christ, may guile never be found in your heart.
1 Peter 2:21-22 (LITV) says, "For you were called to this, for even Christ suffered on our behalf, leaving behind an example for us, that you should follow His steps; "who did not sin, nor was guile found in His mouth."
GUILE is removed from the SPIRIT by FAITH, which comes by HEARING, which comes by THE WORD OF GOD. And FAITH in the SPIRIT is equally the root of all RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Romans 14:23 (LITV) says, "But the one doubting, if he eats, he has been condemned, because it is not of faith; and whatever is not of faith is sin."
Next we move on to the most important part of this message on iniquity...
INIQUITY
The Hebrew word used for "iniquity" is "avon" - wickedness, mischief, perversity, or moral distortion. It signifies a deviation from what is right or just.
The Greek word commonly translated as "iniquity" is "anomia" - lawlessness or a disregard for God's law and righteousness.
Iniquity is the nature of wickedness or mischief in the human body that runs through the blood from one generation to another.
Because of its intergenerational nature the Lord God said He would visit the iniquity of the fathers who worshipped idols upon the third and fourth generations of their children in judgment under the Law of Moses.
Exodus 20:5 (LITV) says, "You shall not bow to them, and you shall not serve them; for I am Jehovah your God, a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of fathers on sons, on the third and on the fourth generation, to those that hate Me."
Iniquity is the inherent nature of sin that causes you to commit the act of sin. Every human being is born with the nature of iniquity from the mother's womb.
Psalms 51:5 (LITV) says, "Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me."
Psalms 58:3 says, "The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies."
Iniquity was introduced to the human race by Adam when he willingly disobeyed God and obeyed the serpent through the influence of Eve, his wife. When Eve ate the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, she transgressed because she had been beguiled by the serpent, but Adam was not deceived.
2 Corinthians 11:3 (LITV) says, "But I fear lest by any means, as the serpent deceived Eve in his craftiness, so your thoughts should be corrupted from the purity which is due to Christ."
1 Timothy 2:14 (LITV) says, "And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived has come to be in transgression."
So, Adam knowingly committed the trespass of iniquity when he obeyed the serpent (full of iniquity) to become its slave, and brought iniquity into the human race.
Romans 5:12, 19 (LITV) says, "Because of this, even as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death passed to all men, inasmuch as all sinned... For as through the one man's disobedience the many were constituted sinners, so also through the obedience of the One the many shall be constituted righteous."
Romans 6:16 (LITV) says, "Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves as slaves for obedience, you are slaves to whom you obey, whether of sin to death, or obedience to righteousness?"
When Adam ate that forbidden fruit, he committed the sin of high treason (the crime of deliberate and intentional betrayal against one's own country or government, by participating in activities that aim to overthrow or harm the head of state - one of the most serious offenses in many legal systems punishable by life sentence, or even the death penalty) as he handed the legal authority God had entrusted him with over to Satan - God's opposer and hater. What an act of iniquity!
Luke 4:5-8 (LITV) says, "And leading Him up into a high mountain, the Devil showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the Devil said to Him, I will give all this authority and their glory to You, because it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Then if You worship before me, all will be Yours. And answering, to him, Jesus said, Go behind Me, Satan! For it has been written: "You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve."
Iniquity is highly contagious. It can be passed from one body to another and to things that come in contact with a defiled body like clothes. The iniquities of Israel were transferred to the scapegoat through confession by the high priest, and it also defiled his clothes.
Leviticus 16:21-23 (LITV) says, "Then Aaron shall lay his two hands on the head of the living goat, and shall confess over it all the iniquities of the sons of Israel, and all their transgressions, and all their sins, and shall put them on the head of the goat, and shall send it by the hand of a chosen man into the wilderness. And the goat shall bear on him all their iniquities to a land cut off. And he shall send the goat away into the wilderness. And Aaron shall come into the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall strip off the linen garments which he had put on as he went into the sanctuary, and shall leave them there."
Iniquity is the toughest STAIN of sin that remains after guile is removed from your spirit, your transgressions are forgiven, and your sins are covered.
Though you may have received Christ, iniquity is what has the power to redefine your identity and color you again as a sinner like oil paint does to a wall. Iniquity is the dressing of filthy garments that can not be removed by the righteousness of your own effort to do good works.
Isaiah 64:6 says, "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."
The way you are DRESSED determines the way you are ADDRESSED. The presence of iniquity is what gives Satan the legal rights to accuse the brethren.
Zechariah 3:1-4 describes a vision in which the prophet Zechariah sees Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, with Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. The passage continues with a dialogue between the LORD and Satan.
In the vision, the LORD addresses Satan, saying, "The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?"
This statement signifies the rebuke of Satan by the LORD, emphasizing that Joshua, as the high priest, is chosen by God and represents Jerusalem. The passage then describes Joshua's condition, stating that he was clothed with filthy garments while standing before the angel.
But, the LORD instructs those standing before him to take away Joshua's filthy garments, signifying the removal of his iniquity. The LORD further states that Joshua will be clothed with a change of raiment (clothing), indicating a symbolic transformation and restoration of his righteousness.
This passage shows a spiritual battle between Satan and believers, with the LORD intervening on the believers' behalf and providing them with forgiveness, cleansing from iniquity, and a renewed position.
Iniquity is an abomination (something that is considered morally offensive, detestable or displeasing) which separates man from God and causes his not to be heard by Him.
Psalms 66:18 says, "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me."
It doesn't matter how gifted and anointed you are. You are in trouble with the devil for as long as you still have iniquity in you.
The Seven Forms of Iniquity
Iniquity is in seven forms.
Proverbs 6:16-19 (NET) says, "There are six things that the Lord hates, even seven things that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift to run to evil, a false witness who pours out lies, and a person who spreads discord among family members."
In the passage above are not all kinds of iniquity in detail, but these seven are the heads that summarize all forms of iniquity as listed below;
- Unclean Eyes of Pride
- Unclean Lips with a Lying Tongue
- Unclean Hands Shedding Innocent Blood
- Unclean Heart Scheming Wicked Plans
- Evil Rushing Feet
- False Witness Breathing Out Lies
- Divider of Brethren
Seven is the number of completion. Iniquity in its complete form is like the highly contagious skin disease of leprosy in the Bible. It is the dimension of habitual bloodline sins by which the seven heads of the dragon called Satan, put the human race into bondage.
Revelation 12:3, 9 (LITV) says, "And another sign was seen in the heavens. And, behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns! And on his heads were seven diadems... And the great dragon was cast out, the old serpent being called devil, and, Satan; he deceiving the whole habitable world was cast out onto the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."
Acts 8:23 says, "For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity."
The seven heads of Satan are in charge of seven kingdoms of the world that the devil inherited from Adam through the seven forms of iniquity as follows;
- The spirit of unclean eyes of pride is Ashtoreth the king of Assyria
- The spirit of unclean kips with a lying tongue is Leviathan the king of Egypt.
- The spirit of unclean hands shedding innocent blood is Abaddon the king of Persia.
- The spirit of an unclean heart scheming wicked plans is Azazel the king of Greece
- The spirit of evil rushing feet is Beelzebub the king of Tyre
- The spirit of the false witness breathing out lies is Belial The king of Rome
- The spirit of the divider of brethren is Lucifer the king of Babylon
The seven forms of iniquity are what actually corrupted these seven fallen angels to form the devil and gave him his completely evil identity.
In the book of Ezekiel in the Bible, there is a part of a prophecy against the king of Tyre, an "anointed or guardian cherub" who was corrupted by iniquity.
Ezekiel 28:15 states, "You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, until iniquity was found in you."
The king of Tyre was originally created in a state of moral perfection but later succumbed to iniquity.
Ezekiel 28:18 continues the prophecy, stating, "By the host of your iniquities, by the iniquity of your trade, you have defiled your holy places. So I brought a fire from your midst and it shall devour you, and I will give you for ashes on the earth in the sight of all who see you."
The king of Tyre's iniquities, related to his trade or commerce, also defiled his holy places. If you have any form of iniquity, you automatically become a slave to the head of the dragon that is identified by it. You are in the bondage (prison) of iniquity.
Though you may legally be free from Satan in your spirit as a Christian, you are practically bound through the presence of iniquity in your flesh. All evil spirits (fallen angels and demons) are organized under the seven heads of the dragon, and you can not exercise authority over any evil spirit whose iniquity is alive in you.
Iniquity is the means by which Satan's agents and witches can have access to bring evil upon a Christian. It opens the door to oppression. Iniquity is Satan's favorite dimension of sin, for by it he puts men in bondage, gains dominion over and destroys them. This is why the Antichrist with come as the Man of lawlessness (iniquity).
2 Thessalonians 2:3 (NET) says, "Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not arrive until the rebellion comes and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction."
The Antichrist and the spirit of the Antichrist working through many false prophets are identified by refusing to acknowledge the coming of Christ in the flesh, which they do in different deceptive ways; but the main goal of their doctrines is to deny the manifestation of the life of Christ (righteousness) in the human body of flesh so that God's people remain under the yoke of the devil - which is iniquity.
1 John 4:1-3 (NHEB) says, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit who confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit who does not confess Jesus is not of God, and this is the spirit of the Anti-Christ, of whom you have heard that it comes. Now it is in the world already."
2 John 1:7 (NHEB) says, "For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the Anti-Christ."
All different kinds of false prophets promise freedom from sin while they themselves are in the bondage of iniquity. Their ministries eventually leave people in permanent slavery to sin and beyond salvation. They leave people worse off than they found them.
2 Peter 2:19-21 (NET) says, "Although these false teachers promise such people freedom, they themselves are enslaved to immorality. For whatever a person succumbs to, to that he is enslaved. For if after they have escaped the filthy things of the world through the rich knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they again get entangled in them and succumb to them, their last state has become worse for them than their first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than, having known it, to turn back from the holy commandment that had been delivered to them."
Watch out for falsehoods in the church and escape with your soul!
The Price Christ Paid for our Iniquities
The price Jesus Christ paid for the atonement for our sin including iniquity was very huge. Each dimension of sin was paid for in a different way appropriate to it. Jesus was PIERCED for our TRANSGRESSIONS and He was CRUSHED for our INIQUITIES.
Isaiah 53:5-6, 11-12 (NHEB) says, "But he was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought our peace was on him; and by his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray. Everyone has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all... After the suffering of his soul, he will see light and be satisfied. By his knowledge shall my servant, the righteous one, make many righteous, and he will bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out his soul to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sins of many, and made intercession for their transgressions."
Piercing is very painful, but not as quite as crushing. Jesus Christ was crushed by the Roman soldiers. During the biblical Roman era, crushing was various methods of torture were employed in crime investigations.
The Romans were known for their use of torture as a means of extracting information and punishing criminals. One of the most common forms of torture was flogging or whipping.
A person accused of a crime would be stripped and tied to a post or pillar while being beaten with a whip or leather strap called a flagellum. The whip was made of leather thongs with pieces of bone or metal embedded in them. The victim would be repeatedly struck with the whip, causing deep wounds, excruciating pain and severe bleeding.
Crucifixion was part of brutal torture in the Roman Empire. It involved nailing or binding a person to a wooden cross and leaving them to die slowly over a period of hours or even days. The physical agony and humiliation of crucifixion were intended to serve as a deterrent to others.
Although not limited to the biblical Roman era, waterboarding was also used during that time. It involved immobilizing the victim on a board or table and then pouring water over their face or cloth covering their face, causing a sensation of drowning. This technique was used to elicit information or obtain confessions.
The use of torture was widespread during this period, and these methods were employed not only for crime investigations but also as punishment and public spectacle. The aim was often to instill fear and maintain control over the population.
Jesus did not need to pay for iniquity or other forms of sin, for the devil could not put any form of iniquity in Him.
John 14:30 (NHEB) says, "I will no more speak much with you, for the prince of the world comes, and he has nothing in me."
The devil had tried many times to tempt Jesus in order to trap Him into committing iniquity without success, and now Jesus qualified to be the sinless One upon whom our iniquities were imputed so that we may partake of His righteousness by our faith in Him and our identification with His crushing on the cross.
Christ did not sin, but became sin so that we may become the righteousness of God!
2 Corinthians 5:21 (NHEB) says, "For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might becomes the righteousness of God."
Above all things, Christ suffered separation from the Father because of our iniquities.
Mark 15:34 (BBE) says, "And at the ninth hour, Jesus said in a loud voice, 'Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?' which is translated, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'"
This is a significant moment in the crucifixion, where Jesus, while hanging on the cross, utters these words as a cry of anguish and a reflection of the deep sense of abandonment that Jesus experienced at that moment.
This is the only time Jesus refers to God as "my God" and not as "my Father" to signify the separation. The words are a quotation from Psalm, revealing Jesus' identification with the suffering described in the psalm of David.
Psalms 22:1-2 (BBE) says, "God, my God, why are you turned away from me? why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my crying? O my God, I make my cry in the day, and you give no answer; and in the night, and have no rest."
While David prayed after having committed iniquity which separated him from God and blocked his prayers from being heard, Jesus became sin with our iniquity and suffered separation from the Father in our place so that we may be reconciled with the Father.
It is then important that we follow God's Word in receiving Christ's mercy and remission of iniquity in its fullness so that we do not put to waste His great sacrifice for our righteousness.
Dealing with Iniquity
The key to removing iniquity is confession of your wicked nature, and not of your sins or transgressions.
The reason why many people keep confessing their sins and keep falling in them is because the confession of transgressions does not remove iniquity, and for as long as iniquity is present in your body, you will find yourself falling in transgressions under temptation.
Romans 7:14-20 (LITV) says, "For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am fleshly, having been sold under sin. For what I work out, I do not know. For what I do not will, this I do. But what I hate, this I do. But if I do what I do not will, I agree with the Law, that it is good. But now I no longer work it out, but the sin dwelling in me. For I know that in me, that is in my flesh, dwells no good. For to will is present to me, but to work out the good I do not find. For what good I desire, I do not do. But the evil I do not desire, this I do. But if I do what I do not desire, it is no longer I working it out, but the sin dwelling in me."
Iniquity gives the flesh power over the spirit. Confession of iniquity destroys the power of sin in the flesh and gives the dominion of the human soul to the spirit over the flesh. In confession of iniquity, I don't ask for forgiveness because I sinned; I plead for mercy because I am a sinner.
Firstly, you confess your own personal iniquity (wickedness) before you can plead on behalf of the iniquity of others. Remember that you can not take people to where you have never been.
The prophet Isaiah confessed his own iniquity as a man of unclean lips (a lying tongue) before he mentioned that same iniquity for the people around him.
Isaiah 6:1-7 (LITV) says, "In the year that King Uzziah died, then I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up. And His train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphs. Each one had six wings; with two he covered his face; and with two he covered his feet; and with two he flew. And one cried to the other and said, Holy, holy, holy is Jehovah of Hosts; all the earth is full of His glory! And the doorposts shook from the voice of the one who cried; and the house was filled with smoke. Then I said, Woe is me! For I am cut off; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live amongst a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, Jehovah of Hosts. Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, snatched with tongs from the altar. And he touched it on my mouth, and said, See, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away, and your sin is covered."
Now, more than the days of Isaiah, we should approach God's throne of grace boldly knowing that Jesus our High Priest sympathizes with our weaknesses after having experienced the bondage of iniquity in our stead on the cross.
Hebrews 4:14-16 (NET) says, "Therefore since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help."
We should not be ashamed to admit any of our iniquities if we expect to have them forgiven and removed. You have to confess the iniquities behind your sins (transgressions).
Psalms 32:5 (LITV) says, "I confessed my sin to You, and I have not hidden my iniquity; I said, I will confess over my transgression to Jehovah; and You forgave the iniquity of my sin."
This prayer takes humility in a broken (crushed) spirit and a contrite heart to be effective. With this posture you identify yourself with the sacrifice of Christ by which He was crushed for iniquities, and pleased God.
Psalms 34:17-19 (LITV) says, "The righteous cry, and Jehovah hears; and He saves them out of all their distresses. Jehovah is near to the broken of heart; and He saves the crushed of spirit. Many are the evils of the righteous, but Jehovah helps him out of them all."
Psalms 51:16-17 (LITV) says, "For you do not desire sacrifice, or I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise."
Once we take the posture of humility identifying with Christ in His crushing as we repent from iniquity, we are guaranteed to receive cleansing through the mercy, forgiveness, and compassion of God.
There is no god who is without iniquity like Yahweh, who alone pardons sin and forgives iniquities. Our God does not harbor anger indefinitely but takes pleasure in showing mercy. God shows mercy on His people who repent, trampling their sins underfoot and casting their iniquities into the depths of the sea.
Micah 7:18-19 (NIV) says, "Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea."
There are seven washings from iniquity required for the Christian to be fully purified. As Naaman the centurion was cleansed from leprosy through seven washings in the river Jordan, the believer must be completely cleansed from iniquity by confession of all of its seven forms.
2 Kings 5:10 (LITV) says, "And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, Go, and you shall wash seven times in the Jordan. And your flesh shall return to you, and you shall be clean."
Naaman was frustrated by the fact that the prophet Elisha did not honor him with the courtesy of receiving him in person to pray for him at his house, an in this are important lessons for us even in dealing with iniquity.
2 Kings 5:11-12 (LITV) says, "And Naaman was angry, and went on, and said, Behold, I said, He will certainly come out to me and will stand and call on the name of Jehovah his God, and will wave his hand over the place, and recover the leper. Are not Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Shall I not wash in them and be clean? And he turned and went on in fury."
Naaman thought that the prophet would pray for him to receive his healing in person rather than send a servant to go tell him to wash seven times in the insignificant river Jordan.
After all he himself was a significant leader in his own country and there they had rivers which seemingly had better waters than all the rivers of Israel. This pretty much sums up the heart's reaction of all of us when we first hear about the need to confess our seven iniquities in order to be washed by the Word of God.
We are tempted to think that we are too important to identify ourselves with the seven forms of iniquity, and there are better ways to deal with it; but that kind of reaction will not allow us to partake of God's mercy through Christ's suffering as we should.
Position and status don't matter when it comes to the Word of God. God is not a respector of persons, but is such a respector of the principles of His Word such that He exalted His Word above His own name.
Romans 2:11 (LITV) says, "For there is no respect of persons with God."
Psalms 138:2 (LITV) says, "I will worship toward Your holy temple, and give thanks to Your name for Your mercy, and for Your truth; for You have magnified Your Word above all Your name."
Thank God for Naaman's servants who encouraged him to obey the Word of God and he was willing to listen to them which got him healed.
2 Kings 5:13-14 (LITV) says, "And his servants came near and spoke to him, and said, My father, if the prophet had spoken a great thing to you would you not do it? How much rather then when he says to you, Wash, and be clean? And he went down and dipped in the Jordan seven times, according to the word of the man of God. And his flesh returned like the flesh of a little boy, and he was clean."
But why did Elisha instruct Naaman to wash himself in Jordan and in no other river? Unknown to Naaman at the time, the river Jordan held great significance in the journey of the Israelites to the Promised Land, as described in the Old Testament of the Bible (Deuteronomy 3:21-29; Joshua 3 & 4).
Jordan served as a geographical boundary separating the wilderness wanderings of the Israelites from the land of Canaan, which was the Promised Land. As the Israelites completed their forty years of wandering in the desert, crossing the Jordan River marked their entry into the land that God had promised to give them.
The crossing of the Jordan River represented a significant transition for the Israelites, leaving behind the hardships and challenges of the wilderness and entering into a new phase of prosperity, abundance, and fulfillment of God's promises.
According to the biblical account in the Book of Joshua, God performed a miracle to facilitate the crossing of the Jordan River. As the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant stepped into the river, the waters miraculously stopped flowing and piled up in a heap, allowing the Israelites to cross on dry ground.
This event mirrored the miracle of the parting of the Red Sea during the time of Moses. The complete removal of iniquity at Jordan marks the point at which the believer is born of the water known as the washing of the new birth and is fully delivered (born again); after having been conceived by the renewing of the Spirit at the Red Sea.
The name "Jordan" (Hebrew "yarad") itself means "to flow down," for the river flows down from the heights of Mount Hermon in the north and flows southward into the lowest point on earth - the Dead Sea.
So Jordan prophetically symbolizes how the believers are to be cleansed from iniquity by the washing of the water of the Word of God "flowing down to them at the lowest posture of humility," having confessed their sevenfold iniquity. At the Red Sea, the children of Israel crossed after the sea had been parted by a miracle through the hand and rod of Moses.
At the Red Sea Moses said to the Israelites saying, "Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, you shall see them again no more for ever" (Exodus).
Similarly the apostle Paul would later write concerning the believer who has experienced the renewing of the spirit saying, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Just as the Egyptians were wiped away in the Red Sea, guile is taken away in the spiritual renewal. Crossing the Red Sea which was parted by the hand and rod of Moses is an allegory of how the believers experience of the renewing of their spirits through the hand and authority of Jesus Christ. Nothing is required of the believers to participate in this great miracle except for confessing their faith in Jesus Christ as the Lord.
Romans 10:9-10 (NET) says, "Because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and thus has righteousness and with the mouth one confesses and thus has salvation."
But at Jordan the manner of crossing of the Israelites is a bit different from the way they had crossed the Red Sea. Joshua who was now their leader received a different instruction from God than what Moses had been told before. God told Joshua to let the priests go to the bank of Jordan carrying the Ark of the Covenant as the people followed, and step into the river to get their feet wet. This time the miracle required a step of obedience and faith unlike at the Red Sea.
Joshua 3:7-8, 13 (NHEB) says, "The Lord said to Joshua, "Today I will begin to magnify you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. You shall command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, saying, 'When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.'" ...It shall come to pass, when the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, that the waters of the Jordan will be cut off, even the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand in one heap."
When a baby is born, the head comes out first and the body follows with the feet coming out last. The church was born when her head Jesus Christ rose from the dead, and His body will follow with the feet coming out last in the resurrection of the dead at His coming.
1 Corinthians 15:22-23 (NHEB) says, "For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then those who are Christ's, at his coming."
Ephesians 5:23 (NHEB) says, "...Christ also is the head of the church, being himself the savior of the body."
After some years, the Israelites held various ceremonies near the Jordan river to commemorate their crossing and renew their commitment to God. They erected stone monuments and called them "Gilgal" (separation) to serve as a reminder of God's faithfulness and their covenant with Him.
This particular act is an allegory of the cutting of a umbilical cord tying the baby to the placenta in the mother's womb after delivery.
Cutting the umbilical cord after delivery is a standard procedure in childbirth, and it holds several significant benefits for both the newborn and the mother. The umbilical cord connects the fetus to the placenta in the womb, allowing the exchange of oxygen, nutrients, and waste products.
Once the baby is born, cutting the cord separates them from the placenta, marking the physical separation from the mother's body and initiating the transition to independent life.
When a baby is inside the womb, oxygen is supplied through the placenta. After birth, the baby's lungs take over the task of breathing. Cutting the umbilical cord helps initiate the baby's first breaths and encourages the transition to independent breathing.
Likewise the believer's spiritual umbilical cord tying him to the iniquity of the fathers through the bloodline is cut off by the fire of the Holy Spirit as he confesses his iniquity. Herein is the victory of the saints!
After confessing your iniquity in its seven forms, you will be fully delivered, you will be registered in the book of life just as babies are registered after delivery, and you will qualify to receive your inheritance as a full born son from the Father.
At this point, you are called holy having put on the clean clothes of righteousness.
Isaiah 4:3-4 (LITV) says, "And it shall be, he remaining in Zion, and he who is left in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, every one who is written among the living in Jerusalem; when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and the blood of Jerusalem shall have been rinsed away from its midst by a spirit of judgment, and by a spirit of burning."
Revelation 19:8 (LITV) says, "And it was given to her that she be clothed in fine linen, pure and bright; for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints."
It doesn't matter how long you have been a Christian or your position in ministry. It is only after being cleansed from iniquity that you can now offer yourself to God as a living sacrifice that is holy and acceptable. Any service you offer to God while iniquity is still in you is unholy and unacceptable.
Romans 12:1 (LITV) says, "Therefore, brothers, I call on you through the compassions of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service."
Isaiah, the prophet, had been ministering with iniquity for five chapters, and yet it is only after he was cleansed his iniquity that God sent him. Is it possible that there are ministers and even church founders that God has not sent into ministry yet? What about you?
Isaiah 6:6-8 (LITV) says, "Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, snatched with tongs from the altar. And he touched it on my mouth, and said, See, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away, and your sin is covered. And I heard the voice of Jehovah, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us? Then I said, Behold me. Send me!"
After confessing your iniquities, you will be given a renewable mind, plus the ability to carry the glory of God fully in your body and you can no longer commit the unforgivable sin (blasphemy against the Holy Spirit) by rejecting Jesus Christ.
Romans 12:2 says, "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
1 John 3:8-10 (NET) says, "The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was revealed: to destroy the works of the devil. Everyone who has been fathered by God does not practice sin, because God’s seed resides in him, and thus he is not able to sin, because he has been fathered by God. By this the children of God and the children of the devil are revealed: Everyone who does not practice righteousness – the one who does not love his fellow Christian – is not of God."
The Confession of Iniquity
Pray out loud the following confession of iniquity in its fullness meaning it from your heart, and preferably in a kneeling posture if you can;
"Heavenly Father, I come before Your presence today, humbled and contrite, seeking Your mercy and forgiveness. I acknowledge that it is only through the sacrificial love of Your Son, Jesus Christ, that I can find redemption and cleansing from my iniquities. Lord, I repent from the depths of my being, recognizing the gravity of the sins that have separated me from Your perfect righteousness.
As I confess my sins, I lay bare my personal identity before You, knowing that You see all things and nothing is hidden from Your sight.
Lord, forgive me for I am a man/woman of unclean eyes of pride that have led me astray, causing me to exalt myself above others and neglect the value of humility. I have sought to elevate my own desires and ambitions, disregarding Your will and the needs of those around me.
Father, cleanse me for I am a man/woman of unclean lips with a lying tongue that have caused pain and broken trust. Purify my speech and grant me the grace to speak truth with love and compassion.
I am a man/woman of unclean hands that shed innocent blood, whether through physical harm or by participating in actions that contribute to the suffering of others. I acknowledge the need for Your forgiveness and transformation.
Lord, for I am a man/woman of an unclean heart before You, plotting evil schemes. Forgive me for harboring thoughts and intentions that are contrary to Your perfect will. Cleanse my heart and renew it with Your love, filling it with compassion, kindness, and righteousness.
I am a man/woman of evil rushing feet, always eager to pursue selfish desires and follow paths that lead away from You. Guide my steps and direct me on the path of righteousness, that I may walk in obedience to Your Word.
Father, forgive me for being a false witness, breathing out lies and spreading falsehoods. Grant me the grace to speak truth and the courage to stand for what is right.
Lastly, I repent for being a divider of brethren, causing strife and discord among Your children. I confess the times I have allowed pride, jealousy, and bitterness to create division and hinder unity within my family and among believers. Lord, restore unity and peace, and help me to foster love and reconciliation.
I thank You, Lord, for Your boundless mercy and the forgiveness that is found in Christ Jesus. I thank for Your cleansing power to wash away my sins and the iniquities of my family.
In Jesus' precious name, I pray.
Amen."
CONCLUSION
Freedom from sin is a precious gift that is available to all who believe in Jesus Christ.
By acknowledging our need for a Savior, embracing His sacrifice, and walking in obedience to His Word, we can experience true freedom and live transformed lives.
It is important to understand that our freedom from sin is not based on our own efforts or self-righteousness. Rather, it is a result of God's grace and our repentance.
Repentance involves a genuine sorrow for our sins, a turning away from them, and a desire to live in obedience to God's commands.
As we continually seek God's forgiveness and strive to live according to His will, we experience the fullness of His grace and the freedom it brings.
Let us continually seek God's guidance and rely on His grace as we journey on this path of freedom from sin.
May we be a living testimony of His love and redemption in a world that desperately needs it.
Shalom.
