Iniquity is gross injustice or wickedness. In the Bible, it is a deliberate violation of moral law. It is not an accident. It is not a mistake. It is a choice. It is rebellion against God. The Hebrew word is avon. It means to bend or twist. Iniquity twists what is right. It perverts justice. It corrupts the heart.

Iniquity is serious. It separates from God. Isaiah 59:2 says your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God. It brings judgment. It demands atonement. The Old Testament sacrificial system dealt with iniquity. The blood of animals covered it. But it could not remove it. Only Christ could. He bore our iniquities. He was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. By his wounds we are healed.

Iniquity in scripture

• Exodus 20:5: visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children.
• Psalm 51:2: wash me thoroughly from my iniquity.
• Isaiah 53:6: the Lord laid on him the iniquity of us all.
• Micah 7:18: who pardons iniquity and passes over transgression.
• Acts 8:23: the gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity.

Iniquity is not just breaking a rule. It is breaking a relationship. It is turning away from God. It is choosing self over the good. It is the human condition. Everyone has iniquity. Everyone needs forgiveness. The good news is that God forgives. He does not treat us as our sins deserve. He casts our iniquities into the depths of the sea. He remembers them no more. That is grace. That is mercy. That is the gospel. Iniquity is the problem. Forgiveness is the solution. The cross is where they meet. The cross is where iniquity is dealt with. The cross is where grace flows. Iniquity is real. But it is not final. Forgiveness is final. Grace is final. Love is final.