“What’s wrong with the world?” That was the question a British newspaper, The Times, invited various writers to answer in 1908. The shortest and most striking reply came from a renowned Christian thinker and writer:
Dear Sirs,
I am.
Sincerely yours,
G. K. Chesterton
In public discussions, various diagnoses about our world are offered—often the finger is pointed at someone else, a group of people or some structural or supply problem. But these are really the symptoms of a deeper problem. The Bible (which inspired Chesterton to give his witty and wise answer) gives the ultimate diagnosis in a straightforward way.
“The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). The problem with the world is sin in every human heart—and its ultimate effect: death. Sin and death are the two fundamental problems with us and our world. The denial of this truth leads to all kinds of restlessness in human souls and societies, and the problems that result.
Christians need to take sin seriously. The problem is holding onto a rather superficial view of sin and its deadly effects. Popular evangelical belief often distorts and shrinks the biblical truth that we are forgiven our sins when we confess them and believe in Jesus. It brings relief, but fails to go beyond that initial experience to allow God’s grace and power to work more deeply in us. This, in part, is due to a superficial, limited view of sin.
Psalm 51 brings us to a deeper appreciation of the human problem. This psalm was written after the prophet Nathan had awakened David’s conscience to recognise the gravity of his multiple sins. Three words in the psalm name the problem: sin, iniquity, and transgression (vv. 1–3). Each word speaks about different aspects.
Sin is bad behaviour. The word “sin” focuses on sinful actions such as murder, adultery, lies, theft, etc. which are more readily noticed. The law criminalises some of these; others are less frowned-upon due to our changing social values.
Sin is a deadly condition. The word “iniquity” focuses on the inner, condition of sinfulness. We are born with a propensity (inclination) to sin—a condition described by theologians as “original sin”. We know this from our own experience and from watching children—they are fully capable of bad behaviour without needing to be taught.
Sin is treachery. The word “transgression” focuses on the relational aspects of sin. It has to do with being unfaithful to God and points to sin as a rebellion and revolt, an act of sedition against the King.
Sin is, therefore, an act judged to be morally wrong by God’s law. It is an inner disposition and a spiritual (and deadly) illness, as well as a relational separation from the loving, holy God who created us. A fuller understanding of sin will help us deal more thoroughly with the real problem of our sins, We can see this in the way David prays to God in the psalm.
Because sins are actions that produce painful guilt, David prays for a washing and cleansing (Psalm 51:2). The soul knows that on its own it is powerless to get rid of the shame, guilt, and dirt—only God, whom it has hurt and offended, can bring cleansing. Therefore it pleads for God’s mercy and forgiveness, an experience every sinner can have before the cross where the One we have offended died for us.
Because sin is a deeply-lodged illness of the soul, David prays: “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (v. 10). The repentant soul wants to be changed and transformed. Forgiveness must lead to faithfulness in our innermost parts (v. 6). There is a longing for purity and holiness, which is possible only when God creates a new obedient heart (v. 12).
The fact that sin ruptures relationships leads to the prayer: “Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me” (v. 11). This is not a soul that looks at forgiveness as a commercial transaction we make with God to get the balances right. Rather, it goes to the heart of the matter—sin disrupts our fellowship with God. The repentant soul longs for that fellowship to be restored.
Dealing decisively with our sin includes our longing for real forgiveness, lasting inner transformation and growing intimacy with God.
Consider this:
Discuss the three words in Psalm 51: sin, transgression, and iniquity. What do they say about the different aspects of sin, and what we are up against in our battle against sin? Which aspect tends to be neglected by Christians and the church?
Excerpted and adapted from Apprenticed to Jesus: Learning from Him, Living Like Him by Robert M. Solomon. ©2014 by Robert M. Solomon. Used by permission of Armour Publishing. All rights reserved.
Related Resources:
Walking Free: Overcoming What Keeps Us from Jesus. We all struggle with sin, but there is hope! Engage in a thoughtful examination of some of the sins we struggle with—pride, envy, sloth, greed, anger, lust, and gluttony. Learn how to be free from sin’s distortion of God-given desires with wisdom from Scripture, reflection questions, and practical applications. Find out more here.
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