The Sin of Adam: What Had He Done?

THE SIN OF ADAM

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What was the Sin of Adam? What had he done?

These are the words of the Apostle Paul as recorded in Romans 5:12-17:

Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned - (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man's offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)

Notice how in his revelation, concerning the transgression of Adam, Paul remarked: Adam is a type of Christ who was to come. It is a clear contrast but how is Adam a type of Christ Jesus when he brought death and Jesus brought life? To begin to understand the mystery, understood by Paul, we need to first have an understanding concerning SIN ― what it is.

WHAT IS SIN?

Dictionary defines “sin” as: “A transgression of a religious or moral law, especially when deliberate. A condition of estrangement from God as a result of breaking His law.” However, in the Bible there are several words (in the Hebrew and the Greek) that are translated “sin”.

In the Old Testament (KJV), there are three Hebrew words that are translated “sin”:

i.) Pesha - Strong's Concordance # 6588. pesha', peh'-shah; from H6586; a revolt (national, moral or religious): − rebellion, sin, transgression, trespass.

ii.) Avon - Strong's Concordance # 5771. 'avon, aw-vone'; from H5753; perversity, i.e. (moral) evil: − fault, iniquity, mischief, punishment (of iniquity), sin.

iii.) Chattah - Strong's Concordance # 2398. chata', khaw-taw'; a prim. root; prop. to miss; hence (fig. and gen.) to sin; by infer. to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causat.) lead astray, condemn: − bear the blame, cleanse, commit [sin], by fault, harm he hath done, loss, miss, (make) offend (-er), offer for sin, purge, purify (self), make reconciliation, (cause, make) sin (-ful, -ness), trespass.

All three words describe “sin” yet there are differences. Notice the differences between iniquity, transgression and sin:

Psalms 32:5 (NKJV): I acknowledged my sin (chatta'ah) to You, And my iniquity ('avon) I have not hidden. I said, “I will confess my transgressions (pesha') to the LORD,” And You forgave the iniquity ('avon) of my sin (chatta'ah). Selah.

Exodus 34:7 (NKJV): Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity ('avon) and transgression (pesha') and sin (chatta'ah), by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity ('avon) of the fathers upon the children and the children's children to the third and the fourth generation.

Sin is simply “missing the mark”. Take an archer for an example. An archer aims at the bull’s eye on the target with his arrow in his bow. The archer shoots and misses the mark. He sinned (chattah) - because he missed the mark. Therefore, when we miss God’s mark (target), we sin.

“Avon” translated as “sin” which means iniquity, perversity, depravity is worse than “missing the mark” (chattah).

“Pesha” translated as “sin” which means transgression, rebellion, revolt is worse than “missing the mark” (chattah).

As all dogs are animals and yet not all animals are dogs, therefore all “iniquity” and “transgression” are sin and miss the mark, but not all “sin” (missing the mark) is equal to “iniquity” and “transgression”.

The New Testament has two Greek Words that clearly distinguish between transgression and iniquity:

Strong's Concordance #264. hamartano, ham-ar-tan'-o; to miss the mark (and so not share in the prize), i.e. (fig.) to err, esp. (mor.) to sin. – for your faults, offend, sin, trespass.

Strong's Concordance #458. anomia, an-om-ee'-ah; from G459; illegality, i.e. violation of law or (gen.) wickedness: – iniquity, X transgress (-ion of) the law, unrighteousness.

1 John 3:4: Whosoever committeth sin (hamartia:G266) transgresseth (anomia) also the law: for sin (hamartia:G266) is the transgression (anomia) of the law.

Matthew 7:23: And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity (anomia).

A Greek word akin to "anomia" is "adikia". From Strong's Concordance: #93. adikia, ad-ee-kee'-ah; from G94; (legal) injustice (properly the quality, by implication the act); moral wrongfulness (of character, life or act): – iniquity, unjust, unrighteousness, wrong.

Luke 13:27: But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity (adikia).

1 Corinthians 13:6: Rejoiceth not in iniquity (adikia) but rejoiceth in the truth;

2 Timothy 2:19: Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity (adikia).

Now, lawlessness is not merely something we do but rather what we think. If you tell a lie, you transgress the law. It is sin, it is lawlessness. If you refuse to do what is right in the eyes of God, even if you are not breaking the "law", it is still lawlessness. If you do what is not the will of God, you commit presumptuous sin, it is lawlessness. There is a need for us to control our tempers, our gluttony to satisfy the flesh, even the consumption of food and drinks, and the words we utter. We need to bring every thought under control.

Proverb 23:7: For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.

Mark 7:21: For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

Matthew 5:27-28: Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

James 4:17: Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Deuteronomy 18:20: But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.

Psalm 19:13: Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

SINFUL RESPONSE

Romans 14:14 & 23 (NKJV): I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean... But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.

When a believer is taught God’s Truth and the simple fact of faith, he commits sin if he doubts, and fails to respond to, what is right.

Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV): But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Sin is the most general term for those actions which are wrong like an archer aiming an arrow to a target, shooting and missing the mark. Sin covers all wrong doings of any sort.

Romans 3:23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

1 John 5:17: All unrighteousness is sin:…

1 John 3:4: Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

THINGS THAT OFFEND

Our Lord hates things that offend.

Matthew 13:41-42: The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend (skandalon), and them which do iniquity (anomia; transgression of the law); And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

From Strong's Concordance: #4625. skandalon, skan'-dal-on; a “scandal”; probably from a derivative of G2578; a trap stick (bent sapling), that is, snare (figuratively cause of displeasure or sin): - occasion to fall (of stumbling), offence, thing that offends, stumbling-block.

"Skandalon" is a word close to iniquity. When Abraham told Sarah to lie, he did not only create a mischief, a deception but also, knowingly or not, he had created a trap stick, a bent sapling that was just waiting to snare an innocent victim. Yes, by just bending the law, one deceives not only oneself but others. It’s an offence and a stumbling block that gives occasion for someone to fall.

Matthew 23:28: Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy (hupokrisis) and iniquity [lawlessness] (anomia).

From Strong's Concordance: #5272. hupokrisis, hoop-ok'-ree-sis; from G5271; acting under a feigned part; that is, (figuratively) deceit (“hypocrisy”): - condemnation, dissimulation, hypocrisy.

"Hupokrisis" is pretension, imitation that is deceptive. Such are the false prophets. They deceive their hearers by inventing stories, acting under a feigned part. Once, in weakness, the Apostle Peter fell into such condemnation but was rebuked by the Apostle Paul for his dissimulation among the Gentile converts (Gal.2:11-14).

IGNORANCE OF SIN

Acts 17:30: And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

There was a time when God could overlook the ignorance of man as was in the case of Abimelech who took Sarah, Abraham’s wife, as his own wife.

Genesis 20:1-6: And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar. And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah. But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man's wife. But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation? Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this. And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.

In His mercy, overlooking his ignorance, God pardoned Abimelech and prevented him from taking Sarah to wife. If God did not intervene, even though Abimelech was innocent and a man of integrity, he would still have committed a grievous sin. Abimelech knew that his ignorance was not an excuse even though he was deceived by Abraham and Sarah. Certainly, it was an evil thing that Abraham and Sarah did to him. They had committed iniquity and had Abimelech to almost commit an unrighteous act.

WHAT IS INIQUITY?

Iniquity is in-equity; it refers to something that is unequal, unfair, or unjust. Sin deals with the action, or lack of action, that is wrong but iniquity deals more with the character, or nature, of the act.

David refers to “the iniquity of my sin.” His sinful actions had the character of iniquity; of being unequal: as in his sin of covetousness of another man’s wife and in the plotting of the man’s death.

Psalm 32:5: “I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.”

In its more narrow meaning, INIQUITY consists of the violation of the law of right (or duty) between man and man; wrongful or harmful actions towards another; grossly immoral acts with others. To practice iniquity is to be unjust and unequal in our dealings with someone. This is what we often read about in the Sacred Scripture. The workers of iniquity are, for example:

· those who eat up God's people like bread –

“Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, Who eat up my people as they eat bread, And do not call on the LORD?” (Psa.14:4);

· those who speak peace when mischief is in their hearts –

“Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts.” (Psa.28:3);

· and those who lay snares for the saints –

“Keep me from the snares which they have laid for me, And from the traps of the workers of iniquity.” (Psa.141:9).

The money Judas Iscariot received for betraying Jesus is called "the reward of iniquity" (Acts 1:18). Any preacher of the Gospel who knows the Truth but receives money to preach church traditions has betrayed Christ the Word of God. He has fallen into the hands of men with "the reward of iniquity". Such are some of the “things that offend” (skandalon).

NO INIQUITY WITH GOD

The Scripture is very clear concerning the character of God when touching on iniquity.

2 Chronicles.19:7: “There is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.”

To show respect of persons in judgment would be unequal; so would be accepting gifts as bribes for that’s "the reward of iniquity".

Deuteronomy 32:4: “He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.”

Here, iniquity is contrasted with being just and right. Oft times, not only are we unjust in our dealings between man and man but also with God. We do not return unto Him as He has done unto us.

Isaiah 65:7: “Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the LORD, which have burned incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills:”

1 John 5:21: “Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.”

Certainly it is not some man-made images that pagans or the Roman Catholics worship that were referred to by John. It’s whatever you have that’s preeminent in your life. You have turned from Him to serve lesser gods of this world. Oh, but what lesser gods? – You might ask. Your love for a man-made church system and traditional doctrines are two examples. Remember, deception is iniquity, even when one deceives his own self. Was not the Apostle Paul such a man before he was converted? The reasons he persecuted the church and tried to destroy it are 1) he was full of himself being a member of the “great” pharisaical sect and 2) he was “advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers” (Gal.1:14).

Religious people may think themselves so righteous and holy that they are without reproach in their life. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1John 1:8 cf. 1Cor.3:18). Such confession is not only a lie, it is unjust with God, it makes God’s Word a lie.

We need to come to recognize the iniquity of our sin as David said in Psalm 32:5: “I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.”

WORD EMPHASIS

The Scripture says that “where there is no law there is no transgression” (Rom.4:15) for sin is the transgression of the law – “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law” (1John 3:4). A wrong action itself is SIN against the law of God. But when an INIQUITY is committed it is more than a wrong action. The word INIQUITY lays emphasis on the true character of that wrong action committed.

God hates iniquity above all sin committed. He does not endure iniquity – “…I cannot away with; it is iniquity…” (Isa.1:13). This is perhaps the only reason our Heavenly Father could not look on His Only Begotten Son being crucified. It was because of the iniquity (that is, inequity) of One who had never sinned bearing the sins of many. “Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity” (Hab.1:13).

INIQUITY’S VISITATION

Jeremiah 32:18: Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his name,

Exodus 34:6-7: And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

Exodus 20:5: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

The Lord had Moses record down the iniquities committed by the three great Patriarchs of the nation of Israel, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the very first book of the Sacred Scripture, Genesis. Let’s look closer at the records to understand what they had committed.

ABRAHAM

Genesis 20:1: And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar.
2: And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.
3: But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man's wife.
4: But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?
5: Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.
6: And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.
7: Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.
8: Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid.
9: Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done.
10: And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing?
11: And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife's sake.
12: And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.
13: And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father's house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt shew unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother.

The fear of a man in Abraham took the better of him so much that he was willing to lie that Sarah was his sister. Some preachers may contend that it was not a lie as Sarah was his half-sister. Still that does not justify the “white lie” when the act was a selfish one. It was more than just a “white lie” or a “half-truth” – the true character of that wrong action of Abraham was that it was done not only to protect his own flesh but one which is unequal and unjust to his own wife, Sarah, and the man who would take her to himself for wife. Abraham had committed the same sort of sin some years before when he went into Egypt in the days of famine. (See Genesis 12:9-19.) His very words reveal his true feelings within him: “Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive. Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee” (Gen.12:12-13 cf. 20:13).

Had Pharaoh (or Abimelech) taken Sarah and joined to her as one in wedlock, he would have committed adultery. Abraham would have caused both his wife and Pharaoh (or Abimelech) grievous sin. Abraham had violated the law of right (or duty) between him and his wife, and also between him and Pharaoh (or Abimelech). In both cases, he had dealt unjustly with his wife, Pharaoh, and Abimelech. His dealings with them were grossly immoral and harmful. Abraham, a prophet of God, was guilty of iniquity.

Had God not intervened in the life of both Pharaoh and Abimelech, history would have been written differently. God, in His grace and mercy, prevented them from sinning against Him.

ISAAC

Genesis 26:6: And Isaac dwelt in Gerar:
7: And the men of the place asked him of his wife; and he said, She is my sister: for he feared to say, She is my wife; lest, said he, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah; because she was fair to look upon.
8: And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife.
9: And Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, of a surety she is thy wife; and how saidst thou, She is my sister? And Isaac said unto him, Because I said, Lest I die for her.
10: And Abimelech said, What is this thou hast done unto us? one of the people might lightly have lien with thy wife, and thou shouldest have brought guiltiness upon us.
11: And Abimelech charged all his people, saying, He that toucheth this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.

Like father, like son. For fear of death, Isaac, like his father, resorted to deceiving the king and the citizens of Gerar. As Abraham was, so was Isaac. Both father and son committed the very same pattern of deception. They lied to save themselves but they did evil when they deceived others insomuch as to cause detriment to them.

JACOB

Genesis 27:18: And he came unto his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I; who art thou, my son?
19: And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy firstborn; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me.
20: And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the LORD thy God brought it to me.
21: And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not.
22: And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.
23: And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands: so he blessed him.
24: And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am.

Notice that the spirit of iniquity is passed on down in the family. Sin is not passed down, iniquity is. Here we see the familiar spirit of deception is passed down to Jacob. Initiated and assisted by his mother, Rebekah, Jacob deceived his father and robbed Esau of his blessing. It was an act detriment to Esau’s life. (Note: Some may argue that Esau had sold his birthright to Jacob. Undoubtedly, but that does not give Jacob the right to deceive his father and to rob Esau of his blessing.) Indeed Jacob was a supplanter.

WORKERS OF INIQUITIES

Matthew 7:21: Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22: Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23: And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

When is prophesying and preaching the Gospel iniquity? Is it not God’s will to propagate the Gospel to save souls? When is casting out demons iniquity, and when is doing good works iniquity? Is it not God’s will to heal the sick and to deliver those oppressed, or possessed, of the devils, and to also help the poor and the needy? When are all these wonderful works iniquities? The answer is given in the passage. It is when you do these activities in your own will rather than according to the will of our Heavenly Father.

The question you should ask yourself is: “Is what I do about God’s will REALLY THE WILL OF GOD? Or merely what I think is God’s will?” Do take heed to King David’s words:

Psalm 19:12-13: Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

Doing God a service according to His will is fulfilling God’s plan and purpose, not only in one’s life but also in the family of God. Many Christians presume to do God’s will when it is not God’s will. What they presume to do is not only a lie, it is unjust with God, it makes God a liar. They do not treat the Lord right or justly when they fail to be obedient to Him.

One time a group of people sought Jesus and asked Him: “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” (John 6:28). Yes, what is it that God requires us to do? And Jesus replied saying, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom He sent” (John 6:29). Church tradition would have us believe that the preceding Scripture verse refers only to Jesus being sent. It is far from the true. Nothing is more wonderful, and good and proper to God than to see His children believe in His anointed one(s) that He sent to them in their age. In the First Century A.D., those who believed on John the Baptist, a man sent of God, have fulfilled those words spoken by Jesus. They have done what God intended them to do. When Jesus came, those who believed on Him have fulfilled the same. Likewise, when the Apostles were later sent forth, and other men of God after them throughout the Grace Age, all who believe on them, in their generation, have met the same requirement in the words uttered by Jesus Christ.

Nothing more is required than just that simple work of believing and receiving God’s anointed, for it is God Who is doing a work in our life, reconciling us to Himself. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Eph.2:10). God has the ultimate intention to perfect us in His Son as He carries out His plan and purpose through the Kingdom of Heaven. Truly, whatever it is that God requires of us, it is not for us to presume to do this or that. What is required of us is simply to believe on the one whom God sent – whoever that anointed man of God is. Yes, anointed man, the one that God sent, not the many false anointed ones out in the religious world.

In his quest to be like the Most High and believing that he had the potential to elevate himself so, Lucifer deceived himself (cf. Isa.14:12-14; Gal.6:3). Lucifer did not keep the Word of God to stay in his position (cf. Jam.1:22). His action shows an inequity with God. Lucifer knew to do right but he did it not. He did not do the will of God but his own. His iniquity resulted in not only his fall but with him a third of heaven’s angels who chose to follow him. Subsequently, the earth lay in chaos as Lucifer turned adversary to God and became Satan.

When Christians think that they have the potential to do God a service, they actually do not keep the Word of God to stay in their positions. Their willful intention to do according to their own will, and not God's, shows up in their actions. Their every good Gospel work is an action of inequity with God. On top of that, their every good Gospel work is self-glorification and self-preservation, given to filthy lucre to fill their coffer as they impart their doctrines (of which many are misleading and false) to their hearers. Their willful practice is unjust and unequal in their dealing with their hearers. And there are hundreds upon hundreds scattered throughout Pentecostalism and Charismaticism around the world. Yes, they may profess healings, salvation and blessings among their hearers, but their deeds are wrong and harmful to their hearers. They are immoral acts.

MYSTERY OF INIQUITY

Consider King Saul.

After a battle with the Philistines, King Saul offered a sacrifice to God but he was reproved by the Prophet Samuel because it was not done according to God's command. God commanded the priest to offer the sacrifice, not the king. When reproved, Saul tried to justify his behavior.

1Samuel 13:11-12: And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash; Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.

Sometime later, in 1 Samuel 15, we see again Saul disobeying God. He saved sheep and oxen from the battle against the Amalekites so that he could offer them to God. Samuel reproved him because he failed to utterly destroy everything in the battle as he was commanded to do so. Once more, Saul tried to justify his behavior.

1Samuel 15:20-23: And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal. And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

Why, oh why would men follow their own defective reasoning when there is available to us the infinite wisdom of God? So questions one preacher. How true! The mystery of iniquity is that men put their will above the will of God, their wisdom against the wisdom of God. Oh, what iniquity!

THE FALL

Romans 8:20-21: For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

The Fall of Mankind is a part of God’s plan and purpose in creation design in order to bring about something far more glorious than the human mind can comprehend. In allowing the Fall, YAHWEH was manifesting certain attributes of His that was played out by His son, Adam, who was a type of His Only Begotten Son, Yahshua, who was to come later.

Now, carefully comprehend how God had the Apostle Paul worded the Scripture of 1Timothy 2:14: “And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.”

What does the Word of God say regarding the deed of the woman? “…but the woman being deceived was in the transgression” (1Tim.2:14b). Being a by-product of Adam, the woman fell into the deception of the Serpent and literally worked iniquity against God's will, becoming a wrongdoer, transgressing the law. God’s judgment meted to Eve was a curse on her reproductive organ (Gen.3:16) for using it contrary to the law of God (Gen.1:24).

What does the Word of God say regarding the deed of Adam? “Adam was not deceived,…” (1Tim.2:14a). Notice that the Word of God, through Paul, does not state that Adam was in the transgression. It did state that he was not deceived. Without doubt Paul could have written “Adam was not deceived but he was in transgression.” But he did not. What was his reason?

Paul placed the emphasis on the deception of Eve – “…but the woman being deceived was in the transgression”. “Adam was not deceived” – that too was emphasized. Deception, whether by self (Jer.37:9) or by another (Luke 21:8), is a deadly tool that always leads to transgression against God. Truly, Adam did what was right – he was not deceived. Obviously, Adam knew what he was doing.

How could that be? If he knew what he was doing, does not it mean that he had willfully (as some would use the word negatively) sinned against God?

THE WILLFUL TRESPASSING OF ADAM

Christians who do not have a revelation of Adam’s action, when he chose to identify with Eve’s sin, believe that Adam made a bad choice when he chose to sin against God. To understand Adam’s willful action in his transgression, let’s look at these three passages of Scripture which use the Greek word "paraptōma".

Romans 11:11-12: I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall (paraptōma) salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?

Galatians 6:1: Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault (paraptōma), ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

Matthew 6:14-15: For if ye forgive men their trespasses (paraptōma), your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

According to Strong's Concordance, we have this definition: #3900. paraptōma, par-ap'-to-mah; from G3895; a side slip (lapse or deviation), that is, (unintentional) error or (wilful) transgression: - fall, fault, offence, sin, trespass.

“Paraptōma” points to “a side slip, whether unintentional or intentional (willful) as to error, transgression, fall, fault, offence, sin and trespass.” Now, Adam committed a trespass (paraptōma) ― was it unintentional or willful? Of course, to say that Adam willfully (willingly, intentionally) chose to identify with Eve’s sin is not to imply that his action was an evil aspiration. However, Adam knew his action was a trespass on the commandment of God but he also knew what he was doing. To the Almighty, the “side slip” of Adam was an “offence”, a “transgression” but it was not an “iniquity”.

This is what Paul writes concerning the "transgression" of Adam:

Romans 5:12-17: Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned - (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a figure (a type) of Him who was to come. But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man's offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. For if by the one man's offense [paraptōma] death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)

Paul conveyed in this passage about Adam’s transgression and added that Adam was a type of Christ, parallel but not true to form. Adam was a type of Christ. Christ was the antitype of Adam. If so, what Adam did, Christ did in reverse. Both the First Adam and the Last Adam were direct creations of God. Beyond doubt, as direct creations of God, both men could not be deceived. They were true sons of God who knew the Will of the Father.

Adam knew what he was doing – willingly, willfully. He was not without understanding as to his choice of action. He had revelation to his purposeful act. Let me illustrate as to the act of one’s willing choice. Picture this scenario: Out at sea, in a heavy storm, a lifeguard on big boat sees a woman falls overboard. The woman struggles to keep her head above the water but the rolling waves prove too much for her. She begins to drown. Now, the lifeguard knows his duty and his responsibility. He also knows the condition of the present situation, and that as good a lifeguard as he is, it is sure death for him to dive into the water to rescue the drowning woman. But as a lifeguard, it is his honor to save life at all cost, even at the cost of his own life. It is a consequence he has to face. So, he willingly, willfully, jumps into the stormy billows to save the drowning woman. He saves her but death takes him.

Adam willingly, willfully, chose to stand in the gap between God and the woman, his bride, to be a “saviour”. Adam did right, he did good, without iniquity, but transgression was made. Hence, death was imputed upon Adam or else God is not righteous as Judge. And so, “in Adam all die” (1Cor.15:22). Yes, there was no iniquity in his action as compare to that of Abraham (Gen.20:2), Isaac (Gen.26:7), Jacob (Gen.27:32), and those who do not the Will of God (Matt.7:21-23). O mystery!

SALVATION - IDENTIFICATION

It goes without saying that the human race could not come into existence without the woman, not just any woman, but the one who was taken out of the man Adam (Gen.2:23). The woman had sinned. (Remember that the word “sin” in Hebrew and Greek simply means “missing the mark”.) As the wages of sin is death it is obvious that Adam had to do what was right in his capacity to redeem his wife. Being in the image of God Adam knew to do right. He opted to stand in the gap as a mediator between the Creator-Judge and Eve. He loved his wife. To buy her back Adam had to identify with her sin and face God’s judgment on her behalf. For that he brought death to mankind.

Truly, the man, a direct creation of God, could not be deceived. He knew judgment awaited the woman that God gave him, and death was certain. Not doing anything would mean he would be the only man on earth for all eternity with the animals on the land, in the air, and in the sea for companions. However, Adam knew what he had to do to “save” his woman from her certain death. As a son of God, created in God’s very image, he knew he must act according to God’s utterance (Gen.2:18) and the prophetic words that he himself had uttered (Gen.2:23-24). And he willingly did it.

Once again, in emphasis, Adam was not without a revelation that his action would bring a condemnation on the human race. Adam hearkened to his wife and had to save her because she was a part of him (Gen. 3:17; 2:23). So, he identified with the fallen state of the woman who had fallen into the deception of the Serpent. She had committed iniquity. Sinless Adam was willing to buy her back by taking her sin upon him. Hence, Adam’s willful action was not rebellious against God nor was he deceived into willfully sinning against the Lord. But rather, he willfully identified with Eve’s sin, knowing the consequence of his act would result in the condemnation. His trespass brought death upon mankind. However, in his identification with Eve’s sin, what was Adam’s transgression? What had he done?

The woman was given to Adam for a wife. Before they could consummate in wedlock as one flesh, she was seduced by Mister Serpent and deceived into committing fornication with him. The Serpent and Eve became one flesh in an unholy wedlock (cf. 1Cor.6:16). Being one with the Serpent, the woman was defiled and Adam could not take her back to himself without being defiled.

But as love projected out of Adam, grace took over. In Adam was the attribute of a saviour. So, he stepped forth to rescue his fallen wife. He stood in the gap between the Creator-Judge and Eve as a provided way of escape for her. He identified with her sin by a sexual union with her, who was already one with the Serpent. Remember, she belonged to the Serpent. By such an act, Adam committed adultery (cf. Lev.20:10; Prov.6:32). And adultery is fornication. Exactly, Adam partook the same fruit as Eve (cf. Gen.3:6). [Note: Some may argue that Eve was actually Adam’s wife. In a way she was but she was not truly Adam’s wife as she had not joined herself to Adam. Consider Joseph and Mary – why Joseph wanted to put her away privately (Matt.1:18-19). Consider Israel whom God had chosen – she backslid and committed adultery, and God put her away (Eze.16:26; Jer.3:8).]

Type and Anti-type

Now, Paul said that Adam was “a type of Him who was to come”. Jesus Christ was the antitype (in reverse) of Adam. What Adam did willingly (willfully) for his beloved was destructive; what Jesus did willingly (willfully) for His Beloved was saving. One brought condemnation, the other brought salvation, giving life back to all who believe in Him. What exactly did Jesus do? What had He done?

Jesus identified with our passion by putting on flesh like us sinners. He felt our pain and our sorrow, and took our transgressions and our iniquities upon Calvary. Exactly right. If Jesus Christ did not willingly identify with our sins and stood in the gap between us and the Father, we would have no life (John 10:14-18). He saw His Bride, like sheep, gone astray and bleating for help. Sinless as He was, He chose to identify with us in the likeness of sinful flesh and to lay down His life for us. Jesus was willing to be judged just to save us (Tit.2:14). The Word says that “He was numbered with the transgressors” (Isa.53:12 cf. Luke 22:37) for “he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities:…” (Isa.53:5).

And what is a transgressor? God would not have Jesus numbered with the transgressors if “transgression” was not involved.

2 Cor.5:21: “For he hath made him to be sin (missing the mark) for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

God had made Jesus Who knew nothing about “missing the mark” to be such that He “missed the mark” for us, so that in Him we might be made in the righteousness of God. No wonder it pained the Father to see the vileness that was put on His Son. Read Isaiah 1:13; Habakkuk 1:13. [Note: Though Jesus “was numbered with the transgressors”, He was not of them, per se. Judas Iscariot left his bishopric vacant after he betrayed Christ. Though Matthias was chosen, not by a direct calling of God, but by a vote of choice (between him and Barsabas) by the 11 apostles, obviously he had to be “numbered with the eleven apostles” (cf. Acts 1:26). A sinner can be numbered with the Christians in a community but is he one of them?]

Like Adam who chose to save his woman, he was numbered with Eve. Jesus chose to do the same for His woman, the chosen ones who would make up His Church, He was numbered with us. Both Adam and Jesus identified with their wife. Both took sin upon themselves. Both transgressed – “missed the mark”. But the first Adam brought death and the last Adam brought life as He took death upon Himself.

A SIN NOT UNTO DEATH

1 John 5:16: If any man see his brother sin (hamartano) a sin (hamartia) which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
17: All unrighteousness (adikia, iniquity) is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

No doubt many Christians have studied to try to understand this passage of Scripture. All sins are transgressions of the law (1Jhn.3:4). And the wages of sin is death (Rom.6:23). But there is a sin that leads to death. It is a sin that cannot be forgiven. To blaspheme the Spirit of Yahweh, there can be no place found for repentance for such a sin, as Judas Iscariot found out after he betrayed Jesus Christ (Matt.27:3-5) and as Esau found out after he sold his birthright for one morsel of food (Heb.12:17), and also those who would fall from the faith to crucify Christ the Word afresh (Heb.6:4-6). Then “there is a sin not unto death” must tell us something of what Adam did, in his “missing the mark” to save Eve, and also in what Christ did, in His “missing the mark” to save His Bride.

Yes, there is certainly no greater love than this – that a man lay down his life for a friend (John 15:13). To be willing to stand in the gap to save is a noble act, more so because it is a very attribute of God (being a saviour) made manifest. Adam did right to save Eve. Jesus did right to save His Church.

Amen.