Iniquities are a common theme in the Bible. God's word says that we are a people burdened with iniquities, and because of this we have been separated from God. It's only by Christ that we can be restored to God.

It's important for all of us who are in Christ to understand what iniquities are, how they affect us, and how we can get rid of them. In this article, we'll talk just about that.

What is an iniquity?

According to Webster's 1828 dictionary, an iniquity is an "[o]riginal want of holiness or depravity," "[a] particular deviation from rectitude," or simply, "unrighteousness."

In simpler terms, an iniquity is an inborn unrighteousness and predisposition to sin. As sinful men, we are naturally inclined to sin and sinful desires, hence our sinful nature. The bible is clear that sin has enslaved all of us, and we cannot overcome it on our own.

In Romans 7:20, Paul calls this the "sin that dwells in me." Let's read his words for it accurately describes just how crooked we are as a sinful people:

"For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me." (Romans 7:18-20)

This iniquity, or inherent unrighteousness, is with us since birth. Psalm 51:5 tells us,

"Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me."

This verse didn't speak of children borne from adultery; it merely says we are brought forth in iniquity. We have been born with an innate unholiness and unrighteousness. Because of this we are naturally inclined to sinning.

This unrighteousness has separated us from God, who is perfectly righteous and holy:

"But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear." (Isaiah 59:2)

How do we get rid of it?

Since this unrighteousness and unholiness will never allow us to get to God, we've got to get rid of it.

The thing is, as sinful people born and bred into sin, our human attempts at cleansing ourselves are futile and will always lead to a failure.

Paul perfectly expresses this frustrating truth in Romans 7:21-24, saying:

"I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?"

The good news here is that though it's humanly impossible, God made a way for us to be freed from it:

"O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin." (Romans 7:24-25)

Christ Jesus came to earth to destroy the works of the devil, defeat sin, and free us to be God's holy people.

His finished work defeated sin and death, His bloodshed is able to wash us all clean and spotless, as if we have not sinned at all.

If we have faith in Christ, we can be cleansed of our iniquities:

"...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus." (Romans 3:23-26)

A freedom like no other

Friends, if you've put your faith in Christ alone for salvation and have sincerely repented of your sins, then be assured of God's forgiveness (see 1 John 1:9). What's more, if you've already received God's forgiveness and Christ has made you into a new creation (see 2 Corinthians 5:17), be assured that you are a totally new person born of the Spirit (see John 3:5-6).

And if you're born again by the Spirit of God, you're not born again in the likeness of sinful men. This time, you're clean.

How clean? Spotless.

""Come now, and let us reason together," says the Lord, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Isaiah 1:18)