… in your transgressions and sins
Summary: Paul gives us a peek into the different types of sin that God’s Word deals with. Understanding the differences helps us clear our thinking when it comes to understanding our relationship with God.
Imagine that I have invited you out for dinner. I pick you up at the appointed time, and we head out to eat.
“Where are we going?” you ask.
“It’s a surprise!” is my response.
You know we are going somewhere to get food, but you don’t know what kind of food it will be.
The word “sin” is a bit like the word “food.” It is more of a category of things than a single “thing.” For example, there are foods you really like, foods you can’t stand, and foods that make you sick. (Some “foods” can actually be poison to a person.) All are technically “food,” but they are not all the same.
Sin is similar. Paul uses two words for sin in this passage. He writes:
“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world …” (Ephesians 2:1)
What does he mean by “transgressions and sins?” Aren’t they the same thing? As it turns out, the answer is “No.” Paul has two separate conditions of sin in mind.
When we are born, we exist in a state of “sin” that resulted from Adam and Eve’s original sin. This sin is a spiritual separation from God. Whether it is intentional or unintentional doesn’t matter. It is all sin at that point. But there are different types of sin, and it is important to understand the difference.
The first sub-category of sin includes “intentional” and “unintentional” sins. We see God explaining this in Numbers 15:27-30. People who sin “defiantly” are opposed to God. They have “despised the Lord’s word and broken his commands.” These people are not allowed to make atonement, nor would they want to. They are defiant, “cut off” from Israel and God. People who sin “unintentionally” are in a different group. They are allowed to make atonement with God and have their relationship restored. This second sub-category is the group that Paul is referring to in this passage. The “transgressions and sins” Paul is talking about fall into the “unintentional” category.
The Greek word Paul uses for “transgression” is a word that means “sin,” but it also suggests a kind of innocent trespass. For example, let’s say there is a path that borders on a particular piece of property. There are “No Trespassing” signs every 100 feet along the property line, but in between the signs, the path is not very clear, and there is no fence. At one point, you end up wandering onto the private property by accident. You didn’t mean to trespass, but you did. That is a “transgression.”
The other Greek word Paul uses for “sin” is translated as “sin” in the NIV. This is a word that suggests that a person is trying to do what is right, but falls short or “misses the mark.” This word is based on the word that comes from the Greek archery term that means “missing the mark.” As hard as I try to control what I eat when I am trying to lose weight, I sometimes (Okay… often!) fall short and eat something I shouldn’t. This is “missing the mark.” I am trying to do what is right, but not quite making it all the way there.
When it comes to sinning by innocent transgressions or falling short of doing right, we face a virtual smorgasbord of opportunities every day. We are all sinful beings, but there is a difference between defying God and unintentional sin. When we sin unintentionally, we might wander off the trail or fall short in our efforts to do good. When we defy God, we refuse his offer of restoration and forgiveness.
Application: Understanding the types of sin mentioned in Scripture helps us better understand God’s grace.
Food for Thought: How does knowing the difference between intentional and unintentional sin help you understand the Bible better?
Both the Old and New Testament use different words and contexts to refer to sin, often in the same sentence or paragraph. Understanding that these can have different meanings will help us to understand that what is being communicated may be different concepts. It is not necessarily just being repetitive. And that can allow us to dig deeper to find more meaning to apply to our relationship with the Lord.
Thanks Rich!
I’ve often been confused about what it means to be “born in sin” and to “sin” and to be “righteous” in God’s eyes. Knowing the difference between rebellious sin and simply falling short helps me understand the difference.
03-26-2023, How does knowing the difference between intentional and unintentional sin help you understand the Bible better?
Romans 2:6 God “will repay each one according to his deeds.”
God looks at the hearts of all mankind, not our human, physical intentions. A wise man once said, the road to hell is paved in good intentions.
2 Samuel 11:1-27, Tells us of events in Davids life,
V1, David sent Joab and all of Israel into battle, but remained in his palace.
V2, One evening he walked on the roof of his house and watched a beautiful woman washing herself.
V3, He enquired about the woman and found out she was the wife of one of his commanders, Uriah the Hittite.
V4, David sent for her and took her.
V5, She conceived and told David.
V6, David had Joab send her husband to him.
V7, David had Uriah give him a report on the war he was fighting.
V8, David, desiring Uriah sleep with his wife, sent him home to wash and eat.
V9, Uriah slept at the door of the kings house rather than go home.
V10, David asked Uriah why?
V11, Uriah said he would not seek pleasures the others in Davids army could not enjoy.
V12-13, David had him stay another day, got him drunk, but he still would not go to his wife.
V14-15, David wrote a letter to army commander, telling him to put Uriah in a position where he would be killed in battle.
V16-18, Joab did as commanded and Uriah was killed.
V19-21, Joab told a messenger to report a lie to David.
V22-24, The messenger did as he was told.
V25, David sent a deceiving message back to Joab.
V26-27, Uriah’s wife morned his death, and David Tok her as His wife.
Did David begin these acts against God, unintentionally or intentionally? Every decision was his, why would any be considered unintentional?
Our Bibles make it clear to me we are all deeds will be judged.
John 16:8, And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
Romans 2:15, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them.
Matthew 5:22But I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment; and whosoever shall say to his brother, ‘Raca,’ shall be in danger of the council; but whosoever shall say, ‘Thou fool,’ shall be in danger of hell fire.
Matthew 5:28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.
Leviticus 4:2-3, tells us If anyone sins unintentionally in any of the Lord’s commandments about things not to be done, and does any one of them, if it is the anointed priest who sins, thus bringing guilt on the people, then he shall offer for the sin a sin offering.”
However, the sacrifices of the Old Testament were replaced once and for all when Jesus died on the cross. As the ultimate sacrifice, Jesus came to die for our sins – both intentional and unintentional.
Ron,
Your excellent essay touches on several key points.
First, it is not our place to judge except in certain circumstances (Matthew 7:1-2, Luke 12:57, 1 Corinthians 5:12). So judging David’s motives, or anyone else’s, is not in our wheelhouse.
Second, Jesus’ death on the cross covers both intentional and unintentional sins – for people who have turned to Jesus for forgiveness.
Intentional sins from a rebellious heart where there is no repentance is another matter.
Unintentional sin from one who is devoted to God is another matter still.
Thank you!
Great points Brother,
Thank You!
Ron
Intentional or unintentional still misses the mark. If I shot an arrow at the bullseye but hit you instead the damage is done. I say I didn’t mean it but why did I shoot at all? Was I overconfident in my ability as a marksman? Any sin pierces the heart of God. If I intentionally sin, it reveals I love myself more than God, I may be forgiven, but it is a horrible way to build a relationship! Compare the idea with infractions between husband and wife, or a good friend
TJR,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts here!
I agree with parts of your comment, but there are parts I don’t understand. For example, when you write “If I intentionally sin, it reveals I love myself more than God” I completely agree with that statement.
The statement “Any sin pierces the heart of God,” puzzles me a bit. I can’t find any reference to “God’s heart” or “heart of God” in Scripture. If you can point me to the part of the Bible you are thinking of here, I would appreciate that.