We are going to continue looking at the effects of iniquity in our bloodlines. Can we separate ourselves from iniquity? Doesn’t the blood of Jesus cover iniquity too? Now that we have an understanding of the difference between sozo salvation and soteria salvation, we can dig into the concept of ridding our bloodlines of iniquity. Yes, it is possible to destroy the iniquity in our bloodlines! Let’s find out how!
God Introduces Iniquity with His Name
What I previously described to you is an understanding that a lot of the church does not have. Many are confused about sozo and soteria salvation, not knowing the distinction between them. Many are confused about why they still sin after they’ve been saved by Jesus. And many are lied to, believing they are just sinners and will always be sinners, and there’s nothing they can do about it.
Let me tell you: there’s something you can do about it! You can work with God’s power and break this junk off of your life and off of your family.
Let’s take a look at what God says about iniquity, because, believe it or not, He includes a description of iniquity in His name, and when He reveals His name as Jehovah or Yahweh or Ye-hovah to Moses on top of Mt. Sinai.
“The LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”” Exodus 34:5-7 (ESV)
Why would Father God separate out iniquity, transgression, and sin if they weren’t three separate things? And notice how He forgives all of these, but then He gives extra information about iniquity.
He says the iniquity of the father is visited upon the children and children’s children, to the third and fourth generation.
I believe this is a major clue for us as Believers in Christ living in the 21st century. Father God is giving us a revelation of His name, His very identity. And he’s showing us that we don’t just have a sin problem; we have a sin, transgression AND iniquity problem!
And then he gives us a clue: It takes a revelation of the name and identity of God to understand how iniquity works.
He gives us spiritual intel: iniquity is passed on generationally… that is, if you let it! Notice He included iniquity as one of the things that He forgives. If we work with the Lord to cut off and forgive iniquity, I believe we can prevent the generational passing down of iniquity. Unfortunately, most of us understand this after we have kids, but for our children and our children’s children to understand this, and for the work we can do for them, to cut off the iniquity of our lineages so that they get freedom even before they’re born, just imagine what they won’t have to deal with!
I believe this is part of the generational blessing meant for the people of God.
Confusion About This Verse
“In those days they shall no longer say: “‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.’ But everyone shall die for his own iniquity. Each man who eats sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge.
“Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”” Jeremiah 31:29-34 (ESV)
One of the amazing things that happened at the cross was that Jesus completely atoned for the iniquity of people and their generational lines. Up until that point, iniquity could only be covered by the blood of animals, not completely atoned for.
And so God’s people were burdened by the iniquity of their fathers, and it worked in them, and there wasn’t much they could do about it, except for a few.
But in the New Covenant, the blood of Jesus cleanses us from sin, transgression, and iniquity. He forgives all of it, and the blood of Jesus is the price paid for it. God does not hold it against you.
The Prophet Micah was getting this revelation in his day from the Holy Spirit when he wrote:
“Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.” Micah 7:18-19 (ESV)
But Here’s the Rub
But here’s the rub, the thing that people can’t get their heads around, especially if they’re honest in their hearts:
“If God has forgiven all sin, transgression, and iniquity, then WHY am I affected by it?
It shouldn’t affect me, right? Didn’t I pray the prayer? Didn’t I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in my heart that God raised him from the dead? Doesn’t that sozo salvation disconnect me from all sin, transgression and iniquity? Then why am I being penalized for this still? Why is God doing this to me?”
And this is one of the problems, right here: God is blamed for something He’s not doing.
And if God is not doing it, who’s doing it?
It’s either our own selves doing it, or it’s the kingdom of darkness and the devil doing it to us, or some combination of both.
How could we be doing something, like participating in iniquity, and not realize it? Well, it’s through the brokenness of our souls or the brokenness of our spirits. We can be the double-minded man that James references in James 1:8. We can have parts of us submitted under the lordship of Jesus Christ and other parts of us that are not submitted.
This is very well-demonstrated in the story of Simon the [former] Sorcerer in Acts chapter 8.
Simon was from Samaria, and he was saved and baptized under Philip the Evangelist’s ministry after the death of Stephen. And it says that Simon was amazed at all the signs and miracles being done by Philip. Well, the Apostles Peter and John come from Jerusalem and they lay their hands on the new believers, who are then baptized in the Holy Spirit. Simon sees this demonstration of the power of the Spirit and offers to buy this power from Peter.
“But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.” And Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”” Acts 8:20-24 (ESV)
If Simon had become a Christian and had been baptized, why was he still in the bond of iniquity? Because he still had soteria salvation work to do. He still needed prayer and work in his life by the Holy Spirit.
“Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1 (ESV)
It is very possible that our human spirits have participated in evil deeds in the past. All spiritual beings have free will, which God values very highly. He allows us to go our own way if we want to.
Just when you think that salvation can’t get any better, we learn this important lesson! Where did iniquity originate anyway? We will answer that question next week!
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