When We Transgress

Let’s take a moment to clarify what it means to transgress. When we transgress, we sin and offend God Almighty. We may also sin against others. Understanding transgression is crucial for helping people in their transformation process.

When we are not sinning, we are not guilty and have nothing to experience in terms of grief or quenching the Holy Spirit. However, when we sin, it means we have transgressed. It’s vital to understand this concept. As seen on the screen, being guilty of sin indicates that we have crossed a line. When this happens, having clear biblical categories helps us comprehend what the Bible says about the situation.

Initially, we are not guilty, but then something happens—we sin, create an offense, or transgress. Crossing the line should lead to experiencing the grieving and quenching of the Holy Spirit. Feeling guilty is not inherently negative. Recognizing our guilt offers us hope because we can clean up our messes. We can confess our sins to God and those we have wronged, allowing us to be free from sin. Acknowledging transgressions is essential.

The ultimate transgression occurs before salvation, where we live in sin and are permanently guilty. When God convicts us of our permanent state of transgression and total depravity, we ask Him to save us, making us not guilty. In our progressive sanctification, we often sin. As stated in 1 John 1:9, we live in a state of Jesus’s alien righteousness, and positionally, we are not guilty before God. However, there are times when we cross the line with God and others, transgressing and becoming guilty. But this is not a cause for despair. As people of hope, we can clean up our messes by seeking forgiveness from God and others each time we transgress.