What does Job 22:5 reveal about God's view of human sin? Setting the scene in Job 22:5 Eliphaz confronts Job with a rhetorical question that assumes Job’s sin must be massive to explain his suffering. While Eliphaz misapplies this to Job personally, the Spirit-inspired words still unveil how heaven weighs human wrongdoing. What the verse says “Is not your wickedness great? Are not your iniquities endless?” (Job 22:5) Key truths about sin highlighted in Job 22:5 • Sin is described as “great” — not small, excusable, or insignificant. • Iniquities are called “endless” — pointing to a depth and breadth beyond human calculation. • The verse assumes God’s perfect awareness; what may look hidden to people is fully exposed before Him. • The language is absolute, not relative; God does not grade on a curve. How God views our sinfulness • Comprehensive: He sees every act, motive, and thought (Hebrews 4:13). • Serious: Each sin is an affront to His holiness (Habakkuk 1:13). • Continuous apart from grace: Left to ourselves, the stream of iniquity does not dry up (Genesis 6:5; Romans 3:10-12). • Worthy of judgment: Great and endless guilt demands either just punishment or a sufficient atonement (Romans 6:23; Isaiah 53:5-6). Scripture echoes that reinforce the point • Psalm 90:8 — “You have set our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your presence.” • Isaiah 59:2 — “Your iniquities have built barriers between you and your God.” • Romans 3:23 — “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” • James 2:10 — “Whoever keeps the whole law yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.” Why this matters for us today • Recognizing the greatness of sin drives us to humility instead of self-defense. • Seeing its endless nature keeps us from trusting our own moral track record. • Understanding God’s view prepares our hearts to embrace the only remedy He provides—full forgiveness through the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 John 1:7). |
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