Our bibles have a bias...a Christian bias (mostly correct), but also (King James version as an example) a reformation bias. Some verses are translated in a way that produces an undesirable result.
A prime example of that bias comes with the translation of Is. 1:18 into English.
"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Is. 1:18 (KJV)
This verse is translated as if God was speaking to our sins...as opposed to speaking to us. This way of reading the verse supports Luther's idea that justification involves "covering up" a dunghill of sin with a fresh coat of snow...thus making our sins appear to be white as snow.
However, reading the verse that way imposes a viewpoint that is incorrect. The whole chapter is addressing God's people, not their sins. A better rendering of the verse would read...
"......If your sins make you as scarlet, you shall be white as snow; if you become red as crimson, you shall be as wool" Is. 1:18 (non-biased version)
The whole context of the chapter is to cease to DO evil...not make evil appear as good.
Is God speaking to our sins or to us? Seeing that the translation from Hebrew has been corrupted to support a sinful holiness...what can be done? Are we as English speakers then cursed to misunderstand the word of God? Or does a simple non-biased rendering of the Hebrew shed light that dispels the darkness confusing the church?
It is speaking of forgiveness of sins and wiping the slate clean (our sins cast into the sea of forgetfulness). Dangerous to try rewording the bible in order to make it agree with our doctrines. It's written in prophetic spiritual language, kind of poetic....on purpose. There is no need to try and make everything literal and precise and logical - that just makes what was God's word to be carnal as opposed to spiritual. It wasn't written for the carnal mind, it was written for the heart. God's word is often written in a manner that tests hearts, as well as in a manner so as to hide the truth from the wise and learned.
Young's Literal renders it much the same as the KJV:
Isa 1:18
Come, I pray you, and we reason, saith Jehovah, If your sins are as scarlet, as snow they shall be white, If they are red as crimson, as wool they shall be!
Nobody who has the Spirit and is sincere with the Lord is going to use this verse to try and justify their sin. We understand what it's saying by the spirit. But if anyone does misuse it that way, well the word has exposed their heart.
Paul said that in him, in his flesh, dwells no good thing....the same is true for everyone, so we need the covering of the blood of Christ and imputation of righteousness, otherwise no one could be saved. Love covers a multitude of sins. And do not call unclean what God has made clean.