Presumption Of Understanding

When a person unwittingly incurs guilt in regard to any of the Lord’s commandments about things not to be done, and does one of them . . . Leviticus 4:2

Does One Of Them – Sacrifices do not atone for deliberate sins.  Punishment atones for deliberate sins.  But we need sacrifices because we still make mistakes without realizing that we have offended.  When we become aware of our offenses, then a sacrifice is sufficient to remove our guilt.  We must make restitution, but the guilt we incurred before the Lord, even unwittingly, is removed in the sacrifice.  The Torah, especially Leviticus, makes this principle abundantly clear.

But notice the implication behind this principle.  Levine says, “ . . . the presumption is that an Israelite possessed of full awareness and knowledge would seek to obey God’s laws, not violate them.”[1] In other words, the presumption behind the provisions of sacrifice is that if we knew better, sacrifices would be unnecessary.  Sacrifices are a testimony to our ignorance.  We need them because we don’t know all that we should.  The Bible assumes that anyone who knows what God desires will seek to do what God desires.  Doing God’s will is doing exactly what we would do if we knew all the facts.  Since we don’t know all that facts, we act according to His instructions because we trust that He does know all the facts.

There is a lot of confusion about the sacrificial system.  Maybe this helps clear some of the air.  None of the usual sacrifices removed the guilt of deliberate sin.  God Himself had to deal with that.  But all of us make mistakes.  The Bible assumes that we never get it all right, but it also assumes that human beings in their right minds will recognize God’s desires and attempt to do them.  The Bible does not suggest that we can’t do what God desires.  It only suggests that our insanity exhibits itself when we choose not to do what we otherwise know is His desire.

The text (asa meachat mehena) suggests that we may accidentally offend in any of the stipulations for living God’s way.  There is a provision for any of these mistakes.  All that is required is the recognition of the offense.  These are enlightenment moments; those times when we suddenly realize that we have acted against His will without being aware of it.  These are moments when suddenly we see something in Scripture that applies to us.  These are occasions when we are instantly aware through the Spirit that we did something we should not have done.  A sacrifice is our way of saying, “Lord, I had no idea.  I am guilty.  Now I know it.  Forgive me.”

God accommodates our frailty.  He knows we don’t always understand.  He provides us with actions that accompany new information.  We can do something about these offenses.  We are participants in this aspect of forgiveness.  To know the mind of God is to discover the need for sacrifice.  For these offenses, forgiveness begins with us.  For all the rest, forgiveness must begin with Him.  When we confuse the two, we may actually compound our guilt.  We may think that nothing is due on our end and, as a result, treat all our offenses as if God’s sacrifice was sufficient.  We may make ourselves the victims of spiritual presumption.  God’s good favor rests partially on what we do, and once we know this, if we don’t do it, we magnify the offense.

Topical Index:  sacrifice, ignorance, unintentional sin, Leviticus 4:2


[1] Baruch Levine, The JPS Torah Commentary on Leviticus, p. 19.

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Paul Michalski

Skip,

Happy Easter–He is risen!!!

I feel the elation of this joyous day of celebration tempered somewhat by today’s (and yesterday’s) message–hopefully I am misunderstanding the implications (would not be the first time). If sacrifice only suffices to cleanse unintentional sin and can not cleanse intentional sin, does it follow that the ultimate sacrifice–the blood of Jesus–could not (and did not) pay the price for ALL sin and is sufficient only for unintentional sin? If so, does the commission of one intentional sin forever disqualify us for the purity required for eternity with God? If so, I fear we are all doomed (and this would have been a really terrible day to pick for delivering this message!).

I hope your answer is no–that the blood of Jesus is sufficient for all sin. If so, how do you reconcile this with what you are saying?

Blessings on this marvelous day.

Michael

“the blood of Jesus–could not (and did not) pay the price for ALL sin”

Hi Paul,

To me, it doesn’t seem logical to think that any sin of mine that has not yet been committed has already been paid for by Jesus.

If that were the case why would I need to pray for forgiveness?

In my view, Jesus suffered for our sins, even though he was innocent, to show us how to live and die.

He is the Hero of our story.

Paul Michalski

Michael,

It is finished. When is it paid for if it was not paid for at Calvary? I wa taught we should not pray for forgiveness–we should confess and repent and give thanks for the forgiveness that was already bought. In fact, asking for forgiveness suggests it has not already been paid for. Tim Keller explains it as Jesus being our advocate before God–when we sin, Jesus can stand before the Father and say–I have paid the price for this already–this man is forgiven.

Kees

Hi Skip,

I’m not so sure the term ‘paid for our sins’ is actually a biblical notion ……

Kees

Drew

Skip …

It is sad that so few believers have any firm understanding of the “sacrificial system” … as such there is much confusion/delusion associated with sin atonement/forgiveness/grace and so forth amongst believers! Another by product of viewing Scripture in non-Hebraic context!

Most certainly Yeshua’s victory, bought and paid for by His perfect self sacrifice, is indeed offered too and accepted by “the elect” …. otherwise we would not need a Mashiach! 🙂 Clearly, for the elect, does Yeshua’s covering result in a judgment of “righteousness”!

As for other believers (non-elect) that call upon the name of The Lord …. again the discussion must delve into that topic of non-acceptance. We move into that zone where our High Priest is unable to accept our sacrifice because it is not pure … or perhaps the sacrifice is not even offered up at all … or perhaps the believer is not even in the encampment because of perpetual defilement … or … etc.

Sacred Scripture is clear that we can not have it both ways. When a believer shrugs off their continued sinfulness and presumes this sin is covered by Yeshua’s sacrifice is a grave heresy. The presumption of forgiveness without t’shuvah is non-Biblical! To presume continued and perpetual forgiveness while willfully continuing in sin is blasphemy … and the wages of sin = “death”!

Skips message and comments herein are very, very important because they address a serious error in the lives of millions and millions of believers. People that believe but do not live according to the standard of faith! People who believe but do not have the power (Ruach) within them to put down the iniquity … and hence continue to be a slave to sin!

We see in Scripture where prayers and cries are sent up to YHVH to make known our iniquities … ignorance is not bliss!

Sadly many are in this state because they really do not want to “walk the walk” … while others simply fall prey to very bad teaching and heresy!

As for us …. let us praise the ONE WHO IS EVERYTHING:

The Sacrificed Lamb, The Unleavened Bread, The First Fruits, The High Priest, The Life within us … and on and on and on … 🙂

Let us praise YESHUA HAMASHIACH … LORD and SAVIOR!