Unintentional Sin, What Happens When I Commit One

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The focus of this devotion is always difficult to write about. The reason? The subject is sin which people don’t want to talk about. But it goes even deeper and talks about unintentional sin.

Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. This is how you are to deal with those who sin unintentionally by doing anything that violates one of the LORD’s commands.  Leviticus 4:2

Leviticus , A Procedures Manual

The book of Leviticus is pretty much a procedures manual. It starts by talking about how to offer burnt, grain, and peace offerings.

Then chapter 4 continues by talking about sin offerings for when a person commits an unintentional sin. No matter who they are.

The next 4 paragraphs begin with these phrases.

  • “If the high priest sins, bringing guilt on all the people,”
  • “If the entire Israelite community sins . . . but don’t realize it,”
  • “If one of Israel’s leaders sins . . . but doesn’t realize it,”
  • “If any of the common people sin . . . but they don’t realize it,” 

Because they were all still guilty, even though they didn’t realize it.

Some people might think it isn’t fair or that God doesn’t understand. I think what God is pointing out to us is, he does understand, that we don’t understand. In God’s eyes, sin is sin and must be paid for.

So when an unintentional sin was consciously or unconsciously committed God required it to be atoned for. Therefore the guilty person had to offer a sin offering.

Unintentional Sin Today

People don’t want to talk about sin especially when someone unintentionally sins?

Let’s talk for a moment about today. There are two races of people in the world, Christians and non-Christians.

In light of eternity, it doesn’t matter what non-Christians do. It doesn’t matter if they are good or extremely evil. That does change, however, once they become Christians.

Before that though, they are destined for eternal judgment. And the only reason is they have not accepted what Jesus did for them at Calvary.

I don’t know if there are varying degrees of torment in hell and I don’t care to find out.

Some have asked, what if a person has not heard about Jesus or even God? One or more of that person’s ancestors decided to walk away from God and serve other gods or no god.

Their decision has affected many future generations including whole people groups. That is why it is so important that Christians must realize the urgency of spreading the gospel of Jesus.

Check out a related post called The Fire.

In the Christian world, there are sins done in ignorance. There are also sins committed by those who won’t acknowledge their actions are sinful. This is also a form of ignorance.

Christians guilty of committing known sins like to put God in their little box called “He’ll understand”. But in this devotion, we are talking about when someone commits unintentional sins.

There is forgiveness for our sin, intentional or unintentional. The consequence of continuing to sin is they will eventually draw us away from God. The bottom line – sin has to be paid for. And it was, through Jesus!

Forgiveness For Intentional and Unintentionally Committed Sins

The good news is, God is no respecter of persons when it comes to sin. He is also no respecter of persons when it comes to forgiveness. That is why we must continually go humbly before the Lord asking forgiveness. Especially for when we’ve committed unintentional sin.

Jesus even taught us to pray, “Forgive us our trespasses even as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

Lord, you are fair in justice and grace. Thank you for extending forgiveness to all who ask for it. For they will receive it!

Check out these related posts.

Check out these other posts written on verses in Leviticus

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