About Sin and Forgiveness

About sin and forgiveness Are you ever uncomfortable when you hear people say, “It’s OK, God will forgive me”, as they knowingly rush head on into sin? Have you ever wondered about 1 John 5:16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. Or that passage from Hebrews: Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. The modern gospel teaches a vision of forgiveness, from a gentile view of the scriptures. We are taught that The Christ’s blood, shed for the world, is payment for sin once and for all, and every sin. We are told, “If we confess our sin, he is faithful and just, to forgive us our sin, , , ,” And this is true. It is a truth in need of explanation, because it makes no distinction about sin. Neither does it explain those pesky verses above, suggesting, plainly a warning of falling from the grace of God. When we approach the Word, we are taught to focus on the New Testament. We read the gospels and the epistles. And, we do well to read them, because they are God’s good news to the Gentile. But, think of it for a moment. When you want to learn a subject, do you start at the beginning, or the end, or maybe the middle? Of course, you start at the beginning. And, for the Christ Follower, the beginning of our story starts out, oddly enough, “In the beginning,, ,” That is not where the “church” will usually begin. No. We are taught beginning from the gentile perspective. That is, from the middle of the story. From our first Sunday School class it is a New Testament, gentile, perspective by which we gain knowledge of The Christ and His Word. When Timothy is told,”You have know the scriptures to make wise unto salvation, , , ,” do you suppose they meant the Gospels and the Epistles? No. Timothy was taught in the Jewish tradition – He was taught the Torah and the Prophets. The frame of reference for all early-church teaching is the Torah. And so, it must be that their understanding of sin and forgiveness is found in the Torah. A big disclaimer here: I am not a Hebraic scholar!!! But, I can read. And if you accept that the Bible is the Word of God in print, then we can continue. If we are to really understand the Epistles where they speak to sin and forgiveness or for that matter the entire New Testament, we need to understand them in terms of the Old Testament – With perspective of a Hebrew. We need to begin our quest for knowledge at the beginning. Perhaps we should decide if it is even important. I think a recent experience I had decided that for question for me. I heard a radio program recently, and the narrator recounted this story: A pastor standing outside an abortion clinic attempted to tell the male companion of a woman he had just dropped off to get an abortion, what was wrong about what he was doing. According to the pastor, the man just replied, “I know, but God will forgive me.” To this the pastor then said, “Yes, but , , , “. The pastor was agreeing that God would forgive what he believed to be a sin, knowing full well the young man thought it sin. I have heard this reasoning over and over, that God would forgive that sort of sin, and it has left me feeling neither blessed nor assured. Maybe it is that long ago, brief, Catholic experience and catechism classes that provided that troubled feeling. I have been a non-denominational, evangelical type for forty plus years, and have understood that we are saved by unmerited favor – Grace. But, this is young man’s act, is exactly the sort of presumptuous sin alluded to in Hebrews 10:26. And that passage has always been a challenge to understand, in light of traditional evangelical doctrine of Grace and Salvation. This pastor’s suggestion that that sort of sin would be forgiven, sent me into the Word, to see “if these things be so.” We hear a little commentary preaching about sin. There is a lot of preaching and teaching about feeling good. And, if you think about it most of the focus is on the forgiveness of sin, but without understanding sin. Oh yes, they quote, “Sin is the transgression of law.” And, so it is. But how much do they teach you about transgression. To understand it we must go to the Law I propose the Bible describes tow kinds of sin (Yes, the Catholic comes out). But unlike the Catholic version mortal and venial, we will use a Bible reference, and call them Sins of Ignorance, and Presumptuous Sins. Let us see what God said through Moses, in the Law. And since we have an abiding interest in forgiveness, we shall see what God says about forgiveness, as well. THE LAW Leviticus 4:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the Lord concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them: Leviticus 4:13 And if the whole congregation of Israel sin through ignorance, and the thing be hid from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done somewhat against any of the commandments of the Lord concerning things which should not be done, and are guilty; Leviticus 4:22 When a ruler hath sinned, and done somewhat through ignorance against any of the commandments of the Lord his God concerning things which should not be done, and is guilty; Leviticus 4:27 And if any one of the common people sin through ignorance, while he doeth somewhat against any of the commandments of the Lord concerning things which ought not to be done, and be guilty; Numbers 15:29 Ye shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance, both for him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them. So what is “ignorance”? What says the scriptures? Here are two excerpts from the Hebrew interlinear Bible. Leviticus 4:22: Which prince he is sinning and he does one from any of instruction of Yaweh Elohim of him ruler which not they shall be done, in error, and he is guilty. Leviticus 15: 29 the•native in sons of Israel and for the sojourner and the one sojourning in the midst of them law one shall be for you to the one doing in error. So, what can we say of Sins of Ignorance? Clearly the distinction lies in “Intention”. It is an error. FORGIVENESS All through the giving of the law, this word “ignorance” appears. And for each of these ‘’sins through ignorance” or error, God provides an ordinance of sacrifice, for forgiveness. Leviticus 4:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the Lord concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them: if the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the LORD for a sin offering. And so it is for each of the sins of ignorance, that there is a corresponding sacrifice where blood is shed for forgiveness (covering) of sin. This is the first kind of sin. The Second Kind of Sin There is not a lot of discussion of this kind of sin within the Torah. I think it is because it is easily recognized and there is only one corresponding remedy, to cleanse Israel of it – Death. Here is a single example: Numbers 15:30 But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Let us call the Second Kind of Sin, “Presumptuous Sin” What then, does it mean to be presumptuous? Miriam-Webster defines it: : overstepping due bounds (as of propriety or courtesy) :taking liberties From “The Dictionary of the English Language”, Third Edition, Printed by W.E. Jones 1778, Presumptuous: Arrogant, confident, Irreverant with respect to holy things. Presumptuously: Arrogantly; irreverently, With vain and groundless confidence in divine favor. (Note: Irreverant is the correct spelling for 1778) But, how does one arrive at presumptuous or presumptuously when translated from Hebrew into English? Using an interlinear Hebrew bible I found the literal translations from four verses where Presumptuous Sin is mentioned. Note: The word is arrived at from the context, as there appears to be no single word that translates to presumptuous. Unfortunately, we can get into some circular reasoning at this point, with respect to words, as the word “arrogant” is used in the interlinear (modern) translation – also apparently derived at from the context of the passage. But, if dealing in Spirit and Truth, we should be OK. Here are the four key verses as literal translations. Exodus 2:14: and•that ־ he-is-cplanning-arrogantly man on associate of him to to-kill him in craft Numbers 15:30: and•the•soul who is doing in hand high, from native and sojourner, Yaweh he taunting, the and he is cut off. Deuteronomy 1:43: and•I-am-speaking and not you listened and your defying bidding of Yaweh and you are being arrogant and your ascending the mountainward. Deuteronomy 17:12: and•the•man which he is doing in arrogance to so as not to to listen of to the priest the one standing to to minister there Yaweh Elohim of you to to the one judging and he dies and you errdiacte the evil from Israel. King James Version Exodus 21:14 But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die. Numbers 15:30 But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Deuteronomy 1:43 So I spake unto you; and ye would not hear, but rebelled against the commandment of the LORD, and went presumptuously up into the hill. Deuteronomy 17:12 And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the LORD thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel. What is common here is these transgressions of the law are conscious, wilfull, and, in modern terms, “In your face” disobedience. NO FORGIVENESS There is one other commonality, very crucial to the understanding of sin as discussed in the New Testament – There is no atonement, or sacrifice for Presumptuous Sin. The conclusion to Presumptuous Sin is clearly different from that of Sins of Ignorance. But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. (Numbers 5:30) So, what do we now know, that every Hebrew would have known, in the “church”? For Sins of Ignorance, there is atonement available. For Presumptuous Sin, there is only death. Fast-forward to the early Apostolic era. Now we see the crucified Christ - the Lamb of God. And we, who now have some understanding of Hebrew perspective of the sin sacrifice, what can we say? Let us not say it – yet. But, let the Apostles suggest an answer. 1 John 5:16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. Now, as good Hebrew thinkers, what do you suppose John is talking about here? First we see a reference to a “sin which is not unto to death”. With our newly acquired perspective, we should have clear understanding. From the Hebrew perspective we can assert that this is referring to a Sin of Ignorance. We could even, dare I suggest it, rewrite it thus: If any man see his brother sin through ignorance, he shall ask, and he shall give life for them that, , , , Next we read: “There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.” Here to we can ascent that this is a Presumptuous Sin, because we know from the scriptures available at that time, this is the only kind sin for which the blood sacrifice was not available. And we could also rewrite this portion: “There is Presumptuous Sin: I do not say the he shall pray for it. And, a full rewrite with this in mind might read: If any man see his brother sin in ignorance (error), he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin in ignorance. There is presumptuous sin, sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. It is Presumptuous Sin. The writer of Hebrews suggests the very same idea. Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin wilfully (Presumptuously) after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, Reading this with our new perspective, as the Hebrews had received the knowledge of the law, so to the Christ Follower having received the knowledge of the truth has no access to forgiveness for wilfull sin, since that forgiveness is found in the Blood of the Lamb which the sinner presumed upon, and trampled the Grace of God under foot. UNFOREGIVEABLE SIN NAMED We do know that The Unforgiveable Sin is named in the New Testament. Mark 3 28 Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: 29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation. Knowing what the unforgivable sin is, we can identify what kind of sin it is. Is it the first kind or the second kind? However, the question often arises, as is evidenced by the many sermons which attempt to answer it, “what is blaspheme”? The New Testament writer does not go into a lot of detail on this. It is my guess that, as with any commonly understood terms, further illumination was unnecessary for the hearers. And of course, if you were a Hebrew, it was probably well understood by you. We need to understand this, as Hebrews. And so, we return to the Torah and the Prophets. BLASPHEME The definition is again found in the context or the word. Two verses are given below, the interlinear translation is shown in red. In these verses, The Lord describes how He was blasphemed. Isaiah 36 13 Then Rabshakeh stood, and cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language, and said, Hear ye the words of the great king, the king of Assyria. 14 Thus saith the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you. 15 Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, The LORD will surely deliver us: this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria. 16 Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make an agreement with me by a present, and come out to me: and eat ye every one of his vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his own cistern; 17 Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards. 18 Beware lest Hezekiah persuade you, saying, the LORD will deliver us. Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria? 19 Where are the gods of Hamath and Arphad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim? and have they delivered Samaria out of my hand? 20 Who are they among all the gods of these lands, that have delivered their land out of my hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand? 37 5 So the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah. 6 And Isaiah said unto them, Thus shall ye say unto your master, Thus saith the LORD, Be not afraid of the words that thou hast heard, wherewith the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me. and•he-is-saying to•them Isaiah thus shall-say to lords of you thus he says Yaweh must not your are fearing from faces of the words which they heard which they taunted me, lads of king of Assyria, me Ezekiel 20 27 Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me. Therefore speak you! To house of Israel son of human and you say to them thus He says my lord Yaweh further this they Taunted me fathers of you to offend of me offends me. 28 For when I had brought them into the land, for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to them, then they saw every high hill, and all the thick trees, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering: there also they made their sweet savour, and poured out there their drink offerings. There is no direct translation to Blaspheme. What we see is that in these cases the act of taunting God is interpreted to be Blaspheme. And, now, we can make a claim about The Unforgivable Sin that it is no act of error. You do not accidentally taunt – it is an act of will. So, as to kind, Blaspheme is Presumptuous Sin. However, there were two ways that God was taunted. First by the words spoken by the servants of the King of Assyria. The second was in disobedience to God when they had come into the land where He had brought them. Was not the message of Rabshakeh, as accusation of the Pharisees? Did they both not make the same false accusations against or about God? Perhaps we can better understand Mark 3:28 this way: 29 But he that shall taunt the Holy Ghost, as Rabshakeh taunted God, hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation. We now see that there are at least two ways to blaspheme – in word and deed. NEW TESTAMENT SINS OF IGNORANCE So what do the Apostles say regarding sins of ignorance? Acts 17:23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, To The Unknown God. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. 1 Timothy 1:13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Ephesians 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: 1 Peter 1:14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: It is no mystery that the Apostle would use this word. In the Hebrew frame of reference, those outside of the covenant would of course be acting in ignorance, in error, not knowing God or the Law. Above, Paul speaks of his persecution of the Body of Christ and forgiveness which was available and given, because he did it in “ignorance”. Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin. Sins of Ignorance and Presumptuous Sin - Forgiveness and Condemnation Let everyone be persuaded in his own mind. But, give very serious thought to what you read here and compare what the word says with what people tell you, and particularly, the next time the tempter tells you, “It doesn’t matter because, “God will forgive you.” . Heed the warning in Hebrews. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden underfoot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

Sacrifice - A happy thing.

New Testament scribes and Pharisees sit in Jesus’ seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. These are “false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.” And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. OK, pretty heavy start, I guess. But, it applies. In light of the intro, what is the first image or feeling that pops into your head when you read the following word: SACRIFICE Write it down if your memory is as bad as mine, and we’ll get back to it shortly. I have come to realize that among the faithful (Christ followers) it is not always that we don’t only not understand Greek or Hebrew, it is that we often don’t understand English. That is, English as it was intended. Now back to the word sacrifice. Be honest. Were your thoughts “happy”, “joyful”, or “gay”? (Another misuse of English) Did the word conjure up images of feasting, and song? No? Why not? If you thought of “doing without”, “depriving” yourself of something for a good cause, or any of the other “Religious” connotations that have attached themselves to this word, you can blame the “false teachers among you”. Sacrifice meant none of those things. Think about it. There are connections in God’s word that would never make sense if sacrifice had those meanings. How about, "the sacrifice of praise”. Now I suppose you could point to Paul’s “Philippian Jail” experience, but I am doubtful that was an altogether somber experience. How silly to think of two guys in chains, singing a Psalm or Hymn, as if it were a dirge – all glum, with mouth turned down, as if they a kid being forced to say, “I’m sorry.” Consider the Old Testament sacrifice? There, the Jews were to “sacrifice” and “rejoice” before the Lord, in the place where He has chosen to put His name. Oh yeah: They were to “eat it there” before the Lord. Same picture –Down-in-the-mouth, making an effort to appear happy. Once you understand the English, as it was written, you get a clear picture of what is meant to happen, and what a wonderful experience you can have when you sacrifice. When the bible was translated, the word used for sacrifice was taken from the Latin. Two roots, "sacre"; meaning sacred or holy and "facere"; to do or to make, literally combine to mean, Make Holy or Do Holy. Now it makes wonderful sense to say, “make a sacrifice of praise”, or “Make Holy praise”. And too, “make holy” rejoicing before the Lord, eating the offering, with your family. These are a far cry from the notion that has been perpetuated for a very long time. It is a notion, by which some teachers may justify themselves, “For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders”. And, they rob widows houses, convincing all that it is the nature of true sacrifice. Yes, you can choose to forego a few goodies, or even many. But, do it in knowledge. Oh, to make sacred your life. Remember, “, , , ,they will make merchandise of you”. P. McDermott 01/28/2013