All sin is not the same.
Num 15:27 And if any soul sin through ignorance, then he shall bring a she goat of the first year for a sin offering.
Num 15:28 And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sinneth ignorantly, when he sinneth by ignorance before the LORD, to make an atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him.
Num 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.
Num 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.
Num 15:31 Because he hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him.
Num 15:32 And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day.
Num 15:33 And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation.
Num 15:34 And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him.
Num 15:35 And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.
Num 15:36 And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses.
The above excerpt from Numbers clearly depicts a difference between sinning presumptuously and sinning in ignorance. Those who sinned ignorantly could approach God through the means of the sacrificial system and have their sin expiated whilst those who presumptuously sinned were shown no mercy.
Likewise we read in Hebrews...
Heb 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Heb 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
Heb 10:21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised
Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Heb 10:25 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.
Heb 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
Heb 10:27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
Heb 10:28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
Heb 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot 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?
Under the New Covenant we can boldly approach God directly by the blood of Jesus Christ in a new and living way (a faith that works by love apart from the works of the law [see Gal 5:4-6, Rom 7:4, 2Cor 3:3-6]). We are to draw near to God with a heart that is true (honest, sincere) through repentance and faith whereby we may be washed clean of an evil conscience and made pure.
This cleansing is due to the grace of God and this grace is not to be mocked by willfully sinning against the knowledge of the truth. No sacrifice remains for ongoing willful sin after having been sanctified by the blood of Jesus Christ. To presumptuously sin against grace is to mock God and spurn His grace. It is not the intention of God to cleanse a vessel who keeps defiling itself.
Clearly the Hebrews passage teaches that there is a difference in sin because it plainly uses the term "willful" sin and explains the reason why such action is to tread upon the blood of Christ.
Jesus spoke of a "greater sin."
Joh 19:10 Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?
Joh 19:11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.
Jesus clearly stated that the sin of religious authorities who had delivered Him over to be condemned was greater than the sin of Pilate.
Jesus healed a blind man and this man stood before the religious authorities and testified that Jesus has healed Him.
Joh 9:30 The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.
Joh 9:31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.
Joh 9:32 Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.
Joh 9:33 If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.
Joh 9:34 They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.
Joh 9:35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?
Joh 9:36 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?
Joh 9:37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.
Joh 9:38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.
Joh 9:39 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.
Joh 9:40 And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?
Joh 9:41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.
Jesus told the Pharisees that their sin remained because they were not blind implying that the witness of truth was right in front of them yet they refused. This, after all, is the condemnation Jesus spoke of with Nicodemus...
Joh 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Joh 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
Joh 3:21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
The Bible clearly differentiates between presumptuous sin and non-presumptuous sin.
Paul testified in 2 Thessalonians that God would send strong delusion on those who received not a love of the truth. Unrighteousness is extremely deceiving and those who choose the pleasure of unrighteousness refusing to come to the light will perish.
2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Paul also contrasts obedience from the heart with disobedience (willful sin) in Romans chapter 6.
Rom 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Rom 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Rom 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
"Yielding to sin" is "sinning unto death" whilst "obedience from the heart" sets one free from the "service of sin."
John writes in the fifth chapter of his first epistle...
1Jn 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.
1Jn 5:17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.
1Jn 5:18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
In the above extract John speaks of "sin unto death" and "sin not unto death." Sin unto death it simply outright disobedience to God from a rebellious heart and because God gives men the CHOICE as whether to obey Him or not means that God is not going to change someone against their will. Hence there is no point in praying for the outright disobedient. Those who err and are thus sinning ignorantly have not necessarily spurned the grace of God thus they have hope.
There is no hope for someone who is in outright rebellion to God whilst they remain in that state. They need to repent lest they will perish just like those who built the Tower of Siloam (Luke 13:1-5).
This verse is abused by many...
Jas 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
The context of the above verse is in regards to hypcrisy.
Jas 2:8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
Jas 2:9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
Jas 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
Jas 2:11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
In other words if a person is doing what they think is good in one area but doing evil in another then they stand guilty before God like any other transgressor. In verse 8 James says that we are to LOVE and we know that LOVE WORKS NO ILL (Rom 13:8) and thus fulfills the law.
In conclusion it is the HEART of a man that matters. Jesus gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from all iniquity and purify us that we be zealous of doing that which is right.
Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
The end of the commandment is love out of a PURE HEART, a GOOD CONSCIENCE and FAITH UNFEIGNED.
1Ti 1:5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
Thus the righteous man may stumble many times (sin ignorantly) but they rise up again and continue on growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. It is the wicked who do evil willfully.
Pro 24:16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
The danger of equating all sin as the same is it condones a mindset that one can willfully be in rebellion to God and be reconciled at the same time. It is not so. Those who work iniquity will be rejected at the judgement and only the doers of God's will will enter the kingdom. Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God, not those who have guile.
Psa 32:1 A Psalm of David, Maschil. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
Psa 32:2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
Psa 32:11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.
Num 15:27 And if any soul sin through ignorance, then he shall bring a she goat of the first year for a sin offering.
Num 15:28 And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sinneth ignorantly, when he sinneth by ignorance before the LORD, to make an atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him.
Num 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.
Num 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.
Num 15:31 Because he hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him.
Num 15:32 And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day.
Num 15:33 And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation.
Num 15:34 And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him.
Num 15:35 And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.
Num 15:36 And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses.
The above excerpt from Numbers clearly depicts a difference between sinning presumptuously and sinning in ignorance. Those who sinned ignorantly could approach God through the means of the sacrificial system and have their sin expiated whilst those who presumptuously sinned were shown no mercy.
Likewise we read in Hebrews...
Heb 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Heb 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
Heb 10:21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised
Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Heb 10:25 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.
Heb 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
Heb 10:27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
Heb 10:28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
Heb 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot 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?
Under the New Covenant we can boldly approach God directly by the blood of Jesus Christ in a new and living way (a faith that works by love apart from the works of the law [see Gal 5:4-6, Rom 7:4, 2Cor 3:3-6]). We are to draw near to God with a heart that is true (honest, sincere) through repentance and faith whereby we may be washed clean of an evil conscience and made pure.
This cleansing is due to the grace of God and this grace is not to be mocked by willfully sinning against the knowledge of the truth. No sacrifice remains for ongoing willful sin after having been sanctified by the blood of Jesus Christ. To presumptuously sin against grace is to mock God and spurn His grace. It is not the intention of God to cleanse a vessel who keeps defiling itself.
Clearly the Hebrews passage teaches that there is a difference in sin because it plainly uses the term "willful" sin and explains the reason why such action is to tread upon the blood of Christ.
Jesus spoke of a "greater sin."
Joh 19:10 Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?
Joh 19:11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.
Jesus clearly stated that the sin of religious authorities who had delivered Him over to be condemned was greater than the sin of Pilate.
Jesus healed a blind man and this man stood before the religious authorities and testified that Jesus has healed Him.
Joh 9:30 The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.
Joh 9:31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.
Joh 9:32 Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.
Joh 9:33 If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.
Joh 9:34 They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.
Joh 9:35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?
Joh 9:36 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?
Joh 9:37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.
Joh 9:38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.
Joh 9:39 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.
Joh 9:40 And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?
Joh 9:41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.
Jesus told the Pharisees that their sin remained because they were not blind implying that the witness of truth was right in front of them yet they refused. This, after all, is the condemnation Jesus spoke of with Nicodemus...
Joh 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Joh 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
Joh 3:21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
The Bible clearly differentiates between presumptuous sin and non-presumptuous sin.
Paul testified in 2 Thessalonians that God would send strong delusion on those who received not a love of the truth. Unrighteousness is extremely deceiving and those who choose the pleasure of unrighteousness refusing to come to the light will perish.
2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Paul also contrasts obedience from the heart with disobedience (willful sin) in Romans chapter 6.
Rom 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Rom 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Rom 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
"Yielding to sin" is "sinning unto death" whilst "obedience from the heart" sets one free from the "service of sin."
John writes in the fifth chapter of his first epistle...
1Jn 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.
1Jn 5:17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.
1Jn 5:18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
In the above extract John speaks of "sin unto death" and "sin not unto death." Sin unto death it simply outright disobedience to God from a rebellious heart and because God gives men the CHOICE as whether to obey Him or not means that God is not going to change someone against their will. Hence there is no point in praying for the outright disobedient. Those who err and are thus sinning ignorantly have not necessarily spurned the grace of God thus they have hope.
There is no hope for someone who is in outright rebellion to God whilst they remain in that state. They need to repent lest they will perish just like those who built the Tower of Siloam (Luke 13:1-5).
This verse is abused by many...
Jas 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
The context of the above verse is in regards to hypcrisy.
Jas 2:8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
Jas 2:9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
Jas 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
Jas 2:11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
In other words if a person is doing what they think is good in one area but doing evil in another then they stand guilty before God like any other transgressor. In verse 8 James says that we are to LOVE and we know that LOVE WORKS NO ILL (Rom 13:8) and thus fulfills the law.
In conclusion it is the HEART of a man that matters. Jesus gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from all iniquity and purify us that we be zealous of doing that which is right.
Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
The end of the commandment is love out of a PURE HEART, a GOOD CONSCIENCE and FAITH UNFEIGNED.
1Ti 1:5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
Thus the righteous man may stumble many times (sin ignorantly) but they rise up again and continue on growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. It is the wicked who do evil willfully.
Pro 24:16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
The danger of equating all sin as the same is it condones a mindset that one can willfully be in rebellion to God and be reconciled at the same time. It is not so. Those who work iniquity will be rejected at the judgement and only the doers of God's will will enter the kingdom. Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God, not those who have guile.
Psa 32:1 A Psalm of David, Maschil. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
Psa 32:2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
Psa 32:11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.
