Leviticus 4-6

Ever been driving and been pulled over for speeding when you thought you weren't? (I haven't, just checking.) Ever missed a job deadline and didn't even realize it? Ever missed out on a rebate because you didn't know the expiration date? (I've done that! It cost me $100!)

What do all these have in common? Though we might not have been aware, we were still responsible and consequences resulted. Though we didn't see the speed limit change... that didn't mean for us that it never changed. Though we were clueless to the project deadline, that didn't mean that we weren't reprimanded at our work. Though we didn't realize the rebate time frame, that didn't mean we could call and demand the company to still honor their offer.

"Now if a person sins and does any of the things which the Lord has commanded not to be done, though he was unaware, still he is guilty and shall bear his punishment." Lev 5:17

In today's reading God talks about sins we commit even when we are unaware we are doing it! God still calls us guilty and says that the we bear the punishment for them. Wow. I surely understand that we are guilty when we walk in open rebellion to God, but this goes further. If I do something wrong without realizing I was not supposed to do it, I am still accountable.

Can we sin without knowing? The answer from Scripture is apparently "yes." Though we may not know the entire law, we are yet accountable for it. That sounds scary! No wonder those Pharisees took so much time studying the law... they didn't want to unknowingly break it. But in so doing they thought they were okay if they could follow it. (The only problem is that by the law, no flesh is justified (Rom 3:19-20)!)

Every day we very well may sin and not realize it. We could worry ourselves to death trying to discover whether we missed a sin or not... or if missing a sin is even possible with the Holy Spirit present in our lives!?! (Can we really sin without the Spirit's conviction? Is there sin about which we can be unaware? How does this Scripture above pertain to us?!)

But, for us today, in the end.... guess what? JESUS PAID IT ALL! The Jews had always to question their standing before God. Was there something separating them from fellowship with Him, or were they okay... or was "thinking they were okay" equivalent to pride so that thinking this way was the very thing separating them from their fellowship with Him?!?

But for us it is different; we know that there is now no condemnation for those in Christ (Romans 8:1). He has paid it all; past, present, future. We stand before God with and in Christ's righteousness. We will be no more right in God's eyes on the day we accept Christ than when we die and stand before Him.

I am very thankful that I can rest in Christ's complete sacrifice. Unintentional or intentional sin, aware or unaware... Christ takes it all. In Christ there is rest. In Christ there is peace. Praise Him for this great and gracious comfort. It's good to know that my relationship is secure.