Unintentional and Intentional Sins

Day 53:  Leviticus 3:1-7:36

How can someone sin unintentionally?  I've heard that "we should know better," or "if you were paying attention, this would never have happened!"  Really?  Isn't that the essence of sinning unintentionally?

"I didn't mean to hurt your feelings."  

"Officer, I didn't know the speed limit was 35 MPH."  

"I wasn't aware I was trespassing, I didn't see the sign."   

"I was trying to defend myself, I wasn't intending to be disrespectful or rude."

"I lost control of my car, I didn't mean to hit you."

There are times we do not know we are sinning.  we take things, do things, say things are go places that we do not know at the time is a sin.  Our hearts and motives are pure, but the actions are still sinful.  Once we are aware of the sin, it is imperative that we make the unintentional sin, right.  

God gave Israel a way out of their unintentional sins.  “The Lord said to Moses, Say to the Israelites: ‘When anyone sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands—‘If the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt on the people, he must bring to the Lord a young bull without defect as a sin offering for the sin he has committed."  Leviticus 4:1-3

For Israel, a few of the unintentional sins would have been touching an unclean carcass or human or manslaughter.   Their hearts would have been pure, but their actions were a sin against God's law.  When the Israelite became aware of his or her sin, they were given provisions to make the wrong, right.

Although we are not bound to the sacrificial laws, we still needed provision for our sins.  Romans 3:23 says that we "all sin and fall short of the glory of God."  No matter how we sin, we still need a sacrifice for our sins.  The Apostle Paul tells the believers at Corinth that "...Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said." 1st Corinthians 15:3  

Jesus became the waymaker for our sins no matter if they are unintentional or intentional.  Peter said that, "Jesus himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 1st Peter 2:24

Thankfully, we are not stuck in the muddiness of sin; nor do we have a Father who holds us hostage to by constantly reminding us of our bad behavior.  Isaiah 43:23 God said that "I—yes, I alone—will blot out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again." 

No matter how we sin, whether intentionally or unintentionally, our sins are forgiven.  Jesus' sacrifice cleans us up and keeps our relationship with God right.  

Remember, Be God Controlled!