“It is a guilt offering; he was certainly guilty before the Lord.”
This chapter is not what you would call “seeker sensitive”. It provides no loopholes and allows no excuses when confessing sin. This last verse emphasizes the theme of the chapter. If you miss the mark – it is sin, and it is a capital offence as the penalty of sin is death.
Guilt is not relative. Post modern Christianity would do well to study this chapter. Sin is sin… doesn’t matter if you agree… doesn’t matter if you think it’s minor…. doesn’t even matter if you don’t know you did it… You are guilty before the Lord which means you have a choice to make.
Either stand and argue your innocence or confess your sin and repent. Sin’s definition is static. It is not evolving , it is not relative, and it is not up for debate. There is one Arbitrator, and He will serve as Judge and Jury. He is aware of your sin, and there is no viable defense.
Paul reinforces this in 1 Corinthians 4:4 “For I am not aware of anything against myself; however, I am not vindicated by this, but the one who examines me is the Lord.” So, Paul, who God used to write much of the New Testament, realized his awareness of his own transgressions was not comprehensive.
There is sin in my life that I am aware of, and battling, but I also need to be still and ask God to reveal the sin I have managed to ignore. You can’t see what you’re not looking for, so stop and evaluate your walk. God doesn’t grade on a curve so don’t compare yourself to others, but to His perfection. Schedule a recurring time to examine your heart. Look for your own sin with the same intensity with which you investigate those who sin against you.
Recognizing I am tainted by sin will make me “poor in spirit” and provide humility. I am no better than you. We are both broken without Christ. Our sin made the cross necessary, and His love permitted the Cross to happen. We can never minimize the price He paid, nor entertain the thought that we don’t need it as badly as others.
“For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.” - James
No comments:
Post a Comment