Leviticus 5
Rash oaths....I wondered at the first reading of this lesson this morning how anyone could be unaware that they are making rash oaths. Then I remembered the countless times I've talked to young people who have made them boldly and loudly in front of me. They really didn't know. The sin was unintentional because they didn't know that they should not be swearing. One of the responses I've heard (way too many times) is that their parents let them talk like that. They don't think there's anything wrong with it. If they are unaware that they are sinning, how will they ever know if we don't start teaching them what sin is and what it does to their relationship with God and others around them? How are they going to know how damaging sin is to their own lives if we don't teach them? There are days when I think that maybe teaching some of our children is way too big a job for me. I wonder if I should start with their parents. But, then I think about the next generation of children, those that are still unborn and I know that I have to keep on focusing on this generation of children so that they will know enough not to be making rash oaths or swearing falsely or to the harm of others. The children of today may be able to know enough to teach their children rightly.
In order to not incur guilt, a special offering called a guilt offering had to be given for these unintentional sins that were committed by people who were unaware that they had even committed them. A sacrifice had to be made. A sacrifice had to be made for our unintentional sins as well - even the sins that we are unaware that we commit. That is why we confess our sins both known and unknown. That sacrifice was made on the cross for us - once and for all. A question remains for me though: If we do not acknowledge these sins, if we do not repent, then was the sacrifice for nothing? Is the sacrifice for your sin, if you have no sin?
Referring you over to the New Testament and 1 John 50-10 (NRSV) for more reading and thinking this morning:
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Rash oaths....I wondered at the first reading of this lesson this morning how anyone could be unaware that they are making rash oaths. Then I remembered the countless times I've talked to young people who have made them boldly and loudly in front of me. They really didn't know. The sin was unintentional because they didn't know that they should not be swearing. One of the responses I've heard (way too many times) is that their parents let them talk like that. They don't think there's anything wrong with it. If they are unaware that they are sinning, how will they ever know if we don't start teaching them what sin is and what it does to their relationship with God and others around them? How are they going to know how damaging sin is to their own lives if we don't teach them? There are days when I think that maybe teaching some of our children is way too big a job for me. I wonder if I should start with their parents. But, then I think about the next generation of children, those that are still unborn and I know that I have to keep on focusing on this generation of children so that they will know enough not to be making rash oaths or swearing falsely or to the harm of others. The children of today may be able to know enough to teach their children rightly.
In order to not incur guilt, a special offering called a guilt offering had to be given for these unintentional sins that were committed by people who were unaware that they had even committed them. A sacrifice had to be made. A sacrifice had to be made for our unintentional sins as well - even the sins that we are unaware that we commit. That is why we confess our sins both known and unknown. That sacrifice was made on the cross for us - once and for all. A question remains for me though: If we do not acknowledge these sins, if we do not repent, then was the sacrifice for nothing? Is the sacrifice for your sin, if you have no sin?
Referring you over to the New Testament and 1 John 50-10 (NRSV) for more reading and thinking this morning:
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
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