Sinning In Ignorance vs Willful Sin: Why Understanding This Is Crucial To Our Salvation

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Sinning In Ignorance vs Willful Sin (Intentional Sin)

Today, we are going to look at the matter of sin, specifically comparing sinning in ignorance vs willful sin, also known as intentional sin. We will eventually see see how we almost all of us got it terribly wrong and how much we now need to seriously repent.

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In today’s teaching, we are going to show that the vast majority of us were given a destructive understanding of forgiveness of sins. This warped understanding is leading most of us to the lake of fire, and this is no exaggeration.

Even though the word tells us no unrighteous can enter the kingdom, those of us who had an encounter with Christianity, most likely learnt that it is okay to be a sinner because “all have sinned ad fallen short.”

However, we ignore verses like these:

1 John 3:6
[6]Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.

1 John 3:8
[8]He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of Aluah was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

1 John 3:9
[9]Whosoever is born of Aluah doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of Aluah.

You see, we have been spoiled by rhetoric like these that encourage us to be comfortable in sin:

“No one is perfect.”
“We sin even sin our thoughts.”
“We all have to sin.”

Can We Live Sinless Lives?

Sadly, we just cannot fathom anyone living a sinless life! Hence we assume we must sin.

However, it was not the Messiah only who lived a sinless life. Zebulon was almost sinless:

Testament Of Zebulun 1:5
I am not conscious that I have sinned all my days, save in thought 6 Nor yet do I remember that I have done any iniquity, except the sin of ignorance which I committed against Joseph; for I covenanted with my brethren not to tell my father what had been done.

But Isaachar takes it a step closer and said he never sinned:

Testament Of Isaachar 2:5
Behold, therefore, as ye see, I am a hundred and twenty-six years old and am not conscious of committing any sin.

The Testament Of The 12 Patriarchs

Now where did we get those testaments? Let’s look at their validity in the introduction to the books that were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls.

THE following twelve books are biographies written between 107 and 137 BC.

The instances of the influence of these writings on the New Testament are notable in the Sermon on the Mount which reflects the spirit and even uses phrases from these Testaments.

St. Paul appears to have borrowed so freely that it seems as though he must have carried a copy of the Testaments with him on his travels.

Thus, the reader has before him in these pages what is at once striking for its blunt primitive style and valuable as some of the actual source books of the Bible.

Old Sins Purged When We Repent And First Come To Yahusha HaMashiach

In the video, we first looked at the fact that all our old sins are purged when we come to Yahusha.

Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in HaMashiach Yahusha:
Rom 3:25 Whom Aluah hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of Aluah;

THE HOPES OF A MAN VOID OF UNDERSTANDING ARE VAIN AND FALSE

What Does The Law Say About Sinning Ignorance?

Next, we look at what the Torah says about sinning in ignorance. If we sin unknowingly, the priest can make an atonement for our sin as shown in Numbers 15.

OLD TESTAMENT SIN IN IGNORANCE
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 YAHUAH, 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.

What Does The New Testament Say About Sinning Ignorance?

Now we match it up with what happens in the New Testament when we sin in ignorance.

NEW TESTAMENT SIN IN IGNORANCE
1Jn 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Yahusha HaMashiach the righteous:
1Jn 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
1Jn 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
1Jn 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
1Jn 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of Aluah perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
1Jn 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

Is There A Sacrifice For Intentional Sin?

Next, we look at how willful sin is handled in the Torah. Does the Most High provide sacrifice for intentional sin once again?

OLD TESTAMENT WILFUL SIN
Num 15:30 But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth YAHUAH; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.
Num 15:31 Because he hath despised the word of YAHUAH, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him.

His iniquity shall be upon him! No sacrifice for willful sins!!!

The Most High considers it a reproach, which means reviling (mocking) or blasphemy!

That Is Why We Want To Be Free From Willful Sin

Hence the reason why we want to be free from willful sin.

WILFUL SIN
Sir 20:3 How good is it, when thou art reproved, to shew repentance! for so shalt thou escape wilful sin.

Psa 19:12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
Psa 19:13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

Is Willful Sin Forgiven? Sin In The New Testament

So how does it go in the new testament? Is there now reprieve from willfully sin considering Messiah offered himself up for us? Surely his blood covers all sins? Let’s see!

NEW TESTAMENT WILFUL SIN
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,

Nope!

This is where almost all of us were tricked by man’s religions. We believed that there was no sin that Messiah’s death did not cover. What a deception?!

What Happens If You Sin Willfully?

Now look what the new testament says await those of us who sinned willfully…

Heb 10:27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

Now this tells us why:

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 Aluah, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
Heb 10:30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith YAHUAH. And again, YAHUAH shall judge his people.

Wow. Can you see it is the same blasphemy as in the old testament?

In the new testament, it is called doing “despite unto the Ruach of grace.”

We Have Been Deceived!

Sadly, we have been deceived into a false sense of security where sin is concerned. Indeed, most of us grew up on some belief that rejected the Torah, or we just grew up lawless, just doing what is right in our own eyes.

However, the new testament (new covenant) cannot contradict the old (law) covenant. Hence, if there is no sacrifice of sins in the law covenant, there is also none in the new testament!

Judgment Begins With Us

But why is this so important for us?

1Pe 4:17-18 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of Aluah: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of Aluah? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the unholly and the sinner appear?

Judgment begins with us! So we must make sure we are clean.

God Will Understand – Willful Ignorance Of Sin

Unfortunately, the problem is, that many of us were grown on the false premise that “God will understand.” We did not sin maliciously against the Most High: we simply thought it was permissible.

That is because in many Christian denominations, you sin, and are forgiven, even if you do it willfully. So we sin willfully, thinking it is okay.

THE HOPES OF A MAN VOID OF UNDERSTANDING ARE VAIN AND FALSE

Can You Repent From Willful Sin?

Now even though it says there is no sacrifice for sins, we must be like David and repent, crying:

Psa 51:11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

For those who are feeling condemned, having sinned willfully in the past, this was after David deliberately schemed to have Uriah sent to the battlefront so he could be killed in order for he, David, to get his wife, Bathsheba.

Verse 1 of the chapter (51) tells us:

Psa 51:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O Aluah, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

David knew what he did, but thought he could get away with it. That sounds to me like willful sin.

However, when his sin was brought out, he was so repentant, and we know he was forgiven. How? He was made to pay for his sins by losing the child Uriah’s wife bore him!

2Sa 12:15  And Nathan departed unto his house. And YAHUAH struck the child that Uriah’s wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.
2Sa 12:16  David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.

2Sa 12:19  But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead.

Let us also be so repentant, that the Most High will have mercy upon us for our willful sin, even though it may mean paying dearly in this life. As the Messiah said:

Joh_5:14 Afterward Yahusha findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.

Conclusion: Avoid Falling Away At All Costs!

Hence we will avoid reaching to the point of falling away.

Heb 6:4-8 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of Ruach HaQadosh, And have tasted the good word of Aluah, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of Aluah afresh, and put him to an open shame.

For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from Aluah: But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.

But what does it mean to fall away? It is the word “apostatize.” Meaning?

When someone renounces their religious principles, leaving one faith for another or ceasing to believe at all, they apostatize.

There are so many people apostatizing today! The first thing that comes to mind is the rising “Old Testament only” doctrine, of people refusing to believe in the Messiah or the New Testament, making the following come to pass:

2Pe 2:1-2 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Master that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

Please do not get entangled with false doctrines and fall away. We hope we all now understood the difference between sinning in ignorance vs willful sin. Let us not sin willfully.