INTERESTING FACTS : "It is impossible to mentally or socially enslave a Bible-reading people. Its principles are the groundwork of liberty." -Horace Greeley

DAILY READING : [Leviticus 5 - 7]

TEXT : Lev 5:17 And if a soul sin, and commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the LORD; though he wist it not, yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity. Lev 5:18 And he shall bring a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his ignorance wherein he erred and wist it not, and it shall be forgiven him. Lev 5:19 It is a trespass offering: he hath certainly trespassed against the LORD.

THEME : Sin

As we continue through Leviticus, we see the laws given to the tribe of Levi. They are precise and exact - detailed. Given to Moses by God, each law has purpose, and is designed to atone for specific sins as well as sin in general. Commenting on the difference between the sacrifices, Matthew Henry wrote -

"This chapter, and part of the next, concerns the trespass-offering. The difference between this and the sin-offering lay not so much in the sacrifices themselves, and the management of them, as in the occasions of the offering of them. They were both intended to make atonement for sin; but the former was more general, this applied to some particular instances. Observe what is here said, I. Concerning the trespass. If a man sin, 1. In concealing his knowledge, when he is adjured (Lev_5:1). 2. In touching an unclean thing (Lev_5:2, Lev_5:3). 3. In swearing (Lev_5:4). 4. In embezzling the holy things (Lev_5:14-16). 5. In any sin of infirmity (Lev_5:17-19). Some other cases there are, in which these offerings were to be offered (Lev_6:2-4; Lev_14:12; Lev_19:21; Num_6:12). II. Concerning the trespass-offerings, 1. Of the flock (Lev_5:5, Lev_5:6). 2. Of fowls (Lev_5:7-10). 3. Of flour (Lev_5:11-13; but chiefly a ram without blemish (Lev_5:15, etc.)."[1]

Therefore, we see how specific, defined, and strict the Law of God was for the Levites in applying them to the sins of the children of Israel. In fact, the Law - that is, ceremonial not moral - was so severe and meticulous that the Apostle Peter would say it was a "yoke" that neither the Jews nor their ancestors could keep. The Apostle compares the difference between it, and salvation by Grace.

"And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them. But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. [Acts 15:4 - 11]

TRUTH FOR TODAY : THERE IS NO SIN CHRIST'S SACRIFICE ON THE CROSS DOES NOT COVER!

One of the more intriguing trespasses against the Lord is found in chapter 5 verses 17- 19. It states that even if a person does not realize they have sinned they are still guilty. In our minds, this does not seem just or fair. How can a person be responsible if they did not know? It is similar to the question about evangelism when people ask how God can condemn people who have never heard the Gospel and consequently, had no chance or repent or respond. The answer lies in the understanding of law, and in particular God's Law.

Two people are standing on top of a twenty story building. One is a grown man who is a physicist. He understands all there is to know about laws of the universe. The other is a one year old child. The baby knows little about life in general let alone the laws of physics. A strong gust of wind knocks both of them off the edge of the roof; both plummet to their death at the rate of thirty two feet per second. One dies with a clear-cut understanding of why or how he died. The other had no knowledge of the law of gravity, none whatsoever. Still, both are dead. The law of gravity, like many laws of nature, the universe, physics, chemistry, etc. does not discriminate between ignorance and knowledge. It is a rule that shows no prejudice or bias. It is simply true, regardless if one understands how it works or not.

When the Bible speaks of sin, and that all have sinned, it brings this truth to the front. Further, when the Bible speaks of the wages of sin being death the same rules apply. Whether known or not known, sin produces death. The Apostle Paul brings this out clearly.

"For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law." [Rom 2:12] This verse proves that "ignorance is not bliss" when it comes to God's Word. Ignorance does not spare a person any more than gravity has mercy on the child over the physicist. Happily for us, Christ saves us by Grace, and His death on the cross forgives all sin - known and unknown!

We are not saved by knowledge. We are saved by Grace. If we were saved by knowledge we would have to know all there is to know about God's Nature so as not to offend Him, and we would have to live a life having never sinned. This is not possible since we are born in sin. "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me." [Psalm 51:5] We are sinners by birth and choice. Man needs a savior, not merely a teacher. Man needs forgiveness, not only knowledge.

Thank God who sent Christ to save us by Grace and not works! We have received the gift of Eternal Life that was denied our progenitors - Adam and Eve - once they sinned. God introduced the Law to show us our sinfulness and its penalty so we could ask Him for mercy and the gift of Life Everlasting. Elvina Hall summed it up when she wrote "Jesus Paid It All." All means all. Jesus paid not only for the sins we know about, but for the sins we do not know about. Jesus paid it all!

I hear the Savior say,
"Thy strength indeed is small;
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all."

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

For nothing good have I
Whereby Thy grace to claim,
I'll wash my garments white
In the blood of Calv'ry's Lamb.

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow