Sin: Seriously?

What rationalizations do you use to excuse or to ignore sin? You'll hear such phrases and we can we use them? I didn't mean to. It was a mistake. I couldn't help myself. No one was really hurt. Everybody's doing. Nobody thinks that's wrong anymore. I got away with it. It's just a little white lie. Or we like to do the shift, the blame, they made me, and then you put in all they made me angry, they made me. All those are part of the way that we respond. Whatever the rationalization cinestill send. And one of the things that you'll see in the scriptures, God takes in seriously Center serious weatherton tension or unintentional. And up through scripture, you almost need to go back and say, what, what is send Leviticus say to the Israelites when anyone sends unintentionally and does, what is forbidden in any of the Lord's commands. Then here's the instructions. So that the description given this particular passage of sin, was the person does, whatever is forbidden in any of God's commands reminding you that God is the standard of right and wrong. He's the final judge in our day and age with no absolutes. And everybody does what's right in their own eyes? We did we don't even face that reality and that's the reality that's being put in front of us hear God is the standard of right and wrong. He's the final judge. And there are god-given consequences for sin, and particularly for Israel or even for believers today, to understand that we're in a covenant. Relationship with God. And with that comes the obligation to keep his Commandments. Breaking of that creates a a rift or separation in our relationship with God. and in the beginning of the fifth chapter, you see this picture that begins to lay out that guilt is a Reality, the end of verse 2 says, even though he is unaware of it, he has become unclean and he is guilty. Which end? Associate guilt with feelings in our day and age.

You can feel guilty and not be guilty. You can be guilty and not feel guilty.

That's important to keep in mind. because Leviticus is presenting us this picture that someone who commits sin When we commit sin, we bear guilt whether we feel guilty or not. Then Romans 2 is a passage that spelled that out very clearly. The end of Romans 1 gives a list of the way. People sitting in our world and it very much, it would fit our headlines. If you go from Romans 1:18 to the get into that chapter. But as you come into the second chapter ROM to, to says, now we know that God's judgment against those who do such thing is based on truth. First 12 says, I'll loosen apart from the law. Will also perish apart from the law and will be judged by the law. So whether you know, the law, or didn't whether you grew up with a Jew with all these rules and regulations from scripture or you did it there, still the accountability with God and and that chapter starts out that you're without excuse,

We go on further, in Romans 3:23, for all. Have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and then Romans 6:23 for the wages of sin is death. That one of the interesting things in Leviticus 4 and maybe it doesn't strike you quite the way, it did me. But he says, when anyone sends unintentionally

When's the last time to send unintentionally? what in the world does that even mean when you think of sending unintentionally, Now, the focus, at least initially, the same committed out of ignorance or negligence baby. The closest equivalent in some senses for us is if you're going through an area has a speed zone and you weren't aware of it and you get caught, they're not going to let you off the hook. Just cuz well, I didn't see the sign or something, right? I didn't wear of it, but obviously, we're not dealing with those kind of issues, we're dealing with sins committed an error. Inadvertently that goes beyond the way. We might think of it.

Sometimes you can grow up in a culture in a setting where you don't know something's wrong and that would clearly fit in this category. In Leviticus 413 and Leviticus 5 vs 2 and 4. It'll talk about a community was involved or an individual. Is there a Braum's in sand and wasn't even aware of it? Some of that can be. We get so used to it. We don't even think about it. And then we just do what everybody is doing without realizing that said that's wrong.

but I struggle with the word unintentional because we usually choose to send Even when we know it's wrong, cuz what we're doing is indulging, our sin nature, our desires, our pride ourselves stuttering, this is about me. But let me give you an example from children. Children always do. What's right, correct?

Especially once you've told him it's spelled it out to him, they never do that again.

Should children choose to do? What they want even when they've been told it's been wrong. But how do they respond when confronted?

I don't really think kids don't really think about the impact of their sin and truthfully. A lot of belts really don't think about the impact of their sin. They don't think about what it does to the relationship to God and other things, but as a parent and some of you are currently in that line when you confront your childhood, what they've done wrong. They always. Fall on their knees and repentance, right? Doesn't know how interesting that especially if they start getting a loaf. The simplest little thing turns into the battle of the wheels, the most minor offense exposes the heart.

And I think the same thing is true of the adults.

It's not the question so much as how you got there. But when do you respond, how do you respond when you were aware of the sin? Are they a story or are they defiant? Numbers 1530 and 31. Makes clear that the contrast on intentional sin is Defiance sin or willful sin. The King James would use the word, the stand of a high hand. Another when did the exact same sort of shaking my fist in the hand of God?

Should we sort of have this idea? We can send and then go right back to where we were spiritually and go on.

You don't just send and return to where you were. Their consequences, but even in our relationship to God when you send your operating from over here you don't just come back here and go on it. It has to be dealt with.

That's why we have a certain tendency to not take sin and its consequences in scripture makes quite clearly. It is a step back that affects your relationship with God, with other people. It breaks our fellowship with God, and we need to be serious about Sin. It's all part of the idea behind an unintentional sin is that you really work. Trying to shake your fist in the hand of God. You weren't intentionally trying to destroy that relationship. And when they realized where they were, they had a channel to restore the relationship and I'll give you an extreme example of that from the scripture, when Kate and David was involved with Bathsheba and arranged her husband's death.

Do you know, David in essence, even though it knew it was wrong. What time is it was unaware of? How serious is sin. Was for almost a year.

Remember when he got the Wake Up, Call? Nathan comes into his presence and tells them a story. Nathan. The prophet. It tells them a story and David's with harshly and Nathan says, you're that man.

And I stay it's almost a year because the child had been born and the child get sick and die. So you can, you can get involved in things are not even think about it and and have them. You get so used to it. You don't think about it.

When is the reality of sin brought to your attention? You're so the reality of sin is brought to our attention by someone else pointing it out, like, Nathan did to David or buy scripture speaking to us, you know? And it might be your spouse by the way, or somebody can know,

Could be even your children and you plenty of each other. But people in the life of the church, if they see you out of line we have that kind of responsibility for each other. But someone pointing it out to us or scripture speaking to us. As we're reading it, we come under conviction.

If your conscience is still sensitive to send, see it's not a good thing to let conscience. Be your guide cuz it can be dulled and seared and distorted. But if a conscience is kept clean and sensitive, then it can be up and portal in this process. But sometimes the only way we've become aware of sin is because the consequences begin happening in our life. And the effects come and we start thinking about it. but even when we become aware of those things,

what do we do? When you become aware of specifics in in your life, what do you do? If you realize its impact on your relationship with God and with other people and desire restoration? Or are you defiant and unwilling to acknowledge and repent of sin? Psalm 19 12 and 13 speak but one of the things they're says keep your servant. Also from willful sins may they not rule over us. She often when the consequences come to Bear. We want to try to avoid the consequences. We try to not get caught out, but we aren't really repentant. That's part of the example of Saul in the scripture when the Lord confronted him with things, he made up all sorts of excuses. And he didn't like the consequences, but he really wants a repentant to didn't have a change of heart. 12% off ring, fits into this picture because of sin offering was a visual expression of inward repentance and acknowledgement of sin. And I like The sin sacrifice was a way to restore your relationship with God. what are the interesting things are not, we're not doing much with it, but there were civil laws in the land, as well as these laws, the debt was sin offerings and sometimes you could make things right with the law,

But still not make things right with God. Unless you went through a process of true repentance, which in their case included, things like this scent offering or the reparation offering or other kinds of offering. So, there was the repentance.

Of an individual. To some degree is the test of whether it's intentional or unintentional. When confronted and realizing your sin, what's your response?

Sorry repentance is key to helping us understand. These are things if we're truly repent and they can be dealt with. They can be taken care of, where is up their ass end of a high hand, where we don't acknowledge sin. We say, I don't care. And then it's, you can go through all sorts of steps. It's not going to do a thing. The Bible often uses the metaphor of impurity describe sin, sin has a defiling effect. That makes an impact not only on the center's, but I'm those associated with them. Never get upset when some of those Bible stories where Aiken took stuff and Jericho and the next time they went out to battle to some little place. They thought we're going to have no problem and what happens a lot of people lose their lives. Why?

Cuz I can send affected the whole community. And a lot of innocent people died in the process because of the impact of that person scent on dealt with.

So I need your light.

Involved in some of these public sins headed to filing dishonor on themselves. Their Nation, especially on the relationship, we got and some of those examples are ones we don't think about much, you go to chapter 5, the first Fight for versus those of a person stands because he doesn't speak up. When he hears a public charge to testify regarding something he has seen or learned about, he will be held responsible. Or inverse for. If a person thoughtlessly, takes an oath to do anything. Whether good or evil in any manner, one my carelessly, swear about it, even though he's unaware of it, and then case when he learns of it, he will be guilty. If we don't help to uphold Justice. It has an impact that goes beyond Us in the whole Community. If we don't keep our word when we make commitments and also these worlds off and made in the lord's name, If you are a person of your word, you dishonor the Lord and you have an impact that goes far beyond, just yourself. Those are some of the examples that are given in this passage.

Hydroxide to say that's one of the reasons. The church discipline is necessary in the life of the church almost unheard-of thing in our day and age. But if we are willing to confront sin in our own midst, into deal with it, we become unsent insensitive to send it has a hindering effect on the life of the church in the testimony in the community. That is a great hindrance and truthfully, it's a merciful thing to confront somebody sin. Cuz it's pretty easy for them to just go on and life is no, nothing's wrong. And their relationship with God is not where it ought to be and they're influencing other people in a way that will be great danger and accountability.

So we need to make them at least face the reality of where you're really at. So they can do if they so desire to make it right.

Second thing you see in this passage is the greater the authority of the greater the responsibility. If you start reading through chapter 4, you're going to see groups of people broke up. There's four groups of people, the high priest, the community as a whole and its leadership. The Civic leaders and the individuals and the higher, the authority of the person to group The more serious, the infraction in the greater the cost of the sacrifice, it was necessary to be brought, so we're not going through all those little details. But you'll notice it in there that when certain people do certain things for them to make it right? It was more costly than others and it had to do with the authority in the position they were in when we're in a position of leadership. What we do affects more people The greater potential for harm.

just this week within our own extended Fellowship of Church's Pastor resign because of infidelity that is a ripple effect, true that church shoes at Community. Not only he and his family and the others involved, all those kinds of things. But there's a grave ripple effect kit and so, they're saying this end of the high, priests had consequences for the whole nation. Things in a community that take place. No, we don't like this. Reparation language that gets used but there's a great with scripture and we'll see that next week begins to challenge us about confronting how sometimes the things that we have done as Church groups have been a hindrance to very easily and I are type of Fellowship be accused of racism or legalism in our past. And who's to say, it isn't part of where we're still at, unless we're willing to confront and acknowledge those kinds of things.

Play, just because everybody does it, or that's what's going on doesn't mean it's okay. It doesn't remove the responsibility of individuals or even a community to acknowledge their wrong and two to respond differently. And so let you begin to see in this picture that the sins of the high priest in the whole congregation or the, the community as a whole, had an impact, the cost they're offering to be dealt with differently, it was taken outside the camp and burned because it polluted the whole community in a way that needed dealt with somewhere different.

So as you go through this chapter again, the next thing you'll see that this sent offering what did it provide and how did you go about the process? So there was different things here and some of them we have difficulty even relating to just how about its ritual impurity, there's any issues. But for them, they were also ritualism Shorty's. If you, if you came across the dead possum in the road and picked it up and moved it off, you are ritually unclean. You could not participate without going through a ceremony and other things. Many of those things I think had to do with reminding people of the impact of sin death disease, all these other kinds of things that work, even though there wasn't there's nothing morally wrong, doing that back your community, appreciate it. If you drag that dead carcass off the road,

but they had some things that in that process, we don't relate to But similar. It had to do with understanding the impact of the things that we do on others. So there's this picture that send flutes and crops and it needs cleansed and so when it was the high priest in the community they went through that process. They brought the sheep that identified with it, they slaughtered at the blood was taken but there was this process they used so they dip their finger in the blood and they struck at seven times in front of the curtain of the holy of holies. And then they do the blood on the horns of the corners of the altar of incense and then the rest of it was taken out and thrown against the bottom of the altar.

Those particular things. Again, I reminder the use of blood makes an unavoidable statement about the pervasive nature of sin in. The need of cleansing from it. So, Hebrews 7 is a picture of completeness and it's dying about the police. Complete cleansing cleansing from sand in the impact that the Lord has offered a way for them to do that, but it was individual award for leadership. There was a different process, the blood was put on the horns of the burnt and then cast against the bottom of it than the rest of it. The fat was removed and burnt them and you went through the typical things, one of the distinctions that happens, if it was the burnt offering for the high priest of the community, it was taken outside the camp burn, if it was an individual or a leader in the Civic Community, the rest of the sacrifice went to the priests and they could eat of it. And part of the picture again, is, you don't Is it from your own sin? So the priests would be provided for, but if they were the ones involved in the process, then it was all burnout. Go with me to chapter 5 verses 5 to 13, and begin to see some critical things in this picture. What we see what's accomplished and goes forward to starting chapter 5, verse 5, When anyone is guilty in any of these ways, he must confess in, what way he is. Spend, and as a penalty for the Cindy has committed, he must bring to the Lord, a female lamb or goat from the flock of a sin offering. The peace free. She'll make atonement for him for his soon. so, the part of the process,

Confronted with send the person. What do you do?

Robbie confession of sin, a verbal confession, demonstrated repentance, and a commitment to the Lord where we are accountability to him.

I'm probably. Edward it this way, I guess. Probably your confession to spin out to be as public as your sin is. Other words, who do you tell that to and one thing? But mostly the ideas, you're contesting it to the Lord.

Sacrifice did not take the place of correcting a situation. It was a step in the process. Along with confession, repentance to demonstrate the desire to be in a right relationship with the Lord. So the focus is relational. The other thing you'll see in this passage is go down. This, this sacrifice was available all, she couldn't afford the Lamb of the goat, then you brought two pigeons are turtle doves. If you couldn't afford that to Brock grain offering. So your economics as some other things you didn't buy your way into heaven or in the right relationship with God, it was available to all. It took a repentant heart that was Wellington fast acknowledge sent, and come through the provision. The lord gave for restoring a relationship to him. So what was accomplished?

Hope you're starting. Chapter 4, verse 26, the end of that chapter and then versus 10 to 13. 2 chapter 5. It says very clearly. This was to make atonement for sin and provide forgiveness. Purpose is to remove the effects of sin. To do what's necessary to restore a right relationship with God.

See you again.

Do you understand how serious sin is?

Because of God's holiness to secure his forgiveness. The payment that's really do is our Deb.

So, unless there's the death of a sacrifice that he offers in its place That's what to do. But the other reminder, through all of this is it just cuz you went through the ceremony, doesn't mean this accomplishes anything. Because the Lord is the one who forgives and he knows heart, you see that over and over in the Old and New Testament? You know, Lord says you know you do all these checks prices you doing all these things and they're just an installed my face cuz you're going through meaningless ceremony. You're really not worried about the relationship with me. You just want to avoid consequences.

She got three people from past sin and forgive people a present soon. But it's only through the provision that he makes in the scripture emphasizes the beginning of a life, the blood that ransoms a life. All of this, it points to Christ. by his blood and being lifted up in the cross Christ, paid for and removed our debt, the demanded are deaf because the wages of sin is death and we see that picture particularly in the Hebrews We read the one passage in Hebrews 9, but Hebrews 13, draw. Some parallels to this and very clearly pointing out the connection with a sin offering Hebrews 13 and 11. And 12, sister high priest, carries the blood of the animals into the most holy place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. And so Jesus suffered Outside The City Gate to make the people who lie through his own blood. So Justice at picture of the sin that needed removed. The Lord suffered outside the Gates of Jerusalem,

In Hebrews, 9 or scripture reading that takes a picture of the sin offering on the day of atonement and it makes very clear in their particular verse 12. These were all temporary things. They were waiting for the provision to ultimately be made when price to enter the holy Place. Once for all by his own blood. Obtaining Eternal Redemption Hebrews 9. 26 says he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of him.

So that sacrifice enables God to extend his mercy and forgiveness to us and do. So justly, when we have it by repentance and Faith accepted the provision, he's given in Christ,

Let me take you back to the beginning and asked you some questions. Do you downplay the seriousness of sin?

The last time you were really heartbroken over sin. And what it? What it did.

We are liable for breaking God's law, even if it's unintentional or by negligence or even if everybody else is doing it.

Where to file bison were separated from God and we Face his judgment and God provided a sacrifice to atone for sin. That Old Testament sacrifice system is pointing out that whole picture of Christ. The once for all sacrifice for sin, he suffered rejection, reproached Agony and death outside Jerusalem in order to atone for our sin, provide forgiveness for sin. That's the way of salvation, but part of the sacrifice also applies to believers.

See, you accepted Christ prevention and he's now your lord and savior but you acting the way that's consistent with that.

And so, for believers who don't deal with them in some ways, it's more serious than an unbelieving world. The unbelieving world's already in the last condition that they're their picture set, but it's one Belongs to the Lord, commanded it to walk with him. We need to take some serious and there's devastating consequences for the individual and those around them and even even when many times the consequences are unseen for a long time. And many of church is hindered even blown apart, because people within it, don't deal with sin.

God uses people scripture in your conscience and consequences to expose your sin for your benefit. What's your response? Is it the Nile defiance willfulness? I can say is a pastor most the time when we have to turn around and exercise South Des church discipline, I'm somebody they've already had their foot out the door for a long time. They're making a series of choices. I can thankfully say that many of them many years later, sometimes the Lord gets ahold of them, bring some back and you see transformation in their lives.

Hilton Isle Defiance will furnace or as a confession and humble acceptance of forgiveness, from a merciful god. Who is done, what's necessary to restore you? I take you to a couple of familiar passages of scripture. The one is 1st, John.

1st John 146 says, if we kind of fellowship with God but walk in darkness wheel, I do not live by the truth, but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus, his son purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves in the truth is not in UPS. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. The other is Psalm 32 written by David. Says blessed, is he whose transgression is, are forgiven who send are covered? Blessed is the man whose sin, the Lord does not hold against him. Aren't you thankful that God made provision for sin? Not only for salvation, but for when his people stray that we can confess our sin and restore the relationship, The Sims already paid for it through Christ, but we restore the relationship and the blessing of the joy of our Salvation. Again, in the Walking with God and his people with rejoicing in our life, that only happens if you take SIM seriously. Then respond the way God calls us to let spray.

Father, we thank you for your love. We thank you for the fact that you work in the lives of your children, discipline consequences, whatever it takes to draw them back to yourself. May we be desirous to see that relationship restored, and then be able to Rejoice again and forgiveness and blessing in Jesus name, amen.

Can you have books to number 562? We're going to sing the 1st 2nd 3rd and 5th verse of just as I am 562.

One of the things that First Corinthians 11 makes clear is one of the purposes of communion is to remind you of the relationship. You have with God, through salvation in Jesus Christ. But to stop and examine your heart and Life to confess sin to acknowledge it, and to come because to enter into this, Reminder Memorial just like the Jews of old could go through the sacrificial system, but if the heart wasn't right, and you really weren't, depending upon the Lord, you are endangering yourself more than that participating. It was intended to be a wake-up call that reminds us of our source of joy and blessing.

Fathers, we come to you today. We are thankful that Jesus Christ willingly came to be the Lamb of God that took away the sin of the world. Sinless. Son of man. Live the perfect life died. In our place. Took care of our sin that we might have eternal life through Jesus Christ. Our Lord. We thank you for forgiveness and atonement in Jesus name. Amen.

I'm going to read some of the surrounding passages in Hebrews 8. That also communicate some of the things that we talked about in this sense that shows the transition from the old to the new

But the Ministry Jesus has received this as Superior to theirs, is the cabinet of which she is a mediator, is superior to the old one and is founded on better promises for that, been nothing wrong with the first Covenant, no place would have been sought for another but God found fault with this people. Instead, the time is coming declares the Lord. When I will make a New Covenant with the house of Israel with the house of Judah, it will not be like the Covenant I made with our forefathers when they took them by the hand, to lead them out of Egypt because they did not remain faithful to my Covenant. I turned away from them. Declares the Lord. This is the Covenant. I will make with the house of Israel. After that time, declares the Lord, I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God and they will be my people. No longer will a man, teach his neighbor or man is brother saying know, the Lord, because they will all know me from the least of them to the greatest. For, I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins. No more. By calling this Covenant new, he has made the first one Obsolete and what is obsolete in aging will soon disappear.

Paul writes, I received from the Lord. What I passed on to you to the Lord Jesus on the night. He was betrayed, took bread me to give him. Thanks, he broke in and said, this is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.

The Old Testament Jews blood was clearly a picture of cleansing a life in our place and you'll see that as I read some other things in Hebrews but we're reminded it's the death of our Lord Jesus Christ. Who died in our place. Who cleanse us from all unrighteousness?

I'll tell you this now, so I don't forget, but we discovered, we didn't have as many disposable communion cups as we thought. So some of these are glass, don't throw them away.

You'll know the difference.

Father, we thank you for cleansing. We can all think back a different times in my life, when we've confessed sin acknowledged, sending just a relief from the burden of knowing our relationship is now where it ought to be. I no longer have to think about that, even though it was such a horrible thing. But it's been taken care of. But by the blood of the Lamb, we thank you for that truth in Jesus name. Amen.

The law requires that nearly everything, be cleansed with blood and without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness. It was necessary. Then for the copies of the Heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices that the Heavenly things themselves with better, sacrifices than these for Christ, did not enter a man-made Sanctuary, that was only a copy of the true one. He entered Heaven itself. Now, to appear for us and God's presence. Nor did he enter Heaven to offer himself again? And again, the way the old high priest, enter the most, holy place every year with blood, that is not his own. Then Jesus would have to suffer many times since the creation of the world, but now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just as man is destined to die once then after that to face judgment. So, Christ was sacrificed once to wake, take away the sins of many people and He will appear a second time, not to bears, but to bring Salvation for those who are waiting for him.

I want to read one other.

They do skip you guys.

Is that out of sight, out of mind.

I want to read, I was thinking ahead that was my problem, but I want to finish reading the few verses in Hebrews before week. The Holy Spirit. Also, testifies to us about this first. You says this Covenant, I will make with them at that time says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts and I'll write them on their minds of many ads. Their sins and Lala sex, I will remember no more. And when these have been forgiven, there's no longer any sacrifice for sin.

Phone the same way. After the supper of the Lord took the cup saying, this cup is the New Covenant in my blood. Do this whenever you drink it in remembrance of me for women. Eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death, till he comes. Drink, ye all of it.

so, if you're such a glass cup, Leave it in the dispenser, in the back of the Pew, or the chair in front of you, and that will be taken care of, by other people.

One of the hardest things in people's lives is dealing with sin. but we have a God who forgives

you don't have to be burdened by sin for all your life. God, can break you free from the power of sin, the devastation of print, great freedom. But it starts with a knowledge in it for what it really is. I come and get him on his terms. That's where it begins.

Father, we thank you for your love. Thank you for your Grace & Mercy. For the provision of the Lord. Jesus Christ who died. Once for all But we can enjoy the freedom that we have in Jesus Christ and his name. Amen.