The Old Law, Unintentional Sins, and the Christian
by Timothy D. Stringer
via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 19 No. 3, September 1993
In Leviticus 4:1-6:7, God, through Moses, gives the Israelite nation provisions for the forgiveness of sins. The priest, the congregation, the leaders, and the common people are given different sacrifices and rituals to perform to receive forgiveness for unintentional sin. (Leviticus 4) For example:
"Now if anyone of the common people sins unintentionally in doing any of the things which the LORD has commanded not to be done, and becomes guilty, if his sin, which he has committed is made known to him, then he shall bring for his offering a goat, a female without defect, for his sin which he has committed. ... Thus the priest shall make atonement for him, and he shall be forgiven" (Leviticus 4:27-28, 31 NASB).
Chapter 5 provides for a common person who cannot afford a lamb for sacrifice. The first seven verses of Chapter 6 give instructions concerning forgiveness for various kinds of theft. In all cases, when an Israelite made the proper sacrifice, his sin was forgiven (Leviticus 4:20, 27, 31, 35; 5:10, 13, 16, 18; 6:7).
What was to be done about a sin, committed unintentionally, that was not made known? Ignorance was no excuse: "Now if a person sins and does any of the things which the LORD has commanded not to be done, though he was unaware, still he is guilty, and shall bear his punishment" (Leviticus 5:17). A sin, committed in ignorance, is still sin, and punishment is demanded for that sin. However, God did provide a general amnesty for His people. Once a year, the high priest made a sacrifice "for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance" (Hebrews 9:8, cf Leviticus 16). After the high priest performed the prescribed rituals on the tenth day of the seventh month, God told the people, "You shall be clean from all your sins before the LORD" (Leviticus 16:30). The sins committed ignorantly during the past year were forgiven.
Since "whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction" (Romans 15:4), are there any lessons for the Christian?
The New Testament states that forgiveness is found "in Christ"(Ephesians 1:5-7; Colossians 1:13-14). To be "in Christ," a person must have a relationship with Christ. That relationship is begun by faith working through obedience to God’s word. Faith in Jesus, confession of Jesus, repentance of sins, and baptism in water are commanded for a relationship with Christ Jesus and for receiving forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; Romans 10:9-10). At the point of baptism, all a person’s past sins are forgiven.
However, as the bumper sticker says, "Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven." Christians can and do sin. (I John 1:8,10) A Christian can fall from grace (Galatians 5:4). I John 1:9 tells the Christian to confess his sins, and God will forgive them. Must a Christian confess every sin he commits in order to have forgiveness?
God provided a sacrifice for the Israelites to cover their sins that were committed in ignorance. The Hebrew writer draws an analogy between the yearly sacrifice and Christ's sacrifice in Chapter 9. He concludes that because of Jesus’ perfect sacrifice, there is perfection in Christ (Hebrews 10:14), and complete forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 10:17-18). What sins? All sins, including the sins committed in ignorance! (Hebrews 9:7).
Christians are required to confess known sins and faults. (I John 1:9; James 5:16) But, "if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world" (I John 2:1-2).
