Joel M Bradshaw

27“If anyone of the common people sins unintentionally in doing any one of the things that by the LORD’s commandments ought not to be done, and realizes his guilt, 28or the sin which he has committed is made known to him, he shall bring for his offering a goat, a female without blemish, for his sin which he has committed.–Leviticus 4

But the person who does anything with a high hand, whether he is native or a sojourner, reviles the LORD, and that person shall be cut off from among his people. Because he has despised the word of the LORD and has broken his commandment, that person shall be utterly cut off; his iniquity shall be on him.” (Numbers 15:30-31)

In the Law of Moses, the sin offering provided for unintentional sin. God had so many laws and a person surely would mistakenly break one from time to time. Once he became aware, he made the sin offering. But look at that reading again from Numbers. Was there hope for the defiant, high-handed sinner? It doesn’t look like there was any?

Think of your own life and the sins you regularly commit. Maybe you are like me and have past seasons of high-handed, defiant sin. How do any of us have hope?

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin,e so that we could be made right with God through Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17-21, with emphasis)

1. Turn to Jesus as your only hope for salvation.
2. Remain thankful and grateful to God.
3. Offer that salvation hope in Jesus to others.–JMB