Subject: Be serious about this- |
Bible Note: AO, greetings. I trust this new week meets you with endless possibilities. At the beginning of Lev 5, Moses explains that a person must atone for his sins when they are *made known* to him. We are all guilty of sin, regardless of whether we know the sin or not. But our atonement for the sin can only occur when we learn of it. However, please remember that, unlike BC, the only way today's Christian is able to 'atone' for sin is to ask Jesus to wash it away, for we cannot possibly do enough ourselves. Please do not take my statement to mean that God ignores sin. Paying retribution for sin is still necessary. Jesus died to take away all sin, not just those that we know. As Searcher56 reminds us, ignorance isn't a card that can be played to get away with sin. Again, my point is that God shows mercy on the unknowing sinner (John 3:16). This fact does not absolve the sinner of his sins. This is the reason one should ask for forgiveness of ALL his sins, those both known and unknown. And one should ask the Holy Spirit to make known his sins so they can be confessed and, with the help of God, not done again. In Micah 3:8, God said He used the power of the Spirit to open Israel's eyes to how far it had strayed from the Lord. If one prays for the Spirit to do the same to him, then the Spirit is more than willing to grant the request, for the request is biblically based. This point is further explained in John 3:21. As one continues to seek the truth, his understanding increases and both his good and bad deeds are exposed. It should be an unending quest, for we will never know God completely. This has been a most enjoyable study for me as I pray it has for you! In Christ, Estelle |