IF WE SIN UNKNOWINGLY, ARE WE GUILTY OF SIN?

[Eddie Ramos]

The premise of this OP is fairly straightforward as per the title. If we sin without being aware that we have broken one of God's commandments, does God still consider that a sin, and therefore are we guilty of that sin? The Bible says yes, what say you?

Leviticus 4:27–28 (KJV 1900)
And if any one of the common people sin through ignorance, while he doeth somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and be guilty; 28 Or if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his knowledge: then he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he hath sinned.

[Miles]

The premise of this OP is fairly straightforward as per the title. If we sin without being aware that we have broken one of God's commandments, does God still consider that a sin, and therefore are we guilty of that sin? The Bible says yes, what say you?

Leviticus 4:27–28 (KJV 1900)
And if any one of the common people sin through ignorance, while he doeth somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and be guilty; 28 Or if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his knowledge: then he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he hath sinned.

Hey, sin is god's invention, meaning he can make up whatever rules for it he wishes. Is it fair to hold one accountable for committing a sin in ignorance? Not in my book, but then who says god has to be as fair, understanding, and moral as we mere mortals.

.

[bjs1]

The premise of this OP is fairly straightforward as per the title. If we sin without being aware that we have broken one of God's commandments, does God still consider that a sin, and therefore are we guilty of that sin? The Bible says yes, what say you?

Leviticus 4:27–28 (KJV 1900)
And if any one of the common people sin through ignorance, while he doeth somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and be guilty; 28 Or if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his knowledge: then he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he hath sinned.

If I understand Judaism correctly, then from a Jewish perspective the answer is yes.

Jesus changed the way Christians view the law. The New Testament described ceremonial laws – which is the context of Leviticus 4 – as a shadow of the reality in Christ. Under the Christian understanding the law is about the heart. Therefore, from a Christian perspective a person cannot unintentionally sin so the answer is no.

Now if discovered that I unintentionally step on my neighbor’s toe and then neither took responsibility for my mistake nor showed compassion to my injured neighbor, then that would be a sin.

[myth-one.com]

[Replying to Eddie Ramos in post #1]

If we unknowingly commit a sin, it is not counted against us.

Sin is the transgression of God's laws, or commandments:

For sin is the transgression of the law. (I John 3:4)

However, for a sin to be imputed against someone, they must first recognize that the act is a sin:

To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. (James 4:17)

For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. (Romans 5:13)

This is reflected in today's not guilty by reason of insanity verdicts, and in crimes committed by young children.

[Miles]

[Replying to Eddie Ramos in post #1]

If we unknowingly commit a sin, it is not counted against us.

Who says so? Even in the U.S. "it is a fundamental legal principle. . . that ignorance of the law is no defense."
source

Sin is the transgression of God's laws, or commandments:
For sin is the transgression of the law. (I John 3:4)
However, for a sin to be imputed against someone, they must first recognize that the act is a sin:

Again, who says so? As I pointed out in post #2, sin is god's invention, so it's reasonable that he, and he alone, make its rules.

To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. (James 4:17)

For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. (Romans 5:13)

This is reflected in today's not guilty by reason of insanity verdicts, and in crimes committed by young children.

Irrelevant.

,

[Eddie Ramos]

The premise of this OP is fairly straightforward as per the title. If we sin without being aware that we have broken one of God's commandments, does God still consider that a sin, and therefore are we guilty of that sin? The Bible says yes, what say you?

Leviticus 4:27–28 (KJV 1900)
And if any one of the common people sin through ignorance, while he doeth somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and be guilty; 28 Or if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his knowledge: then he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he hath sinned.

If I understand Judaism correctly, then from a Jewish perspective the answer is yes.

Jesus changed the way Christians view the law. The New Testament described ceremonial laws – which is the context of Leviticus 4 – as a shadow of the reality in Christ. Under the Christian understanding the law is about the heart. Therefore, from a Christian perspective a person cannot unintentionally sin so the answer is no.

Now if discovered that I unintentionally step on my neighbor’s toe and then neither took responsibility for my mistake nor showed compassion to my injured neighbor, then that would be a sin.

The Old Testament was certainly a shadow pointing to the gospel itself, but the guilt of sin (which is at the heart of the gospel) remains the same no matter in what context it is read. In other words, God is teaching that sin in ignorance (no matter if in Old or New Testament) is still sin and all sin makes the individual(s) guilty, even if they are unaware of it. This principle is reiterated in the fact that all of mankind is guilty of sin because of Adam.

Romans 5:12 (KJV 1900)
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

This principle can be seen in the life of children who come into this world not knowing nor understanding that they were conceived in sin, yet they are still guilty.

Psalm 51:5 (KJV 1900)
5  Behold, I was shapen in iniquity;
And in sin did my mother conceive me.

Psalm 58:3 (KJV 1900)
3  The wicked are estranged from the womb:
They go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.

God is addressing the spiritual condition of mankind and that he sees sin the moment they are conceived. So, this ceremonial law (as well as every other law) was given for the express purpose of concealing the spiritual truth of the gospel. That all are guilty of sin, whether they understand that they have sinned or not, they are still guilty.

Leviticus 5:17 (KJV 1900)
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.

[Eddie Ramos]

[Replying to Eddie Ramos in post #1]

If we unknowingly commit a sin, it is not counted against us.

Sin is the transgression of God's laws, or commandments:

For sin is the transgression of the law. (I John 3:4)

However, for a sin to be imputed against someone, they must first recognize that the act is a sin:

To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. (James 4:17)

For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. (Romans 5:13)

This is reflected in today's not guilty by reason of insanity verdicts, and in crimes committed by young children.

But that's not what the Bible states. And since when do we interpret the Bible by looking outside the Bible for truth, like our justice system? If the justice system took some examples from the Bible and adopted them, then great. But looking to our justice system has absolutely no relevance in our understanding of the scriptures. Let's see what God says about ignorant sin:

Leviticus 5:17&19 (KJV 1900)
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.
Leviticus 5:19 (KJV 1900)
19 ....... he hath certainly trespassed against the LORD.

This teaches us that sin (which is indeed a transgression of God's law) through ignorance is still sin. No recognition of sin is necessary in order for them to be guilty of sin. This truth is dripping all throughout the Bible. We can know this because the nation of Israel were the only ones who had the law of God as they were going through the wilderness, yet God speaks of other nations who did wickedness before the eyes of God, yet these other nations didn't know anything about JEHOVAH God nor of his law. Yet for their wickedness was God going to drive them out of the land:

Deuteronomy 9:4 (KJV 1900)
Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the LORD thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness (the sin) of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from before thee.

Deuteronomy 18:9–14 (KJV 1900)
9 When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. 10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, 11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee. 13 Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God. 14 For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.

God is holding these nations, which know nothing about what is an abomination against God, guilty for their sins and is driving them out because of it. Notice that God only told the nation of Israel that these things were an abomination to him and he gave only them the law not to do these things. Yet he is holding these nations responsible for things which they have no idea God was against because they didn't even know God, and they had their own gods. Now we can see how Leviticus 5:17&19 apply to all of mankind but it was only the nation of Israel (God's chosen people) that could be redeemed from this transgression by making an offering unto God. The rest of the world was still guilty. This also confirms the doctrine of limited atonement for the true people of God while the rest of the world remains guilty and responsible to pay for their own sin with their own death. Anyone, from the moment of conception is guilty of sin and God as the judge, can't do like our justice system does and just turn a blind eye and forgive the trespass. God's law only has one decree for sin, and it's death. So, either Christ died and paid for your sins or you must pay for them yourself. God is 100% just in condemning the whole world for their sin, but he was also plentious in mercy in not letting the whole of mankind to perish, but decided to redeem some from the penalty of death.

[myth-one.com]

[Replying to Eddie Ramos in post #1]

If we unknowingly commit a sin, it is not counted against us.

Sin is the transgression of God's laws, or commandments:

For sin is the transgression of the law. (I John 3:4)

However, for a sin to be imputed against someone, they must first recognize that the act is a sin:

To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. (James 4:17)

For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. (Romans 5:13)

But that's not what the Bible states.

The New Testament verses quoted above state that breaking a commandment of God is not imputed to us as a sin if we did not know that committing that act broke a commandment of God!

The New Testament is now the active testament, and the three verses are from the KJV of the Bible -- so the Bible does state that unknowingly breaking a commandment is not a sin.

<====================================>

Suppose that Mary, Joseph, and Jesus are eating breakfast and Joseph instructs Jesus to stop playing with His food. If Jesus continues playing with His food, He has violated one of the Ten Commandments and thus committed a sin:

Honor thy father and thy mother... (Exodus 20:12)

However, if Jesus is six months of age at the time, that sin is not imputed or charged against Jesus, because sin is knowingly transgressing one of God's laws. Since a six-month-old baby does not understand His father's request, it is not a sin, as six-month-old infants have no law.

[onewithhim]

[Replying to Eddie Ramos in post #1]

We unknowingly sin every day. That is the tendency to sin that we inherited from Adam. Those sins are covered by Christ's blood if we are repentant and ask forgiveness, and we do this every day. The sin that Christ's blood doesn't cover are those deliberate and willful sins that so many are caught up in. This type of sin is not forgiven unless the person stops the willful sinning and asks forgiveness.

"If anyone catches sight of his brother sinning a sin that does not incur death (unknowingly sinning), he will ask, and he will give life to him, yes, to those not sinning as to incur death. There is a sin that does incur death. (Willful sinning.)...All unrighteousness is sin; yet there is a sin that does not incur death." (I John 5:16,17)

[JehovahsWitness]

A sin is a sin; so whether we know it or not, one is indeed guilty of the sins we commit. God however is just and will treat those guilty of unintentional sins mercifully.

The nations condemned during the conquest of Canaan did not necessarily know the true God (although His name did become known in the region due to his victory over Egypt) , but they were still accountable for their behaviours which violated common human decency and God given conscience. They were as a people's condemned for their depraved behaviour and had not right to the land which by divine ordinance had been given to the descendants of Abraham. Whether Jehovah (Yahweh) will have mercy on individuals by resurrecting them in the future is up to Him.

JW




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