What the Bible says about Sin, Deliberate
(From Forerunner Commentary)

Leviticus 5:15-17 One's blindness does not excuse his guilt. The person is still guilty even though he did not know. Unintentionally, thankfully, includes more than one might think at first glance. It means "to turn aside, to wander, to err, to make a mistake, to miss the mark." The person misses the real objective in life, which is to obey God and to be holy as He is holy. It includes sins done with a degree of consciousness, that is, an awareness of what one is doing, as well as sins done willingly out of weakness, but not sins done deliberately. For example, the Bible clearly differentiates between manslaughter and murder. Manslaughter is the taking of a life accidentally. There is no plan to do it—it just occurrs. The head flies off a hammer, hits somebody in the head, cracks his skull, and he dies. Nobody deliberately plans to do that, though there may be some carelessness involved in it. Murder, however, includes a measure of deliberateness, lying in wait, planning, setting one's mind to do it. It may be a situation in which one burns in anger against someone for a period of time. Though he has plenty of time to bring himself under control, he does not. Then, reaching the boiling point, he murders his "enemy." John W. Ritenbaugh Examples of Divine Justice Related Topics: Manslaughter | Murder | Murder, Spirit of | Premeditated Killing | Sin as Missing the Mark | Sin, Deliberate | Sin, Willful | Spirit of Murder | Unintentional Sins | Willfully Sin

Numbers 15:31 Notice these verbs: "Despise," "reproach," "cut off." There is a difference in attitude reflected in the person who sins unintentionally, even though the person is conscious of what he is doing. There is no forgiveness here. He bears his guilt right to the grave. So, murder, which involves deliberateness, is the willful taking of a life, and to sin presumptuously is to do it willfully. John W. Ritenbaugh Examples of Divine Justice Related Topics: Guilt | Murder | Presumptuous Sins | Sin, Deliberate | Sin, Willful | Willfully Sin

Luke 12:47-48 The evil servants fail in their responsibility because they are not looking faithfully to Christ and hopefully toward the Kingdom. The penalty tells us that Jesus is speaking about Christians who are not ready either because they ignore their calling or because they neglect to produce fruit worthy of repentance (Matthew 3:8). Faithless Christians will be judged more strictly than those who, though wicked, do not understand about the coming of the Son of Man. Professing Christians with knowledge of God's revelation will have to answer for their lack of response to God. Their punishment seems severe until we realize that the servant who knew his master's will represents those who sin arrogantly or presumptuously (Psalm 19:12-13). Even though the servant who was ignorant of his master's will sins unwittingly, it was his business to know his master's will. In either case, each holds personal responsibility for his actions and therefore comes under judgment. All have some knowledge of God (Romans 1:20-23), and He judges according to the individual's level of responsibility. The parable finishes with the warning that knowledge and privilege always bring responsibility. Sin is doubly sinful to the person who knows better (Numbers 15:27-31). We who know better would like God to find us with our work completed upon His return, just as Jesus was able to say to His Father, "I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do" (John 17:4-5). It would be wonderful for God to find us glorifying Him and at peace with our brethren when Christ comes. Martin G. Collins Parable of the Faithful and Evil Servants Related Topics: Bearing Fruit | Bearing Fruits Worthy of Repentance | Faithful and True Witness | Faithfulness | Faithfulness in Little Things | Faithfulness to Christ | Faithlessness | Fruit, Bearing | Fruits of Repentance | Neglect | Negligence | Parable of the Faithful and Evil Servants | Responsibility | Responsibility, Sense of | Responsibility, Varying Levels of | Sin, Deliberate | Sin, Presumptuous | Sin, Willful

Luke 13:1-5 The problem of human suffering and sin raises serious questions, and in His reply to such a question, Jesus' speaks of repentance and judgment (Luke 13:1-5). He continues with the Parable of the Barren Fig Tree (verses 6-9), which refers to tragedy among the Galileans (verse 1). History fails to record the exact incident, but the revolutionary activities of that time made anything possible. Galileans, says Josephus, were especially susceptible to revolt. In His discussion, Jesus does not attribute tragedy or accident directly to any person's sin as the Jews did—instead, He affirms the sinfulness of everyone. A person who flagrantly sins can expect judgment to come eventually, though it may be long delayed (Ecclesiastes 8:11-13). Victims of calamity die physically, but anyone who does not repent faces spiritual death. Martin G. Collins Parable of the Barren Fig Tree Related Topics: Human Suffering | Judgment | Parable of the Barren Fig Tree | Repentance | Revolutionary | Sin | Sin leading to Death | Sin Produces Death | Sin, Consequences of | Sin, Deliberate | Sin, Habitual | Sin, Willful | Suffering

Romans 2:2 This instruction refutes the doctrine of eternal security. He writes this letter to converted Romans, those who had already accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior. As God does in Genesis 3, the apostle threatens these Christians with God's utter abhorrence of sin and His unwavering promise to judge it. Paul later illustrates this process of judgment to the Hebrews: For the earth [Christians] which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessings from God; but if it bears thorns and briars, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned [in the Lake of Fire]. (Hebrews 6:7-8; see verses 4-6; Matthew 13:47-50; 25:31-46) Richard T. Ritenbaugh Do We Have 'Eternal Security'? Related Topics: Agricultural Metaphors | Eternal Security, Doctrine of | God's Judgment | Judgment, God's | Lake of Fire | Once Saved Always Saved | Sin, Deliberate | Sin, Habitual

Romans 6:1-3 What is behind this argument? Paul is saying, "How do we involve Christ in our sins?" Because we are in Him! To someone who is less mystical, this does not make any sense at all, but this is something that a Christian knows by faith - that he is in Christ, and Christ is in him. We are sharing life together so the Christians can come to know Christ, be in the resurrection, and live with Him and all others who are living His way for all eternity. Does not Christ say to His disciples in John 14:23, "We will come to him [one who keeps His word] and make Our home with him"? This is what Paul is talking about: He is exhorting us to live as They do. Thus, how can we continue in sin, if we are dead to sin? John W. Ritenbaugh The Resurrection From the Dead Related Topics: Antinomian | Antinomianism | Commandments, Keeping | Keeping Commandments | Law "Done Away" | Law Keeping | Lawkeeping | Sin | Sin, Automatic | Sin, Deliberate | Sin, Habitual | Sin, tolerating

Romans 6:1-2 Paul presents this as a condition. One cannot conduct his life any old way he thinks after he repents and believes. He must continue to meet the conditions that God lays down. Of course, God understands - and we all know - that we are not going to meet those conditions perfectly. We are going to sin, but that does not mean that we should not strive to fulfill the responsibility that God gives us: to remain faithful and loyal in keeping His commands. Thus, one must remain faithful and loyal to God, as shown through the way he lives. This is why Peter says that we are to be holy because God is holy (I Peter 1:16). It is a responsibility, an obligation, a condition of our covenant. It is plain that Paul says that we should not sin, which is to break God's law. Jesus Christ came to save us from our sins, not in our sins. Do we understand what from means? We use this word constantly, every day. We are so familiar with it that we probably never stop to think what it means. From means "a word indicating separation beginning at a certain point." We are being saved from - separation beginning at a certain point - our sins. This indicates we are to come out of sin, the transgression of God's law. It is a qualification we must meet. John W. Ritenbaugh The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Two) Related Topics: Antinomian | Antinomianism | Commandment Breaking | Commandments, Keeping | Eternal Life, Conditions for | Keeping Commandments | Law "Done Away" | Law Keeping | Lawkeeping | Sin | Sin, Automatic | Sin, Deliberate | Sin, Habitual | Sin, tolerating

Hebrews 10:26 To "sin willfully" is to break God's law and do it in a rebellious way. It is consistently practicing sin in a bad attitude. John W. Ritenbaugh The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Four) Related Topics: Sin, Deliberate | Sin, Habitual | Sin, Presumptuous | Sin, Willful | Willfully Sin | Willingly Sin

Hebrews 10:26-27 The first thing to note in Hebrews 10:26-27 is the word "sin." Paul is not speaking of sin in general but the specific sin of apostasy from the faith that was once known and professed. The apostasy he has in mind is not so much an act but a state brought on by many individual attitudes and sins, reproducing the original, carnal antagonism a person has toward God before conversion. Some commentaries insist that the Authorized Version is not quite correct in translating the term in verse 26 as "willfully." These argue that the Greek word, hekousios, will not permit this translation. It appears only one other time, in I Peter 5:2, where it is translated as "willingly." The commentators insist that it should be rendered "willingly" in Hebrews 10:26. The American Heritage College Dictionary supports their conclusion. To do something willfully is to do it purposely or deliberately. The commentators say all sin is done purposely because human nature is set up to do so, even though weakness, ignorance, or deception may be involved as well. To do a thing willingly is to be disposed, inclined, or prepared to do it. Its synonyms are "readily," "eagerly," "compliantly," "ungrudgingly," "voluntarily," and "volitionally." This sense is contained in the context because, by the time a person reaches the apostate stage in his backward slide, where he has forsaken God and His way, he has no resistance to sin. The sinner is deliberately, even eagerly, determined to abandon Christ, to turn away from God and His way, having completely become an enemy once again. He sins with barely a second thought, if with any thought at all. He sins automatically, as there is none of God's Spirit left to constrain him. His conscience is totally defiled; he has forsaken God. Who is in danger of committing this sin? All who have made a profession of faith in Christ but are now neglecting their salvation. The message of Hebrews is that it does not have to be this way. If the person takes heed and stirs himself awake, if he truly seeks to overcome and grow once again, if he returns to being a living sacrifice and seeking to glorify God, if he truly denies himself and takes up his cross, if he keeps God's commandments to live life as a Christian, he will not apostatize. He may fall back from time to time, but as long as he repents and honestly seeks God when sin occurs in his life, the sin is readily forgiven. I John 1:9 confidently proclaims, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." John 14:23 assures us that as long as we are keeping His Word, we are safe. Hebrews 12:5-10 explains that God is faithfully working in our behalf, even chastening us if He sees fit, to get us turned around and headed again in the right direction and attitude. He does this faithfully because He does not want to lose us. Christ died for each child of God, thus each child He loves - and He loves them all - represents a substantial investment. Christ did not die in vain for anybody. In Hebrews 13:5, He charges us with the task of putting to work His promise, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." John W. Ritenbaugh God's Power: Our Shield Against Apostasy Related Topics: Apostasy | Confessing Sin | Conscience | Conscience , Seared | Conscience, Cauterized | Conscience, Defiled | God's Faithfulness | Sin | Sin, Automatic | Sin, Deliberate | Sin, Habitual | Sin, Presumptuous | Sin, Willful

1 John 1:8-10 John is instructing us about the obligation we have due to receiving atonement through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Forgiveness does not remove from us the obligation to keep the commands of God. The law of God is not done away once we are under the blood of Jesus Christ. His death paid for our past sins. Though His death will pay for sins committed after our original forgiveness, we are urged not to break God's laws. Sinning without serious regard and deep appreciation for Christ's death brings us into danger of committing the unpardonable sin (Hebrews 10:26, 28-29). A disciplined and robust effort to obey God's commands witnesses to Him the depth of our appreciation for the grace He gives through Christ. John W. Ritenbaugh The Offerings of Leviticus (Part Six): The Sin Offering Related Topics: Forgiveness | Law Keeping | Law Keeping as Love for God | Lawkeeping | Obligation | Obligation to Christ | Obligation, Sense of | Sin | Sin, Deliberate | Sin, Habitual | Unpardonable Sin

1 John 3:9 Sometime in the past, one may have heard that "cannot sin" applies to Christians when resurrected as spirit beings. This is probably not correct because the whole context of the passage involves the here and now—today, during our physical lives. John is describing a situation in which we have opportunities to sin or not. "Cannot sin" does not mean that it is impossible for us to sin, but rather, it is an act that we will not permit ourselves to do. Many of us have likely said to a child, "You can't do that!" Yes, they could do it, but we have determined that it is totally unadvisable. This is the gist of John's meaning: A person who is born of God is unable to sin habitually. Why? Because of the divine nature being within him! This does not mean that he will not slip or that he will not even sin willingly and willfully from time to time, knowing full well what he is getting into. There is still weakness in human flesh. However, the converted person will repent and fight the weakness tooth and toenail. He will not live in sin! God will not abide in sin, and if His Spirit is within us, and we choose to continue in sin, then He will withdraw His Spirit. John W. Ritenbaugh The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Eight) Related Topics: Abiding in Sin | Overcoming | Repentance | Repentance, Motivation For | Sin | Sin as a Way of Life | Sin, Deliberate | Sin, Habitual | Sin, Struggle against | Struggle against Carnal Nature | Struggle against Satan's Influence | Struggle against Sin

1 John 5:16-17 "A sin which does not lead to death" is one that is genuinely repented of and for which forgiveness is available because the attitude of the sinner is meek and truly sorrowful. A person may have this attitude, yet still sin on occasion out of weakness, ignorance, bad judgment, or even inadvertently. Both greater and lesser sins can fall under this category. Earlier in the book, the same apostle writes: If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (I John 1:8-9) Our genuine confession admits to God that we are guilty of breaking His law and seek to be cleared of it by Christ's sacrifice. This true repentance leads to a fierce desire not to sin and to building righteous character. God thus lifts the penalty of the second death, and once again, we, by His grace, are back on the road to salvation. The sin that John calls a "sin leading to death" is what others know as "the unpardonable sin." Again, both greater and lesser sins can lead to the attitude that causes someone to commit an unforgivable sin. Such a sin is deeply reinforced by the attitude of the sinner—an attitude that denies Jesus Christ as Savior, that flagrantly hates his brother, and refuses to obey God's laws and statutes. Rebellion and defiance set this sin apart from others! Martin G. Collins Are Some Sins Worse Than Others? Related Topics: Christ's Sacrifice | Forgiveness | Jesus Christ's Sacrifice | Meekness | Repentance | Sin | Sin as a Way of Life | Sin leading to Death | Sin, Deliberate | Sin, Forgiveness of | Sin, Habitual | Sin, Presumptuous | Sin, Unforgivable | Sin, Unpardonable | Sin, Willful | Truth

 

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