No Forgiveness for Willful Sin—OUCH!

Numbers 15:27–31, Two types of sin are delineated in this passage. They are the sin of ignorance and the sin of presumption (i.e., willful sinning, or literally, “sinning with a high hand”). For the first sin there is an offering or atonement. For the second sin, the penalty is death as illustrated by the example of the Sabbath-breaker in verses 32–36. It is interesting to note that breaking the Sabbath is the example the Torah uses to illustrate willful or presumptuous sin. Why is this? Likely, YHVH in his prescience realized that Sabbath observance would be a great bone of contention and point of struggle for his people. Indeed, even to this day, the idea of resting on the seventh day Sabbath still raises the antagonism of many in the church.

Who me???

Who me???

Numbers 15:30–36, The person who does anything presumptuously. Here we see an example of presumptuous sin with regard to the Sabbath. Presumptuous sinners despise the Torah-commands in YHVH’s Word thinking themselves to be above the laws of Elohim thus refusing to be ruled by it. The act of gathering the sticks on the Sabbath was an affront both to the law and the Lawgiver (Henry, p. 133).

Here are some word definitions:

  • Presume means “to assume, to undertake without leave or clear justification, dare.”
  • Presumptuous meansaudacity; overstepping due bounds, taking liberties.”

The Hebrew word for presume is ruwm (Strong’s H7311) meaning “to rise up, be high, be lofty, be exalted, to exalt oneself, magnify oneself, to be rotten, and to be wormy.”

Reflect on your own life. Are there areas of disobedience of which you need to repent? Many times we sin out of human weakness, not willful disobedience. Can such sin, if not eliminated, lead to presumptuous sin? Can we become so callous to sin that we become brazen and willful? Paul talks about those whose consciences have become seared (1 Tim 4:2). What does this mean? In the Testimony of Yeshua, willful or presumptuous sin is often known in common parlance as the unpardonable sin. Note what the writer of Hebrews has to say about this (see Heb 6:6–7 and 10:26–31).

 

13 thoughts on “No Forgiveness for Willful Sin—OUCH!

  1. ACTS 2:38 FICTIONALIZED
    Why do men fictionalize Scriptures rather than reading them and believing them? I will let you reach your own conclusion as to the answer. What is is purpose of water baptism according to Acts 2:38?

    FOUR TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE ACTS 2:38
    1. Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, “Repent and each of you bebaptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (New American Standard Bible)

    2. Acts 2:38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (The Thompson Chain-Reference Bible New International Version 1983)

    3. Acts 2:38 The Peter said unto them,Let each of of you repent and be immersed, in the name of Jesus Christ, in order to the remission of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ) The Better Version of the New Testament by Chester Estes)

    4. Acts 2:38 Peter told them, “You must repent and every one of you must be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ, so that you may have your sins forgiven and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (The New Testament in Modern English by J.B. Phillips)

    THE FOLLOWING ARE FICTIONALIZED VERSIONS OF ACTS 2:38

    1. Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized because your sins have already been forgiven. (Fictional Account)

    2. Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized as a testimony of your faith. (Invented Version)

    3. Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, Repent and be baptized as an act of obedience. (Fantasy Translation)

    4. Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized because you were forgiven the minute you believed. (The Version of Unfounded Truth)

    5. Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized with Holy Spirit baptism; because water baptism is not a New Covenant requirement. (The Version of Spurious and Erroneous Quotes)

    6. Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, “Repent, for the forgiveness of sins; but water baptism is optional, because the thief on the cross was not baptized in water. (The Counterfeit Version of Truth)

    7. Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, “Rent and be baptized in order to join denomination of your choice. (The Creed Bible By Men)

    8. Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized as a symbolic jester, pointing to the fact that your sins were forgiven when you said “The Sinner’s Prayer.” ( The Book of Stuff Men made-up)

    9. Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized to indicate the outward sign of the forgiveness you received the very minute you believed. ( The Fabricated Book of Fantasy Verses)

    10. Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, “Repent and have your committed sins forgiven by faith only. And then be baptized to be forgiven of the sin Adam committed. (The Denominational Revision of Fictional Truth)

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    THE QUESTION IS WHY DO CERTAIN DENOMINATIONAL CHURCHES FICTIONALIZE BIBLICAL TRUTH? THE BIGGER QUESTION IS WHY DO PEOPLE BELIEVE FICTIONALIZED DOCTRINE RATHER THAN BIBLICAL TRUTH?

    • Water Baptism?? The verse you quoted from Acts does not mention water? The baptism you refer to here does not involve any water. Rather you are to immerse yourself into the authority, character and wisdom (name) of Messiah, ergo accept him. Yes, Johns baptism was with water… a mikveh but he himself says that Messiah’s baptism will not be like his! Unless the scripture says the baptism involves water do not add your own understanding to that.

      • I thought I had heard it all until your comment!

        True, Acts 2:28 does not specifically mention water, yet the biblical concept of baptism for the remission of sins in the context of the preaching of the gospel always involves water. Do I need to quote the Scriptures to confirm this including the mikveh concept that is rooted in the Torah, or have you not read your Bible?

        Yes, baptism or tevilah at a mikveh for the remission of sins involves full immersion into the death, burial and resurrection of Yeshua, but it also involves the symbolism of water (symbolizing cleansing and death by drowning). As the Levitical priest were sprinkled/washed with water as part of their consecration and purification ceremony before ministering in the tabernacle (have you not heard of the bronze laver filled with——you guessed it——water) and in conjunction with the sacrificial offering for the atoning their sins, then the water baptism of John, then the baptism by water in other places in the book of Acts, and then as the early post-first century church practiced water baptism based on the previous biblical history of this ritual, water has always been involved.

        I fear that you my fried, not Steve Finnell, and with all due respect, are the one adding your own opinions to Scripture by redefining and recontextualizing the biblical Truth regarding water baptism for the remission of sins.

  2. Num 15:30  “But the person who sins defiantly, whether native or outsider, reviles Adonai and that person is to be cut off from his people.31  Because he has despised the word of Adonai and has broken His commandment, that person will certainly be cut off—his guilt will remain on him.” (TLV)

    So is defiance a better word, meaning they are willfully go against God or the Messiah on purpose?

    • Then why use the word “reject” “the Torah of Moses” if they are not in defiance to the Covenant?

      • So Hebrew was written to Jewish believers, and not Gentile believers who were formerly pantheist Romans and Greeks, so basically it took time for them to repent of former behaviors that were sinful. Like the man doing an act of Incest that not even pantheist were doing in 1 Corinthians, why didn’t he know he was doing wrong. see the pantheist didn’t originally have the Torah like the Jewish people did. .So they were without the Torah, but what I am basically saying they had to repent is another way of saying moral reform in some cases. i don’t know though maybe I am wrong, they clearly had to stop sacrificing to idols.

      • The Hebrew Scriptures/OT/Tanakh was was not only written to Jewish believers, but to all people on earth, since it’s a refection of YHVH’s heart, mind and will for all people. It’s a reflection of his character, and it’s his desire that people stop sinning (violating his Torah laws—see 1 John 3:4), so that we can be born or adopted into his divine family. Torah-obedience is how we love Yeshua (John 14:15). It’s not a Jew-Gentile thing. That has ceased through Yeshua (Gal 3:28). This is a false dichotomy set up by the antiJewish early church fathers and is still in people’s minds today. This is not the biblical model. Those who come to faith in Yeshua are now grafted in Israelites (Rom 14), the one new man (Eph 2:11–19), the Israel of Elohim (Gal 6:16), the offspring of Abraham (Gal 3:29). There is no Gentile gate in the New Jerusalem. Gentiles can’t be saved. Those Gentiles who are born of the Spirit become redeemed Israelites (Eph 2:11–19). The man in Corinth may have started out as a Gentile, but became an Israelite through Yeshua and so was guilty of what the Torah defines as sin—incest. The Torah teaches how to live once we’re saved. He teaches us how to have peace with and love Elohim and our fellow man. The end times saints will be Torah-obedient (Rev 12:17; 14:12). Are you getting the picture?

    • Yes. Willful is defiance, and this reveals the condition of one’s heart—utter contempt and and willful or purposeful rebellion against YHVH. Such a person who is predisposed in this direction is irredeemable.

      • But what if such a person comes to true repentance and now hates those willful sins? Do you think that God then still doesn’t forgive?

      • All I know is what the Bible says. How YHVH will judge each person individually is up to him and on a case by case basis, for only he knows the heart and the issues; it’s not not for me to try to assume to know these things. I can only be responsible for myself.

  3. “But what if such a person comes to true repentance and now hates those willful sins? Do you think that God then still doesn’t forgive?”

    Your time for forgiveness is available until you take your last breath. The unforgivable sin is ignoring God and His Son Jesus.

    I know Him very well, and I certainly don’t deserve to. He is more good than you’ll ever possibly imagine or come close to comprehending.

    If your heart is genuine and you’re not attempting “self-deceit” as a means to deceive God… He will forgive you.

    If you aren’t trying to “get one over” on Him. He will forgive you.

    If you wake up one day and realize you are an unbelievably foolish idiot and you really, really, reallyyy need Him. He will forgive you.

    I don’t advise abuse of His kindness though. You will pay for it in severe doses of regret and likely some hard lessons.

    May God Bless everyone that reads this.

    -Brother Daniel

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