When Does Unintentional Unknown Sin Become Sin?

Leviticus 4:2
“Say to the Israelites: ‘When anyone sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the LORD’s commands —

Sin is a big problem that sometimes we tend to forget that it affects us. Our daily struggles get difficult and worse because of sin. If we can eradicate sin, we would have solved all our problems permanently. We deal with sin by confession and repentance. Unfortunately, there are unknown and unintentional sins. If you don’t know you have committed a sin, how and when do you repent it?

This section of the Bible address unintentional sins that can be committed by priests, leaders, individuals, and the whole community. What do you do with unintentional sins? What do you do when unintentionally you offend God?

Leviticus 4:13-14
(13) “‘If the whole Israelite community sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the LORD’s commands, even though the community is unaware of the matter, when they realize their guilt
(14) and the sin they committed becomes known, the assembly must bring a young bull as a sin offering and present it before the tent of meeting.

First, the community sins unintentionally. Secondly, they offend God and that means that things start going wrong in all aspects of their lives. Thirdly, the community remains unaware that they have offended God. Fourthly, the community realizes they have sinned. Fifth, the sin becomes known. Sixth, the sin is confessed and repented. Seventh, life goes back to normal.

Leviticus 4:22-23
(22) “‘When a leader sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the commands of the LORD his God, when he realizes his guilt (23) and the sin he has committed becomes known, he must bring as his offering a male goat without defect.

First, the leader sins unintentionally. Secondly, the leader offends God and that means that things start going wrong in all aspects of his/her life. Thirdly, the leader remains unaware that he/she has offended God. Fourthly, the leader realizes that he/she sinned. Fifth, the sin becomes known. Sixth, the sin is confessed and repented. Seventh, life goes back to normal.

Leviticus 4:27-28
(27) “‘If any member of the community sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the LORD’s commands, when they realize their guilt (28) and the sin they have committed becomes known, they must bring as their offering for the sin they committed a female goat without defect.

First, the member of the community sins unintentionally. Secondly, the member of the community offends God and that means that things start going wrong in all aspects of his/her life. Thirdly, the member of the community remains unaware that he/she has offended God. Fourthly, the member of the community realizes that he/she sinned. Fifth, the sin becomes known. Sixth, the sin is confessed and repented. Seventh, life goes back to normal.

The unintentional unknown sin is only sin when the sinner gets to know that they sinned. God can in one way or another makes the sinner aware of the sin or the sin becomes known. When you become aware of a sin you committed unknowingly, you are required to immediately repent it. When the sin you committed unintentionally gets to be known, that means it becomes the talk of the town, you are supposed to repent.

God makes unintentional sin known in many ways. The consequence of the unknown sin can cause you a string of misfortunes until you come to your senses and discover that you sinned. A sermon preached or lesson taught can enlighten you to get to know a sin you were not aware of. The moment you become aware of the sin, you are required to immediately repent it.

Dear God, there could be unintentional unknown sins causing misery in my life. Help me to get to know those sins. Help me to repent all sins you have made me be aware of. Restore my life back to productivity and progress, in Jesus’ name, Amen!

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