Then the LORD said to Moses, “Suppose one of you sins against your associate and is unfaithful to the LORD. Suppose you cheat in a deal involving a security deposit, or you steal or commit fraud, or you find lost property and lie about it, or you lie while swearing to tell the truth, or you commit any other such sin. If you have sinned in any of these ways, you are guilty. You must give back whatever you stole, or the money you took by extortion, or the security deposit, or the lost property you found, or anything obtained by swearing falsely. You must make restitution by paying the full price plus an additional 20 percent to the person you have harmed. On the same day you must present a guilt offering. As a guilt offering to the LORD, you must bring to the priest your own ram with no defects, or you may buy one of equal value. Through this process, the priest will purify you before the LORD, making you right with him, and you will be forgiven for any of these sins you have committed.” [Leviticus 6.1-7]
This passage, along with the first verse of chapter 5 deal with intentional sins. The chapter 6 passage above requires more than a sacrifice: it requires an appreciated restitution (20% more). Look at chapter 5, verse 1:
“If you are called to testify about something you have seen or that you know about, it is sinful to refuse to testify, and you will be punished for your sin. [Leviticus 5.1]
In the context of this passage, a sacrifice is also prescribed, however, this intentional sin requires punishment in addition to the prescribed sacrifice.
The Bible indicates here that the blood of a sacrifice, while indeed acquiring forgiveness, does not preempt punishment for intentional sins. In all the other unintentional sins addressed in today's OYCB reading, nothing but the sacrifice is required along with a confession.
What does this speak to the "faith teaching" we hear today that promotes blessings simply resultant to sufficient faith? Jesus' blood is touted as "paying it all" regarding the blood required for sins, but little or no consideration is given to the fact that the Old Testament sacrifices (that speak of Jesus, by the way - John 5.39) still required punishment or restitution in addition to the blood sacrifices.
Every curse described in Deuteronomy 28, is a punishment for sin. All manner of sickness, disease, financial and material loss, and turmoil are described there as just reward for intentional sin (knowingly disobeying God - Deuteronomy 28.15).
Do the passages in Leviticus chapters 5 and 6 indicate then that our intentional sins require just reward (punishment or restitution) even though faith in Jesus provides complete forgiveness of them? We must at least give this some consideration!
It is interesting, since Jesus is the focal point of ALL scripture, that the sacrifices that symbolize the shedding of Jesus' blood, still required additional punishment for intentional sins. Have we then refuted faith teachings by declaring here that simple faith cannot overcome these intentional sin curses? Not at all!
There is a prophecy about Jesus the Messiah in Isaiah that speaks volumes:
But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. [Isaiah 53.5]
Where the Old Testament sacrifices did not cover intentional sins, Jesus' blood made atonement for even the outward intentional rebellion of those who come to Him in repentance.
It would seem then, that our current afflictions should serve to call us to repentance... But who wants to hear that sermon? It's easier to just go to the doctor, lender, or insurance provider and get it taken care of without as much as a moment's thought about repentance. Has society today become so calloused to the punishments for sin (described in Deuteronomy 28) that we no longer even consider that repentance is necessary (by virtue of the fact that the punishments exist)?
Meanwhile people "go down for healing prayer" at church and make desperate pleas for helping prayer on social media with no real subsequent evidence of Providence's intervention to show for it. Sure, surgeries "go well", "prescriptions kick in", and loans come through, but where are the unexplainable instantaneous miracles Jesus performed and said we would perform as well?
Something is not adding up in Christendom today. It remains my conviction that repentance is largely missing because man's knowledge and accomplishments have temporarily eased the pain and suffering associated with Deuteronomy 28 curses. And for this reason, "repentance" is a harsh bad word. Humility has all but been eradicated in modern society - sadly, the Church included.
If we have lingering doubt about any of this, the Apostle Paul's words shed further light:
But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” [Galatians 3.13]
The only thing then, that stands between us and freedom from curses provided by Jesus is our neglect of humble repentance and obedient faith. The prevailing error in our "faith teaching" today is the exclusion of repentance.
Father, I really thought for a moment here today, that perhaps I had found a scriptural loophole suggesting that my infirmities were just "my cross to bear." But as Your Word reveals, the curses I am currently experiencing (physical and material) remain curses for which Jesus not only paid the blood sacrifice for, but suffered the physical/material pain for as well. May I, and all who are like me, find complete deliverance in Jesus through humble repentance and obedient faith. So be it.
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