Kinds of Sin

Is. 59:1-2 [1] Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: [2] But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear

Ezek. 18:20 [20] The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

Rom. 6:23 [23] For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord

I. Sins of ignorance Acts 3:17 [17] And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.

These are sins committed unknowingly or without understanding of God’s will Ignorance is no excuse for sin

1 Pet. 1:14 [14] As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance (NASB)

1 Tim. 1:13 [13] Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief

Acts 17:30 [30] And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent

II. Secret sins Sins known only to the one who commits them and to God Ps. 19:12 [12]…cleanse thou me from secret faults These sins are of the mind or – when committed – are hidden from the view of others

Heb. 4:13 [13] Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do

Num. 32:23 [23] But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.

Eccl. 12:14 [14] For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil

III. Presumptuous sins Ps. 19:13 [13] Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

Those who sin “with a high hand” in stubborn, wilfull disobedience to God Taking matters into our own hands

Num. 15:30-31 [30] But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. [31] Because he hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him

Num. 15:30 [30] But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. (KJV) 30 But the soul that doeth aught with a high hand, whether he be home-born or a sojourner, the same blasphemeth Jehovah; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. (ASV)

Rom. 1:32 [32] Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them 32 Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. (ESV)

IV. Willful sins Heb. 10:26-31 [26] For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, [27] But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. [28] He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

[29] Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? [30] For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. [31] It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Those who continue in sin “It refers to a deliberate act, where a man means to abandon his religion, and turn away from God.” “There is a decided difference between knowingly and willingly forsaking light in order to walk in darkness and a sin which is the result of either ignorance or a momentary weakness.” (Thomas Warren)

“To ‘sin wilfully’ literally means to be habitually engaged in sin “To ‘sin wilfully’ literally means to be habitually engaged in sin. Here it has reference to a wilful abandonment of Christianity for Judaism. Thus it simply means to keep on sinning. One violates these instructions when he wilfully returns to his old life after obeying the gospel.... Anyone who returns to the sinful lusts he once practiced after obeying the truth is lost—unless he repents” (T.B. Crews, ADL, p.393).

V. Besetting sins Heb. 12:1 [1] Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Easily beset – “That which encircles or entangles, like a loose flowing robe” Sins that cling close to us and are easily committed A particular sin or sins to which an individual may have a weakness

1 Cor. 10:12 [12] Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

2 Cor. 13:5 [5] Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves…

1 Cor. 10:13 [13] There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it

Nothing good ever comes from sin! Doing those things that are evil will always be harmful to body and soul! Rom. 6:23 [23] For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord