SIN THROUGH IGNORANCE
Breaking God’s Law
Some time ago, we were moving home. With all the worry and rushing about, we quickly parked in a car park in town. We paid for our ticket and went to a shop to pay for a carpet. We thought it would only take a few minutes, but the shop was very busy, so we decided to go for a cup of tea because there was still plenty of time left on our parking ticket.
When we returned to the car, to my surprise there was a parking fine on it. I could not understand what had happened. As far as I was concerned, I had paid for my parking and there was still plenty of time left on the ticket. I saw the traffic warden and asked him about it. He replied quietly, “Read the ticket. You have crossed the line.”
Because I was in a hurry, I had parked the car at an angle. From where I had been sitting, it looked as though only one wheel was over the line, but from straight on it was clear that the car had crossed the boundary. I had never done this before, and I did not know that I could be fined. I had paid for my parking space, yet I had still broken the parking rules by crossing the line.
That reminded me of something far more important. A person may be respectable, generous, attend church, pray, and try to do good, yet the Bible says that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Sin is crossing the line of God’s law, whether we fully understood it at the time or not.
Leviticus speaks about sins committed through ignorance. Ignorance did not make sin disappear; atonement was still needed. This points us to our great need of a Saviour. Jesus Christ paid the price for sin at Calvary. We cannot save ourselves by our own goodness, for Scripture says that even our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.
Do not stay on the wrong side of the line. Come to the cross. Repent of your sin and put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He died for sinners and rose again, and He alone can bring us to God. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” — Romans 10:13
KEY SCRIPTURES
Leviticus 4:2 — If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD…
Romans 3:23 — For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Romans 6:23 — For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Acts 17:30 — And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
Ephesians 2:8–9 — For by grace are ye saved through faith… Not of works, lest any man should boast.
1 John 1:7 — The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
John 1:12 — But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God…
Come to the cross — trust in Jesus Christ as your Saviour.
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