“Confession is good for the soul.” But not for our brand. Confession is hard on our pride. And our reputation. Confession literally means “to agree.” And when it comes to sin, the Bible points out that confession is agreeing with God about our sin. Our preference, however, is for God to agree with us about our sin. That it was not so bad. That it turned out ok. That we had good intentions. That we did not mean to. That we did not know it was sin. And the coup de grace, that we had a good excuse. Sin always has a reason. But never an excuse.
Reasons and excuses are not the same. Reasons accept guilt or responsibility. Excuses demands to be excused from both. If, as Calvin noted, our hearts are ‘idol factories’ then our minds are ‘excuse-mills.’ And the perennial top ten excuses are:
- I forgot.
- I was busy.
- It’s not my job.
- I intended to….
- I didn’t mean to.
- I didn’t know how to.
- You didn’t tell me to ….
- I tried and it didn’t work.
- They didn’t do their part so I couldn’t do mine.
- I was waiting.
To which we could add any number of embellishments. All of which shift blame from what I failed do onto what someone else caused me to do. The dog ate my homework. You did not give me enough time. You did not explain your expectations well. Or train me properly. You don’t do it, so why should I? Your expectations were unrealistic. On and on it goes. Our minds are never more imaginative than when excusing sin.
But ignorance is no excuse. This is foundational to every legal code. Guilt is not reduced by good intentions or bad intelligence. Posted in the Roman Forum was the brocard, ignorantia juris non excusat or “ignorance of the law excuses not.” Lawbreaking is lawbreaking. Guilt is guilt. And ignorance never excuses sin.
Before Romulus and Remus were nursed by a wolf, Israel received instruction from the Lord about how to handle the guilt and responsibility of unintentional sin. Atonement, not excuse, was to be offered. Confession, not concession, was required. God never overlooks sin. Or leaves it unpunished. He cannot and will not simply dismiss it. Blood is required. A life is required. For there is no forgiveness without the shedding of blood.
No excuses for sin. But God is gracious. He gives us a path to confession, forgiveness, and reconciliation. Leviticus 4 outlines a series of sacrifices identified as ‘the sin offering.’ These sacrifices are designed to provide atonement. They point us to Jesus’ once-for-all, sacrifice of himself for sin. But they also reveal that “some sins in themselves, and by reason of several aggravations, are more heinous in the sight of God than others.”
And they emphasize that no excuses are accepted for sin. Its guilt and responsibility must always be atoned. Confession, repentance, and faith, not excuses, are required. Satan is subtle and he is ever ready to suggest an excuse. And encourage us seek God’s agreement with us about our sin. No wonder the Psalmist cries out.
Who can discern his errors?
Psalm 19:12-13
Declare me innocent from hidden faults.
Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins;
let them not have dominion over me!
Do you pray like this? Praying that God will make you more aware, more cautious, more averse to sin? Praying for more understanding and obedience? Praying for the work of God’s free grace in sanctification? Or are you sheltering under excuses? Claiming that ‘ignorance is bliss?’
Join us as we examine Leviticus 4 and consider what God has to say about unintentional sin and the danger of making excuses. We meet each Lord’s Day on the square in Pottsville, right next to historic Potts’ Inn at 10:30 am for worship. Get directions here or contact us for more info. Or join us on Facebook Live @PottsvilleARP or YouTube.
Pottsville Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church 