Three Different Kinds of Sins.
By D. T. Bourdeau
SIN is sinful in whatever form it may appear, and under whatsoever circumstances it may be committed. Yet there are three different general classes or grades of sins: First, sins of ignorance; second, sins of weakness; third, sins of presumption. 1. Sins of ignorance. Although this class of sins is less obnoxious to God than the other two classes embraced in this subject, yet its sinfulness is seen in the fact that anciently different offerings were made for it, and that consequently it was among those things which made the death of Christ necessary. Under the old dispensation, those who sinned through ignorance were called upon to repent and reform as soon as their ignorance was removed, Lev. 4; Num. 15:22; etc., and the same duty exists in this dispensation. Christ came as a light to his people, that they might see their sins, and reform; but they, as a nation, chose darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil; and thus their sins became doubly sinful, and their past sins of ignorance were imputed to them as though they had been committed with a clear knowledge of their whole duty. Paul obtained mercy because he had sinned through ignorance, and because, when he obtained a clear view of himself as a sinner, he heartily repented and thoroughly reformed; and when he announced to the idolatrous Athenians that God “winked at” the times of their ignorance, he was not negligent to immediately add as a condition, “But now commandeth all men everywhere to repent; because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness.” Acts 17:30, 31. 2. Sins of weakness. These are the sins which are committed through the weakness of the flesh by those who, knowing their duty, are in an unguarded moment overcome by the temptations and snares of the devil. The truly sincere and conscientious who commit these sins are sorry and perhaps discouraged upon being overcome, or when they realize their errors. There is hope for such if they heartily repent and earnestly endeavor to reform. To such, the following words of John are applicable: “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” 1 John 2:1. The great danger of Christians is to be too indifferent in regard to these sins because they are committed more or less by all, and because they are hated by those who commit them. But we show our hatred toward sin by our efforts to overcome it. The heart is deceitful, and if our efforts to overcome are faint, it is pretty safe to conclude that we love sin and cherish it as a sweet morsel. If we did not, we would recoil and shudder at its approach as we would at the presence of a viper preparing to bite us. Our efforts to overcome sin are generally too faint. We do not strive and agonize to overcome, and are not willing to deny ourselves. We excuse ourselves when God does not excuse us, and are in danger of passing off as sins of weakness those sins which are charged to us in the heavenly records as 3. Sins of presumption. These are the sins that are committed with a clear understanding of duty, but under the false and delusive impression that God will not be particular with us for small deviations from his will. This is the most dangerous class of sins. “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.” Eccl. 8:11. But God’s mercy and longsuffering does not make sin less sinful, but rather adds to the sinfulness of sin; for if men will not reform when they have an opportunity, they become guilty of confirming their course of sin, and of sinning against God’s grace as well as against his law. The grace or favor of God is offered to them as a remedy for sin, but they turn away from it, virtually saying, I will not be led to repentance by the goodness of God, but will persist in transgressing his holy law. Sin is as sinful under this dispensation as it was under the old. May we not rather say that it is more sinful under our present light and privileges than it was anciently? Says the great apostle: “If we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses; 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?” Heb. 10:26–29. This passage sets forth the highest grade of the sin of presumption. Men do not generally reach the height of the evil here described the first time they presume to disregard God’s authority, but by gradually hardening their hearts through the deceitfulness of sin. It is the small foxes that spoil the vine. Satan sugar-coats the evil he desires to have us perform; and would make us believe that small deviations will not be noticed by the eye of God. But we should tremble at the word of God, and cultivate a tender conscience; and had we no other reason to obey God than the fact that he has spoken, we should cheerfully obey him. More on this branch of the subject in our next.