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God will always keep His Covenant but His promises are conditional.

God will not compel the service of any man, but he reveals to him his obligation, unfolds to him the requirements of his holy law, and sets before him the result of his choice-to obey and live, or to disobey and perish. ST 11-03-90

Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known. Deuteronomy 11:26-28

We have many assurances in the Bible that tell us that God will always keep His promises.

God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Numbers 23:19

And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent. 1 Samuel 15:29

For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Malachi 3:6

Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. Luke 21:33

For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. Romans 11:29

In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; Titus 1:2

That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Hebrews 6:18

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 1:17

God keeps His Covenant with those who are obedient.

Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; . . . Wherefore it shall come to pass, if ye hearken to these judgments, and keep, and do them, that the LORD thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers: Deuteronomy 7:9, 12

And he said, LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart: 1 Kings 8:23

And said, O LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee in the heaven, nor in the earth; which keepest covenant, and shewest mercy unto thy servants, that walk before thee with all their hearts: 2 Chronicles 6:14

And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments: Nehemiah 1:5

And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments; Daniel 9:4

God is always faithful, but if His people are persistently rebellious and unfaithful, He will not persist.

And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. Genesis 6:3

After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise. Numbers 14:34

And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them. Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall befall them; so that they will say in that day, Are not these evils come upon us, because our God is not among us? Deuteronomy 31:16, 17

Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. 1 Samuel 2:30

At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them. Jeremiah 18:7-10

And I took my staff, even Beauty, and cut it asunder, that I might break my covenant which I had made with all the people. Zechariah 11:10

Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. Hebrews 4:1

It is important to note that curses come for a single infraction while blessings come only for total obedience.

For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. James 2:10

Don’t Forget God-

Deu 6:10-12 And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not, And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full; Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

Deu 8:10-18 When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee. Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint; Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end; And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.

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There are three different Hebrew words and their derivatives that are translated into English as “abomination” or “abominable” and each evokes a different connotation.

The Hebrew words shaw-kats’ (H8262) and sheh-kets’ (H8263) mean “dirty, filthy, detestable.” It is used when referring to the animals that were considered “unclean” as listed in Leviticus 11.

The word pig-gool’ (H6292) means “stinky, foul, rotten.” It describes the meat of a Peace Offering that was left over until the third day (Leviticus 7:18; 19:7). In that climate, meat would be putrefying by that time.

The word to-ay-baw’ (H8441) means “hateful, disgusting, loathsome, repulsive.” It describes the feelings the Egyptians in Joseph’s time had toward the Hebrews (Genesis 43:32) and toward shepherds (Genesis 46:34). It also describes God’s feelings about certain sins such as:

homosexuality (Leviticus 18:22; 20:13)

prostitution (Deuteronomy 23:18)

transgender clothing (Deuteronomy 22:5)

heathen, pagan worship practices (Leviticus 18:26-30; Deuteronomy 7:25, 26; 12:31; 18:9, 12)

blemished sacrificial animals (Deuteronomy 17:1)

image worship (Deuteronomy 13:14; 17:4; 27:15; 31:16)

a man remarrying a woman he had previously divorced (Deuteronomy 24:1-4)

dishonesty in business (Deuteronomy 25:16)

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of the Tabernacle–

bodily issues: Leviticus 15:31-33

child sacrifice: Leviticus 20:2, 3

contact with human death: Numbers 19:13, 20

of the Camp–

unclean persons (leprosy, bodily issues, contact with death): Numbers 5:1-3

of the Land–

sexual perversions: Leviticus 18:22-28

murder: Numbers 35:31-34

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These conditions are described with the Hebrew word toomaw (H2932) which includes the connotation of washing with water.

wash clothes and bathe–

contact with a person who is unclean because of a bodily issue: Lev 15:5-8

contact with something an unclean person had touched: Lev 15:10, 11, 21-23, 27

eating any creature that died naturally or was killed by another animal: Lev 17:15

preparing the ashes of the red heifer, both priest and assistant: Num 19:7, 8

wash clothes–

carrying the carcass of any animal: Lev 11:25, 28

eating of a clean animal that died naturally: Lev 11:40

handling the ashes of the red heifer: Num 19:10

sprinkling the water of separation (purification) containing the ashes of the red heifer: Num 19:21

bathe–

sexual activity: Lev 15:16, 18; Deu 23:10, 11 (involuntary ejaculation)

a priest having contact with uncleanness: Lev 22:6

unclean, no washing mentioned–

casual contact with the carcass of an animal whether clean or unclean: Lev 11:24, 27, 31, 39

entering a “leprous” house: Lev 14:46

touching a woman having an issue of blood: Lev 15:19

touching something than an unclean person touched: Num 19:22

vessels, garments to be washed–

direct contact with a dead unclean animal: Lev 11:32

spilled semen: Lev 15:17

Hag 2:11-14 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying, If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy? And the priests answered and said, No. Then said Haggai, If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean? And the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean. Then answered Haggai, and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the LORD; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean.

Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

A soul corrupted by sin is represented by the figure of a dead body in a state of putrefaction. All the washings and sprinklings enjoined in the ceremonial law were lessons in parables, teaching the necessity of a work of regeneration in the inward heart for the purification of the soul dead in trespasses and sins, and also the necessity of the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit. RH 12-19-07

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These conditions are described with the Hebrew word niddaw (H5079) which refers to removal or exclusion.

leprosy: Leviticus 13 & 14

bodily issues: Leviticus 15

contact with human death: Numbers 19

childbirth: Leviticus 12

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Ex. 12:15, 19 eating leavened bread during the Feast of Unleavened Bread

Ex. 30:33 making and using holy anointing oil for secular purposes

Ex. 30:38 making and using holy incense for secular purposes

Ex. 31:14 defiling the Sabbath

Lev. 7:20, 21 eating part of the peace offering while unclean

Lev. 7:25 eating the fat of any offering

Lev. 7:27; 17:14 eating the blood of any animal

Lev. 17:4, 9 killing and sacrificing any animal away from the sanctuary

Lev. 18(:29); 20:17 incest, pornography, homosexuality, bestiality

Lev. 19:5-8 eating part of the peace offering after the 2nd day

Lev. 20:2-5 human sacrifice to Molech

Lev. 20:18 sexual intercourse during menstruation

Lev. 22:3 a priest approaching holy things while unclean

Lev. 23:29 not afflicting the soul during the Day of Atonement

Num. 9:13 not keeping the Passover

Num. 15:30, 31 doing anything against God purposely, rebelliously, presumptuously

Num. 19:13, 20 not purifying after contact with human death

What does it mean to be “cut off?” There is no description given in the Torah except what is implied by the seriousness of the sins that merit this punishment. We can get somewhat of an understanding of what it means by considering what other Old Testament writers describe. It appears to be somewhat similar to what we know of as excommunication. To be “cut off” from fellowship with the commonwealth of Israel was a serious sentence. The person would be considered a “persona non grata” with no home, no family ties, no physical or financial support, a vagabond and “outlaw” (in contrast to being “in the Law and Covenant”). This sentence probably resulted in a slow death by starvation in contrast with the relatively quick death of capital punishment.

Psa 34:16 The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

Psa 37:9, 10 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.

Psa 37:22 For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.

Psa 37:28 For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.

Psa 37:38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.

Psa 94:23 And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; yea, the LORD our God shall cut them off.

Pro 2:21, 22 For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it. But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.

Isa 48:19 Thy seed also had been as the sand, and the offspring of thy bowels like the gravel thereof; his name should not have been cut off nor destroyed from before me.

Isa 56:5 Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.

Jer 11:19 But I was like a lamb or an ox that is brought to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised devices against me, saying, Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered.

Jer 44:7, 8 Therefore now thus saith the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; Wherefore commit ye this great evil against your souls, to cut off from you man and woman, child and suckling, out of Judah, to leave you none to remain; In that ye provoke me unto wrath with the works of your hands, burning incense unto other gods in the land of Egypt, whither ye be gone to dwell, that ye might cut yourselves off, and that ye might be a curse and a reproach among all the nations of the earth?

Jer 44:11 Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will set my face against you for evil, and to cut off all Judah.

Eze 14:8 And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

Zec 13:2 And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land.

Mat 3:12 (also Luk 3:17) Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

Mat 13:30, 40-42 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. . . . As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Mat 25:31-33, 41 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. . . . Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

Joh 15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

Rom 11:19-22 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

Rev 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

Rev 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

There are some similarities between being “cut off” and the final fate of those who are not saved, what is referred to as the “second death.”

Rev 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Rev 20:14, 15 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Rev 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

For an Israelite, to be “cut off” was a terrible, heart-wrenching, hopeless sentence of judgment. It was a sentence of slow death with mental as well as physical suffering because he had time to ponder his sin and its result. It is understood that Christ, in vicariously suffering the sinner’s fate, went through the experience of the “second death.” His suffering, from His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane to His death on Calvary, included much intense mental anguish—being abandoned by God, the load of guilt He carried, the wrath of God against sin, etc. Unrepentent, unsaved sinners will go through that suffering for themselves.

They who have been “accounted worthy” of the resurrection of life are “blessed and holy.” “On such the second death hath no power.” Revelation 20:6. But those who have not, through repentance and faith, secured pardon, must receive the penalty of transgression–“the wages of sin.” They suffer punishment varying in duration and intensity, “according to their works,” but finally ending in the second death. Since it is impossible for God, consistently with His justice and mercy, to save the sinner in his sins, He deprives him of the existence which his transgressions have forfeited and of which he has proved himself unworthy. Says an inspired writer: “Yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.” And another declares: “They shall be as though they had not been.” Psalm 37:10; Obadiah 16. Covered with infamy, they sink into hopeless, eternal oblivion. GC 544, 545

The wicked receive their recompense in the earth. Proverbs 11:31. They “shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts.” Malachi 4:1. Some are destroyed as in a moment, while others suffer many days. All are punished “according to their deeds.” The sins of the righteous having been transferred to Satan, he is made to suffer not only for his own rebellion, but for all the sins which he has caused God’s people to commit. His punishment is to be far greater than that of those whom he has deceived. After all have perished who fell by his deceptions, he is still to live and suffer on. In the cleansing flames the wicked are at last destroyed, root and branch–Satan the root, his followers the branches. The full penalty of the law has been visited; the demands of justice have been met; and heaven and earth, beholding, declare the righteousness of Jehovah. GC 673

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Ten Commandments–

1. Exodus 22:18 witchcraft

Exodus 22:20 sacrificing to any other god

Leviticus 20:27 spiritualism, wizardry (to be stoned)

Deuteronomy 13:1-10; 18:20 a false prophet leading to false worship (to be stoned)

2. Leviticus 20:2 human sacrifice to Molech (to be stoned)

Deuteronomy 17:2-5 idolatry

3. Leviticus 24:10-14, 16, 23 blasphemy (to be stoned)

4. Exodus 31:14, 15; 35:2; Numbers 15:32-36 defiling or working on the Sabbath (to be stoned)

5. Exodus 21:15 hitting parents

Exodus 21:17; Leviticus 20:9 cursing parents

Deuteronomy 21:18-22 an incorrigible child (to be stoned)

6. Exodus 21:12-14, 22, 23; Leviticus 24:17, 21; Numbers 35:16-18, 21, 31 murder

Exodus 21:29 not restraining a known vicious animal

7. Exodus 22:19; Leviticus 20:15, 16 bestiality

Leviticus 20:10; Deuteronomy 22:22 adultery (to be stoned according to Joh 8:5)

Leviticus 20:11, 12 incest

Leviticus 20:13 homosexuality

Leviticus 20:14 marriage to a woman and her mother (to be burnt)

Leviticus 21:9 prostitution of a priest’s daughter (to be burnt)

Deuteronomy 22:20, 21 prostitution

Deuteronomy 22:23-27 rape of a betrothed virgin (both stoned if in a city; the man killed if in a field)

8. Exodus 21:16; Deuteronomy 24:7 kidnapping

9. Deuteronomy 19:16-21 a false accusation intended to bring the death penalty on the accused

Other sins that incurred the death penalty–

Exodus 19:12 approaching or touching Mt. Sinai when God was present (to be stoned or shot through)

Numbers 1:51 anyone other than Levites moving the sanctuary, etc.
Numbers 3:10; 18:7 anyone other than priests officiating in the sanctuary

Numbers 3:38 anyone other than Moses or Aaron’s family camping east of the sanctuary

Deuteronomy 17:12 (Joshua 1:18) anyone who would not obey the priest or judge (or appointed leader)

Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

1Co 6:9, 10 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

Gal 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Eph 5:3-5 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Rev 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Rev 22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

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The Hebrew words that are translated “presumptuous,” etc. provide an interesting picture of what is meant by presumptuous sin.

H2086 zade’—arrogant

H2087 zaw-done’–arrogance

H2102 zood, zeed–to boil (with pride)

H7311 room–high + H3027 yawd–hand (with a high hand: defiantly)

These words are identified in some of the following passages. Mercy was not granted for these sins.

Exo 21:14 But if a man come presumptuously (H2102) upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die.

Num 15:30-36 But the soul that doeth aught presumptuously (H3027, H7311), 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. 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. And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day. And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation. And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him. And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp. And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses.

Num 25:6-9 And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand; And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel. And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand.

Deu 17:12, 13 And the man that will do presumptuously (H2087), and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the LORD thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel. And all the people shall hear, and fear, and do no more presumptuously (H2102).

Deu 29:18-20 Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood; And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst: The LORD will not spare him, but then the anger of the LORD and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven.

Psa 19:13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous (H2086) sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

Mat 12:31, 32 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

Luk 12:47, 48 And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

Joh 15:22-24 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. He that hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.

Heb 10:26-29 For 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?

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Ordinarily there was mercy and atonement available for sins of ignorance. These sins are referred to by the Hebrew words sheg-aw-gaw’ (H7684)–error, mistake, unaware; shaw-gaw’ (H7686)–to stray, to mistake; and other derivatives of these.

Exo 21:13 And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee.

Lev 4:1, 2, 13, 22, 27 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance (H7684) against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them: . . . And if the whole congregation of Israel sin through ignorance (H7686), and the thing be hid from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which should not be done, and are guilty; . . . When a ruler hath sinned, and done somewhat through ignorance (H7684) against any of the commandments of the LORD his God concerning things which should not be done, and is guilty; . . . And if any one of the common people sin through ignorance (H7684), while he doeth somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and be guilty;

Lev 5:14-18 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, If a soul commit a trespass, and sin through ignorance (H7684), in the holy things of the LORD; then he shall bring for his trespass unto the LORD a ram without blemish out of the flocks, with thy estimation by shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass offering: And he shall make amends for the harm that he hath done in the holy thing, and shall add the fifth part thereto, and give it unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering, and it shall be forgiven him. And if a soul sin, and commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the LORD; though he wist it not, yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity. And he shall bring a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his ignorance (H7684) wherein he erred and wist it not, and it shall be forgiven him.

Lev 22:14 And if a man eat of the holy thing unwittingly, then he shall put the fifth part thereof unto it, and shall give it unto the priest with the holy thing.

Num 15:24-29 Then it shall be, if aught be committed by ignorance (H7684) without the knowledge of the congregation, that all the congregation shall offer one young bullock for a burnt offering, for a sweet savor unto the LORD, with his meat offering, and his drink offering, according to the manner, and one kid of the goats for a sin offering. And the priest shall make an atonement for all the congregation of the children of Israel, and it shall be forgiven them; for it is ignorance (H7684): and they shall bring their offering, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD, and their sin offering before the LORD, for their ignorance (H7684): And it shall be forgiven all the congregation of the children of Israel, and the stranger that sojourneth among them; seeing all the people were in ignorance (H7684). And if any soul sin through ignorance (H7684), then he shall bring a she goat of the first year for a sin offering. And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sinneth ignorantly, when he sinneth by ignorance (H7684) before the LORD, to make an atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him. Ye shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance, both for him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them.

Num 35:11, 15 Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares (H7684). . . . These six cities shall be a refuge, both for the children of Israel, and for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them: that every one that killeth any person unawares (H7684) may flee thither.

Jos 20:2, 3, 9 Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses: That the slayer that killeth any person unawares (H7684) and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood. . . . These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them, that whosoever killeth any person at unawares (H7684) might flee thither, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation.

Psa 19:12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.

Isa 3:12 As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.

Isa 9:16 For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.

Isa 28:7 But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.

Luk 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

Act 3:14-17 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.

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

Rom 4:15 . . . where no law is, there is no transgression.

Rom 5:13 . . . sin is not imputed when there is no law.

Rom 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

1Co 2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Eph 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

1Ti 1:12-14 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

Heb 5:1-3 For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity. And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.

Heb 9:6, 7 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:

1Pe 1:14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

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In our modern systems of law and justice, a differentiation is made between a felony and a misdemeanor and there are different levels of seriousness in each category. It is similar in God’s system. There are varying categories of sin and uncleanness. Also, there are actions or conditions that defile or are abominable.

God does not regard all sins as of equal magnitude; there are degrees of guilt in His estimation, as well as in that of man; but however trifling this or that wrong act may seem in the eyes of men, no sin is small in the sight of God. Man’s judgment is partial, imperfect; but God estimates all things as they really are. The drunkard is despised and is told that his sin will exclude him from heaven; while pride, selfishness, and covetousness too often go unrebuked. But these are sins that are especially offensive to God; for they are contrary to the benevolence of His character, to that unselfish love which is the very atmosphere of the unfallen universe. He who falls into some of the grosser sins may feel a sense of his shame and poverty and his need of the grace of Christ; but pride feels no need, and so it closes the heart against Christ and the infinite blessings He came to give. SC 30

As I live, saith the Lord GOD, Sodom thy sister hath not done, she nor her daughters, as thou hast done, thou and thy daughters. Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good. Neither hath Samaria committed half of thy sins; but thou hast multiplied thine abominations more than they, and hast justified thy sisters in all thine abominations which thou hast done. Thou also, which hast judged thy sisters, bear thine own shame for thy sins that thou hast committed more abominable than they: they are more righteous than thou: yea, be thou confounded also, and bear thy shame, in that thou hast justified thy sisters. When I shall bring again their captivity, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, and the captivity of Samaria and her daughters, then will I bring again the captivity of thy captives in the midst of them: That thou mayest bear thine own shame, and mayest be confounded in all that thou hast done, in that thou art a comfort unto them. When thy sisters, Sodom and her daughters, shall return to their former estate, and Samaria and her daughters shall return to their former estate, then thou and thy daughters shall return to your former estate. For thy sister Sodom was not mentioned by thy mouth in the day of thy pride, Ezekiel 16:48-56

And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. Matthew 10:14, 15

Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee. Matthew 11:20-24

And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. Mark 6:11

Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city. Luke 10:11, 12

If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. He that hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. John 15:22-24

The greater the knowledge of God’s will, the greater the sin of those who disregard it.  PP 583

To be sons of God means more than many dream of, because they have not been converted. Men are weighed in the balance and found wanting when they are living in the practice of any known sin. It is the privilege of every son of God to be a true Christian moment by moment; then he has all heaven enlisted on his side. He has Christ abiding in his heart by faith. TM 440, 441