Leviticus 5:17 - Homilies By R.a. Redford

The unwitting trespass.

"Though he wist it not, yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity."

I. THE ABSOLUTE PERFECTION OF THE DIVINE LAW . It must be maintained:

1 . As a revelation of the character of God.

2 . As a basis on which the moral law is placed.

3 . As a means of convincing man of sin, separating the idea of guilt from arbitrary, capricious, local, individual, emotional respects.

II. THE INFINITE FULNESS OF THE DIVINE COMPASSION .

1 . Atonement is provided not only for sins repented of and confessed, but for offenses unwittingly committed. God is thus represented as the shield of his creature, amid, the working out of his inscrutable will in the universe.

2 . The mind obtains wonderful peace when it is assured that all possible liabilities are foreseen and averted.

3 . Forgiveness is not a mere doing away of sin in the conscience, but a removal of the burden from the life. The Law has nothing more against us.—R.