Too many Christians make little [if any] distinction between rebellion and disobedience. In the minds of many, rebellion is any sin regardless of the person's motive or reason for sinning. In this view, any form of disobedience is rebellion against God.
Two questions must be asked. (1) Why did the sin occur? [Was the person conscious that he/she was yielding to something God forbids?] (2) What was the person's reaction/response when he/she realized he/she sinned? [Was the reaction a "so what" attitude or an attitude arising from grief that motivated the person to (a) accept responsibility and (b) redirect life?
Hebrews 10:26-31 speaks of those who "go on sinning willfully." In context, it is talking about people committing the sin of apostasy [the primary sin in Hebrews]. They knew better--they received the knowledge of the truth. Yet, in spite of what they knew they continued doing evil.
In Hebrews 6:1 it is evident repentance's purpose is to produce change. Again, in context, the sin is the sin of apostasy. Spiritual maturity's objective is to redirect life in ways that leave evils of spiritual infancy behind. Or, learning better results in doing better.
Even God made a distinction between the Israelite who sinned rebelliously and who sinned unintentionally. Consider the following verses (read in context):
Leviticus 4:2 Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, 'If a person sins unintentionally in any of the things which the Lord has commanded not to be done, and commits any of them, ...
Leviticus 4:22 When a leader sins and unintentionally does any one of all the things which the Lord his God has commanded not to be done, and he becomes guilty, ...
Leviticus 4:27 Now if anyone of the common people sins unintentionally in doing any of the things which the Lord has commanded not to be done, and becomes guilty, ...
Leviticus 5:15,17 If a person acts unfaithfully and sins unintentionally against the Lord's holy things, then he shall bring his guilt offering to the Lord: a ram without defect from the flock, according to your valuation in silver by shekels, in terms of the shekel of the sanctuary, for a guilt offering. ...Now if a person sins and does any of the things which the Lord has commanded not to be done, though he was unaware, still he is guilty and shall bear his punishment.
Leviticus 22:14 But if a man eats a holy gift unintentionally, then he shall add to it a fifth of it and shall give the holy gift to the priest.
Please carefully note the point. Evil did not suddenly become "good" because a person did not know he/she did evil. Evil did not suddenly cease to matter because a person unknowingly did evil. Evil was evil no matter why it occurred. Evil carried consequences regardless of why it occurred.
This is the distinction. (1) Those who sinned unintentionally offered sacrifices for forgiveness. (2) Those who rebelled against God commonly died. The motivation ["why"] causing the sin does not eliminate the evil in the sin. However, sin occurring through rebellion and sin occurring through ignorance are regarded differently by God. Consider the following illustrations.
Most Bible students know about the deaths of Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:1). In offering incense to the Lord, they used fire from some source other than God commanded. They rebelled. They knew the source. They understood the command. The problem was not ignorance. They consciously did as they choose rather than as God commanded. Rebellion cost them their lives.
Most Bible students are familiar with Moses' rebellion in providing Israel water (Numbers 20:2-13). Though Moses was God's exceptional follower (Deuteronomy 34:10-12), though God's relationship with Moses was unique (Deuteronomy 18:15), Moses' rebellion against God resulted in his death prior to Israel entering Canaan. In arrogance, he took credit for God's act. In arrogance, he failed to hold up God's holiness in Israel's eyes.
Most Bible students are familiar with Saul's rebellion against God in the matter of King Agag and the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15). God's instruction was clear and specific: total destruction as a retribution for their earlier opposition to Israel (1 Samuel 15:2,3; Exodus 17:8-16). Samuel rebuked Saul's rebellion: "Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has also rejected you from being king" (1 Samuel 15:22, 23). Note: (1) rebellion made worship meaningless, therefore obedience is superior to worship; (2) rebellion was as serious as sorcery, wickedness, and idolatry; (3) rebellion's core is rejection.
Give attention to Paul's words in 1 Timothy 1:12-17. Note he confessed he was a blasphemer, persecutor, and violent aggressor (verse 13). Yet, God forgave and used him. Why? Paul said he received mercy because his horribly evil attitudes and acts were done "ignorantly in unbelief." Were Paul's ungodly acts prior to believing in Jesus as the Christ conscious and deliberate? Yes! Then how could they be acts of ignorance? They were acts of ignorance for two reasons. (1) Paul actually thought his violence accomplished God's purposes. (2) He did not know Jesus' true identity. He thought those following Jesus opposed God. He thought Jesus was an impostor rather than God's son. Thus, his attitudes and acts of extremely ungodliness received God's mercy.
God makes a major distinction between ungodliness resulting from ignorance and ungodliness resulting from rebellion! Ungodliness founded on ignorance repents when the person knows or understands better. The intent of ungodliness founded on ignorance is never a rejection of God!
Thought Questions
Link to Teacher's Guide
Lesson 10