Have you ever imagined or admitted to yourself something as being the truth, but in your own heart you know the thing is a lie? Have you ever taken a position on a subject, having no facts, or any real evidence that the subject or thing you believe in, or teach, is not true? No documentation, no witnesses, based solely on feelings, opinions, emotions, and theory?
Is your approach to God, your life, or His Word, grounded on circumstantial or probable evidence which entitles you to believe what you think or feel is true? Do you hold certain men in great reverence? So much so, that you assume everything they teach is fact, and what they print is always true?
Aside from positive proof, or evidence that can stand up in any court of law, circumstantial evidence, or the doctrine of presumption, has to take place. When the facts of a matter can not be given as evidence, the only thing left is circumstantial. Circumstantial thinking is based on arrogance, irreverence, and unreasonable confidence. Presumption as it is related to a person’s mind is a supposition formed before any real examination of the facts has been established.
For example, if a person has no real knowledge of World War II, and that person picks up a book written by some Jew hater, and reads that the Holocaust of the Jews never happened, that person may assume that the Jews have established this lie of a holocaust for some personal gains, and that history itself has been distorted by some Jewish lovers.
The person who read the article has presumed without any research that the book they read is correct. But, the real facts, facts founded on eye witness, both still and moving pictures, verbal and written documentation by thousands is not to be considered. Therefore the murder of millions did not happen and is not to be considered truthful. This person now forms a false opinion that the holocaust is a lie, becoming a disciple of that lying writer.
Presumption as it relates to religion is to have a bold and daring confidence in all of God’s greatness, goodness, and mercies, but not having any obedience to His will.
Not obeying God’s will! Presumptuous sins: cursing, perjury, lying about our neighbors, family, or friends, causing great pain and suffering. Cheating by employers and employee both, theft of property, adultery, drunkenness, sex, drugs, all these and many more fall into the category or presumptuous sins, sins that grieve God.
These forms of sin are known to be wrong, but are still committed, and repeated over and over again. They are hateful in their nature, and destructive in their effects to family, friends, neighbors and even strangers. This form of sin is a reproach to God.
Those who commit a presumptuous sin,
Numbers 15: 30, “Whether he be born in the land = (a Jew) or a stranger, the same reproacheth = (blasphemes) the LORD; and that soul = (person) shall be cut off from among his people.” New Christian, or committed Christian, when you commit this form of sin, you become a reproach to God.
Presumptuous sins can harden the hearts of those who continually commit them. Why, because a person has given way to deceiving spirits, and the doctrines of devils.
1 Timothy 4:2, They begin to, “Speak lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.” People without consciences, dangerous to all they touch.
These people after wearing the patience of the Lord thin, will in time draw down God’s judgments.
Numbers 15:31, “Because he hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken His = (God’s) commandment, that soul = (person or persons) shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity = (guilt) shall be upon him.”
Can we repent of these sins? Yes. But from 2 Samuel 12: 10, we read that some form of visible displeasure will be evidenced from God upon that person, or land. “Therefore the sword = (war) shall never depart from thine house; = (or land) because thou hast despised me.”
Presumptuous sins must always be distinguished from the sins of the physically sick, mentally ill, or from the weaknesses of a persons resolution or failings concerning our human nature.
1. Ecclesiastes 7:20, “For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.”
2. 1 John 1:8-9, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He = (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
There are sins which are done in ignorance. Jesus said,
Luke 12:48, “He that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, = (degree of future punishment by God) shall be beaten with few stripes.”
Then we have the sins of temptation. Some brought on suddenly, and some thought out.
Galatians 6:1, “If a man be overtaken = (caught up) in a fault = (temptation) ye which are spiritual, = (in Christ) restore such an one in the spirit of meekness.”
Having knowledge of the Scripture is that ingredients which render sin as being presumptuous. Jesus said,
John 15:22, “If I had not come and spoken unto them, = (those who serve God) they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak = (excuse) for their sin.”
Those who have thought out, having selfish, unwarranted reasons for bad choices, or by any deliberate or willful acts of invention, devising, or planning, commit presumptuous sin.
Proverbs 16:4, “The LORD hath made all things for Himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil = (doom).”
Psalms 36:4, “He = (the wicked) deviseth = (plots wickedness) mischief upon his bed = (those who hang around others that are evil:) he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil = (loves to do evil)”
Presumptuous sin lies in those who are so fixed in their opinions or resolution, so much so, that they can not, or will not be moved from their position or opinions. Stubbornness blended with a hardening of the heart gives birth to evil. This flaw lies in us all. We all have strong opinions concerning politics, religion, law, justice, God, family and causes. But do your opinions line up with God’s will?
Jeremiah 44:16, Those who had done evil against the LORD told Jeremiah, “As for the word that you = (Jeremiah) have spoken unto us in the name of the LORD, we will not harken = (listen) unto you.”
Deuteronomy 1:13, “Take you = choose) wise men, and understanding, and known among your tribes, = (people) and I = (God) will make them rulers = (heads) over you.” In America, we vote our leaders into office, yet we quarrel among ourselves concerning their decisions, and the direction our country is taking. We have become divided, fixed in our opinions, and its usually for selfish reasons.
Not paying attention to the objections of our conscience, can lead to presumptuous sin.
Acts 7:51, “Ye stiff-necked = (stubborn) and uncircumcised = (impenitent) in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost.”
Repeated presumptuous sin:
Psalms 78:17, “And they = (the Jews) sinned yet more (continued sinning) against Him = (God) by provoking = (rebelling) the most High = (God.)”
Those who profess to be in Christ, commit presumptuous sin,
When confessing Christ, yet practice none of Christ’s principles.
When asking for God’s blessings, yet continue in the same patterns of sin.
When the Scripture is twisted to fit them.
When personal human passions and feelings are satisfied, being the only test of faith. There is no, and there will be no real influence coming from the Holy Spirit.
The presumptuous sin of superstition can be referred to as the careful observation of any unauthorized ceremonies taking place in the name of Jesus Christ, this giving to the idea that these ceremonies carry with them some virtue in order to gain a special favor from God. These things are done with the idea that evil can be avoided.
There may be a fear of demons, and/or men in that particular church, or a certain pleasure may be sought after. The things of superstition may and are done because of a congregation’s ignorance of the true God, and the doctrines of His salvation.
Some hide away in caves, or live only among themselves. Some handle snakes, some babble incoherently, others fall on the floor shaking and convulsing, some light candles, others pray to saints, others dance wildly during the service, others faint.
The transition from unbelief to superstition is an easy road. Unbelief and superstitions are caused from a lack of faith in God. Living outside of God’s law and seeking fellowship with the Holy Spirit or Christ by means of an inward feeling and a selfish life will lead one into a life of superstition. These are the ways of men, and not of God. If you are seeking signs or wonders, go to a magic show in Las Vegas.
Presumptuous sins welcomes any and all temptations.
Self-indulgences blended with self-complacency.
When man’s way become the ways of their church:
When they apologize for a sin, yet condemn others for the same sin.
When men boast of not committing a sin that is in no way a temptation or consideration for them:
When men understand the precepts of Scripture, yet live a sinful, unrepentant life-style.
When the minds and hearts of men create and multiply personal problems of health, or finances.
Lastly they blame their neighbor, and more important they blame God for their bad decisions, lack of faith, selfishness, and an unregenerate hearts. These are complainers, and evil doers. Now they look to something else beside a Creator God.
Presumptuous sinners can regress to the idea of evolution:
To know thyself! Does salvation lie in self-knowledge, or some philosophy or psychology, can they explain man’s nature and personality? Something is missing from the above. They teach that man’s inborn nature, and his genetic endowments have evolved. or our roots lie in nature itself? Has the environment shaped our nature? Do we need to look into the prehistory of man?
The answer is No! Stop sinning, stop presuming, and start assuming responsibility for knowing and understanding the Scriptures. Pray for guidance, and the Holy Spirit with your spirit, will give to you the peace that you desire. Jesus Christ yesterday, today and tomorrow.
Phillip LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com