Psalm 19:13 says, “Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and I shall be innocent of great transgression.” This verse is a prayer asking God for help in avoiding intentional, prideful sins.
What are Presumptuous Sins?
The Bible speaks strongly against presumptuous sins. These are sins done deliberately and intentionally, with arrogance and rebellion against God. Some examples include:
- Wilfully rejecting God’s commands and wisdom (Deuteronomy 17:12-13)
- Speaking falsely about God or arrogantly testing Him (Deuteronomy 6:16)
- Deliberately disregarding the Sabbath (Numbers 15:30-31)
- Sinning defiantly with the intent to provoke God (Hebrews 10:26)
Presumptuous sins show a heart arrogantly lifted up against God and set on personal sinful gain, pleasure, or rebellion. The sinner presumes they can defy God without consequence.
Why Presumptuous Sins are Dangerous
Deliberate, defiant sins are extremely dangerous for several reasons:
1. They display a corrupt heart condition.
Choosing to intentionally disobey reveals a heart in rebellion against God. It goes beyond human weakness into willful prideful sinning. This heart condition can lead further and further away from God if not repented of.
2. They can deceive into further sinning.
When someone defiantly sins without “lightning strike” judgement, it can deceive them into thinking they’ve “gotten away” with it. This can encourage further presumptuous sins (Ecclesiastes 8:11).
3. They indicate unbelief.
Openly sinning against God’s clear commands shows a heart of unbelief regarding God’s power, presence, justice, and Word (Numbers 14:44). Lack of trust and faith in God is a very dangerous place to be.
4. They often lead to divine discipline.
The Bible contains many examples of God directly judging prideful, defiant sin, like with Moses striking the rock (Numbers 20:10-12) or Ananias and Sapphira lying (Acts 5:1-11).
Presumptuous sins provoke God to anger (Psalm 78:17-22) because they deny His rightful authority and break fellowship through unbelief. God deeply desires our wholehearted love and trust.
The Remedy: God’s Restraining Grace
Psalm 19:13 provides the remedy – crying out to God for His restraining grace. Just like a horse needs a bit and bridle, we need God to keep us from wandering into sin (Psalm 32:8-9).
Though Christians have been freed from sin’s absolute power, we still battle temptations and the remnant of sinful flesh (Romans 7:14-20). We desperately need the Holy Spirit’s help to not become proud and fall into deliberate rebellion.
Through Jesus’ blood that was shed for all of our sins, even believers can find complete cleansing of defiant acts of the past. True repentance brings not only forgiveness but also power to walk obediently by the Spirit’s help and live at peace with God.
Indicators of a Presumptuous Heart
As believers examining our own hearts, what are some indicators we may be drifting into presumptuous attitudes and actions?
1. A lack of zeal and sincere devotion
Complacency and apathy toward God open the door to prideful sins. We must nurture our love for God and live purposefully for His glory each day.
2. Minimizing or justifying blatant sins
Do we truly see all sins as offensive and harmful before a holy God? Danger comes when we start rationalizing and downplaying clear commands of Scripture.
3. Assuming on God’s grace and patience
Do we take God’s mercy for granted and think we can choose to sin without consequence? That is a very presumptuous attitude that needs repentance.
4. Pride and self-sufficiency
Pride is at the root of presumptuous sins. Humility acknowledges daily dependence on God’s grace. We must avoid thinking we are “above” sin or no longer need to vigilant against temptation.
5. Lack of self-restraint
Failing to exercise self-control or set wise boundaries can open the door to defiant sinning. We need to take sin very seriously and proactively eliminate tempting situations that could inflame sinful passions.
How to Avoid Presumptuous Sins
Here are some biblical keys for avoiding presumptuous sins:
- Ask God daily to restrain your ways from sin and not let it have dominion (Psalm 19:13, Psalm 141:4)
- Meditate on and memorize Scripture to renew your mind and stay conscious of God’s commands (Psalm 119:11)
- Cultivate the fear of the Lord and holy awe before Him (Proverbs 16:6)
- Flee temptation and avoid contexts where you know sinful passions can be inflamed (Genesis 39:7-12)
- Deal ruthlessly with any sin in your life (Matthew 5:29-30)
- Walk in honest community and accountability with other believers (James 5:16)
God gives His restraining grace to the humble (James 4:6), so we must watch our hearts diligently against pride. May we live each moment relying fully on the Holy Spirit and God’s Word to steer us away from presumptuous sins.
