Beware of presumptuous sin

Posted on Feb. 18, 2026, 9:12 a.m. by Rev. Shobayo Kayode The Gospel Study Centre

Presumptuous sin according to the Cambridge Dictionary is doing something one knows one do not have the right to do. The Bible describes presumptuous sin as sin committed willfully after one have received the knowledge of the truth. (Heb.10:26a) Presumptuous sin is therefore an intentional conduct to break the law of God by doing what one knows he should not do. A deliberate act that is contrary to the word of God. A premeditated act of resisting God’s authority not minding the consequence. The word of God says, such act brings reproach to the Lord, and the offender shall be cut off from among his people. (Numbers.15:30) No wonder King David in one of his prayers, prays, “Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins, let them not have dominion over me.” (Psalm.19:13) Adam and Eve committed presumptuous sin when Eve fell for the deceit of the Satan because she refused to be subjective to Adam as a comparable help mate. (Gen.2:18) The Bible says, “Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.” (1 Tim.2:14) Eve was supposed to have shared the serpent’s conversation with Adam as a comparable helper, but she acted on her own. In the same manner, Adam did not take the moral initiative by obeying God’s commandment concerning the tree in question (Gen.2:15-16) he instead yielded to Eve’s disobedience and also became guilty of presumptuous sin. Presumptuous sin remains the most common sin in the world today, even among followers of Christ despite the clear messages in the written word of God (The Holy Bible). Apostle Peter in his exhortation to believers, call believers to be mindful of the word which were spoken before by the holy prophets in the Old Testament and of the commandments of the apostles of the Lord and Saviour in the New Testament. (2 Peter.3:2) Believers cannot therefore claim ignorance of God’s message and His expectation that His people live a life of holiness if only they are mindful of the messages. David completed his prayer that God should keep him away from presumptuous sin with the plead “let them have no dominion over me.” (Psalm.19:13b) He was asking God not to let presumptuous sin overwhelm him that it will become his way of life. However, notwithstanding the consequence of the sin as highlighted in (Ex.15:30), there is no sin beyond God’s power to forgive if the sinner truly repents and turn to God. (Isaiah.1:18) God’s covenant love and compassion for His people never ceases, it remains available regardless of circumstances. As Christian, you have been set free from the law and sin by God’s grace. You are not to sin against the law. The grace of God liberates believers from the bondage of sin and gives them the freedom to obey God because grace is not a license to commit any sort of sin including presumptuous sin, but to be obedient to the word of God. Therefore, live soberly, righteously and godly. Not to let sin reign in your body that you may obey it and thereby commit presumptuous sin. You should rather become slave of God and righteousness and live by the Spirit of God who gives both power and freedom for holy living, than becoming slave to sin again. The Bible warns, “Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in your lusts. (Rom.6:12) Becoming slave of God and righteousness keeps one away from obeying sin and makes one live a life of holiness. Living a holy life is the remedy for presumptuous sin. Evangelism It is a presumptuous sin not to accept the good news of Jesus Christ. Accept Jesus today and be saved. Rev. Shobayo Kayode The Gospel Study Centre