Ignorance…

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, (1 Thessalonians 4:13a)

It has long been speculated that ignorance is not a sin, but to remain ignorant is.  Yet, God had initiated sacrifices for sin committed in ignorance.  Even when we hold the position that ignorance is not sin, ignorance has indeed created many problems, including sin.  It is good NOT to be ignorant of matters.

The six remaining verses in 1 Thessalonians are important to NOT be ignorant of.  Yet, many people reject the Truth of the Rapture because of ignorance.

Sacrifice for sins out of ignorance (Leviticus 4 / Numbers 15)

Sins committed by those not knowing that a sin was a sin had an offering to bring for forgiveness.  Sin is sin, whether one knows it, or not.  That is why I’m so glad that I do not have to go to a priest for forgiveness, or bring an offering to the altar (Oh, the misuses of the “altar” we have today, but that’s a topic for another time).  

As believers, the Lord will not, and does not, charge us for any sin, willful, or not, and out of ignorance, or not.  Our sin has been charged (imputed) to the Lord Jesus Christ, and in turn, His righteousness is imputed to us.  We do not even see our brothers and sisters in Christ as after the flesh, but we see them as new creatures in Christ.  We see them as the Lord sees us! Now, that is good news!

For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.  13 For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.  14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:  15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.  16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.  17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;  19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.  20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.  21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. – 2 Corinthians 5:12-21

Note:  It would be a good thing to read 2 Corinthians in its entirety, especially if you are looking for comfort in this life.

Ignorance is a chief, and natural reason why many don’t grasp reality.

I take the same route to work everyday.  There is a major intersection, which has a huge “NO TURN ON RED” Sign right next to the light.  It cannot be missed, except for ignorance, whether willful, or not.  Well, almost every day someone makes that right turn on red – maybe in a hurry, maybe just ignorant of it.  Who knows?  Also, if I am the first at the light, inevitably someone behind me beeps for me to go.  I merely point to the large sign above.  

In the church, so many follow the same route, because they are ignorant of the words of Scripture, and “lean on their own understanding.”

The Apostle Paul uses the phrase, “But I would not have you to be ignorant” in several places

Romans 1:13   Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.

Romans 11:25   For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

1 Corinthians 10:1   Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

1 Corinthians 12:1   Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

2 Corinthians 1:8   For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:

1 Thessalonians 4:13   But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

People ascribe to religions out of ignorance (Acts 17:22-31)  How many people do we know today that ascribe to a religion without even knowing what the said religion believes?  Sadly, how many remain in those religions, even when they know the Truth?  Yes, convenience often outweighs the Truth in so many cases.

Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.  23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.  24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;  25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;  26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;  27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:  28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.  29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.  30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:  31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. – Acts 17:22-31

People, however, only naturally care about themselves until they believe, and receive,the Good News.  

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;  2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:  3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. – Ephesians 2:1-3   

Looking back in time, the condemnation of Israel was that they “forgat” about the Lord.  

And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves. – Judges 3:7 (yet, repeated over, and over, throughout the pages of Scripture)

They were ignorant of His work, and ascribed it to other “gods.” Why? Because they cared only about themselves.  They were just like we were; looking for a quick solution.

How not to be, or remain, in ignorance

Grow in the Lord!

2 Peter 3:18   But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

• The reverse of the scoffers in 2 Peter 3:3-4
• There were scoffers against Peter since Pentecost
  • The Day of the Lord had commenced (Acts 2:16)
    • The interruption of the prophesied Day of the Lord for the Mystery time, which we are in today.  That is why no one can predict when the Rapture will happen.

Pay attention to your surroundings

See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,  16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. – Ephesians 5:15-16

We are in such an age when many people absolutely pay no attention to their surroundings.  I am not sure how many people are killed, or injured, due to keeping their eyes on the phone, rather than the road.  Perhaps that is why so many run the obvious “No Turn On Red” sign.  Christians remain miserable bevause they do not grow IN the Lord, IN the Grace of, and IN the Knowledge of Him.

Prove all things – Biblically

We tend to outsource our thinking to other resources, rather than using our God-given brains / minds.  Think for a second:  Wouldn’t that be why they could be called “RE”-sources?  We fail to go to the source, Himself!

The Lord Himself is referred to by Jeremiah as the the fountain of Living Waters.  Should we also not go directly to the very source?

For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. – Jeremiah 2:13

Romans 12:1-2   I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

2 Corinthians 13:5   Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

• We need to remember that the Corinthians had put themselves under teachers who held them to a level of obedience to them, and treated the Apostle Paul as the false teacher.
  • The standard is the Gospel
  • False religions hold up human achievements, or lack of, as the standard.
  • Christ focused rather than man focused.

1 Thessalonians 5:21   Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

1 Corinthians 2:13-16   Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.  14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.  15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.  16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

Bob Picard Pastor, God’s Grace Bible Church, Millbury, Massachusetts 01527
info@godsgracebc.org http://www.godsgracebc.org