The Sin of Ignorance - Part 3

OK, we’ve made this just about as clear as we can from the Bible. Let’s give it one more go and try to bring it down to where we live and make it just as practical as possible.

As Christians, we sorely need to develop some BIBLICAL standards and convictions. Sure, it might be easiest to just go with what our pastor teaches or what our church demands, but God has commanded every one of us to be a student of the scriptures (2 Timothy 2:15).

If you attend a church like ours, our pastor does everything he can to stay away from preaching his opinion. He preaches and teaches the word of God, not his own personal convictions. And I thank God for it. But that doesn’t excuse any of us from searching God’s word and using that preaching to make some practical decisions about some important issues in our Christian lives.

Let’s pick an easy example. Should a Christian go to the movies? Should a Christian watch TV? What forms of “audio visual entertainment” are acceptable for the child of God? Now, the Bible never mentions TV. The Bible never mentions movies. It never says a word about video games or the internet. But those things can and will and do have a profound impact on our Christian lives.

Have you taken the time to consult the scriptures in an attempt to determine what the Lord would find acceptable along these lines? Have you taken the time to consider the preaching you’ve heard on these topics and what you should do with it? Have you prayed about what God would have you to do? Do you see the importance of developing a biblical standard where your family’s entertainment choices are concerned?

Be careful lest you sin through ignorance. “I didn’t know it was wrong” won’t work. The honest truth is you didn’t care if it was wrong. You were more interested in doing what you wanted to than doing what God wanted you to, or else you would have done what you should have and devoted some time to discerning His will. If you care enough to know what the Lord finds acceptable, He’ll not keep you in the dark (Ephesians 1:9; Ephesians 5:17).

While we’re at it, we’ll shoot at another easy target. We’ll take a trip to the closet and talk for a minute about (dun, dun, dun) DRESS CODES. Now, before you get all defensive and start drawing out that one verse or argument you use to justify your preferred manner of dress, here’s all I want to know. Have you ever honestly consulted “all the counsel of God” (Acts 20:27) in an effort to determine how God would have you to dress? Now that’s different than scanning the Bible for a verse that makes you feel like God’s OK with what you want to wear. Be careful lest you sin through ignorance.

How about one more? Many saved people shrug off their responsibility to be a witness and/or dismiss their obligation to get personally involved to the work of world evangelism because they think it’s the job of the missionaries and the preachers. How’d they get that idea? One word – IGNORANCE. Now, it’s right there in the Bible. Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20; 1 Timothy 2:5-6. Those aren’t hard to find. They’re not difficult to understand. But sometimes they’re easy to IGNORE.

We could go on and on. The answers to all matters pertaining to the Christian life are available to those who really want them. But it takes desire. It takes devotion. It’s a diligent pursuit to discern God’s will. You see, the answers aren’t all in one place. It’s here a little and there a little (Isaiah 28:13). It’s comparing spiritual things with spiritual (1 Corinthians 2:13). It’s studying to show yourself approved unto God (2 Timothy 2:15).

Again, none of our excuses will work on the day of judgment. Which means that none of them are valid now. May we each renew our resolve to live in such a way that we might have confidence, and not be ashamed before the Lord at His coming (1 John 2:28).

The Sin of Ignorance - Part 2

Most every reference to ignorance in the OT speaks to the offering that was to be brought when a soul (Leviticus 4:2; 5:15, 18) or a ruler (Leviticus 4:22) or any of the common people (Leviticus 4:27) or all the congregation (Leviticus 4:13; Numbers 15:24-29) had sinned through ignorance. Now think about what that means. If they sinned THROUGH ignorance, then it was their ignorance that led them to sin.

When David prayed that he’d think and say those things that God found acceptable (Psalm 19:14), He asked for the Lord’s helping in keeping himself from secret faults (sins of ignorance, v. 12) as well as presumptuous sins (knowing it’s wrong and doing it anyway, v. 13). And the answer to David’s request is in the immediate context. Verse 11 says, “Moreover by THEM (the word of God, vv. 7-10) is thy servant warned: and in keeping of THEM is great reward.”

May the Lord burn this simple but so important truth in our minds and hearts. In order to keep from sinning against our God, we must hide His word in our hearts (Psalm 119:11; Colossians 3:16).

Now here’s what we learn when we examine the usage of the word “ignorance” throughout the NT scriptures.

THE EFFECTS OF IGNORANCE

Israel’s ignorance caused them to miss out on God’s righteousness and left them in dire need of His salvation (Romans 10:1-4). The Gentiles are said to be alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart (Ephesians 4:18). God’s children often return to the former lusts due to their ignorance (1 Peter 1:14).

COMMANDS REGARDING IGNORANCE

Paul often repeated his desire that God’s people not be ignorant. This statement is repeated by him in reference to the mystery of Israel’s blindness (Romans 11:25); the purpose of the OT examples (1 Corinthians 10:1, 11); the truth regarding spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:1); the devices of Satan (2 Corinthians 2:11); the rapture of the church (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18); and by Peter in reference to the imminency of Christ’s return (2 Peter 3:8-14).

THE CAUSE OF IGNORANCE

Get this. This is important. What’s the root word of “IGNORance?” That’s right – ignore. The reason we are ignorant and the reason it causes us to sin against God is not that the truth isn’t available or that we don’t have it, but rather that we ignore it. We hold the truth, but we do so in unrighteousness (Romans 1:18).

The point is that nobody has to be ignorant. It is a willful condition (2 Peter 3:5; 1 Corinthians 14:38). We are only ignorant because we want to be ignorant. Somehow, maybe subconsciously, we think it gives us an excuse for our sin. But it doesn’t.

Now that’s tough. The Bible forces me to admit that the ONLY reason I fail to live up to all that God wants me to be is that I DON’T WANT to be all that God can make me. You and I have absolutely no other excuse than our LACK OF DESIRE to obey and honor and glorify the Almighty God who created us for His pleasure and saved us by His grace.

THE CURE FOR IGNORANCE

The cure for ignorance is found in the mercy of God and is available to those willing to humble themselves and repent. Paul was an ignorant man who found complete and total forgiveness at the feet of a merciful God, when he bowed himself in belief (1 Timothy 1:12-16). Peter called upon the Jewish people to REPENT, even though it was through ignorance that they and their leaders had crucified their Messiah (Acts 3:17-19). Likewise, Paul called upon the men of Athens, who ignorantly worshipped God, to fulfill His one command to all mankind – REPENT (Acts 17:23, 30-31).

So the cure is available, and it’s simple. We just need to fall humbly on our faces before God and repent. In turning away from our ignorance, we need to turn to the God who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood (Revelation 1:5), and may it spark a desire down deep in our hearts to do what pleases Him. And in turning away from our ignorance, we need to turn to the book that He inspired and preserved so we can know just exactly how we ought to go about doing the things that are acceptable in His sight.

The Sin of Ignorance

Leviticus 5:17 And if a soul sin, and commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the LORD; though he wist it not, yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity.

There is much important truth to be considered in reference to the above verse. I understand this passage in its context of the law given by God to the Hebrew nation and the offering it prescribed for the Israelite in such a case, but the principle is just as applicable to our lives in this present day, as we’ll see from the scripture. Basically, the lesson is this: IGNORANCE IS NO EXCUSE.

I understand that “sin is not imputed where there is no law” (Romans 5:13), that God looks on the heart (1 Samuel 16:7; Jeremiah 17:9-10), and that He judges every man based on the light he’s been given (Romans 1:17), but this is a different matter altogether.

If the law and commandment should have been known and could have been known, it makes no difference whether or not it actually was known; the violator stands guilty and condemned. None of us will be able to plead ignorance when we stand before God on the day of judgment, be it at the great white throne (Revelation 20:11-15) or the judgment seat of Christ (Romans 14:10; 2 Corinthians 5:10).

Hosea’s people were destroyed for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6), and many a Christian’s life has come to utter ruin or absolute naught for much the same reason.

We were created to please our Creator (Revelation 4:11). We were saved so that we might glorify our Savior (1 Corinthians 10:31). We have been forgiven of all sin so that we might live in victory over it (Galatians 1:4). We who have been accepted in the beloved ought to live acceptably in His sight (Ephesians 1:6; Psalm 19:14).

But how do we please God without knowing what pleases Him? How do we glorify God without knowing what brings Him glory? How do we live righteously before God without knowing the difference between what’s sinful and what’s holy? How can I obey His commandments if I don’t know what they are?

That’s why it’s so important that we read the Bible (Isaiah 34:16) and search the scriptures (John 5:39) and hide God’s word in our hearts (Psalm 119:11). That’s why it’s so important for us to get in on all the Bible preaching and Bible teaching and Christian fellowship that we possibly can (1 Thessalonians 2:13; Hebrews 3:13; Hebrews 10:25).

God has given us a perfect book, His complete revelation to man for all ages, and it’s “profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

We as Christians are obligated to take full advantage of that amazing blessing. To whom much is given much is required (Luke 12:48). We’re accountable to God for every time we do what we shouldn’t (1 John 3:4; 1 John 5:17) or fail to do what we should (James 4:17) because we’ve been given His mind on all matters. When we sin against Him – whether or not we realize that we’ve done so – we’re guilty and we’ll bear our iniquity.

We’ll pick this thought up again next time. But in the meantime, be sure to use God’s word to lighten your path as you journey through this land of darkness on your way to that heavenly city (Psalm 119:105).

An Excellent Spirit - Part 3

One more lesson from Joseph’s question in Genesis 50:19 …Am I in the place of God?

Humanly speaking, Joseph had every “right” to seek revenge for all his brothers had done to him, and they knew it. Which is why they sent the lie by the mouth of a servant about Jacob asking forgiveness on their behalf prior to his death. But Joseph understood that vengeance belonged to God. Sure, he gave them a rough (Genesis 42:7) time when they first came down to Egypt, and who can blame him? But ultimately he dared not “take matters into his own hands.”

And what an example for us. No matter what others may do, God still sits on His throne in heaven. And it’s not our place to make sure they get what they have coming, it’s His. As difficult as that might be to remember, it sure served Joseph well. And his attitude made him a vessel meet for the master’s use.

Genesis 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

Consider these verses on the revenge that Joseph refused to seek, then pray for the power to go and do likewise (Luke 10:37).

Psalm 94:1 O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself.

Hebrews 10:30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.

1 Samuel 24:12 The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.

Leviticus 19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.

Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

An Excellent Spirit - Part 2

In Genesis 50 Joseph asked a question that we can view as the guiding influence of his remarkable life – AM I IN THE PLACE OF GOD?

Not only did this attitude enable him to snuff out any defiling root of bitterness from his heart, but it gave him strength in the hour of temptation.

Genesis 39:9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

Joseph had become the number one guy in Potiphar’s house. He was in charge, and everybody answered to him. Everybody but Potiphar’s desperate housewife. The Bible says she “cast her eyes upon Joseph” and enticed him to fulfill her adulterous desires.

Joseph understood the weakness of his flesh and acknowledged the presence of God. The Bible says he “hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.” Then there came a day when he went into the house to do his business (no indoor plumbing back then that I’m aware of, so no, that’s not what it means – his business was the oversight of Potiphar’s house). With no other men in the house, Potiphar’s wife grabbed Joseph by the coat and made one more plea for him to join her in her sin.

What did Joseph do? He FLED like a man (1 Timothy 6:12; 1 Corinthians 6:18). He didn’t invite temptation (Romans 13:14; Matthew 6:13), he ran for the way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13).

But why? He was far away from his home and family. Potiphar was gone. There was no one else in the house. Potiphar’s wife wasn’t likely to tell. He might have been overseer of Potiphar’s house, but he was still a slave. What did he have to lose? The blessing of Almighty God.

Hebrews 13:4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

When we yield to temptation, we can trace only to trace it to 1 of 3 basic things: either (1) we have allowed the devil to deceive us into dismissing the presence of God from our thought process (Psalm 14:1; Proverbs 3:6), (2) we somehow think we are smarter than God is – that we’d be better off doing what we want than obeying His commandment (Psalm 18:30), or (3) we don’t love Him enough to want to do what pleases Him (James 1:12).

Joseph didn’t put himself in the place of God. He was mindful of a God in heaven to whom he would give account. He knew any sin He committed was ultimately against that God (Psalm 51:4). Armed with this knowledge, he stood strong against the devil’s wiles and was victorious in the hour of temptation.