STOP BEING IGNORANT! (IGNORANCE IS NOT BLISS)

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

Acts 17:23 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.

Romans 1:13 Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren

Romans 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant

1 Corinthians 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant

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

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

 

God does not put a premium on ignorance and nor should we. The lost are ignorant, young Christians are ignorant, and alas, older Christians are ignorant.

 

I. IGNORANCE OF UNBELIEVERS IS EXPECTED

 

1. Their Ignorance of Christ’s Person can be Forgiven [Acts 3:12-19]

And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

 

2. Their Sins Can Be forgiven [1 Tm. 1:13-14]

Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

 

3. Their Ignorance should Change when they Do [Eph. 4:17-20]

 

This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ;

 

II. IGNORANCE OF BABES IN CHRIST IS UNDERSTANDABLE [1 Peter 1]

 

1. Growth in Grace is Characterized by Godliness [1 Peter 1:13-16]

 

2. Growth in Grace is Based on God’s Word [1 Peter 1:23-25, 2 Pet. 1:16-21]

 

3. Growth in Grace is Commanded for Christians [1 Peter 2:1-3]

 

III. IGNORANCE OF OLDER CHRISTIANS IS SHAMEFUL

 

1. Ignorance often leads to conceit [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.

 

2. It is Carnal & Babyish [1 Cor. 3:1-4] And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

 

3. It is Spiritual Laziness [Heb. 5:11-6:3]

Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit.