Is ignorance really bliss?
Introduction. We all have heard people say, "what you do not know cannot hurt you." "If one does not know, one has no responsibility" and some simply say, "ignorance is bliss." Does the Bible excuse lack of knowledge?
God does not overlook ignorance. Man has the God given responsibility of "studying to show himself approved" (2 Tim. 2: 15). Paul wrote thus of God: "Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim. 2: 4). In certain cases in times past, God did provide some excuse for ignorance (Acts 14: 16). The language now is: "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent" (Acts 17: 30, 31). Just because we have not availed ourselves of God's word and learned of God and his plan of salvation for man, does not mean God will justify us because we are ignorant (I am not referring to the mentally incompetent).
The lost that are ignorant will still be punished. In certain cases, not knowing can be taken into consideration. After teaching that the servant who knew but did not do shall be "beaten with many stripes," Jesus said the servant who did not know "shall be beaten with few stripes" (Luke 12: 48, 41 ff.). Notice, though, that servant shall still be punished. Paul addressed the future status of those who "know not God." Hear him, "And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thes. 1: 8, 9).
Conclusion. Beloved, God so loved us that he gave his only begotten Son to die on the cross (John 3: 16). Jesus shed his blood for the remission of man's sins (Matt. 26: 28, cp. Acts 2: 38). The Bible is universally accessible and can be understood (Eph. 3: 2-5). Man, therefore, is without excuse for not knowing God's will!
God does not overlook ignorance. Man has the God given responsibility of "studying to show himself approved" (2 Tim. 2: 15). Paul wrote thus of God: "Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim. 2: 4). In certain cases in times past, God did provide some excuse for ignorance (Acts 14: 16). The language now is: "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent" (Acts 17: 30, 31). Just because we have not availed ourselves of God's word and learned of God and his plan of salvation for man, does not mean God will justify us because we are ignorant (I am not referring to the mentally incompetent).
The lost that are ignorant will still be punished. In certain cases, not knowing can be taken into consideration. After teaching that the servant who knew but did not do shall be "beaten with many stripes," Jesus said the servant who did not know "shall be beaten with few stripes" (Luke 12: 48, 41 ff.). Notice, though, that servant shall still be punished. Paul addressed the future status of those who "know not God." Hear him, "And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thes. 1: 8, 9).
Conclusion. Beloved, God so loved us that he gave his only begotten Son to die on the cross (John 3: 16). Jesus shed his blood for the remission of man's sins (Matt. 26: 28, cp. Acts 2: 38). The Bible is universally accessible and can be understood (Eph. 3: 2-5). Man, therefore, is without excuse for not knowing God's will!