Articles
Sins of Ignorance
At times a person may commit a sin and know what they did is sinful when they are did it. The Bible speaks about such actions as willful sins and gives severe warnings about such (Hebrews 10:26-31). Other times people sin and at the moment did not recognize the sinfulness of their action and later discover their action was sinful. The apostle Paul would be an example of someone who engaged in sinful conduct before becoming a Christians but did so, “ignorantly in unbelief” (1 Timothy 1:12-15, NKJV). Some may sin throughout their lives, remain ignorant of God’s word throughout their lives, and despite their ignorance be lost on the Last Day.
The Bible plainly teaches one may do something sinful ignorantly and yet still sin against God and be in need of forgiveness. The Law of Moses prescribed sacrifices for people who committed sins in ignorance. Leviticus 5:17 says, “If a person sins, and commits any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the Lord, though he does not know it, yet he is guilty and shall bear his iniquity” (NKJV). A person could be ignorant of God’s commandment, violate it, and thereby sin against God and need to offer a sacrifice for such sin under the Old Testament law. The New Testament points out people are capable of sinning ignorantly. For example, those who killed Jesus are said to have done so ignorantly (Acts 3:17; 1 Corinthians 2:7-8). These individuals who put Jesus to death and sinned ignorantly were still guilty of sin, needed to repent, and be forgiven (Acts 3:19). Paul’s life before becoming a Christian consisted of him sinning out of ignorance (1 Timothy 1:12-15) and yet he still needed to be forgiven of his sins in order to be in a right relationship with God (Acts 22:16). A person today might do something sinful and not know it was sinful at the time yet they are guilty of sin and need God’s forgiveness in order to be saved. If one were to deny the existence of sins of ignorance, it would seem to make teaching people about sin a dangerous thing to do because it would make them accountable for something they were not accountable for previously. For example, if a person was ignorant of God’s law regarding divorce and remarriage and sins of ignorance did not condemn a person, the best thing we could do for the person would be to keep them ignorant of God’s law on the subject expressed in such passages as Matthew 5:31-32; 19:9; etc.
We are accountable for sins of ignorance because we are accountable for knowing God’s will. The Bible plainly teaches the person who is ignorant of God’s existence is without excuse because the creation around them should lead them to the conclusion there is a Creator (Psalm 19:1; Romans 1:20). The person who realizes a Creator exists should then seek to know whether the Creator has any expectations for him. Such an individual should seek the Lord (Isaiah 55:6; Acts 17:25-27). A person who is seeking the Lord will end up finding Him (Matthew 7:7-8). God has not made Himself or His will for mankind so inaccessible it is impossible for those seeking Him to find Him and know His will. A person who remains ignorant of God’s will is ignorant due to choosing to be ignorant of the truth God has made available to mankind. 2 Peter 3:5 speaking about certain people says, “For this they willingly are ignorant of” (NKJV). When a person is ignorant of God’s will after He has made it accessible to those who seek His will, such a person is willingly ignorant of God’s commands. Hosea 4:6 speaks about the condition of God’s people long ago and says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children” (NKJV).
Some Christians who are aware of the fact sins of ignorance condemn a person if they are not forgiven live their lives fearful they are committing some sin of which they are ignorant. Here are some thoughts which might help such individuals: 1. God, in His word, has given us all the information we need in order to identify any sin a person could be guilty of. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (NKJV). 2 Peter 1:3 reminds us of how God’s power, “has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue” (NKJV). 2. God has communicated His word in a manner which we are capable of understanding. Ephesians 3:3-5 says, “how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets” (NKJV). Ephesians 5:17 commands us, “Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (NKJV). Jesus said it is possible for a person to know the truth (John 8:32). 3. God’s word is capable of helping me see myself as I really am if I will be honest in my handling of it. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (NKJV). James 1:21-25 describes the word of God as a mirror one looks into and identifies areas where we need improvement. 4. Instead of constantly worrying about being ignorant of something, how are we doing at keeping the commandments we are already aware of (James 4:17)? Personally, it takes plenty of effort to act according to the knowledge I already possess and I think that might be true for many others as well. 5. If one is fearful they are ignorant of some requirement of God, then why not allow that to cause you to be more diligent in your studying of God’s word (2 Timothy 2:15)? Studying God’s word will remove whatever ignorance we might still have. Studying God’s word will allow me to see whether I am right in the sight of God or not. 6. God is for us (Romans 8:31-32). God is not wanting us to be lost and has done everything He can to see us end up saved (1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9). God is not trying to hide His expectations or make them so complicated only the brightest individual could discover them. God’s word can make wise the simple, point out our secret sins, and help us stand right in God’s sight (Psalm 19:7-14).
