Ignorance of God

• Ignorance of Christ is.

  John 8:19 Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.

• EVIDENCED BY
• Want of love.

  1 John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

• Not keeping His commands.

  1 John 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

• Living in sin.

  Titus 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

  1 John 3:6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.

• LEADS TO
• Error.

  Matthew 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

• Idolatry.

  Isaiah 44:19 And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?

  Acts 17:29-30 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:

• Alienation from God.

  Ephesians 4:18 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:

• Sinful lusts.

  1 Thessalonians 4:5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:

  1 Peter 1:14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

• Persecuting saints.

  John 15:21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.

  John 16:3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.

• Is no excuse for sin.

  Leviticus 4:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them:

  Luke 12:48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

• The wicked, in a state of.

  Jeremiah 9:3 And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the LORD.

  John 15:21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.

  John 17:25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.

  Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

• The wicked choose.

  Job 21:14 Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.

  Romans 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

• Punishment of.

  Psalm 79:6 Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.

  2 Thessalonians 1:8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

• MINISTERS SHOULD
• Compassionate those in.

  Hebrews 5:2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.

  2 Timothy 2:24-25 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

• Labor to remove.

  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.

• Exemplified.
  
  Pharaoh,

  Exodus 5:2 And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.

  Israelites,

  Psalm 95:10 Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways:

  Isaiah 1:3 The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.

  False prophets,

  Isaiah 56:10-11 His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. 11 Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.

  Jews,

  Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

  Nicodemus,

  John 3:10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?

  Gentiles,

  Galatians 4:8 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.

  Paul,

  1 Timothy 1:13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.