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Scripture Reading:  Proverbs 1:20-33

 

Ignorance in the Church

 

Intro.

1.  NT repeatedly warns against ignorance (1 Ths. 4:13; 2 Pet. 3:8; et al.).

2.  Ignorance:  “lacking knowledge or comprehension of the thing specified…ignorant may imply a general condition or it may apply to lack of knowledge or awareness of a particular thing” (Merriam-Webster); unlearned, not having knowledge, unaware.

3.  Following Jesus takes knowledge of divine truth – Jno. 8:31-32.

4.  Many Christians don’t realize the high cost of ignorance, or don’t care.

5.  Gospel calls sinners out of the darkness of ignorance – Eph. 4:17-21.

 

I.  WHAT IGNORANCE OF GOD’S WORD HAS DONE:

  A.  Israel was Punished with Captivity Isa. 5:13; Hos. 4:6; Jer. 4:22.

  B.  Put Jesus on the Cross Acts 3:17 (Lk. 23:34); 1 Cor. 2:7-8.

  C.  Caused Many to Oppose the Gospel & Persecute the Church – 1 Tim. 1:13; Acts 26:9.

 

II.  WHAT IGNORANCE IS CAUSING IN THE CHURCH:

  A.  Causes the Church to Forget the Fundamentals of the Faith – 2 Pet. 1:12-15.

    1.  Fundamentals of faith are foundational – Psa. 11:3; Heb. 6:1.

    2.  Fail to know…fail to grow…forget cleansing…lost – 2 Pet. 1:8-9 (4).

    3.  Repetition key to learning:  Grounded saints, new converts, unfaithful Christians.

  B.  Causes the Church to be Spiritually ImmatureHeb. 5:12-14.

    1.  Wise men lay up knowledge – Prov. 10:14; cf. 2:10.

      a.  Filled with the knowledge of His will…walk worthy – Col. 1:9-10.

      b.  Love abounds in knowledge – Phil. 1:9-10.

    2.  Where there is immaturity & ignorance it is hard to even have a conversation about spiritual matters! – 1 Cor. 3:1-2

  C.  Causes the Church to Look Like the World 1 Pet. 1:14 (4:1-3); Eph. 5:7-8, 11

    1.  In values (reflected by clothing, speech & recreation), in attitudes & in conduct (social drinking, gambling, dancing).

    2.  “Do you not know…” Jas. 4:4; 1 Cor. 6:15

  D.  Causes (allows) False Doctrine to Invade the Church.

    1.  Deceived by error – cf. Matt. 22:29.

    2.  Willful ignorance – cf. 2 Pet. 3:5, 8.

    3.  Carried about (driven) by every wind that blows – Eph. 4:14.

       -Winds of error include:  Days of creation, doctrine of hell, Lord’s Supper a meal, mdr, etc.

    4.  Cannot contend for that which we do not know!  Jude 3

  E.   Causes the Church to be Ineffective in EvangelismMk. 16:15.

    1.  Some churches are growing, but apparently for wrong reasons:

      a.  Friendship evangelism:  Converted to relationships.

      b.  Social gospel:  “Whatever gets people to come” mentality.

      c.  Positive impressions:  Take down “church of Christ” sign, etc…

    2.  Zeal without knowledge is not virtuous!  (Rom. 10:2

    3.  Growth at the expense of truth is not growth!

    4.  Salvation connected to obtaining knowledge of truth – 1 Tim. 2:4.

  F.   Causes the Church to Fill up with those who Unjustly Criticize.

    1.  Some consider themselves a expert on every subject!

      a.  The arrogance of knowledge – 1 Cor. 8:1.

      b.  Ignorance can also contribute to conceit – Rom. 11:25.

    2.  Ignorance is presumptuous, self-willed & harsh – 2 Pet.  2:10-12.

    3.  Ignorance causes condemnation of the innocent – Matt. 12:7.

    4.  Ignorance hinders judging righteous judgment (Jno. 7:24).

 

III.  WHAT IGNORANCE WILL CAUSE:

  A.  Cause the Church to not Submit to the Will (authority) of Christ (Eph. 5:24)

    1.  cf. Israel’s obstinacy against gospel – Rom. 10:3.

    2.  Jerusalem’s rejection of Christ – Lk. 19:41-44.

    3.  Acting without the authority of Christ – Col. 3:16-17.

  B.  Cause the Church to be Rejected by Christ (Hos. 4:6) – Rev. 3:15-17.

      -Remedy:  Be zealous, repent & remain with Christ & overcome – Rev. 3:18-20.

 

Conclusion

1.  Fools hate knowledge; when refused, calamity & destruction surely comes – Prov. 1:7, 22-23; 24-29.

2.  Some do not have the knowledge of God – 1 Cor. 15:34.

3.  Christians have escaped sin & “received a knowledge of the truth” (Heb. 11:26):

  a.  We must not “despise wisdom and instruction” (Prov. 1:7).

  b.  God has given us truth for our knowledge & wisdom. 

  c.  We remain in ignorance at our own peril - 1 Cor. 14:37-38.

 

 

 -Adapted from article, “What Ignorance Does To The Church,” Ben Justice, Seek the Old Paths, 44-46, June 2004