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 Immature – Heb. 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 Evangelism – Mk. 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