IGNORANCE IS NO EXCUSE

             “And if a soul sin, and commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the LORD; though he know it not, yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity.” (Leviticus 5:17). This is given in the instructions concerning the sin offering and the trespass offering. They were to take a young bullock without blemish to the altar, lay their hands on it; the priest killed it and sprinkled its blood before the Lord seven times. The cal, kidneys, fat and liver were burned on the altar. The rest was to be burned outside the camp. Such was the tress pass and the sin offering for ignorant or willful sinners. We need to learn that we are guilty of sins when we do things contrary to the will of God whether we know it or not. The Gentiles were “alienated from the life of God through the ignorance what is in the, because of the blindness of their hearts” (Ephesians 4:17-19). If the gentiles of Paul’s time were alienated because of sinning in ignorance then the people of our time are also alienated when they are sinning in ignorance. Ignorance of the law is no excuse.

            1. Ignorance is no excuse when we violate men’s laws or God’s laws.  If a person was ignorant to the fact that he was to drive on the right side of the road and instead he drove on the left side of the road he is still breaking the law. He can be charged with careless or reckless driving. He could kill or maim someone coming toward him, or he can wreck into another’s vehicle and thus damage the other person’s property. A person from another country where they drive on the left side of the road could come to our country and do this. If he does he violates the law in the United States. In religion some say that we are under grace not law which is true but our system of grace is even more stringent than the law of Moses. Under the old law one was guilty who committed adultery but under the gospel we are not to lust after someone to commit adultery with them. (Matthew 5:28). It is this law of the spirit of life that makes us free from the law of sin and death. Any work of the flesh as recorded in Galatians 5:19-21 will keep us out of the saved relationship with our Lord. It is our duty to identify these works of the flesh and stay away from them. Not understanding what they are and being guilty of them still makes us sinners and keeps us out of the kingdom of heaven.

            2. God requires that we learn of him to come to Christ. “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, and they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.” (John 6:44, 45). It is our obligation to be willing recipients of the gospel of Jesus Christ if we would go to heaven. We can’t plead ignorance of the teaching and still have the hope of heaven. We must avail ourselves of the opportunity of hearing, reading for ourselves, and learning of Him if we would come to Him for salvation.

            3. We must ask, seek, and knock to receive. “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” (Matthew 7:7, 8). We must put forth the effort to find what God requires of us then practice it if we are to be saved. We are to be doers as well as hearers (James 1:22).

            4. Faith is essential to salvation. “Without faith it is impossible to please God” (Heb. 11:6). Faith comes by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17). A conscious effort must be put forth to hear, examine and accept the word if we are to have saving faith. If we close our ears, eyes, and heart to the truth we cannot be converted no matter how much we plead ignorance. (Matthew 13:13-15).

            5. Repentance is essential to salvation. Jesus said “except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:3). Repentance is a change of mind which is followed by a change of life. Acts 8:22 states, “Repent of this thy wickedness”.

            6. Baptism is necessary to having sins forgiven. Acts 22:16. Some think it is not essential but they just do not read the Great Commission and cases of conversion as found in Acts.

            7. Worship with the Lord’s church is essential. (Matthew 4:10). Assembling together is required (Hebrews 10:25).

WE NEED TO LEARN THE WILL OF THE LORD IS AND DO IT. C.D.                     

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