What does the Bible say about ignorance of god?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible teaches that ignorance of God is not merely a lack of information but a spiritual blindness rooted in sin, leaving people unable to know and worship him rightly apart from his grace. Jesus says that those who do not know him also do not know the Father (John 8:19), while 1 John teaches that knowing God is shown by love and obedient faith (1 John 4:8; 2:4). Human beings suppress God’s truth and fashion false ideas of him, as Isaiah 44:19 and Acts 17:29 illustrate. Yet God commands all people to repent (Acts 17:30), and in Christ he brings light to minds darkened by alienation and unbelief (Ephesians 4:18).
Study outline
Curated topical outlines from classic public-domain study works.
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- Ignorance of Christ is John 8:19
- Evidenced by
- Want of love 1 John 4:8
- Not keeping his commands 1 John 2:4
- Living in sin Titus 1:16; 1 John 3:6
- Leads to
- Error Matthew 22:29
- Idolatry Isaiah 44:19; Acts 17:29; Acts 17:30
- Alienation from God Ephesians 4:18
- Sinful lusts 1 Thessalonians 4:5; 1 Peter 1:14
- Persecuting saints John 15:21; John 16:3
- Is no excuse for sin Leviticus 4:2; Luke 12:48
- The wicked, in a state of Jeremiah 9:3; John 15:21; John 17:25; Acts 17:30
- The wicked choose Job 21:14; Romans 1:28
- Punishment of Psalms 79:6; 2 Thessalonians 1:8
- Ministers should
- Compassionate those in Hebrews 5:2; 2 Timothy 2:24; 2 Timothy 2:25
- Labour to remove Acts 17:23
- Exemplified
- Pharaoh Exodus 5:2
- Israelites Psalms 95:10; Isaiah 1:3
- False prophets Isaiah 56:10; Isaiah 56:11
- Jews Luke 23:34
- Nicodemus John 3:10
- Gentiles Galatians 4:8
- Paul 1 Timothy 1:13
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