The High Price of Ignorance

Leviticus 5:14-19

14 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

15 If a soul commit a trespass, and sin through ignorance, in the holy things of the LORD; then he shall bring for his trespass unto the LORD a ram without blemish out of the flocks, with thy estimation by shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass offering:

16 And he shall make amends for the harm that he hath done in the holy thing, and shall add the fifth part thereto, and give it unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering, and it shall be forgiven him.

17 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 wist [it] not, yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity.

18 And he shall bring a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his ignorance wherein he erred and wist [it] not, and it shall be forgiven him.

19 It [is] a trespass offering: he hath certainly trespassed against the LORD.

People with their Heads in the Sand

·                    A man migrates to a new country and quickly makes friends with locals.

·                    They invite him to live with them in a huge nice building.

·                    He gets a room and has access to power, water and plenty of food.  Free.

·                    He also is under the impression that someone owns the building.

·                    He suspects that this owner doesn’t know that he is living here.

·                    Nobody mentions the owner, yet they live on as arrogance leads them.

·                    He ponders the question, “Should I ask if someone owns the place?”

·                    Why should he seek to find out?

·                    If he finds out, would he have the character to offer to pay?

·                    If he finds out, he is obligated to action.

·                    But the assumption is that ignorance is bliss, freedom!

·                    Such is the case of the Athiest, the Agnostic and the Buddhist.

·                    (The agnostic is pleading his ignorance now just in case there is a God!)

Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof [are] the ways of death.

The most common excuse is “I thought” or “I didn’t know”

·                    Modern governments are tired of that stupid excuse and have banned it.

·                    “Ignorance is no excuse.”   You had better know the laws of the land!

·                    Regretfully, the successful replacement is, “I was temporarily insane!”

·                    Somehow, most Western nation’s courts are buying that line.  God won’t.

Worthlessness of Major Religions

·                    To please this many people you must be willing to compromise.

·                    The “Sectarian Cycle” will neutralize any effective organization.

·                    1)  Pioneers  2)  Sustainers  3)  Dogmateers  4)  Denominationists

·                    The virtue of the “dogmateers” establish the “foundations.”

·                    “Genetic” religions are the most obvious hoaxes (Greek, Egyptian, Jewish, Arab).  Their languages become “sacred” and the race gloats.

·                    People are carnal – to keep the masses you must diminish repentance.

·                    Education replaces Experience; Religion replaces Relationship.

·                    Any religion that allows you to remain carnal and promises the approval of God is “religion.”  I wonder if I could recover from such a great deal?

·                    (Mention coworker who danced professionally in the evenings at discos who had had his car blessed by three major religions!)

John 8:30-36

30 As he spake these words, many believed on him.

31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, [then] are ye my disciples indeed;

32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

33 They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?

34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: [but] the Son abideth ever.

36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

·                    Jesus said, “If you learn of Me, then you are my disciples.”

·                    Jesus said, “If you know the truth, then the truth shall make you free”!

·                    Jesus implied, “If you don’t learn of Me, then you shall remain sinners.”

·                    Jesus said, “Whoever commits sin is the servant of sin”!

·                    We saw how sins committed ignorantly were still considered sin!

·                    We saw how sins committed ignorantly had a price of debt to pay!

·                    A life of sin is not a life of freedom, free will is not freedom!

·                    A life in submission to God against your will is not freedom either!

·                    A life freely submitted to God is true freedom!  More abilities!

Romans 1:20-22

20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified [him] not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

We can discover the invisible truths of God by examining His creation:

·                    We can see that they are amazingly detailed and finely tuned.

·                    We can see that these things could not create or improve themselves.

·                    Knowing what organ to evolve next takes intelligence.  (Yeah yeah, they say that individual mutations that promote the species is the way that evolution happens, but what about the million chance changes that it would take until the complete eyeball saw something – how would it know that it was seeing things right side up, or in the correct colours?)

·                    Intelligence requires a possessor of intelligence.

·                    If evolution cannot be attributed to man or animal, then it must be God!

·                    When we chuckle at the “God solution” we become fools.

Psalm 19:1-14

<A Psalm of David.>

1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.

3 [There is] no speech nor language, [where] their voice is not heard.

4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,

5 Which [is] as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, [and] rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.

6 His going forth [is] from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

7 The law of the LORD [is] perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD [is] sure, making wise the simple.

8 The statutes of the LORD [are] right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD [is] pure, enlightening the eyes.

9 The fear of the LORD [is] clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD [are] true [and] righteous altogether.

10 More to be desired [are they] than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: [and] in keeping of them [there is] great reward.

12 Who can understand [his] errors? cleanse thou me from secret [faults].

13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous [sins]; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

<To the chief Musician>

God’s 4 Revelations:

1.                 General Revelation – Creation – Everyone is exposed to it.

2.                 Special Revelation – Word of God – Most people know of it.

3.                 Personal Revelation – Jesus Christ – Many people hear of Him.

4.                 Internal Revelation – Holy Ghost – Few people experience it.

Diagnosis According to the Law:

·        Romans 2:12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;

·Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

·        Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Remedy According to the Gospel:

·        John 3:16-20

·        16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

·        17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

·        18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

·        19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

·        20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

·        Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

·

I have just removed all of your excuses!

What will you do?

·        Plan on telling God how you were too exhausted that night to concentrate?

·        Defer your repentance until you forget, then claim good intentions?

·        Respond with character and make things right with your God?

1 Peter 3:21 The like figure whereunto [even] baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

Acts 19:5 When they heard [this], they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

About sin:

·        They are all intentional (although unknown).

·        They are wicked in the eyes of God.

·        They diminish the ability of God to work in our lives.

·        They must be atoned for somehow (Hell or Salvation).

Do you have any “ignorant sins” you need to bring to the light and confess?