Ignorant of God's Righteousness

In a world that seems to be in a "need to know" state of mind, how pitifully sad it is to realize that we live in a time of spiritual ignorance. To be ignorant means to be "without knowledge; uniformed; resulting from want of knowledge." The problem with overcoming ignorance is serious, because those who live in a state of ignorance don't know it - that's what being ignorant is. Sooner or later, the unlearned must be supplied with the truth that will deliver them and teach them what has been missing all along. This is where the gospel comes in.

King Solomon is often called "the wisest man to have ever lived." One of the first statements he makes in the book of Proverbs is - "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction" (Prov. 1:7). This truth sets the precedent for knowledge by stating that all truth and all knowledge comes from God. Those who are unwilling to recognize this fact and lean on God for guidance become fools. When we look at the source of Solomon's knowledge, the point is well illustrated: His knowledge was given to him by God, and it was granted because he asked for it (1 Kings 3:7-12). Even Solomon began life in a state of ignorance (1 Kings 3:7). His ignorance was overcome when He looked to God for help.

We can see just how right Solomon was (Prov. 1:7). Years later as Paul was writing to the Christians in Rome, he lamented over Israel's ignorance, citing the same problems that Solomon had mentioned centuries before. He said, "for they (Israel) being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God" (Rom. 10:3). Notice that they did not fear God enough to listen to His truth. Notice also that Israel demonstrated that they despised God's righteousness and wanted to establish their own. The results were that they remained in an ignorant and unsaved condition (Rom. 10:1,3). Moreover their zeal became useless (v.2).

In the latter half of the chapter Paul talks about overcoming ignorance through the preaching of the gospel (Rom. 10:14-17). The world can never have a knowledge of God unless it is presented. This makes the spread of the gospel the number one, most important duty of mankind. Once the message has been preached then it is merely up to those who have heard it to respond and be saved. This is the crucial point of the process in overcoming ignorance and inheriting salvation. ONCE TRUTH HAS BEEN PRESENTED - REMAINING IGNORANT BECOMES A CHOICE!

Paul concluded his thought through his witness that the gospel had been presented to the Jews and they had rejected it (Rom. 10:18-21). Why is it that we live in a world of spiritual ignorance? It is because today many have become like the Israel of Paul's time. People have chosen to be ignorant, not loving the righteousness of God! Instead of submitting to God's righteousness, society desires to set up it's own righteousness - and we think that we've come so far?

Isn't it about time that you step out of the world's ignorance and into the knowledge that brings salvation? To do this is not difficult, you just have to do what God has asked for all along - "Fear God, and keep His commandments" (Eccl. 12:13). You must do this immediately, because - "these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man who He has ordained, He has given us assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead" (Acts 17:30,31).

Don't be ignorant of God's righteousness! Hear the gospel and obey it!

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes for in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, 'The just shall live by faith'"

(Rom. 1:16,17)