Romans 10:2-3
2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
The word “ignorant” is often mistakenly used to represent a lack of intelligence rather than a lack of knowledge and understanding. In the context of the above verses, the word “ignorant” means not having a proper knowledge of “God’s righteousness” (and how righteousness could be obtained), so they went “about to establish their own righteousness.” They did not understand that righteousness can only be obtained through a salvation relationship in Jesus Christ. All man’s self-effort can only produce filthy rags. (Isaiah 64:6)
I know that you have heard the philosophy that if our good will outweigh our bad, then we will be accepted into heaven. This is a belief based in ignorance. The Bible declares that if we are guilty of violating one point of God’s standard, then we are guilty of all of God’s standard. (James 2:10) So, if we are guilty of all by our one point of sin, then how can our good outweigh our bad. We are guilty of all before the righteous judge. To believe in any other way of righteousness than God’s way (salvation, forgiveness, and redemption in Christ) is to be ignorant of the truth. It is the knowledge of (and the acknowledgement of) truth that takes us from ignorance to enlightenment, from a lack of understanding to taking possession of truth.
John 8:32, And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Let us take this thought of ignorance to a deeper level of understanding. John 8:32 says that we must “know the truth” and then the truth will “make you free”. This word “know” goes beyond a simple knowledge of facts but enters the realm of faith. Knowing the truth (in the biblical sense) is to totally rely upon the truth as your only source of hope. It is an intimacy of belief that joins you to the truth. To say I believe the truth of scripture is true (but to never exercise faith in that truth) is to remain ignorant. To say I believe the fact that there was a man named Jesus Christ that lived many years ago, who was crucified on a cross, died and was raised from the dead three days later, but to never put your reliance of total faith in that truth is to remain ignorant and lost. Without faith, the facts are just information.
2 Timothy 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
It is obvious that this verse goes beyond simple knowing to believing. To simply know is to still be ignorant. Our knowledge must go beyond facts to faith in the facts. (My former pastor called it “faithing the facts”.)
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Let us not remain in ignorance, but let us trust in the one who is the way, the truth, and the life. (John 14:6) It is then that we pass from death unto life. It is then that truth becomes more than facts but is something to base our lives on by faith now and in the days to come (and throughout eternity). Paul admonished us six times in the New Testament to not be ignorant brethren. Let us know the truth and let it make us free.
In Christ's Service,
Bro. Adrian Moore
2 Cor. 4:5
Comments