IGNORANT OF THE TRUTH

IGNORANT OF THE TRUTH

 And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him.  But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. —Acts 8:1-3

             After Stephen was killed, executed, there was a great persecution that broke out against the church in Jerusalem.  Saul was going from house to house to drag off to prison men and women that were following Jesus.  He was ravaging the church.

            Later, after Saul was drawn to Jesus, this is what he said about himself— “Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief” (I Timothy 1:13).  People today persecute followers of Jesus like Saul did because they are doing so “in ignorance and unbelief.” 

            Peter said the Israelites and their leaders also acted in ignorance when they “killed the author of life” (Acts 3:15-17).  In general those who do not follow Jesus “are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts” (Ephesians 4:18).  They are conforming to “evil desires” (I Peter 1:14) because of harden hearts.

            “In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30).  This call goes out to the world to those who “are ignorant of the very thing (they) worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you” (Acts 17:33).

“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill.  In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.  For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.” —Acts 17:29-31

            Judgment is coming and God is calling all people to repentance.  There is proof that Jesus has been raised from the dead and this proof also confirms the judgment to come.  As followers of Jesus may we proclaim this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYZw0dfLmLk&t=23s Satan is the one who keeps people in ignorance of the Truth (II Timothy 2:26) and fellow follower of Jesus we are commissioned by Jesus to proclaim the Truth to them (Romans 10:13-15).  May we do so! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-1971qLX-E

Dear Father may I be faithful to proclaim the truth to those who are in ignorance about it.  May this be so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus.  So be it!