Destroyed for a Lack of Knowledge I. Introduction A. As humans, we are creatures that need knowledge 1. On the whole, not instinctual 2. Our actions are mostly based in what we are taught and what we learn B. Knowledge becomes quite critical 1. After all, one cannot easily do that which one does not know! 2. It is hard to know that which is not taught or learned! C. Romans 10:13-17 addresses the need for knowledge in spiritual terms 1. People cannot follow God if they have not heard of Him! 2. Faith comes from hearing-- promoting the Gospel is essential! D. A lack of knowledge, or ignorance, has always presented problems 1. Do we not feel the most sheepish when our lack of knowledge is exposed? 2. How often is false witness borne when there is ignorance? 3. How many have been led to accept inaccurate statements? E. If such is true in life, how much more then in spiritual matters! 1. There is a great lack of Biblical knowledge in our day 2. A great shame to many! 3. How can the Gospel be promoted when there is no knowledge of the truth? 4. How can people be saved in their ignorance? F. Far too many risks being destroyed for a lack of knowledge! G. Let us consider what the Scriptures teach II. Those in Pure Ignorance A. Some have no knowledge due to an unintentional lack of knowledge 1. Some do not know of Jesus because they have never learned of Him! 2. They have not been taught, or even shown the way to Christ! B. Anyone who is in this state is a shame to all Christians 1. Are we accomplishing our mission (Matthew 28:18-20)? 2. If they know nothing of Jesus, we are failing them C. What happens when people who do not know what to do? D. Hosea demonstrates such in Hosea 4 1. Context: Hosea preaching to Israel, ca. 762-722 BCE 2. Impending destruction, exile by Assyria 3. Israel unfaithful E. The land suffers greatly 1. No knowledge of God in the land (v. 1) 2. All kinds of sin and violence thus present (vv. 2-3) 3. Where there is no knowledge of the truth, sin reigns! 4. Consider Romans 1:18-32 F. Responsibility laid at the feet of priests 1. Charged to teach the people, have failed (vv. 4-5) 2. On account of them, people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge (v. 6) 3. Priests will suffer greatly for not doing their job (vv. 7-8)! 4. cf. Exodus 12:26-27 5. Doing God's will and teaching it critical, lest a new generation fails to learn (cf. Judges 2:10) 6. Christians as priests (1 Peter 2:5, 9) 7. Will we escape if we do not do and teach God's Word? a. 1 Corinthians 15:34: no knowledge of God by some even in the church! b. This is said to the shame of Corinth, and it would be likewise true of us! G. People also liable 1. Just because the priests failed does not mean that the people can act with impunity 2. Condemned also for their practices (Hosea 4:9) 3. They inquire of wood, follow after other gods, to their own shame (vv. 10-19) 4. This is the result of a lack of knowledge of God and His ways! III. Those Willfully Ignorant A. Some intentionally do not know or distort the truth to their own shame 1. Intentional, or willful, ignorance 2. Many reasons exist for such ignorance B. The truth is often hard to swallow 1. God expects many challenging things! 2. Sin is to be avoided, righteousness to be done (Galatians 5:17-24) 3. Relationships may be broken (Matthew 10:34-39) 4. Many people desire to follow Jesus but not to the extent to which He expects! 5. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 describes the descent of such persons C. The truth violates people's worldviews 1. Matthew 13:11-17, John 8:31-59 2. Why is it that so many Jews refused to see? 3. Political power challenged (cf. John 11:48) 4. Their expectations for their Messiah and his Kingdom challenged 5. Easier to keep expecting what they wanted as opposed to what God intended in Jesus D. The truth exposes the traditions of men 1. Matthew 15:1-7 2. John 9:28-41 a. A man, born blind, is healed by Jesus (John 9:1-7) b. The Pharisees hear of this and question the man (John 9:15) c. Did the Pharisees believe it? No! d. They ask the parents to come in (v. 18-20) e. They answer that he is grown up, ask him (v. 21) f. They would not believe, despite the obvious miracle g. Rightly did Jesus condemn them (Matthew 23:29-36)! 3. Acts 28:26-27 a. Same verse of Isaiah as used in Matthew 13 b. Paul using it against the Jews of Rome (v. 25), since they would not agree c. Jews were the same way: heard truth, but would not give up their traditions for it d. Meanwhile, the Gospel goes to the Gentiles, many of whom listen (v. 28) IV. Just Outside? A. Sadly, much ignorance abounds even within the church 1. Even Christians often do not know much about their Bibles 2. How many have said, "wow, the Bible really says that?" 3. Good Bible study not being accomplished! 4. To the shame of Christ (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:34) B. 2 Corinthians 13:5, 2 Timothy 2:15 1. How can we put ourselves to the test if we don't know the standard? 2. How can we be workmen with no need to be ashamed if we don't work with what we've been given? 3. How can we rightly handle that which we do not know? C. Hebrews 5:12-6:4 1. Do we fall under the same condemnation as the Hebrew Christians? 2. Are we still on the "milk" of the word because we have not devoted ourselves to it? D. Matthew 28:18-20, Romans 10:13-17 1. How can we make disciples if we do not have a good handle on what the Bible says about being a disciple? 2. How can we go out and preach if we don't know what we're preaching? 3. How can we evangelize without knowledge? E. The Scriptures are clear: disciples of Christ must know God's will! V. Conclusion A. A lack of knowledge of God is a curse on the land 1. People sin with impunity 2. The right is left undone B. We must lift the veil of ignorance, and it must start with us! C. Let us consider how we can grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18), and promote that knowledge in the world D. Invitation/songbook