Articles
Peter 42 - Ignorance is Not Bliss
Ignorance Is Not Bliss
Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. (2Peter 3:3-7)
Peter makes the charge that some were ignorant regarding the promise of the second coming of Christ. This means that they failed to pay attention to the information on the subject. This is another way of saying that they had closed their understanding and would not understand. This is just like the people that Jesus spoke of using the prophecy from Isaiah: “FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL, WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR, AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES, OTHERWISE THEY WOULD SEE WITH THEIR EYES, HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN, AND I WOULD HEAL THEM” (Matthew 13:15). At first thought, it may seem inconceivable that people could avoid recognizing the greatness of God’s past actions, yet this was the case in Peter’s day, just as in our own.
Some choose to ignore the fact that there is a God. Even the heavens declare that there is a God. “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Day to day pours forth speech, And night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; Their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their utterances to the end of the world …” (Psalm 19:1-4). In their great intelligence, many show great ignorance by assuming that creation just happened. They have to ignore the evidence, and they have to be willfully ignorant to take such a position.
Some are ignorant of Christ and hide their heads in the sand, as it were. The prophets had long foretold of the Anointed and His coming. We see the promise of sovereignty as Jacob blessed his sons: “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes, And to him shall be the obedience of the peoples” (Genesis 49:10). We see the promise of the Spokesman in the words spoken by Moses: “I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. It shall come about that whoever will not listen to My words which he shall speak in My name, I Myself will require it of him” (Deuteronomy 18:18-19). We see the promises of His birth and birthplace in the words of Micah: “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity” (Micah 5:2). His birth to a virgin is seen in the words of Isaiah: “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). Read Isaiah 53:1-13 to see the promises of His suffering on the behalf of others. Paul said that even a king should have seen this. “For the king knows about these matters, and I speak to him also with confidence, since I am persuaded that none of these things escape his notice; for this has not been done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know that you do” (Acts 26:26-27).
Some are ignorant of the church, even though it is plainly declared (Matthew 16:18; Acts 2:47; Ephesians 5:23; 1:22-23). Some are ignorant of the organization of the church (Acts 6:1-5). Some are ignorant of the mission of the church (Acts 6:1-5; 2Corinthians 11:8; Ephesians 4:16). But as clearly as all of this is taught, most will not see it.
Some are ignorant of the plan of salvation for man. God’s plan is simple. It includes listening to His Word, and when then believing, repenting of your past sins, confessing Him, and humbling yourself before Him in sincere obedience having your sins washed away by the blood of Jesus in the waters of baptism (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:36-38; 18:8; 22:16; 1Peter 1:22). Most “religious” Bible teachers have read all of these verses. Why will they be content to tell only a part of this?
Don’t be ignorant on any subject of such great import. God has given us His word and His witness. You don’t have to be ignorant.
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