Understanding the Role of Ignorance in Sin and Salvation
Ignorance plays a complex role in understanding sin and the path to salvation, as it can both mitigate and exacerbate culpability, depending on its nature and context. While all humanity is considered to be born into sin [4], the degree to which ignorance affects one's standing before God is a recurring theme in biblical texts and theological interpretation.
Ignorance of God, Christ, and divine commands is frequently identified as a root cause of various sinful behaviors. Such ignorance is evidenced by a lack of love, a failure to keep God's commands, and a life lived in sin [1]. It can lead to error, idolatry, alienation from God, and indulgence in sinful lusts [1]. For instance, those who persecute saints are described as doing so because they have not known the Father or Christ [1, 9]. This lack of knowledge about God's benevolence and Christ's philanthropy is considered a primary source of religious persecution and intolerance [9].
However, ignorance does not universally excuse sin. The book of Leviticus, for example, outlines specific sin offerings for transgressions committed "through ignorance" [8, 10]. These offerings were for unintentional violations of ceremonial laws or negative precepts, which, if done knowingly, would have carried severe penalties [8]. This suggests that even when a sin is committed out of ignorance, it still requires atonement, indicating that ignorance does not entirely absolve responsibility [10]. The text states that as soon as such a transgression comes to knowledge, a prescribed sacrifice is required, and one should not assume ignorance is an excuse [10]. Similarly, Luke 12:48 implies that while those who act in ignorance may receive a lighter punishment, they are not entirely blameless [1].
The concept of "deliberate sins" or "great sin" is contrasted with sins of ignorance. Deliberate sins are characterized by an insolent or arrogant attitude and are equated with rebellion [6]. This distinction highlights that while ignorance may lessen the severity of some sins, intentional rebellion against God is a more profound transgression [6]. The first sin of humanity, as described in Genesis, is presented not merely as eating an apple but as a profound act of self-love, dishonor to God, ingratitude, and disobedience, indicating a deliberate preference for the creature over the Creator [5].
The universal nature of sin is a foundational concept. All human beings are born sinners [4], and both Gentiles and Jews are considered equally under sin's power, unable to find favor with God through their own actions [7]. This universal sinfulness means that even without explicit knowledge of specific divine laws, humanity is still accountable. God's anger is depicted as a necessary response to sin, not merely an emotional outburst [7].
In the context of salvation, the role of Christ is presented as central to addressing humanity's sin, including that which stems from ignorance. Christ, who "had no knowledge of sin" or "knew no sin," was made to be sin on humanity's behalf, so that believers might become the righteousness of God in him [2, 3]. This act of atonement addresses the entirety of human sinfulness, whether committed knowingly or unknowingly.
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Ignorance of God — Ignorance of Christ is -- Joh 8:19. Evidenced by Want of love. -- 1Jo 4:8. Not keeping his commands. -- 1Jo 2:4. Living in sin. -- Tit 1:16; 1Jo 3:6. Leads to Error. -- Mt 22:29. Idolatry. -- Isa 44:19; Ac 17:29,30. Alienation from God. -- Eph 4:18. Sinful lusts. -- 1Th 4:5; 1Pe 1:14. Persecuting saints. -- Joh 15:21; 16:3. Is no excuse for sin -- Le 4:2; Lu 12:48. The wicked, in a state of -- Jer 9:3; Joh 15:21; 17:25; Ac 17:30. The wicked choose -- Job 21:14; Ro 1:28. Punishment of -- Ps 79:6; 2Th 1:8. Ministers should Compassionate those in. -- ”
- II Corinthians “II Corinthians 5:21 (BBE) — For him who had no knowledge of sin God made to be sin for us; so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.”
- 2 Corinthians “For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. -- 2 Corinthians 5:21”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 58:3: 58:3 All human beings are born sinners (see 51:5); however, whereas the wicked indulge their sinful nature, the godly fight against it (Rom 7:19-23; Jas 4:1-10).”
- Genesis (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Genesis 3:13: beguiled--cajoled by flattering lies. This sin of the first pair was heinous and aggravated--it was not simply eating an apple, but a love of self, dishonor to God, ingratitude to a benefactor, disobedience to the best of Masters--a preference of the creature to the Creator.”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 19:13: 19:13 An individual who commits deliberate sins does so with an insolent (86:14) or arrogant (119:21, 69) attitude. • The great sin is rebellion (see 32:1).”
- Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 1:18: 1:18–3:20 Paul delays exploring the theme of righteousness through faith (see 3:21) until after he first teaches about universal sinfulness. Gentiles (1:18-32) and Jews (2:1–3:8) are equally under sin’s power and cannot find favor with God by any action of their own (3:9-20). 1:18 God’s anger is not a spontaneous emotional outburst, but the holy God’s necessary response to sin. The Old Testament often depicts God’s anger (Exod 32:10-12; Num 11:1; Jer 21:3-7) and predicts a decisive outpouring of God’s wrath on human sin at the end of history. While Paul usually de”
- Leviticus (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Leviticus 4 (introduction): SIN OFFERING OF IGNORANCE. (Lev 4:1-2) If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the Lord--a soul--an individual. All sins may be considered, in a certain sense, as committed "through ignorance," error, or misapprehension of one's true interests. The sins, however, referred to in this law were unintentional violations of the ceremonial laws,--breaches made through haste, or inadvertency of some negative precepts, which, if done knowingly and wilfully, would have involved a capital punishment. do against ”
- John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on John 16:3: Because they have not known the Father - See on Joh 15:25 (note). Ignorance of the benevolence of God, and of the philanthropy of Christ, is the grand fountain whence all religious persecution and intolerance proceed.”
- Leviticus (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Leviticus 4:2: If a soul shall sin through ignorance - That is, if any man shall do what God has forbidden, or leave undone what God has commanded, through ignorance of the law relative to these points; as soon as the transgression or omission comes to his knowledge, he shall offer the sacrifice here prescribed, and shall not suppose that his ignorance is an excuse for his sin. He who, when his iniquity comes to his knowledge, refuses to offer such a sacrifice, sins obstinately and wilfully, and to him there remains no other sacrifice for sin - no other mode by which he can be r”