Dear Friend,

Let it never be said that ignorance is acceptable. It's not, especially in Christians, and most especially in ministers. Paul strenuously objected to Christians being ignorant, particularly in five subjects.

Consider these authoritative, inspired orders from the chief of apostles. We must be informed, not ignorant, concerning:

#1 - GOD'S PLAN FOR ISRAEL: "I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in" (Romans 11:25). And in Romans 9-11, Paul carefully explains what is currently happening with Israel, and what is yet to come for the Jews, so we will not be ignorant of God's plan.

Have you studied these three illuminating chapters? If so, you know a remnant of Israel will turn to Jesus in these last days and, despite a 2,000-year delay, Israel will yet fulfill her divine destiny to win the nations to God.

#2 - CHRISTIAN SUFFERINGS & TRIALS: "We would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life" (2 Corinthians 1:8). Paul wanted the churches to know what demanding trials and unfair sufferings he and his ministry team had endured, and how God had nevertheless kept them, brought them through, and used them to give Paul even more knowledge of Christ, comforting insights, spiritual authority, and faith. Why? So Paul could effectively encourage others to endure their trials. He did not want young converts to ignorantly imagine the Christian walk would be easy and without serious challenges to their faith, patience, love, and endurance.

Are you expecting testing so you, too, can grow, develop, and become Christlike? Or are you under the ignorant delusion that Jesus will keep challenges and hardships far from you?

#3 - DANGER OF CHRISTIANS REMAINING "YET CARNAL": "I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea … but with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown [overcome by their sins] in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples …" (1 Corinthians 10:1-6). Paul taught the Israelites' experiences were examples to us. He particularly used their sin, unbelief, and rebellion in the wilderness, which caused them to never develop spiritually but remain immature and displeasing to God, to warn us to not stop short in our character development. After spiritual rebirth, spiritual growth should begin and, as we consistently submit to, trust in, and obey God in the trials He arranges day by day, this should lead to spiritual maturity - consistent Christlikeness in thought, word, and behavior.

Are you aware God wants you to grow up spiritually and finish your predestined life works in a state of Christlike spiritual maturity? Or are you ignorant of God's purposes, and blindly content to remain "yet carnal" (1 Corinthians 3:1-4) - saved but unchanged - and grieve your Savior?

#4 - SPIRITUAL GIFTS: "Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant" (1 Corinthians 12:1). Spiritual gifts were extraordinarily present in the Spirit-filled, Spirit-led early church; today they are extraordinarily absent! But Paul's exhortation remains inspired and applicable to all Christians in all eras. Jesus has not left His church without what she needs to overcome her trials and complete her mission in this hostile world. He left us with a rich Baptism with the fullness of the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit's amazing gifts that comfort, guide, reassure, warn, heal, strengthen, and deliver us when we need them, especially in times of trouble or persecution.

Are you informed or ignorant concerning the Baptism and gifts of the Holy Spirit? If ignorant, you are missing a tremendous part of the Christian walk and work personally endorsed and persistently practiced by the apostle Paul himself (1 Corinthians 12, 14). Why remain ignorant, when you may be informed and inspired to receive these wondrous grace-gifts, so the Parakletos may operate through you to deliver or bless many in desperate need of His help?

#5 - JESUS' APPEARING TO CATCH AWAY HIS CHURCH: "I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope … For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words" (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Paul wasn't fanatical about Jesus' return, but he was fervent about it! He didn't yawn over this matter, he yearned for it! How could any true lover of Christ not love Christ's appearing to catch them away?

The biblical signs of the time are shouting to us that Jesus' appearing is imminent, but instead of listening intently and preparing diligently, we are lackadaisical about the whole matter - precisely as Jesus predicted His people would be just before He returned (Matthew 25:1-13)! Millions of Christians are uninformed. Thousands of pastors are unsure of Christ's coming, or are in unbelief. Ignorance of the "things to come" has left us unprepared for them. Are you willing to get informed about Jesus appearing - the Rapture - and inspired to continue your spiritual growth, finish your course of works, and be "caught up together ... to meet the Lord" and forever be with Him?

Now Paul did not claim these were the only areas of divine truth of which we must not be ignorant. Rather, he asserted they are all important and we must be sufficiently well-informed concerning them. Dare we, therefore, dismiss any of them as unimportant and fail to thoroughly research them? And remember, we may be highly intelligent, well educated, and fully indoctrinated, yet remain ignorant of some of the things Paul mentioned above.

May Christ help us never be content to be ignorant. In these areas of divine truth, and many others, ignorance is not desired!

Not content to not know,

Greg Hinnant
Greg Hinnant Ministries