Things New and Old: The times of this ignorance God winked at... and some questions

Things New and Old

Ancient truths revealed in the Scriptures are often forgotten, disbelieved or distorted, and therefore lost in the passage of time. Such ancient truths when rediscovered and relearned are 'new' additions to the treasury of ancient truths.

Christ showed many new things to the disciples, things prophesied by the prophets of old but hijacked and perverted by the elders and their traditions, but which Christ reclaimed and returned to His people.

Many things taught by the Apostles of Christ have been perverted or substituted over the centuries. Such fundamental doctrines like salvation by grace and justification have been hijacked and perverted and repudiated by sincere Christians. These doctrines need to be reclaimed and restored to God's people.

There are things both new and old here. "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things" 2Ti 2:7.

Monday, July 3, 2017

The times of this ignorance God winked at... and some questions

to wink at - to overlook, take no notice of, not attend to
https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G5237&t=KJV

The times of this ignorance God winked at, but now commandeth all men every where to repent.

Cease to be ignorant, seek the truth, know it, and believe it.
The time of God winking at ignorance is over.

Acts 17

22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom, therefore, ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you....
30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

Some questions for you to ponder.

1. Whose ignorance in times past did God wink at?

- all men without distinction?

- If God had winked at their ignorance, were they all saved then?

- Or His children among the Gentile?

2. Who is held responsible by God to know and worship Him rightly?

3. Those whose ignorance God winked at:

- in what way was their ignorance related to their standing before God?

- in what way did God's act of winking at their ignorance affects their standing before God?

- in what way does the ignorance or knowledge of God affects (i.e. saves or ruins) a man?

4. Why were those times of ignorance overlooked?

- Was such ignorance in theocratic Israel similarly tolerated? Why?

5. What has brought the change?

- why is such ignorance not tolerated anymore?

6. Who are the "all men every where" - every single person of the human race, or God's children who are scattered everywhere - that are commanded to repent and believe the truth concerning Christ?

- who has the obligation to believe that Jesus Christ is their Lord and Saviour?

You may have some questions too. Feel free to ask. Then we can search the Scriptures. I will answer them if I can.

Thanks.