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On October 6, 1975, in a column by Ann Landers (really Eppie Lederer who wrote under the Ann Landers pseudonym in 1975) the importance of an education was emphasized.  Ann Landers replied to a questioner who was challenging having an education because of its expense, “If you think education is expensive–try ignorance.”  Truly, ignorance has its price. Ignorance of God’s will can cost you your soul.  Ignorance is simply not knowing some information content.  Ignorance of the truth (God’s Word, John 17:17) generally means an affirmation of some error.  Truth saves.  Error damns.  “And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (II Thess. 2:11-12).  Some believe that there is some protection in being ignorant (Ignorance is bliss).  However, when we put this concept to the test of truth, it fails.
Ignorance of the Law Excuses Not
Ignorance of the law excuses no one.  A person who is unaware of a law may not escape liability (culpability) for violating that law merely because he/she was ignorant of its content.  The IRS holds you responsible to pay your taxes even if you are unaware of all the taxes that you may owe.  Penalties are assessed even though you did not know.  God also holds us accountable to know His will and He does not accept ignorance as an excuse.  “And the times of this ignorance God winked at: but now commandeth all men every where to repent” (Acts 17:30).  Repentance is a universal command of God’s Word and it must be obeyed by every accountable person.  The reason is stated in the next verse, “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.”
Ignorance Does Not Imply Innocence
In Luke 23:34, Jesus said, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”  While Jesus was on the cross, He prayed for His enemies to be forgiven of the sin of ignorance.  The fact that Jesus prays for their forgiveness indicates that they have sinned by acting in ignorance.  Ignorance hides unbelief.  The unbelieving Jews rejected Jesus and disobeyed God’s Will. The fact that they acted in ignorance, betrays their unbelief.  Remember, the apostle Paul also acted in ignorance, but was not innocent.  Paul writes the following words descriptive of himself, “Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief” (I Tim. 1:13-14).  Paul was ignorant.  Because of his ignorance of who Jesus truly was, he manifested unbelief and so sinned against Jesus and God.  On the day of Pentecost, Peter (along with the other apostles) proclaimed the gospel of Christ.  Peter’s sermon is recorded in Acts 2.  Peter convicts his audience of the sin of murdering Jesus (Acts 2:23).  As Jesus said, they did this in ignorance.  Yet, they are commanded to repent of this sin and be baptized into the name of Jesus for the remission of sin (Acts 2:37-38).  Peter also preached the gospel to the Jews gathered together in the vicinity of Solomon’s porch near the temple.  In Acts 3:17, he declares, “And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.”  What did they do?  “But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you.  And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses” (Acts 3:14-15).  These unbelieving Jews were unaware of the consequences of their own acts leading to the detriment of their own souls.  Ignorance is not bliss!
Some Consequences Of Ignorance
Ignorance produces spiritual and moral darkness. Paul states, “Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart” (Eph. 4:18). Ignorance brings destruction to God’s people. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children” (Hosea 4:6).  Ignorance leads to sin which in turn leads to spiritual death.  In Acts 17:30, the ignorance referenced is idolatry.  God suffered all nations to walk in their own ways (Acts 14:16), but now, He commands them to repent of every type of sin.  If they do not repent, they will perish (Luke 13:3-5; Rom. 6:23).
The Cure For Ignorance
The gospel of Christ includes a universal call to repentance (Luke 24:47, “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning in Jerusalem”).  The church’s mission is to proclaim the gospel to every person (Mark 16:15-16).  Truth frees (John 8:32).  Ignorance enslaves to sin (John 8:34).  The commands of God must be honored by every person.  The conscience of man must be enlightened with truth.  The heart of man must believe unto salvation and the tongue confess Christ as Lord (Rom. 10:9-10).  The spiritual status of each person must be changed by undergoing the new birth (baptism into Christ) John 3:3-5; Rom. 6:4.  Every step of obedience must be accomplished out of love for God (John 14:15).  Ignorance is ultimately conquered by obedience to the truth (I Pet 1:22-23).