Is a person guilty who sins in ignorance? When he discovers his guilt in ignorance, what should he do? (Cont'd.)

Those who have known the godly teachings and practices of the Full Gospel churches of 40-60 years ago and who have studied the Bible should know better. Some have changed or become deceived because of their rebellious hearts and their desire to please people or to be like other people.

Those who have not known and who have lacked teaching may be violating godly principles out of ignorance. Under the Old Testament provision was made for the forgiveness of sins done through ignorance (Numbers 15:27-29). Sins committed knowingly and presumptuously were dealt with very seriously. (See verse 30.) When we have been wrong because of ignorance or no knowing, we should still repent and seek the Lord's forgiveness and then not go on presumptuously. God will be pleased if we obey His Word.

Should preachers just be concerned with bringing people to the Lord and then "Let the Holy Spirit teach them right from wrong?" Or should he himself, teach them how to live holy lives? Is "love" the most important matter to teach?

Part of the Great Commission is "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (Matthew 28:19-20 - Evangelization). But the other part is "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you." Teaching converts to obey the commandments (do's and don'ts) of the Lord is the second half of Jesus' commission to His messengers.

We were in a Sunday morning service in Manila, Philippines, where a pastor has a thousands of people attending his services. At one point he referred to what Jesus said in Matthew 23:9, "Call no man your father upon the earth: for one is you Father, which is in heaven." The people cheered him for repeating that Scripture, but I wonder what they thought when in a sentence or so later he said that the Lord told him to call the Catholic priest "Father." Would Jesus contradict His written Word? This might be only the "tip of the iceburg." We have heard various ones "talk out of both sides of their mouth" things that are self-contradictory.

Is it enough to teach people to pray, praise, and worship the Lord? Proverbs 28:9 says, "He that turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination."

Jesus said in John 4:23, "...The true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship Him in spirit and in truth." Worship in the Spirit is right and proper, but it must also be in truth.

The verse we used at the beginning of this lesson tells us that man looks on the outward appearance. Man cannot see all that is in your heart. What does he read from your outward appearance? Does he see that you care more about being like the world, following the styles and practices, or does he read from your outward appearance that pleasing God with a wholesome, godly appearance is important to you and that you have convictions based on the principles of Scripture that you will not violate?