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THE SHAMEFULNESS OF BEING IGNORANT OF GOD
KNOWLEDGE is the foundation of all acceptable obedience. We must know whom we are to serve; and why we are to serve him; and what are the services that he requires at our hands. Hence the Scriptures represent us first as “renewed in knowledge after the image of him who created us [Note: Col_3:10.].” On the other hand, ignorance is the root of all sin. It was to this, as its proper source, that our Saviour and his Apostles traced the wickedness of the Jews in crucifying the Lord of glory, and in persecuting his followers [Note: Joh_16:3. Act_3:17. 1Co_2:8.]. To this also St. Paul referred the conduct of those at Corinth who taught, that “there was no resurrection of the dead.” From their erroneous views of this fundamental doctrine, and the consequent sinfulness of their conduct, he was sure that they were ignorant of God himself; and therefore he declared it to their shame.
The same may be said in reference to ourselves, if we err in any other fundamental point of faith or practice. In order therefore to bring it home to ourselves, we shall shew,
I. What is that knowledge of God, which, as Christians, we are supposed to possess—
God has revealed himself to us in his blessed word; and we ought to know him,
1. In his essential perfections—
[These perfections he proclaimed by an audible voice to Moses, in answer to that prayer of his highly favoured servant, “I beseech thee, shew me thy glory [Note: Exo_33:18.].” The Lord passed by before him and proclaimed, The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty [Note: Exo_34:6-7.].” Yet it is not merely a speculative knowledge of him that we ought to possess, but such a knowledge as produces suitable emotions in our minds. The devils could say to our Saviour, “We know thee who thou art:” and in like manner they are acquainted with all the perfections of Jehovah; but their knowledge is unattended with any sanctifying influence: they know God, but they cannot love him; they see his holiness, and hate it; his justice, and tremble at it; his power, and lament it; his mercy, and despair of it; his grace, and oppose it; his wisdom, and endeavour to counteract it. But this view of him must fill us with wonder, and love, and gratitude, and affiance — — —]
2. As reconciled to us in the Son of his love—
[This more particularly characterizes us as Christians, because in this view he is fully exhibited to us in the Gospel. It is our happy privilege not only to have “the day-star from on high risen upon us,” but to have God himself “shining into our hearts, to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” In the cross of Christ we should see all the perfections of God united, and harmonizing, and glorified; or, as the Psalmist expresses it, we should see “mercy and truth met together, and righteousness and peace kissing each other [Note: Psa_85:10.].” We should realize every perfection of the Deity in this view: we should see his wisdom as providing a plan for the redemption of a ruined world, and as opening a way for the exercise of mercy, without infringing upon the rights of justice, or holiness, or truth. We should see even justice itself become our friend, and beaming upon us with the same benignity as love or mercy, seeing that its utmost demands have been satisfied in the atonement of Christ, and all the glory of heaven has been purchased for us by his obedience unto death — — — In a word, the language of David should be the language of our hearts: “Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds. Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O Lord, thou preservest man and beast. How excellent is thy loving-kindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light [Note: Psa_36:5-9.].”]
Such is the knowledge of God which every Christian ought to possess. I proceed to shew,
II. Why it is a shame not to possess it—
Of many things we may all be ignorant without any imputation on our character. But to be destitute of the knowledge of God is a shame to all, because it is,
1. The most excellent of all knowledge—
[The knowledge of philosophy is a very valuable acquisition: but it is not to be compared with the knowledge of God, since that infinitely surpasses every thing that can occupy the Human mind. How glorious is it for a worm of the earth to see the perfections of the invisible God! to behold them all shining forth in the face of Jesus Christ! and, above all, to see them all interested in his salvation! How glorious is it for a helpless sinner to know that he has omnipotence for his support, and unbounded mercy for his refuge! How glorious is it for such an unworthy creature to survey the justice and holiness, the power and wisdom, the love and mercy, the truth and faithfulness of God, and then to say, “This God is my God for ever and ever [Note: Psa_48:14.]!” Surely every thing else in comparison of this is lighter than vanity itself. And whoever seeks any other knowledge in preference to this, has reason to blush for his stupidity, and to be ashamed of his choice.]
2. The most needful of all knowledge—
[The knowledge of trade, and of politics, is necessary for the welfare of a state: but a statesman need not be conversant with the lowest branches of trade; nor need a tradesman know how to govern a state. But the knowledge of God is every man’s business; it is that for which God has brought him into existence, and for which the ordinances of the Gospel are continued to him. Every man is more interested in this, than even in providing bread for his body: for he may have food supplied to him by the benevolence of others; but who can supply the lack of this knowledge, or what substitute can be found for it? Without that a man can have no happiness; because, till he has it, he is exposed to the wrath of Almighty God. Without that he can have no holiness; because holiness is the fruit that springs from it, and therefore cannot subsist without it. Without that he can have no salvation; for “to know God and Christ is eternal life [Note: Joh_17:3.];” and when Christ shall come to judgment, it will be for the express purpose of “taking vengeance on them that know not God [Note: 2Th_1:7-8.].” If then it be a shame to be destitute of all good, and to be a miserable outcast from heaven, it is a shame to be ignorant of God.]
3. The most easy to be obtained of all knowledge—
[There are many things which men have not a capacity to learn. But even the weakest of men may attain the knowledge of God, if they will seek it in God’s appointed way. Our Lord returns thanks to his heavenly Father on this very account, “because the things which he has hid from the wise and prudent, are revealed unto babes [Note: Mat_11:25.].” Nor is this expression merely figurative; for Samuel, Josiah, Timothy, and John, are standing monuments to the Church, that “God will ordain strength in the mouths of babes and sucklings [Note: Psa_8:2. with Mat_21:16.].” In reference to this knowledge then, no man has any excuse for his ignorance; no man can say, “I am no scholar, and therefore have no reason to be ashamed;” for all may know the Lord, if they will seek the enlightening influences of his Spirit, since God has pledged himself, that “if any man lack wisdom, and ask it of him, he will give it liberally, and without upbraiding [Note: Jam_1:5.].”]
Application—
[Let those who know not God as reconciled to them in Christ Jesus, begin to seek that knowledge without delay. And let those who do know him, give God the glory: for though an ignorance of him is to our shame, the honour arising from this distinction, belongs to God alone; since it is “he who has given us an understanding to know him [Note: 1Jn_5:20.].”]