Ignorance is not innocence but sin.
Robert Browning
He who knows nothing will believe anything.
Thomas Fuller
It is worse still to be ignorant of your ignorance.
St Jerome
As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:14-16.
The Danger of Ignorance and the Call to Holiness
Before Christ, we lived in “former ignorance” (1 Peter 1:14), unaware of the possibility of a relationship with God. Ignorance blinds us, enslaves us, and keeps us from the life we were created for. But in Christ, we are called to something greater—holiness.
The Former Ignorance: A Life Without Christ
Before salvation, we followed our own desires, shaping right and wrong by personal preference rather than God’s truth. The Bible warns:
“They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.” (Ephesians 4:18)
Ignorance of God’s holiness leads to a life where sin feels normal. But Christ calls us to transformation.
The New Life: A Call to Holiness
Peter commands: “Do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.” (1 Peter 1:14-15)
Holiness is not optional—it is the essence of the Christian life. It means being set apart for God, rejecting our former ways, and living according to His will.
Why Ignorance is Dangerous – If we ignore our call to holiness, we risk slipping back into old patterns:
“For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world… they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.” (2 Peter 2:20).
A casual approach to holiness leads to spiritual complacency, compromise, and distance from God.
Living in Holiness:
- Renew Your Mind – Align your thoughts with God’s truth (Romans 12:2).
- Reject Old Patterns – Do not conform to past desires.
- Pursue God’s Presence – Spend time in prayer, worship, and His Word.
- Walk in Obedience – Holiness is an active pursuit, not just avoiding sin.
- Remember Your Identity – You are a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Pastor Brad
