Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers
Page 437
"God will not condemn any at the judgment because they
honestly believed a lie, or conscientiously cherished error; but it will
be because they
neglected the opportunities of making themselves acquainted
with truth. The infidel will be condemned, not because he was an infidel,
but because he did not take advantage of the means God has placed within
his reach to enable him to become a Christian."
Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers
Page 110
"If a brother is teaching error, those who are in responsible
positions ought to know it; and if he is teaching truth, they ought to
take their stand at his side. We should all know what is being taught
among us; for if it is truth, we need to know it. The Sabbath school
teacher needs to know it, and every Sabbath school scholar ought to understand
it. We are all under obligation to God to understand what He sends us.
He has given directions by which we may test every doctrine."
S.D.A. Bible Commentary Vol. 7
REV14---PR- 04---PG- 963
Rev.
3:14-18
But notwithstanding their willful ignorance, they are
not left by the Lord without added warning and counsel (MS 138, 1902).
S.D.A. Bible Commentary Vol. 6
PG- 1056
Acts
3:17
No Excuse for Willful Ignorance.
"I wot that through ignorance ye did it," said Peter;
but this ignorance did not excuse the action; for they had had great light
granted unto them. The statement is made that had they known that He was
the Prince of life, they would not have crucified Him. But why did they
not know?--because they chose not to know. They had no interest to search
and study, and their ignorance proved their eternal ruin. They had had
the strongest evidence on which to base their faith, and they were under
obligation to God to accept the evidence He had given them. Their unbelief
made them guilty of the blood of the only begotten Son of the infinite
God "(MS 9, 1898).
Counsels on Diet and Foods
Page 18-- (1900) 6T 369, 370
" Since the laws of nature are the laws of God, it is
plainly our duty to give these laws careful study. We should study their
requirements in regard to our own bodies, and conform to them. Ignorance
in these things is sin."
S.D.A. Bible Commentary Vol. 5
Page 1145
John
15:22
(ch.
5:40; Luke
12:48). No Provision for Willful Blindness. John
15:22 quoted.. . . "Those who have an opportunity to hear the truth,
and yet take no pains to hear or understand it, thinking that if they do
not hear, they will not be accountable, will be judged guilty before God
the same as if they had heard and rejected. There will be no excuse for
those who choose to go in error when they might understand what is truth.
In His sufferings and death Jesus has made atonement for all sins of ignorance,
but there is no provision made for willful blindness. . . ."
Christ's Object Lessons
The Sower Went Forth to Sow
Page 59
This "is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it."
The Pharisees of Christ's day closed their eyes lest they should see, and
their ears lest they should hear; therefore the truth could not reach their
hearts. They were to suffer retribution for their willful ignorance and
self-imposed blindness. But Christ taught His disciples that they were
to open their minds to instruction, and be ready to believe. He pronounced
a blessing upon them because they saw and heard with eyes and ears that
believed.
Patriarchs and Prophets
In the Wilderness
Page 408
"Soon after the return into the wilderness, an instance
of Sabbath violation occurred, under circumstances that rendered it a case
of peculiar guilt. The Lord's nnouncement that He would disinherit Israel
had roused a spirit of rebellion. One of the people, angry at being excluded
from Canaan, and determined to show his defiance of God's law, ventured
upon the open transgression of the fourth commandment by going out to gather
sticks upon the Sabbath. During the sojourn in the wilderness the kindling
of fires upon the seventh day had been strictly prohibited. The prohibition
was not to extend to the land of Canaan, where the severity of the climate
would often render fires a necessity; but in the wilderness, fire was not
needed for warmth.
The act of this man was a willful and deliberate
violation of the fourth commandment--a sin, not of thoughtlessness or ignorance,
but of presumption."
Testimonies for the Church Volume Five
Page 273
"More thought should be given to the things of God, and
less to temporal matters. The world-loving professor, if he will exercise
his mind in that direction, may become as familiar with the word of God
as he now is with worldly business. "Search the Scriptures," said Christ;
"for in them ye think ye have eternal life; and they are they which testify
of Me." The Christian is required to be diligent in searching the Scriptures,
to read over and over again the truths of God's word. Willful ignorance
on this subject endangers the Christian life and character. It blinds the
understanding and corrupts the noblest powers. It is this that brings confusion
into our lives. Our people need to understand the oracles of God; they
need to have a systematic knowledge of the principles of revealed truth,
which will fit them for what is coming upon the earth and prevent them
from being carried about by every wind of doctrine."
Testimonies on Sexual Behavior, Adultery, and Divorce
Love for the Erring and tempted
Page 263
"But how little of the pitying tenderness of Christ is
manifested by His professed followers! When one errs, others too often
feel at liberty to make the case appear as bad as possible. Those who perhaps
are guilty of fully as great sins in some other direction, will treat their
brother with cruel severity. Errors committed through ignorance, thoughtlessness,
or weakness are exaggerated into willful, premeditated sin. As they see
souls going astray, some fold their hands and say, "I told you so. I knew
there was no dependence to be placed upon them." Thus they place themselves
in the attitude of Satan, exulting in spirit that their evil surmisings
have proved to be correct."--5T 604, 605.
" But notwithstanding their willful ignorance, they are
not left by the Lord without added warning and counsel. "I counsel thee,"
He pleads, "to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich;
and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy
nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou
mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore,
and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My
voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him,
and he with Me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My
throne, even as I also overcome, and am set down with My Father in His
throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the
churches" [Rev.
3:18-22].