Leviticus 4:24:13-14Numbers 15:24-29Numbers 15:30-31Leviticus 4:134:224:27Leviticus 4:1Leviticus 5:5-6Numbers 15:30-31Leviticus 5:18Psalm 119:10Job 4:4Proverbs 19:27

The New Testament speaks of past ignorance which God excuses. Such was the ignorance of those Jews who participated in crucifying Jesus (Acts 3:17; Acts 13:27 ), of Paul who persecuted Christians (1 Timothy 1:13 ), and of Gentiles who did not recognize the true God (Acts 17:30 ). Though God “winks at” such past ignorance, He requires repentance (Acts 3:19; Acts 17:30 ). Obedience characterizes lives of the converted just as ignorant desires characterize those without Christ (1 Peter 1:14 ). The New Testament speaks of deliberate ignorance as well as “excusable” ignorance. Most often deliberate ignorance involves the stubborn refusal to acknowledge nature's witness to the powerful existence of God (Romans 1:18-21; Ephesians 4:18; 2 Peter 3:5 ).