Understanding the Message of “God Tolerates Our Ignorance for a Time”
The phrase “God tolerates our ignorance for a time” comes from the Bible, in Acts 17:30. In simple terms, this means that there was a period when God did not judge people harshly for not truly understanding who He is or how to be saved. But now, things have changed, and God wants everyone to turn to Him.
The Setting: Paul in Athens
The Apostle Paul said these words in the city of Athens, where people worshipped many different gods and even had an altar “to the unknown god.” Paul noticed that, despite their many religious practices, they didn’t really know the true God. He spoke to the Greeks, explaining that God had previously let people go their own way because they didn’t have a clear message about Him.
Why Did God Overlook Ignorance Before?
· Lack of Knowledge: In the past, most people didn’t have the chance to know God as He really is. God had mainly revealed Himself to Israel, not to all nations.
· No Clear Good News: Before Jesus came, there wasn’t a simple and clear way for everyone to understand God’s plan for saving people.
God was patient during this time. He didn’t judge everyone immediately for not knowing Him, because they didn’t have the full story.
What Changed with Jesus?
· Jesus’s Coming: When Jesus arrived, He revealed God’s true nature and showed the way to be saved through his life, death, and resurrection.
· Everyone Is Invited: Now, the message of salvation is for all people, not just one group or nation.
· Command to Repent: God now calls everyone, everywhere, to change their hearts, turn away from wrong things, and turn toward Him.
· Judgment Will Come: The time for excuses is over. God is fair, but He has set a day when He will judge everyone. Now that people know the truth, they are responsible for how they respond.
Paul’s Message to the Greeks—and to Us
Paul wanted the Greeks to move away from worshipping many gods and instead to know and worship the true Creator. He explained that, while God was patient with their past mistakes, things are now different. God’s message is clear, and He invites everyone to respond by believing in Him and turning away from wrong.
The Main Point
In short, “God tolerates our ignorance for a time” means that God was patient when people didn’t know better. But now that Jesus has come and the truth is revealed, God calls everyone to turn to Him and live according to His ways.
This message shows both God’s kindness and His call for us to make a change. God is not distant or unknown—He wants all of us to know Him and follow Him.
Minister A Francine Green
August 2025
afrancinegreen.com 