Does God sill Wink at Sin?

[cavell]

Was Paul being patronising when he said "and the times of this ignorance God winked at"

Does God sill wink when people are not aware about sin?

Acts 17 v 16.........

 

[Oye11]

Was Paul being patronising when he said "and the times of this ignorance God winked at"

Does God sill wink when people are not aware about sin?

Acts 17 v 16.........

Hi. I noticed you haven`t gotten a reply yet so I`ll take a stab... Paul like the rest of the bible writers has a propensity for using figures of speech of which "winked at" surely is. But the principle I believe relates to judgment based on the light each person is given. this is elaborated well in the "Parable of the Faithful Servant," Luke 12-41-48, particularly the last verse. And in Acts 17 that you speak of, Paul was evangelizing the pagan Athenians with the Gospel, first time hearers. Here is Luke 12-48:

But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

 

[Concetta]

Good question, interesting info.

 

[cavell]

The Greek word translated “winked at” is hypereidon which comes from eidon “looked” and hyper, “over”. The NASB, ESV, NIV, RSV all translate it “overlooked”.

Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.” (Acts 17:30-31 NASB95)

In my mind what this means is that God passed over this time without immediately bringing His wrath to bear upon their sin. This does not mean that God forgave their sin because of their ignorance, but that He did not pour out His wrath at that time. There is a day that is fixed where God will judge the world in righteousness. He may have overlooked or passed over sins at a certain time, but will certainly judge the world in righteousness.

Paul writes in Romans 2,

Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to each person according to his deeds (Romans 2:4-6 NASB95)

 

[Oye11]

Thanks Cavel. Post more such questions if you find the time. I always enjoy a study challenge.

 

[MarkEvan]

Does God overlook sins we commit in ignorance...............I think He does, provided that we are doing all out of faith. Paul says at the end of romans 14 that "whatever does not proceed from faith is sin," and james says at the end of chapter 4 "he then that knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin," from what I understand of the scriptures it is possible for us to be serving God throough "faith working through love" and yet because we have not "all knowledge" there is still the possibility that we will sin unknowingly. These instances I believe are covered by Jesus blood, as in the OT sins of ignorance still needed sacrifices for them to be covered so it is with us, these sins still required that Jesus pay the price for them. But as Peter said "love covers a multitude of sins," personally I believe that this verse covers these eventualities (amongst other things).


Mark

 

[FaithfulRemnant]

No, God is not just overlooking sin. As it goes on to say He now "commands men everywhere to repent." If sin was just being overlooked, why repent? Why confess sin? Why did Jesus suffer and rise from the dead? Why do the Apostles talk of a future judgement of the inhabitants of the earth? If God is still winking it causes a lot of questioning. He's no longer winking, but is now commanding repentance(Acts 2:37-38, 3:19, 26:17-18, Luke 24:47 etc).

 

[MarkEvan]

My appologies I was talking of born again believers commiting unknown sin, becasue of their level of understanding.
Those who are not born again will be judged on whether they accepted Christ, "this is the work of God to believe in me."


Mark