As a matter of fact, the Lord has repeatedly warned that we must not find ourselves in a position of being “sincerely ignorant” of what we must do to be saved. Paul pointed this out concerning the Jews in Romans 10:1-3. In verse one he claims that they are not saved. In verses two and three he commends their motivation (“they have a zeal for God”), but identifies their problem (“but not according to knowledge”). Here were a people very zealous for God, but since they were ignorant of God’s way of bringing them to righteousness, they were lost.
Jesus warned in John 16:2 that there were those who would kill Christians thinking they were offering God service. Just as Saul of Tarsus, they were sincerely serving God, but murderers nonetheless.
Jesus also warned in Matthew 7:21-23 that on the day of Judgment there would be those who would complain about being left out because they had done “many mighty works” in His name. But Jesus said that His reply will be that He never knew them because they worked “lawlessness.” We cannot serve God sincerely and at the same time not obey His laws.
We need to also point out, however, that this is not to imply that one must be perfectly doctrinally correct in order to be saved. There is no doubt we must understand and do exactly what the Lord says if we will be saved. But when we first come to the Lord by being baptized for the forgiveness of our sins, there are many things that we will not have an accurate understanding of. For example, the Jews who came to Christ on the day of Pentecost, did not yet understand that Gentiles could be saved without circumcision. The Corinthians obviously had a number of things that they did not understand correctly and needed Paul’s instruction. We are required to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (II Peter 3:18). We will certainly not have perfect understanding of all things, but we must grow and we must constantly correct those things that are amiss in our lives. If we put forth diligence by searching the scriptures daily (II Timothy 2:15; Acts 17:11), we will not find ourselves ignorant of those things the Lord requires of us. The things He requires of us are not difficult, they are not far off, but “in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it” (Deuteronomy 30:11-14).
Possibly related:
- Holy Spirit baptism is what saves. That is evident by the example of Cornelius and his household (Acts 10:44-46).
- What about my mother/father? They died without doing these things and if what you say is true, they are lost!
- John 3:16, Romans 10:9-10 and Acts 16:31 plainly tell us that all a person has to do is believe in order to be saved.