God has never hidden himself from men - quite the reverse in fact

God’s will is for all men to come to the knowledge of the truth:

1 Timothy 2:4 (KJV) Who will have all men…to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

We see here that the truth referred to must go beyond a knowledge of the gospel, because it is saved men (i.e. men that have already believed the gospel) that God wills to learn the truth.

Ignorance before God

Ignorance is not a good look before God:

Psalm 73:22 (KJV) So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.

Isaiah 1:3 (KJV) The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.

John 3:10 (KJV) Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?

Paul sought to correct ignorance amongst the saints:

Romans 11:25 (KJV) For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

1 Corinthians 10:1 (KJV) Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

1 Corinthians 12:1 (KJV) Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

2 Corinthians 2:11 (KJV) Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Romans 6:3 (KJV) Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

Romans 6:16 (KJV) Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

Romans 7:1 (KJV) Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?

1 Corinthians 3:16 (KJV) Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

1 Corinthians 5:6 (KJV) Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

1 Corinthians 6:2 (KJV) Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

1 Corinthians 6:3 (KJV) Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

1 Corinthians 6:9 (KJV) Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

1 Corinthians 6:15 (KJV) Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.

1 Corinthians 6:16 (KJV) What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.

1 Corinthians 6:19 (KJV) What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

1 Corinthians 9:13 (KJV) Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?

1 Corinthians 9:24 (KJV) Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

Notice that this means it is possible to be saved and yet be ignorant of the truth.

Correcting ignorance of the truth was the purpose of Paul’s ministry to the church

Paul’s ministry to the church corrected ignorance by imparting truth…

Romans 1:11 (KJV) For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;

1 Thessalonians 3:2 (KJV) And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:

1 Corinthians 2:6 (KJV) Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:

1 Thessalonians 3:10 (KJV) Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

…and by correcting un-truth (false doctrine):

Philippians 3:17-19 (KJV) Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

Ignorance is not innocence

In the dispensation of grace, when all the counsel of God is available (Acts 20:27; Colossians 1;25), ignorance is a darkened spiritual condition:

Ephesians 4:17-18 (KJV) This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

Ignorance corrected; being perfect

The notion of being perfect does not mean flawless or sinless. Rather it references maturity, completeness and wholeness. It is predicated on having the knowledge of the truth.

Colossians 1:28 (KJV) Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

Paul is not expressing a desire for sinlessness amongst the saints - that cannot happen until they receive their new bodies (Romans 7:18). Rather, Paul’s is expressing his desire that his preaching, warning and teaching of the truth will allow them to grow to full maturity in Christ.

A similar idea is expressed later in the same epistle, recognising Epaphras’ role in this:

Colossians 4:12 (KJV) Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.