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The True God

The True God. Acts 17:22-31. Acts 17:22-31.

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The True God

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  1. The True God Acts 17:22-31

  2. Acts 17:22-31 22Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; 23 for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: 24 God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. 25 Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things….

  3. 26And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, 27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28 for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’ 29Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising. 30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”

  4. He Made All Things • God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands (v 24) • Both Scripture & our world declare God as Creator • Acts 14:15 Made heaven, earth, sea & all in them • Rom. 1:20 Power & divinity seen thru things made • Denying that God created all things demands folly of rejecting the obvious • Happens when men think they are wiser than God • Often a wish more than belief due to immorality

  5. He Provides for Mankind • Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things (v 25) • God’s blessings have been showered on all people • Matt. 5:45 Makes sun rise & rain fall on just & unjust • Psa. 33:5 Earth is full of the goodness of the Lord • Man could not exist for a moment without God’s provisions in all aspects of life • It is the nature of God to draw man to Him by love • To spurn the goodness of God is without excuse

  6. He Made All Nations • And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings (v 26) • God’s power over all nations has been declared • Dan. 2:21 Nations, leaders & events are in His hand • Dan. 4:17 Most High rules kingdoms of men… • No nation or leader has authority & rule secure by own power, but by the will of God • God’s power over nations has been repeatedly seen

  7. He Can Be Found • So that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us (v 27) • If anyone wants to know the truth, it is knowable • John 8:32 Know the truth & it shall make free • John 7:17 If one wants to know origin of teaching… • Eph. 5:17 Understand what will of the Lord is • Matt. 7:7-8 Ask & it will be given… seek & will find • There is no excuse for not knowing what is truth • Logical result of God as Creator is God as Revealer

  8. He Is the Source of Life • For in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, “For we are also His offspring” (v 28) • Even uninspired men forced to correct conclusion • Man was given life in the image of God • Gen. 1:27 God created man in His own image • Prov. 20:27 The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord • Eccl. 3:11 “He has set eternity in their heart” • 1 Thess. 5:23 Nature of man: body, soul & spirit • Ability to reason of ought & eternity is unique

  9. He Is Not an Idol • Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising (v 29) • Folly of idolatry denies omnipotence of God • Isa. 44:12-17 Folly of idolatry illustrated • Isa. 44:21f Man formed idols, but God formed man • All forms of idolatry are inadequate explanations • Avoiding acknowledgement of God’s omnipotence of God is first step in man’s degradation

  10. He Commands All to Repent • Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent (v 30) • Repentance is fundamental to being right with God • Acts 3:19 No seasons of refreshing without it • Acts 26:20 Prompts turn to God & change of action • 2 Cor. 7:10-11 Nature of repentance shows why basic • Whether alien sinner or erring Christian, repentance is foundational for needed change to godliness • Cleanses mind & will for readiness to serve God • If no repentance is present, one is unfit to serve God

  11. He Will Judge All by Christ • He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained (v 31) • Judgment is certain & determines eternal destiny • Heb. 9:27 Appointed to man to die & be judged • 2 Cor. 5:10 Must all appear before judgment of Christ • Rev. 20:11-14 Judgment pictured & eternal effect • Christ is the one who has legitimate right to judge • If we accept His power at judgment, will be too late • Serious thought on judgment should focus priorities

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