Text: Acts 17:22-31
When Paul was in Athens, he was bothered by the idols that filled the city, which prompted him to teach in the synagogue and market place. His message piqued the interest of the philosophers, and they wanted to hear more. The people were “very religious,” but the God of heaven was “unknown” to them. So Paul proceeded to teach them about the one true God. We encounter many people today who are like the Athenians – they do not know God. How can we begin to teach them? Consider what Paul explained to these pagan philosophers.
God Gives Life and Breath and All Things (Acts 17:25)
- Mankind and the world we live in had to come from somewhere – God is the creator (Hebrews 3:4)
- God is the one who “gives to all people life and breath and all things” (Acts 17:25) – all people have been made “in the image of God” (Genesis 1:27); God blesses us with every good thing (James 1:17)
God Blesses Us Whether We Serve Him or Not (Acts 17:24-25)
- Paul explained that God “does not dwell in temples made with hands” (Acts 17:24-25) – as we noticed in the previous point, God gives “life and breath and all things”; but WHY does He provide these things for us?
- God does not NEED anything from us – He is not trading blessings for our service; many do not serve Him, yet He continues to bless them (Matthew 5:45); those who reject God still receive His blessings; this shows His great love for mankind
God Blesses Us Whether We Know of Him or Not (Acts 17:23)
- The Athenians had an altar dedicated to “an Unknown God” (Acts 17:23) – this was the God Paul proclaimed, but He was not known to these people
- Yet God blesses those who do not know Him – Paul explained why in Lystra (Acts 14:16-17); He sent blessings to those who had forgotten Him to serve as a “witness” to His existence and goodness
God Made It So That We Can Find Him (Acts 17:27)
- Why would God continue to bless people who did not serve Him or even know Him? – it was so they might eventually recognize His goodness and decide to “seek” Him (Acts 17:27)
- Yet the search for this higher power is not a hopeless pursuit – “He is not far from each one of us”; His attributes are clearly seen in His creation (Romans 1:20); He was “unknown” to them, but He was knowable; He rewards “those who seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6)
Why Should People Seek After God? (Acts 17:30-31)
- If God continues to bless people who do not know or serve Him, why seek after Him? Why not continue to enjoy these blessings and not be concerned with the one who gave them? – it is because there is a day of judgment coming (Acts 17:30-31)
- This world and its blessings are temporary (2 Peter 3:10) – even if this is still far in our future, we know that we will not live forever (Hebrews 9:27); judgment is why we need to seek God; there is something beyond this life; we need to be ready
- So what should we do? – repent (Acts 17:30-31); one day we will stand before the Lord in judgment (2 Corinthians 5:10) and will be judged by His word (John 12:48); we need to do more than just acknowledge His existence; we must repent and obey (Hebrews 5:9)
Conclusion
- We need to recognize who God is, believe who Jesus is, turn from our sins, and faithfully obey Him
- As we encounter people in the world everyday who do not know Him or serve Him, let us be ready to proclaim to them the “unknown God” so they might know Him and follow Him
- And let us make sure we are following Him as we should
