In God we have our being.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Scripture
Father God, we thank You for Who You are. A great Big God who sees each and every one of us here and cares deeply about us. We ask this day, as we are continuing in this time of worship to You, reading Your Word and hearing Your Word, that You refine us with it. Mold us, make us, shape us, rearrange us so that we can more like You, and more made into the image of Christ. Help us be a people who love You and love others so much, that we are moved into action by whatever it is You are going to show us about Yourself today and what that means in our lives. Help us do this, because all to often our selfish and sinless flesh war against our will to follow Yours. As we are doing this, and as we are coming into Your Word today, we ask that You take away any distraction that we may have, and make it go as far away as it possible can, because we want to see and we want to know You better. It’s in these things that I ask and in Jesus Christ’s Holy and precious name that I pray, Amen.
6 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply distressed when he saw that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with those who worshiped God, as well as in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. 18 Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also debated with him. Some said, “What is this ignorant show-off[c] trying to say?”Others replied, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign deities”—because he was telling the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.19 They took him and brought him to the Areopagus,[d] and said, “May we learn about this new teaching you are presenting? 20 Because what you say sounds strange to us, and we want to know what these things mean.” 21 Now all the Athenians and the foreigners residing there spent their time on nothing else but telling or hearing something new.
22 Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus and said, “People of Athens! I see that you are extremely religious in every respect. 23 For as I was passing through and observing the objects of your worship, I even found an altar on which was inscribed, ‘To an Unknown God.’ Therefore, what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the world and everything in it—he is Lord of heaven and earth—does not live in shrines made by hands. 25 Neither is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives everyone life and breath and all things. 26 From one man[e] he has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live. 27 He did this so that they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out 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 even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also his offspring.’ 29 Since, then, we are God’s offspring, we shouldn’t think that the divine nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image fashioned by human art and imagination.
30 “Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God now commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has set a day when he is going to judge the world in righteousness by the man he has appointed. He has provided proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”32 When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some began to ridicule him, but others said, “We’d like to hear from you again about this.” 33 So Paul left their presence. 34 However, some people joined him and believed, including Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
Context
In last week’s text, we went through Paul, Silas, and Timothy’s brief states in the town of Thessalonica and Berea. As you will remember, they encountered 3 types of people when it comes to how they view their need for the messiah. The first two, found in Thessalonica, were people who were for and who were against, while the last was found Berea were mature believers that were committed to the messiah. As opposed to previous stops, in these two towns, their leaving involved much less physical pain and suffering, but in Berea, Paul was forced to leave and was taken to Athens for his own safety while the other two (Silas and Timothy) remained for a brief while until Paul sent for them to come and join him; because that town was in needed the gospel message desperately.
Our text today begins before the other 2 made it to Athens, while Paul was there alone. At this point in history, Athens was still an important town, but it’s prominence and importance and greatly diminished from it’s past glory as one of the capitols of the most important empire in the world at the time. Now, it was a lesser shadow of itself. This town did have one big thing that made it still a sought after and important place, this was that Athens was at this time still the (as best as I could describe it), the knowledge center/capitol of the world. In this town, were many of the days greatest minds, philosophers, and colleges, and any well educated person would have loved to visit in live in this town.
These knowledge seekers, were ultimately trying to find what everyone else through all of humanity was and is trying to do. That is, find the reason and meaning of life. Why are we here, what is our purpose, and what do I have to do to both find this out then act it out? In Athens at the time, lived two major schools/thoughts of philosophy that tried to answer these questions, but none of them could ever quite seem to grasp the answers. These two schools, that we will talk about more in little bit, though not exactly, are still present in the world today and tell the same lies that any red blooded person wants to believe and in fact plague our modern day society today. They are very present, and as a person living in this society you have at one point or another fallen for their lies. We know they are lies, because as our bible shows us time and time again The answer of life lies in God and not anywhere else. So, let’s jump in and see this unfold and From the text, I want you to see and follow through with these truths because in God we have our being.
Message
The first truth to see and follow through with is that: Idolatry should distress you. (6-21)
6 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply distressed when he saw that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with those who worshiped God, as well as in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. 18 Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also debated with him. Some said, “What is this ignorant show-off[c] trying to say?”Others replied, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign deities”—because he was telling the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.19 They took him and brought him to the Areopagus,[d] and said, “May we learn about this new teaching you are presenting? 20 Because what you say sounds strange to us, and we want to know what these things mean.” 21 Now all the Athenians and the foreigners residing there spent their time on nothing else but telling or hearing something new.
Athens was a town that was seeking knowledge to that critical question, and as a result, they had many statues and idols of false god’s all around. This deeply distressed Paul. So, he went about doing what he did any time he went into a city. He went to the Jews first and shared the gospel of Jesus Christ with them, reasoning with them through the scriptures that should have already well known. He also went into the city, the market to be exact, which was the gathering place people often came to each day to share this news with the gentiles. As he did this, he came into contact with the teachers and students of the two schools of thought/philosophy of the day. The first was the Epicureans who, were concerned with the pursuit of happiness and pleasure, one does this by seeking and tranquil and caring life, in general they didn’t believe in god’s, but said if they did exist, they were not concerned with humans so it really didn’t matter. The stoics on the other hand, put a lot of stock on being self sufficient and having strong ethics because for some mysterious reason that had to do with the god’s we are all joined together. In general they believed that there were many gods.
So, this town loving to hear new knowledge because they were so interested in learning the answers, wanted to listen to Paul, some said he was mad and a bit of a trail mix picker (taking a little here and little there), others said he must be preaching about something we don’t understand, lets hear from him. So, they took him to the place that had historically been the place of sharing knowledge (the areopagus) and was now a sort of town hall or government meeting place and listened to him; wishing to hear what he had to say. In a sense, they wanted to be entertained by this new sharing of knowledge.
I could go on and on about these philosophies and how they were wrong, but that’s not the point of this text. The point is what is God doing through and to Paul and the people of the town. So, what was Paul doing, out of distress both for the glory of his True God and the people of this town that were separated from Him, he had to start sharing the truth with them even before his helpers and back up came. The great sin of this town was what, well one of the great sins that has separated mankind from God ever since the beginning, idolatry, which is the worship/raising up/venerating of anything over the true God of the universe. Now, it is highly unlikely that you worship carved stones or statues today. But it is highly likely that you either right now, in the past, or in the future, will have or encounter an idol that wants you to put God second. It could be anything, I can’t tell you what it is. But, you as a child of God, it is your job to look at yourself and think, what keeps me from worshiping God or cuts short my worship of Him? When i’m doing good things, even good things of ministry, what do I enjoy about over the fact that I get serve and glorify God? Who or what is holding me back from fulfilling the mission the mission that feel God has called me from, but I haven’t done yet? These are just a few questions and examples of many more. Those idols lie to you. They tell you that they have the answers and that you will find true joy and fulfillment by pursuing them. But, what you have to remember that they come from the father of lies (Satan). No, don’t look to them, because The answer of life lies in God and not anywhere else. God is the Father of light and truth, so seek your answers and fulfillment in Him instead, be distressed by your own idolatry and others as well because the truth of the matter is that In God we have our being.
The next truth to see and follow through with is to: Seek God and find Him. (22-29)
22 Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus and said, “People of Athens! I see that you are extremely religious in every respect. 23 For as I was passing through and observing the objects of your worship, I even found an altar on which was inscribed, ‘To an Unknown God.’ Therefore, what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the world and everything in it—he is Lord of heaven and earth—does not live in shrines made by hands. 25 Neither is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives everyone life and breath and all things. 26 From one man[e] he has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live. 27 He did this so that they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out 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 even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also his offspring.’ 29 Since, then, we are God’s offspring, we shouldn’t think that the divine nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image fashioned by human art and imagination.
Paul began his address to the people, starting with how he could tell that they were a very religious people, as everywhere he looked around he saw some kind of god. In fact, you guys are so religious that you didn’t want to leave any god you hadn’t found out about yet, that you made an alter to an unknown god. So, let me tell you about this one. This God, the one you are missing, is the supreme God. Unlike your other so-called gods, he made everything, the heavens, the earth, and everyone and everything within them. He is so great, that no shrine or building made by human hands could contain Him. In reality, there is nothing we can do to appease or serve him as your temple priests do, he doesn’t need food and water or cleaning. He made everyone, everything, all the countries, all the boundaries. He crafted and made the first man and woman and from this man and women comes all of us today. He is always close, very very close, always at hand for the person that is seeking Him, which by the way you should be. From Him, this God you do not know, we have our very being, our everything, the breath that you breathe, the life that you live, the blood in your veins, the food on your table. Even some of your own poets have perceived Him and wrote about Him, seeing how we all come from Him. So, if we come from Him, then we know that if we are like Him, then he is not made of some carved or smelted item of wood or stone or precious silver and gold.
Jesus Himself taught at this same idea, that if you seek God, the true God, He will reveal Himself to you. He did this on His famous sermon in the mount saying, in Matthew Chapter 7, 7 “Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door[a] will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Unfortunately, when many of the listeners heard Jesus, they heard what they wanted to hear, and not what He was saying, and it’s safe to assume that the same thing happened with Paul at the areopagus. You see, Jesus and Paul were not talking about getting material gains, or rank and position, or even security. Rather, they were talking about seeking God so that you will receive salvation that everyone needs. As Paul would write later to the Romans, and as you know; 3 For all have sinned and fall short of the[q] glory of God;. Meaning, we are all born condemned because of sin nature, sin separates you from God. But Jesus is close at hand for anyone that seeks Him.
Where the issue lies, is that are you really seeking Jesus. Or, are you seeking something else? Are you seeking the God of the universe because you sense or know that He is out there, or do you want health, wealthy, safety, security, or something else? Know this believer, people look and hunt in vain. People can turn to all kinds of fake Gods, be they man made statues or other more common idols today like: money, drugs, addictions of any kind, position/influence, something that you really really want over God, I could go on and on and only scratch the surface. Here is the thing, if you seek God, and ask Him to reveal Himself to you He will. Which is good for us, because The answer of life lies in God and not anywhere else. So, stop looking in vain elsewhere, and share this truth with that person in your life you know is struggling. In God we have our being, not anywhere else.
Another truth to see and follow through with is that: All people must repent. (30-34)
30 “Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God now commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has set a day when he is going to judge the world in righteousness by the man he has appointed. He has provided proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”32 When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some began to ridicule him, but others said, “We’d like to hear from you again about this.” 33 So Paul left their presence. 34 However, some people joined him and believed, including Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
Paul makes it clear here. God has been very patient with man kind. No one has an exucse to not be turning towards Him. First of all, everyone can perceive that exists because of what is called natural revelation (a simple definition of what this is, is: “God's self-disclosure in creation, through the things that have been made.”, which is laid out in Romans chapter 1. God gives everyone this, is very close, and the person that asks from Him to reveal Himself, He will show Himself to. So, with this ever present knowledge that exists and availability of Him, we are all called to repent of our sins as we turn to Him. Meaning, we take whatever it is that we are holding onto that is separating us from God, and put aside, change it or get rid of it so that it is never more important that God ever again in your life. There is a time of judgement coming, at that day every knee will bow, every tongue will confess, and all nature will call out that Jesus Christ is Lord of Heaven and Earth. He alone is righteous and He has shown us that He is God by what He did while on earth and how we came back from the dead and we saw Him go back up to Heaven to sit at the right hand of God the Father. When the crowds heard this, some of them thought this was ridiculous, they couldn’t get their mind around a resurrection because their school of thought allowed for no room for an after life. Others were interested in hearing more at future time. A few though, were convinced including one of the town leaders Dionysuis and a prominent woman named Damaris and few other unnamed people.
It’s clear here, all, meaning everyone, meaning all people of the earth are called to repent. A common theological misconception is that I have heard many times, that is incorrect and should be rejected, is the idea that those that have not heard the gospel yet or their area does not yet have a Christian witness, is exempt and excused from their sin. This is BY NO MEANS TRUE, Just look at what Paul lays out in this passage and his epistles, and the entire new testament for that fact. Jesus Himself attested that unless a person turns to Him a person cannot be saved. Where we get hung up, is that you don’t really understand how big and how grand your God is. He doesn’t rely on us to save a person. He can do that through His own means, but we are called to be one of His many instruments.
For example, even today we hear many reports of people in the middle east and in South America becoming Christians, even though their were no missionaries there yet. How did this happen? They saw in nature that God was real, wanted to see Him. Then often, some man they had never met or heard about before named Jesus told them that He was God and they should follow Him. Then, by God’s infinite grace and mercy, missionary journals share stories of how Jesus saved someone in one of these place and Jesus told them to wait for a little while because a missionary would come soon to share everything with them and in some cases even, you will get a bible that will explain anything. God doesn’t rely on us, God doesn’t rely on you. And with or without yourself involved He will achieve His will and mission. The thing to it is, as His children we are called, equipped, and expected to be one of the means that He is glorified by our sharing of Him with others. That’s right human being in the room, God doesn’t need you. But better yet, He wants you. Do you want Him? Do you want Him to be glorified? The whole reason you were created was so that you could be an instrument, a tool for Him to be glorified. So, stop seeking your own or someone else's glory, because The answer of life lies in God and not anywhere else.
Conclusion
So, do you see these truths beloved? Do you understand that both in yourself and in the world Idolatry should distress you. (6-21), and unfortunately you and others are so deep in it that you can’t even see it, it’s normal, just like those statues would have been. Do you understand that if you seek God, you will find Him; and the same is true for every other person, just like all people must repent. Do you have repenting you need to do? Do you understand that the all truly means everyone, and that means the Global Church, us included, have work to do both inside and outside these walls and inside and outside our body of believers? Know these things, and find yourself. Because in God we have our being.
With all of that being said, I would be remised if I didn’t share the Gospel (or the Good News) of Jesus Christ with you today, for the benefit of both believer and non-believer in the room. This begins all the way back at the beginning, God created everything, and he created all things good. He gave His most treasured creation (us, mankind) the ability of free will, the ability to choose Him or rebellion. Man was deceived by Satan and desired to be like God and sinned (or rebelled against God). This brought the curse of sin and death into the world and it remains with us to this day; which separates us from God. God though, loved His creation (mankind) so much that He worked through history to redeem all mankind that would turn to Him from sin so that we can experience a full and perfect relationship with Him again. This was through the perfect and final sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the pay for sins. Accepting this free gift from God, makes you new and forgiven. All you have to do accept this free gift by repenting and believing in the Lord Jesus and you will get to experience the good side of God’s justice forever. So, now that you know this, you can no longer plead ignorance. I invite and urge you to respond today non-believer and apply this to every part of your life believers in the audience today.
With that, Let’s conclude. Brothers and Sisters, I love you all. During our last song together, if you need prayer, or want to talk more about Jesus, or have something you want to talk about, I’ll be here, don’t be afraid to come on down. Let’s pray. Father God, we thank You for who You are and what You are doing to us here in this place. May whatever it is that You are doing in each of heart here, continue as we leave go out into the world this week. Change us, mold us, make us, re-arrange us, that we can be both better lovers of You and better showers of You. It’s in these things that I ask and in Jesus Christ’s Holy and precious name that I pray, Amen.