The One True God Acts 17:16-23

16 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. 18 Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, “What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection.

Acts 17:16-23 And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20 For you bring some strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean.” 21 Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new. Paul Addresses the Areopagus

Acts 17: So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.”

Paul’s Second missionary Journey He came from the Church in Antioch of Syria He comes to Macedonia, he founds churches in Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea to plant churches In Athens he confronted the reality of an unknown God.

Implications of having an unknown God: They are in the dark about the true God. Worship is misdirected, an expression of ignorance, all their worship is pointless and purposeless and accomplishes absolutely nothing spiritually because they don’t know the true God.”

Nothing changes today. The world full of notions about God, all the while the true God being unknown to them. The belief on God based on general, popular belief. “Has God created man and revealed Himself, or has man created God and revealed himself?”

Psalm 50:21 “You thought that I was all together like you?” Do we worship God only when we are comfortable in what He says?

The popular god: He lacks what is necessary for honor. -He is not to be honored in everything -He has no place in public place -He should not be prayed to in schools -His word should not be read in public places

The popular god: He lacks power -He can do things but he is limited -He has good intentions but is very much struggling on how to accomplish them -Satan is successful in thwarting his plans

The popular god: He lacks in knowledge -He has definite desires and purpose for his kingdom -BUT, He is uncertain of the future

The popular god: He has no control of the future -Everything depends on how man chooses among his options -All things are just planned as events unfold by the millions of contingent actions

The popular god: He lacks in holiness -He loves everybody unconditionally -He treats everybody with unconditional piety -He would NEVER send people to hell

Lack of Christians who can stand up like Paul Popular notions spreading like wildfire because there is so much lack in courage in proclaiming to the world. “What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.”

The idol that is the popular God He is a false god He is created by man in the minds of men Has limited characteristics

Isaiah 42:8 I am the Lord, that is My name. I am the Lord, that is My name. I will not give my glory to another. GOD DOES NOT SHARE HIS PERSON TO ANYONE.

“Love THE Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength,” Idolatry the most heinous of all sins

Nothing new under the sun In Exodus, the Israelites made a golden calf as the representation of Jehovah In the church, people invented this popular god they worship Faith then is just a set of NOTIONS.

There’s nothing that has a greater effect on your life than your view of God -Teaches Christians to be truth seekers -Molds how people live -The bible as the only source of truth

Psalm 19 The scriptures as the “The testimony of the Lord.”

Jeremiah 9:24, “But let him who boasts, boast of this that he understands and knows Me, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises loving kindness, justice and righteousness on earth for I delight in these things.” God delights in a true knowledge of Him

Living this one purpose Nothing more important than …knowing who God is, …worshiping the true God, …the one true God, …the true and living God.

Acts 17 Paul in Athens He should have been resting, but he just cannot. There’s nothing more important than knowing who God is, worshiping the true God, the one true God, the true and living God

Acts 17:16 “His spirit was being provoked within him as he was observing the city full of idols.” Paul only viewed the world in spiritual perspective Despite Athen’s Beauty all he could see are all the false gods.

Henry Martin “This excited more horror in me than I can well express. I was cut to the soul at this blasphemy. I couldn’t endure existence if Jesus was not glorified. It would be hell to me if He were to be always thus dishonored.” When asked why, he replied with these words, ‘If anyone pluck out your eyes, there’s no saying why there is pain, it’s feeling. It’s because I am one with Christ that I am thus dreadfully wounded.’”

Acts 17;17 “He took off and began to minister every where he could, with Jews and Gentiles and ended up on a mountain with the philosophers.” He was driven to talk to the crowd.

Charles Spurgeon “Would you lose your sorrows? Would you drown your cares? Then plunge yourself into the God- heads deepest sea and be lost in its immensity.”

Verse The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. 26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live yon all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,

‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are indeed his offspring.’ 29 Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. 30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but know he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

Sharing the truth does not mean all will be well.

Acts 17:32-34 “Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.” 33 So Paul went out from their midst.

Acts 17:32-34 “34 But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.”