Not an Unknown God, But the Risen Christ (Acts 17:22-34)
Paul was preaching the Gospel in the city of Athens
and there were different opinion among Athenians what Paul preached. Some said
that he seemed to be preacher of foreign divinities – because he was preaching
Christ and the resurrection (vs.17:18). When Paul preached about Jesus Christ,
some people of the city considered as the foreign God. We also hear from our
neighbours or villagers that the God called Jesus is an American God. But it is
not historical true. If you know the history of India, you will find that before
the Gospel was preached in Europe, it was preached by one of Jesus’ disciples
named Thomas who came to India in 52 AD and preached the Gospel. I myself have visited the place called Niranam
in Kerala where Thomas established the Church and still it exists. Today you
can visit the place of Chennai City called St. Thomas Mount, where Thomas was murdered
and it gives the evidence that Jesus Christ was preached in India before even America came to exist.
Who is this Paul who preached the Gospel in the city
of Athens? Paul told about himself in Philippians 3:4-7(if anyone has any kind
of ego about his caste, education and position, he should listen what Paul said
of himself), “Though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If
anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people
of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the
law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to
righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of
Christ.” In 1 Timothy 1:13-15, “Though
formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received
mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord
overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying
is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into
the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.” In Acts 9:1-25, it
is narrated that how Paul who was opponent and persecutor of Christian became
the missionary. This is the very man who stood before the Greek philosophers
and talked about the Christ and the resurrection.
World is Full of Idols (vs. 22-23)
“So
Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus said …”(vs. 22) Areopagus is the court where philosophers
from Athens and foreign would come to tell or hear new teachings. It is the
same place where great philosopher Socrates was tried and condemned. While Paul
was preaching in the streets, marketplaces and synagogues, some of philosophers
also conversed with him (Acts. 17:17-18) and they brought him to the Areopagus.
Paul addressed them saying, “Men of
Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious.”(vs. 22) There is no scarcity of religious people
throughout the world, so it is true to Athenians during Paul’s visit the city. Men have invented countless religions and
objects of worship. They were religious in such way that they worshiped everything
considering as god. “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.” (vs. 23)
When Paul was preaching the Gospel to Athenians, some 600 years ago a
terrible plague had fallen on the city, which they considered as the wrath of certain
god. But there were hundreds gods and goddesses in the city of Athens and it is
difficult to determine which god had poured his wrath. A Greek philosopher
named Epimenides advised the people of Athens saying, “We will keep a flock of
sheep for some day without providing grass and they will set loose in the city.
If any starved sheep will go and sit near to any god’s alter instead of going
to eat grass, we should know that very god has become upset on us and sent the
plague. The very sheep will sacrifice on that alter to appease the god.”
Epimenides’ idea pleased the Athenians. They
did as he advised. But there were sheep that sit where there was no alter and
Athenians built there alters ‘to unknown god’ and sacrificed the very sheep. As
the result of these sacrifices, the plague was lifted up and Athenians started
to worship a god whose name they didn’t know and called ‘an unknown god’. And
Paul began his sermon on this point saying, “…’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to
you.” (vs. 23).
There is But One God (vs. 24-29)
“The God who
made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and
earth, does not live in temples made by man …” (vs. 24) In India, there are more than 33 Crors gods and
goddesses, which are being worshipped. But the Holy Scripture declares that
there is God, but one God, who created the universe. God who created the universe is the Lord of
heaven and earth and HE does not live in the temples made by human hands. God is creator.
“ … nor is
he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he
himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.” (vs. 25) God did not only create the universe, but HE holds
together all things. HE gives life, breath and everything which is needed to
all of us for our sustenance; therefore HE does need nothing from us. HE is
source of everything.
“And he
made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the
earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their
dwelling place …” (vs. 26) In our school text-book,
it is taught that human beings came from monkey. There is a story about a
teenage girl. Once she asked her mother, “Mummy, where did man come?”
“God made man and women. After their marriage, they gave birth children and children
grew older and married; and gave birth others. Thus man came into this world,
“her Mummy answered. Some days later she asked her father similar question. Her
father answered, “Man was born from monkey.” One day whole family was
dining and this girl said, “Mummy, you speak lie.” Mummy asked, “How?” she said
that when I asked you that where man came, you said that God made us; and same
thing I asked Papa, and he said we were born of monkey. Her Mummy said with
love to her, “dear daughter, no one spoke a lie to you. I told you about my
family and your papa told about his family." There are so many stories among
each people groups concerning their own origin, but the Holy Scripture declared
that God made every nation of mankind. There are main four blood groups in
every people groups even they are different in their physical appearance,
structure, colors and DNA structure. It proves that we all came from one man.
God has set the time span and geographical boundaries to each man. “… 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 …” (vs. 27) God has made us that we may seek HIM and find HIM, because
“… for “‘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.’ ” (vs.
28) In my own experience, all people in the world accept it that we all are
God’s offspring. “ 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.” (vs.
29) In Romans 1:18-23, it is written – “For the wrath of
God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of
men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known
about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes,
namely, his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly perceived,
ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.
So they are without excuse. For although they knew God,
they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became
futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they
became fools, and exchanged the glory
of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals
and creeping things.” The
greatest sin which human beings have committed that they have failed to glorify
God, which is due to God alone.
A Call to Repent (vs. 30-31)
“The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now
he commands all people everywhere to repent …” (vs. 30) Before Christ was born, it is called
‘the times of ignorance’. But now Christ
has died as a ransom of our sin, therefore God commands all people (including
all people groups / tribes / castes / nations) everywhere (including all
geographical areas) to repent.
“ .. 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.” God has appointed the day on which he will
judge the world and HE has appointed the judge by him God will bring the
judgment. God has given assurance to all who believe in HIM for receiving
eternal life by raising Christ from the dead. As Christ raised from the dead on
third day after crucifixion, so all who have believe in Christ shall be raised
also.
Response of Men (vs. 32-34)
“Now when they heard of the resurrection of
the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about
this.” So Paul went out from their midst. But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were
Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them” (vs. 32-34). When the Gospel would
be preached, result always is predictable. After hearing Paul’s preaching, some
mocked, some postponed and some believed. It was happened in 1st
century while Paul preached, it is happening today also. When I share the
Gospel especially among young unbelievers they always make fun on it, some will
say it is good things to hear, but now I have work so I go, later we will see;
and some will believe the Lord.
Conclusion
“The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now
he commands all people everywhere to repent, 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” (vs. 30-31). There was a time yet Christ had to come and to do the work of salvation; and the scripture as the New Testament had to be completed. It is called the time of ignorance. But now Christ has died,
buried and resurrected from the dead according to the scripture (1 Cor. 15:1-3).
All books of the New Testament were completed and contains the sufficient knowledge
for our own salvation. Therefore no one can deny the complete work of salvation offered
in Christ or make excuse for ignorance. God has appointed a day in which HE
shall judge the world through Jesus Christ. So we all need to believe in Christ
for our own salvation (John 14:6). For salvation
comes through the Risen Christ, not through an unknown god. Therefore submit yourself to God believing in
Jesus Christ today.
Let’s pray together!
(It is preached on Sunday Service 29th April, 2018 at Phulbari Sewa Mandali)
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