Sermon – Paul’s Revelation of the Unknown God
Scripture Lesson-Acts 17:16-33 “While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply troubled by all the idols he saw everywhere in the city. 17 He went to the synagogue to reason with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and he spoke daily in the public square to all who happened to be there. 18 He also had a debate with some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. When he told them about Jesus and his resurrection, they said, “What’s this babbler trying to say with these strange ideas he’s picked up?” Others said, “He seems to be preaching about some foreign gods.” 19 Then they took him to the high council of the city. “Come and tell us about this new teaching,” they said. 20 “You are saying some rather strange things, and we want to know what it’s all about.” 21 (It should be explained that all the Athenians as well as the foreigners in Athens seemed to spend all their time discussing the latest ideas.) 22 So Paul, standing before the council, addressed them as follows: “Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way, 23 for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: ‘To an Unknown God.’ This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I’m telling you about. 24 “He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, 25 and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need. 26 From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries. 27 “His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. 28 For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ 29 And since this is true, we shouldn’t think of God as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold or silver or stone. 30 “God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him. 31 For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead.” 32 When they heard Paul speak about the resurrection of the dead, some laughed in contempt, but others said, “We want to hear more about this later.” 33 That ended Paul’s discussion with them, 34 but some joined him and became believers. Among them were Dionysius, a member of the council, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.”
Introduction: All of creation was designed to make the unknown God known to men. In the Gospel of John, Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God, became the channel through which God the Father would make Himself known to men. Through Jesus, God would make Himself known to those who fail to acknowledge the evidence of creation. But the people had rejected natural revelation of God as disclosing the existence and the power and the beauty of God. Christ came to make the Father known. Mankind was created to worship. If God is not clearly revealed, man will create something to worship.
When Paul preached the gospel in Thessalonica, Berea, and Athens. He found no shortage of gods. Religion was the order of the day. The hills were dominated with statues and symbols of worship everywhere. Paul began where the people were. Athens was a city filled with philosophers and great thinkers. Two main schools of thought were Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. The Epicurean believed that the greatest good of life was to seek modest, sustainable pleasure in the form of a state of tranquility and freedom from fear and the absence of bodily pain through knowledge of the workings of the world and limiting desires. The Stoic’s school of philosophy that taught that men should seek a particular way of living, focusing living a virtuous life, maximizing happiness and reduce negative emotions. Paul could have begun by pointing out the faults in their beliefs, but He did not.
1. Revealing God Means By Lifting God Up, not Putting Others Down. Acts 17:22, 23, “So Paul, standing before the council, addressed them as follows: “Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way, 23 for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: ‘To an Unknown God.’ This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I’m telling you about.”
Our text today is a classic example of evangelism. We are called share the good news of Jesus Christ, God’s revelation of Himself to mankind. Paul recognized that all men are seeking something. All men are seeking meaning and purpose, but the knowledge they have maybe limited. Have you ever thought about why men create God? What is an idol god anyway? Any person or thing that consumes your thoughts, words, time, energy, money, or passions other than God is an idol. An easy way to test whether something in your life is an idol is to ask yourself, “Does this make me look good, or does it make God look good?” Ultimately, all people worship one of two beings: God, or themselves. All other false gods, religions, and idols are tools people use for their own purposes. Every idol in our life is a failed attempt to find in created things what we can only find in the Creator. It’s no wonder that every civilization has its own false gods and idols. God designed people for a relationship with Him. Idols represent the substitutes of God we make for ourselves.
Paul lifts up the God they recognize, without knowing who He really is. Paul compliments them for being very religious. He recognized their devotion. He acknowledges their desire for knowledge, and then many listened. If we are going to reveal God to others, we must find common ground. Paul talks about the Unknown God.
2. Revealing God Means Revealing God as Creator All. Acts 17:24-29 “He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, 25 and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need. 26 From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries. 27 “His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. 28 For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ 29 And since this is true, we shouldn’t think of God as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold or silver or stone.
Paul’s personal knowledge of God reveals God as creator of all. He is the God who made the world and everything in it. He is Lord of heaven and earth who does not live in man-made temples and statues. He is a self-sufficient God who control nature, set apart nations, set boundaries, set up kingdom and gives dominion. In Him we all live, move, and have our being. We are the offspring of God. And since this is true, we shouldn’t think of God as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold or silver or stone. He is more than a sun god, a moon god, a fertility god, He is Lord of all. Any less is no God at all. In revealing God, we must lift Him up, not put others down. The Holy Spirit convict men of sin and reveals God’s righteousness to men. John 16: 7-11, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.”
3. Revealing God Means Revealing God as Savior, Lord and Judge. Acts 17:30-34 “God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him. 31 For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead.” 32 When they heard Paul speak about the resurrection of the dead, some laughed in contempt, but others said, “We want to hear more about this later.” 33 That ended Paul’s discussion with them, 34 but some joined him and became believers. Among them were Dionysius, a member of the council, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.”
Revealing God means lifting Jesus, who God manifest in the world, not putting others down. People are where they are because of what they have been exposed to, how they were raised and what they have experienced. Let’s lift Jesus, not put people down. Revealing God means revealing God as Creator all. God is loving Creator of every race, people, and tongues, we are his offspring. Revealing God means revealing Him as Lord, Savior, and eternal Judge. Paul changes his message from information to transformation. God understands man’s limited knowledge, so He sent a clear revelation of Himself in Jesus Christ. Now He commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him. Since this is His world, He has set a day for judging the world with righteous justice.
God approved the work of Jesus Christ who paid our sin debt by dying on a cross in Jerusalem, then God raised him from the dead for our justification. When they heard Paul speak about the resurrection of the dead, some laughed in contempt, but others said, “We want to hear more about this later.” When God is revealed as Savior, Lord, and Judge, some will laugh with contempt at the idea of a suffering Savior. Others will refuse to commit to his Lordship, saying, “How dare He command men to repent.” Still, others will put off the decision for now. They wait for a more convenient season. Jesus cautioned us to faithfully keep sowing, even though some seeds are eaten by birds, other fall on stony ground, while may become overgrown with weeds, some will fall on good ground.
By the end of Paul’s discussion with them, some joined him and became believers. Among them were Dionysius, a member of the council, a woman named Damaris, and others with them. Paul faithfully proclaimed Jesus as Savior, Lord, and Judge. Many preach Jesus as Savior, who accepts all, loves all, and supplies all, without requiring submission to him as Lord. Jesu is both Savior and Lord. His way is straight and narrow and all who follow Him must deny themselves and submit to His will. Some shy away from Preaching Jesus as God’s eternal Judge. Our court system, Lady Justice became associated with scales to represent impartiality and a sword to symbolize power. Justice was often portrayed with a blindfold signifying every person will be judge by the same Law without favoritism or partiality. Yet our laws are often manipulated and altered.
Paul chose to reveal God as the Eternal Judge to whom every people must give an accounting. The good news is God has made provisions for all to be saved and accepted in Jesus Christ. All sins can be forgiven here and now. All can receive eternal life now. All can be free from the power of sin, the punishment of sin now. One day, all will be from the presence of sin forever. You may laugh or procrastinate or ignore His offer all together, but it is still true. Heb 9:27 “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” Ready or not, Judgment is coming. Let’s be ready when it comes. Let’s reveal our God by lifting up as the loving Creator of all, who is the Savior, Lord, and Eternal Judge of All Mankind. The God who wants a relationship with you and offers the way of Salvation to all, the good, bad and the ugly, the educated and the ignorant, the rich and the poor, He still commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him by faith. Amen.
