[ ] 10/14/07 #740
WHAT GOD DEMANDS
Acts 17:16-34
INTRODUCTION: Paul was in Athens waiting for his companions, Timothy and Silas. Stirred to anger at seeing the city given over to idolatry, Paul “preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.” He confronted the Jews in their synagogue as well as God fearing Greeks. In the market place, Paul daily gave witness to the One True God. The city was known for its philosophers. Two of the main groups were the Epicureans and the Stoics. The Epicureans were materialists. They believed there was no life after death. Epicureans did believe in the existence of gods, but they believed these gods were unconcerned about what was taking place on earth. The main goal in life for the Epicureans was happiness and pleasure with the avoidance of pain and fear of death. The Stoics were pantheists in belief. They believed god was found in all of nature and human beings. They taught self-discipline and their own self-sufficiency. Paul revealed to them the true God through his preaching and that God demanded for them to repent.
I. REVELATION
A. GOD’S POWER. v. 24-25 “God that made the world”
1. God is Spirit. v. 24 “dwelleth not in temples made with hands”
2. God is self-sufficient. v.25 “as though He needed anything”
B. GOD’S PROVISION. v.25 “He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things”
C. GOD’S PROVIDENCE. v. 26 “hath determined the times before appointed”
D. GOD’S PURPOSE.
1. Men should seek the Lord. v. 27
2. Men were fashioned by the Lord. v. 28
3. Men may worship the Lord. v. 29
II. REPENTANCE
A. MESSAGE TO REPENT. v. 30 “commandeth all men everywhere to repent”
Someone has said, “Man is born with his back towards God, and repentance is turning square round.”
B. MOTIVE TO REPENT.
1. The Judgment. “He will judge the world”
2. The Justice. “in righteousness”
3. The Judge. “by that Man whom He hath ordained”
a. Son of God. (John 5:22, 27)
“For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son.” Jn. 5:22
b. Word of God. (John 12:48)
“He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” (John 12:48)
Vance Havner: “It takes a radical break to turn a man from earth’s trash to heaven’s treasure.”
III. RESURRECTION
A. ESSENTIAL TO THE GOSPEL.
1. Proof of the resurrection. Acts 1:1-12; 1 Cor. 15:1-8
2. Power of the resurrection. Rom. 1:4; 1 Pet. 1:3; Phil. 3:10
3. Preaching of the resurrection. v. 18 “he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection”
B. EFFECT OF THE GOSPEL.
1. Derided. v. 32 “some mocked”
2. Delay. v. 32 “We will hear thee again of this matter”
3. Decision. v. 34 “certain men clave unto him, and believed”
LESSONS FOR LIFE:
1. God commands all people to repent. A person who is not deeply convicted of sin will never repent. God has not forgiven the person whose heart is not changed.
2. Acknowledging one’s sin does not necessarily mean a person has repented. A thief may confess his crime if caught, but never stop his stealing ways.
There is a difference between confessing one’s sin and repenting of one’s sin as seen in the life of Saul and David, Judas and Peter. David and Peter repented whereas Saul and Judas confessed. Have you repented and trusted Jesus as your Savior and Lord? The new birth brings a change in beliefs, attitude and behavior.
3. God’s judgment will be righteous and just. Since “the Scripture hath concluded all under sin,” every person must repent and trust Jesus as Savior to be saved.