Acts 17.22-28

Acts 17.22-28: “ Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him I declare unto you. God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dewelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath and all things; and hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.”

Thus we see these points brought out by Paul’s preaching to the Athenians here.

Men are by nature superstitious; vs.22: Thus because of the image and likeness of God which we are created in man senses the existence of His creator; man though because of the depravity of his nature is overwhelmed by this superstition; we note all the psychics present among us today, working and preying upon this nature of man to deceive as many who will give thought and time to such things. This is not to deny a power working in such people, but that such power is from the prince of darkness in order that man’s focus is not upon God, his mind is drawn away from his redeemer, his maker.
vs. 23: notes the fact that superstitious man believes in God, but that his worship of him is in ignorance because he is blinded by his own sinful nature; and is deceived by the wiles of the Devil. But it is the purpose of those who know the true and living God to declare him unto the world.
vs. 24: God that made the world and all things therein, seeing, ( or because) he is Lord of heaven and earth, for this reason do we declare Him to you and to the world, because He is the true and living God.
vs. 25: establishes the truth that God is Spirit and must be worshipped in spirit and in truth, because He giveth life and breath to all things, he has need of nothing at our hands; and though His glory stands alone and comes from Himself, it is man’s purpose to glorify God because of his mercy, love, infinite wisdom and power.
vs. 26: Speaks to us of the blood of the eternal covenant; the blood of Christ being from God, in one body by which “...he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enemy thereby:” Eph. 2.16; and again at Colossians 1.20 which says: “And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”
vs. 27: “That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:” Here we find the truth that God is not contained, nor is the “Word of God bound...” but though he is not far from every one of us, we must seek Him, as we have felt after him; (here is the working of the Godhead in drawing-- “If haply they might feel after him, 2) the revelation of Christ God the Son who performed the work of reconciliation and redemption by His Cross--and find him; that is to effectually find working in their lives the Holy Spirit of God to apply this reconciliation to themselves; It is everywhere found of God the Father, in that they should seek the Lord; and that He is not far from every one of us; but it remains true this overwhelming presence of God is not felt by man naturally, though it is manifested in His creation; it must be effectively felt because of the movement of the Holy Spirit upon the sin darkened soul, even as He moved upon the face of the deep; then from the sovereign throne of God would come the Word, Let there be light and the Holy Spirit sheds forth upon the heart that enlightenment which reveals the truth of the gospel and provides grace in order that sinners are enabled to have faith.
vs. 28 confirms the truth of God’s love for all His creation. Thus even those who are yet in darkness receive in Him: 1) life; 2) movement; and 3) being. And Paul refers to the poets of the Greeks to illustrate his point. It is not a denial in the nature of man that God exists, but it is a search after God through the will of man. This is not the revelation found in Scripture, as is noted from Genesis 1.1, God was moved to create from His own Purpose and Will and not affected by the will of man. With this we can conclude it has been the eternal purpose of God to save sinners. We can conclude God moves to perform this not because of a desire in man, but for the praise of the Glory of His Grace. We can conclude our God is merciful, and that He is longsuffering.

God Bless.
Bro. Dallas

 

This is a long post and I apologize for that. I guess no one but Ken has time to read it.

Thanks Ken.

I still haven't figured out why no one wants to hear the "pat answers" of calvinism but when I do have a few original thoughts in the free-willist's superior mind they can not bear to condescend to my inferior untrained level.

Or maybe it is because of the depravity of my mind and thoughts and the lack of theirs that prevents consideration?

This hurts my feelings.

Not really.

God Bless Everyone and have a great day. I am leaving to go to Eastern Ky. will not be with you folks till the return sometime this afternoon.

(BTW, check out my post in the prayer request forum, the church is meeting today to make a decision).

God Bless.
Your Brother in Christ,
Bro. Dallas

 

Maybe if Scripture was broken into smaller bites more people would read that as well, ya think? Our society (of which I am a part) are too fast paced and we seek to be faster.

God Bless.
Bro. Dallas

 

In reality Yelsew, the original post is not all that long. Now, if it is better for you to deal with it when broken into smaller bits, then reply with a quote which would represent the divisions you can deal with this is fine with me.

God Bless.
Bro. Dallas