To the Unknown God

To the Unknown God

Acts 17:23-31

Do you ever wonder? Did you ever wish you could have been there? Imagine Paul walking through this grand display of idols in Athens. Can you see him as he surveys the many different gods on display? Acres upon acres of ground with numerous temples, altars, statues, etc., which were reared to the gods made by the hands of men, except one. Then, in a moment, his attention is caught by that very unusual phrasing on something like a monument, “to the unknown god”. The phrase must have reverberated through his mind and heart several times. And in my heart, and I hope in yours, I can almost see him getting so very excited, clapping his hands with joy, and jumping 5 feet straight up into the air as he shouts, “I know this God!!!”  And from that moment nothing could stop his witness. To all of the onlookers, all of the worshippers of false gods, and to every religious leader within the sound of his voice Paul preached Christ.

He preached Christ as the creator. Isn’t it fascinating that creation has been a battle ground since the earliest times? Paul walked in the most philosophical of realms in his society. It is doubtless that he had heard almost every concept about the beginning of our existence. And yet, he never wavers as he preaches to those on Mars Hill that day. He never tries to soften his stance to make it more palatable the ungodly scientific crowd as so many of us do today. The God Paul preached, (v.24a) was the “God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth….” Science never disproves God. And it never sees His greatest works. Instead, it slowly unravels some of the smallest portions of the wonder of God’s creative genius. And from the earliest days of the Church Paul preached God as Creator and Sustainer of the universe.

He preached that the Unknown God is worshipped in spirit and in truth. Paul stood in the midst of statues and relics and special edifices, each designed to embody the gods these people worshipped. As he stood there he said that the Unknown God (v.24b-25) “…dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things.” Paul was affirming what Jesus had already taught in John 4:24 “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” He was simply stating that none of these relics or idols would produce any good thing, they could not help in any worship of God. Yet we hold to so many things like this today in churches claiming to worship God. If we found a modern day Mars Hill today would our church be represented? Do we worship in spirit and in truth or is there a monument to the Unknown God in our sanctuary?

He placed all believers on level ground at the foot of the cross. A concept never considered by the religions of that day. He preached that all would be judged equally, and that by the very one who was raised from the dead. Act 17:31 “Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.” One would come and be a righteous judge. God appointed a special day, one yet future, in which He Himself will judge. But in that judgment those who stand before Him clothed in the righteousness of His resurrected son will find assurance. The works of man are not on display, they are not called into question. The resurrected One will judge in true righteousness.

Paul preached the same gospel we preach today. He preached that the God of heaven created all things and that in Him all things consist. He preached that God is worshipped in spirit and in truth and that all who come to Him must come to him through His Son. His Son, Jesus Christ, was crucified for our transgressions, was buried and rose again for our justification on the third day [1Co 15:3-4 “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; (v.4) And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures….]

What would it have been like to stand on Mars Hill that day as the Apostle Paul, with his heart bursting as he read, “To the Unknown God,” and all on that hillside fell silent as he preached Christ? Would it really have been any different than any given Sunday when men of God around the world stand and preach Christ and Christ crucified?

We preach Christ as Creator, we preach the need to worship God in spirit and in truth, and we preach coming to God through His resurrected Son every Sunday. Maybe, the biggest difference is that you haven’t been in Church to hear it. No sermon will ever change your life if you do not hear it.

This Sunday tear down the idols, remove all that clutters your view, and look only to that one monument inscribed, “To the Unknown God.” And this time really listen as the preacher cries out from a heart bursting with love for God and concern for you.

God's plan of salvation: http://christxalted.blogspot.com/2016/01/how-to-be-born-again.html