ACTS 17:24-31

ACTS 17:24-31 - THE KING JAMES VERSION!

Verses 24-28 - God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth 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.

Verse 29 - Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.

Verses 30-31 - And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:  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.

ACTS 17:24-31 - AS I UNDERSTAND GOD'S WORD!

Verses 24-28 - God, Who created the Universe and all things therein, seeing that He is Lord of heaven and earth, no longer dwells in tabernacles or temples made with human hands; neither is He worshipped with the sacrifices at men's hands, as though He needed anything, seeing it is He Who gives man life, and breath, and all things; and has made of one blood all nations (Greek ethnos - ethnic groups - races) to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined the times before appointed (if and when they migrate), and the bounds of their habitation (their God-assigned lands); that (wherever they are) they should seek the Lord, and searching for Him, they might find Him, though He is not far from every one of us:  for in Him we live, and move, and have our being; as even some of your own poets have said, For we are also His offspring.

Verse 29 - Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead (the Triune God - see Matthew 28:19; John 14:26; 1 John 5:7; etc.) is like inanimate things made of  gold, or silver, or stone, graven images made by man's corrupted imagination.

Verses 30-31 - And the duration of your ignorance God tolerated; but now commands all men everywhere to repent (Greek metanoeo - to have a change of mind, in this case, about accepting and worshipping the true God):  because He has appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that One Whom He has ordained (Jesus, the Son of God); by Whom He has given assurance unto all men, in that He raised Him from the dead.

REGARDLESS OF WHAT OR WHOM YOU WORSHIP,

IF IT IS NOT THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY GHOST,

YOUR WORSHIP IS IN VAIN, AND YOUR DESTINY IS HELL!

REPENT:  CHANGE YOUR MIND AND TRUST THE TRUE GOD!

BORN AGAIN BELIEVERS AS NOT SAVED BY RELIGIOUS WORKS, BUT BECAUSE THEY HAVE RECEIVED JESUS AS SAVIOR AND LORD, THEIR LIVES SHOULD BE SPENT DOING HIS WORK!

GOD IS A TRINITY!

Matthew 28:19 - Go therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost....

John 14:26 - But the Comforter, Who is the Holy Ghost, Whom the Father will send in My name (the Son), He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

1 John 5:7 - For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are One.

MANKIND IS A TRINITY!

Genesis 1:26 - And God said, Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness....

1 Thessalonians 5:23 - And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GOD AND MAN IS TRIUNE!

Matthew 4:10; Luke 4:8 - . . . You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve.

I.  WORSHIP:  ACKNOWLEDGE HIM AS THE LORD!

Hebrews 11:6 - But without faith it is impossible to please Him:  for he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.

II.  RELATIONSHIP:  RECEIVE HIM AS YOUR GOD!

John 1:1, 11-14 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. - - - He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.  But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to those who believe on His name:  who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

III.  AS YOUR LORD:  SERVE (OBEY) HIM!

Luke 6:46 - And why do you call Me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Acts 26:20 - But showed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet (which give evidence of) repentance.

Ephesians 2:10 - For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.  

Philippians 1:6; 2:13 - Being confident of this very thing, that He Who has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ - - - For it is God Who works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 - All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  that the man (child) of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Titus 2:7; 3:2 - In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works - - - This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that you affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works.  These things are good and profitable unto men.

SALVATION IS A GIFT TO ALL WHO ACCEPT JESUS!

BUT KNOW THIS:  JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD, 

AND AS SUCH, IS WORTHY OF OUR SERVICE!

WHO IS THE TRUE JESUS OF THE BIBLE?

DYING, JESUS IS SAVIOR;

RESURRECTED, HE IS LORD!

Luke 2:11 - For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, Who is Christ the Lord.

Acts 4:33 - And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

Acts 15:11 - But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

Acts 16:31 - And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Acts 28:31 - Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

Romans 1:7 - To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints:  Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 15:30 - Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me....

1 Corinthians 1:3 - Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 16:22 - If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.

2 Corinthians 13:14 - The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all.  Amen.

Ephesians 1:2 - Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 3:20 - For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ....

1 Thessalonians 1:1 - Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Timothy 4:22 -  The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit.  Grace be with you.  Amen.

Titus 1:4 - To Titus, mine own son after the common faith:  Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.

Philemon 1:3 - Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

James 2:1 - My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

2 Peter 2:20 - For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

Revelation 19:11-16 - And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war.  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written, that no man knew, but He Himself.  And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood:  and His name is called The Word of God.  And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.  And out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron:  and He treads the wine press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.  And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

BECAUSE JESUS IS THE RISEN LORD,

WHAT SHOULD YOUR RESPONSE TO HIM BE?

SALVATION IS SO SIMPLE THAT RELIGIOUS PEOPLE CAN'T BELIEVE IT!

ALL OF HUMANITY IS SEPARATED FROM GOD BY SIN!

Romans 3:10, 23; 6:23a - As it is written, There is none righteous (none good enough to meet God's standard of holiness), no, not one - - - For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God - - - For the wages of sin (that which is earned by even a single sin) is death....

BUT GOD, NOT WANTING ANY TO PERISH, OFFERS US A SOLUTION!

Romans 1:16-17 - For I am not ashamed of the Gospel* of Christ:  for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one who believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek (non-Jew; Gentile).  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith:  as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Note:  * The Gospel is the good news that God has paid-in-full our sin debt.  The Gospel states in
1 Corinthians 15:1-6 - Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you, which also you have received, and wherein you stand; by which also you are saved, if you keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless you have believed in vain (unless you were insincere).  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures:  and that He was seen of Cephas (by Peter), then by the twelve:  after that, He was seen of above (by more than) five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep (some have died).

Romans 5:6-8 - For when we were yet without strength (lacked the will and the ability to live by God's standard:  the Law), in due time (when God determined the time was right) Christ died for the ungodly.  For scarcely for a righteous man will one die (if there were such a person):  yet peradventure (perhaps) for a good man some would even dare to die (again, if there were such a person).  But God commended (demonstrated) His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

WHAT MUST WE DO TO RECEIVE THIS OFFER FROM GOD?

Romans 10:9-13 (as I understand it) - If you will publicly confess* your faith in the Lord Jesus, and truly believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.  For with the heart man believes and God declares him to be righteous; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  For the Scripture says, Whosoever believes in Him shall not be ashamed.  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek (non-Jew; Gentile): for the same Lord is rich (in mercy - forgiveness; and grace - unmerited blessings) unto all who call upon Him.  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Note:  * The most common public profession of one's faith in Christ is through baptism.  While baptism, in itself, does not save a person, baptism should always follow salvation!  See Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41; 8:34-38; 18:8; 19:4-5; etc....

BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST 

AND YOU SHALL BE SAVED!

THE MESSAGE THAT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANY OTHER!

THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS AS FORETOLD IN THE OLD TESTAMENT!

Psalm 16:9-10 - Therefore My heart is glad, and My glory rejoices:  My flesh also shall rest in hope.  For You will not leave My soul in hell; neither will You suffer (allow) Your Holy One to see corruption.

Zachariah 12:10 - And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications:  and they shall look upon Me Whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him (Me), as one mourns for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for Him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

Note:  The death, burial, and resurrection of Israel's Messiah was a hidden mystery to them for their eyes were partially blinded to the truth (see Luke 24:25-32, 44-46; Romans 11:25; 16:25-27). 

THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS AS FORETOLD IN THE GOSPELS!

Matthew 12:40 - For as Jonas (Jonah) was three days and three nights in the whale's (a uniquely prepared fish - see Jonah 1:17) belly; so shall the Son of man (I) be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Matthew 27:62-63 - Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation ("the day of preparation" was the 14th of Nisan - the day the Passover Lamb was killed - see Leviticus 23:5; Matthew 26:2; 1 Corinthians 5:7), the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while He was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.

Mark 8:31 - And He (Jesus) began to teach them, that the Son of man (I) must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

John 2:19-21 - Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.  Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and will You rear (raise) it up in three days?  But He spoke of the temple of His body.

THE IMPORTANCE OF BELIEVING IN CHRIST'S RESURRECTION!

Note:  Christ's Resurrection is an essential part of the Gospel message; during this, the Church Age, the belief in the Gospel is required in order to be saved.  The Gospel is "the power of God unto salvation" (Romans 1:16)!  The Gospel states:

1 Corinthians 15:1-6 - Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you, which also you have received, and wherein you stand; by which also you are saved - - - For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the (prophetic) Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the (prophetic) Scriptures:  and that He was seen (alive) of Cephas (by Peter), then of (by) the twelve:  after that, He was seen of above (by more than) five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep (some have died).

Romans 10:9-13 (as I understand the text) - But what does the Gospel say?  The Word that can save you is so close to you, even in your mouth, and in your heart:  that is, the Word of faith, which we preach; that if you willingly confess with your mouth, your faith in the Lord Jesus, and do believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.  For with the heart man believes and is declared by God to be righteous; and with the mouth, confession of your faith in Jesus Christ results in your salvation.  For the Scripture says, Whosoever believes in Jesus shall not be ashamed.  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Gentile:  for the Lord is rich in mercy and grace unto all who call upon Him.  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

JESUS DIED FOR YOUR SINS, JUST AS HE SAID HE WOULD!

JESUS WAS BURIED, JUST AS HE SAID HE WOULD BE!

JESUS ROSE FROM THE GRAVE, JUST AS HE SAID HE WOULD!

HE IS RISEN; HE HAS ASCENDED; HE IS COMING AGAIN!

ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO HIS RETURN?