Acts 15…
12 The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. 13 When they finished, James spoke up:
"Brothers, listen to me. 14 Simon has described to us how God at first showed his concern by taking from the Gentiles a people for himself. 15 The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written: (In the Book of AMOS)
16 "'After this I will return and rebuild David's fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, 17 that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things' 18 that have been known for ages.
(James continues) 19 "It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20 Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. 21 For Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath."
22 Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, two men who were leaders among the brothers. 23 With them they sent the following letter:
The apostles and elders, your brothers,
To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia:
Greetings. 24 We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said. 25 So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul— 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. 28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: 29 You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.
Farewell.
What are the four things the Gentles had to reframe from?
29 You are to
1. abstain from food sacrificed to idols,
2. from blood,
3. from the meat of strangled animals
4. and from sexual immorality.
Why these 4- items?
Essentially, the letter instructed the Gentile converts to strictly avoid idolatry, immorality, and eating the meat of strangled animals — activities, common among the Gentiles, that were especially offensive to Jewish sensibilities.
I thought salvation came from accepting Jesus the Christ as Lord and Savior, why the additional requirements?
If Gentile Christians would abstain from these practices, they would please God and get along better with their Jewish brothers and sisters in Christ. Of course, there were other actions inappropriate for believers, but the Jews were especially concerned about these four. This ruling reflected the law of love (described by Paul in 1 Corinthians 8-10). There was a sense in which the Jews needed to be patient with these new Gentile believers who were not familiar with all the Old Testament laws and rituals. And there was a sense in which the Gentiles needed to be sensitive to the Jews who were there first — being careful not to offend their weaker consciences.
James was setting up a missionary principal that sometimes we forget. That principal is bringing the Word of God to the people of God in the language they, the people of God understand.
How have others responded as they “served the Lord”?
- see Father Vincent J. Donovan
- Mother Teresa of Calcutta
- Saint Francis of Assisi – first Naivety
- John Wesley – (America and failed – learned from the Moravian
May 24, 1737-38, at a Moravian meeting in Aldersgate Street, London, while listening to the reading of Luther's preface to the Epistle to the Romans, in which explanation of faith and the doctrine of justification by faith is given. "I felt," he wrote, " my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins." Two or three weeks later he preached a remarkable sermon, enforcing the doctrine of present personal salvation by faith, which was followed by another, on God's grace " free in all, and free for all." He never ceased in his whole subsequent career to preach this doctrine and that of the witness of the Spirit.
THE LETTER FOR GENTILE BELIEVERS
The Jerusalem council summarized in a letter its decision regarding Gentile circumcision. This letter was carried to Antioch of Syria by Judas and Silas. Paul and Barnabas accompanied these specially chosen messengers.
This directive brought joy to the believers at Antioch. The Jerusalem entourage stayed for a while, strengthening the believers and teaching the word of the Lord.
It is human to err, it is devilish to remain willfully in error.
— Augustine
The early church faced a crisis because of its great diversity — people with wildly different backgrounds, beliefs, and behavior. The modern church also faces an ongoing crisis of diversity. Our congregations are filled with people who have wildly different convictions with regard to all kinds of behavior.
What views have created challenges in our churches today? (Please note I am not referencing MUMC but churches in general.)
Consider these often divisive issues (about which the Bible does not give black-and-white commands):
drinking; going to movies; political party affiliation; home schooling; gambling; working on Sunday; TV viewing habits; credit card use; money borrowing; child-rearing practices; the recognition/celebration of certain holidays; stay-at-home moms vs. working moms; dating; preferences in music.
What does the New Testament reminds us regarding differences?
1. The New Testament reminds us of our freedom in Christ and our obligation to show love. Resist the urge to judge others. Do not be dogmatic where the Bible is not. Demonstrate grace.
2. Generally speaking “hate the sin – love the sinner” or “one may not agree but one can still love as Christ loved”
Acts 15:28-29
For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay no greater burden on you than these requirements: You must abstain from eating food offered to idols, from consuming blood or eating the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. If you do this, you will do well. Farewell.
What was the potential backlash to leaders in Jerusalem for their decision?
The decision by the Jerusalem council had great potential for trouble.
1. The Jews could have balked — "That's it?! Only four requirements? No circumcision?"
2. The Gentiles could have squawked — "What do you mean, give up our favorite foods? That's ridiculous! You elders caved in to the legalists! We thought Christianity was supposed to be based on liberty and freedom!"
How believers responded to this decision would demonstrate to the world the real character of the church. Defiance would likely cause a split and give malcontents the courage to push their agendas. Submission by everyone would result in a close-knit, harmonious body that had a sense of order and stability.
How has the “church” responded over the centuries to struggles or differences in opinions?
We gone from one church to ????
Samuel Taylor Coleridge once wrote…
False doctrine does not necessarily make a man a heretic, but an evil heart can make any doctrine heretical.
21 October 1772 – 25 July 1834) was an English poet, Romantic, literary critic and philosopher who, with his friend William Wordsworth, was one of the founders of the Romantic Movement in England and one of the Lake Poets.
How did the people of Antioch respond to the letter?
30 The men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter. 31 The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message. 32 Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers. 33 After spending some time there, they were sent off by the brothers with the blessing of peace to return to those who had sent them. 35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord.
36 Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing." 37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, 38 but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. 39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41 He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
PAUL AND BARNABAS SEPARATE
What good came from this “sharp” disagreement?
This incident demonstrates the sovereignty of God as two missionary teams were formed: Paul and Silas, and Barnabas and Mark. Even though no further word is given regarding the results of Barnabas and Mark's evangelistic efforts, we see kingdom messengers departing Antioch in two directions.
Do we recall why John Mark went home in Acts 13:13?
- Why John Mark deserted has been a subject of great debate.
- He may have simply been homesick.
- He may have become afraid due to the opposition of certain parties to the gospel message.
- He may have intended to accompany Paul and Barnabas only as far as Pamphylia and had simply failed to communicate this fact.
What does Paul’s reaction tell us about humankind? Are we much different?
Fool me once shame on you – fool me twice shame on me
Some information on SILAS…
[SIGH lus] (person of the woods) - a prominent member of the early church at Jerusalem and companion of the apostle Paul. Silas accompanied Paul to Antioch of Syria to report the decision of the Jerusalem Council to accept Gentile Christians into the church (Acts 15:22,27,32).
Paul chose Silas as his companion on his second missionary journey. During their travels, Paul and Silas were imprisoned at Philippi (Acts 16:19,25,29). Silas and Paul were also together during the riot at Thessalonica (Acts 17:4). Later they were sent to Berea, where Silas remained with Timothy; both Silas and Timothy soon followed Paul to Athens (Acts 17:14-15), although they may not have caught up with him until reaching Corinth (Acts 18:5). Silas played an important role in the early Christian work in Corinth.
In his letters, Paul referred to Silas as Silvanus (1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1). The time, place, and manner of his death are unknown.
Acts 16:1-5
16 He came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was a Jewess and a believer, but whose father was a Greek. 2 The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. 3 Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.
What do we know about Timothy?
Timothy is the first second-generation Christian mentioned in the New Testament. His mother, Eunice, and grandmother Lois (2 Timothy 1:5) had become believers and had faithfully influenced him for the Lord. Although Timothy's father apparently was not a Christian, the faithfulness of Timothy's mother and grandmother prevailed. Never underestimate the effect of godly parenting on a child.
After chapter 15 why did Timothy have to be circumcised?
Timothy and his mother, Eunice, were from Lystra. Eunice had probably heard Paul's preaching when he was there during his first missionary journey (14:6-18). Timothy was the son of a Jewish mother and Greek father—to the Jews, a half-breed like a Samaritan. So Paul asked Timothy to be circumcised to remove some of the stigma he may have had with Jewish believers. Timothy was not required to be circumcised (the Jerusalem council had decided that—chapter 15), but he voluntarily did this to overcome any barriers to his witness for Christ. Sometimes we need to go beyond the call of duty in order to further the Kingdom of God.
Acts 16:16-18
16 Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved." 18 She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!" At that moment the spirit left her.
Christ…
Matthew 8:28-31
28 When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. 29 "What do you want with us, Son of God?" they shouted. "Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?"
30 Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31 The demons begged Jesus, "If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs."
Philippians 2:9-11
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Romans 14:9-11
9 For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. 10 You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. 11 It is written:
"'As surely as I live,' says the Lord,
'every knee will bow before me;
every tongue will confess to God.'"
Acts 16:25-34
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose. 27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!"
29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
31 They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved — you and your household." 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God — he and his whole family.
What caused jailer to convert immediately?
Paul and Silas's reputation in Philippi was well known. When the jailer realized his own condition and need, he risked everything to find the answer. The Good News of salvation is simply expressed: Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved (see Romans 10:9; 1 Corinthians 12:3; Ephesians 2:8,9; Philippians 2:11). When we recognize Jesus as Lord and trust in him with our entire life, salvation is assured to us. If you have never trusted in Jesus to save you, do so quickly. Your life can be filled with joy, just as the jailer's was (16:34).
What is the significant of the whole family converting?
Paul and Silas took the family unit seriously. So the offer of salvation was made to the jailer's entire household—family and servants. Yet it was not the jailer's faith that saved them; they all needed to come to Jesus in faith and believe in him in the same way the jailer had. His entire family did believe and all were saved. Pray that God will use you to introduce Jesus to your family and that they will come to believe in him.
Old Testament – Law and Prophets
New Testament – Grace and Mercy
A Georgia or Georgia Tech life long support moves to Oklahoma – how hard is it for them to convince a strong OU fan to change their lifelong commitment and immediately begin to route for Georgia or Georgia Tech?
Trivia Question - Who was the first black person to defy the seating regulations on a bus?
1. Her action was not the first of its kind: Irene Morgan, in 1946, and Sarah Louise Keys, in 1955, had won rulings before the U.S. Supreme Court and the Interstate Commerce Commission respectively in the area of interstate bus travel.
2. Nine months before Parks refused to give up her seat, 15-year-old Claudette Colvin refused to move from her seat on the same bus system.
3. But unlike these previous individual actions of civil disobedience, Parks' action sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
After Rosa Parks act how long did it take this nation to change and stopped discrimination?
On December 1, 1955 in Montgomery, Alabama, Parks, age 42, refused to obey bus driver James Blake's order that she give up her seat to make room for a white passenger.
Approximately what year was Abram born?
Somewhere between 2166 and 1952 BC depending on the scholars.
Approximately what year did Moses lead the Hebrew people into the wilderness?
1446 BC
Approximately when was the Law given to Moses and the Hebrew people?
1445 BC
How old is Athens, Greece?
- Athens has been continuously inhabited for at least 7,000 years.[13][
- Athens is constantly inhabited since Neolithic Age. The 5th century was the time of its ultimate bloom, when moral values and civilization surpassed city limits and became the mother land of western civilization
- Neolithic Age (10,000-3,000 years ago)
When did Plato live and what was he?
- Plato, born in Athens around 427 BC to 347 BC
- About 387 BC, Plato founded a school in Athens, in a grove sacred to the demigod Academus, called the Academy (which is where we get the word academics from today). It was, in effect, a university of higher learning, which included physical science, astronomy, and mathematics, as well as philosophy. In addition to presiding over the Academy, Plato delivered lectures, which were never published.
Why did we do this history overview?
What were Paul and Silas trying to do as they journeyed together?
They were trying to change tradition and history
Who has heard of the expression “if it isn’t broken don’t fix it?”
Paul and Silas and the others were trying to “fix something” that they knew was broken but the people they were talking to didn’t.
Why do long (50 plus year old) establish churches struggle at times?
Because we have always done it this way and it worked for them it will work for us.
Acts 17:1-9
When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2 As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. "This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ," he said. 4 Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women.
5 But the Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason's house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd. 6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials, shouting: "These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, 7 and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar's decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus." 8 When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. 9 Then they made Jason and the others post bond and let them go.
Why where the Jews jealous?
- Not recognized the Messiah
- Was only for them they thought
- These men where unclean thus they could not be Godly
In Acts 17:16-23 two types of individuals will be introduced. They are the Epicurean and the stoic Philosophers.
EPICUREANS
[epp uh cue REE anz] — Greek philosophers who belonged to a school founded by Epicurus about 306 B.C. The Epicureans were concerned with the practical results of philosophy in everyday life. Their chief aim in life was pleasure. They believed they could find happiness by seeking that which brought physical and mental pleasure, and by avoiding that which brought pain.
If the Epicureans believed true happiness was found in pleasure what did Paul believe and teach?
Only one reference to the Epicureans occurs in Scripture-in the New Testament account of the apostle Paul's encounter with "certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers" at Athens (Acts 17:16-34). In contrast to these philosophers, Paul believed that true happiness was found in following the will of Jesus Christ.
STOICISM
[STOW uh siz em] — the doctrine of the Stoics, a Greek school of philosophy which taught that human beings should be free from passion, unmoved by joy or grief, and submissive to natural law, calmly accepting all things as the result of divine will.
Stoicism was one of the most influential Greek schools of philosophy in the New Testament period. It took its name from the Stoa Poikile, the portico or lecture place in Athens where its founder, Zeno, taught.
The Stoics believed that man is part of the universe which itself is dominated by reason. God is identified with the world-soul and so inhabits everything. Therefore, man's goal is to identify himself with this universal reason which determines his destiny, to find his proper place in the natural order of things. Since man cannot change this grand design, it is best for him to cooperate and to take his part in the world order. Moreover, he must live above any emotional involvement with life, exemplifying a detached virtue in serving others. Above all, he must be self-sufficient, living life with dignity and pride.
How would Paul counter their belief?
Paul's speech on the AREOPAGUS, or Mars' Hill (Acts 17:16-34), interacts with Stoic ideas, arguing that the highest good is not internal (in man's union with nature) but external (in a right relationship with God).
Acts 17:16-23
16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. 18 A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, "What is this babbler trying to say?" Others remarked, "He seems to be advocating foreign gods." They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. 19 Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20 You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean." 21 (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)
22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.
When Paul was debating with these groups how did his argument change?
He used what they knew and believed and introduced Christ to them through their experience – background and history.
How did the people respond?
Acts 17:32-34
32 When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, "We want to hear you again on this subject." 33 At that, Paul left the Council. 34 A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.
What is significant about how they responded?
Positive or negative, they responded because someone had shared the truth with them. Seeds were planted, some grew and some ripened. But it happened because the door was opened to them by Paul.
Acts 17:24-18:1
24 "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27 God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 28 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'
29 "Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone — an image made by man's design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead."
32 When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, "We want to hear you again on this subject." 33 At that, Paul left the Council. 34 A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.
THEOS is the Greek work for God
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Paul unmasked the UNKNOWN god with these facts
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What the Greeks Believed
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Old Testament “Proof”
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ACTS 17:24-32 verse by verse counter “attack’
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Theos-God made the world and everything in it
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Genesis 1:1
1 In the beginning God created..
NIV
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Acts 17:24 "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.
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Theos is lord of heaven and earth, sky and land-too great to be confined to a man-made temple or altar
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1 Kings 8:27-28
27 "But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!
NIV
Isaiah 66:1-2
66 This is what the Lord says:
"Heaven is my throne,
and the earth is my footstool.
Where is the house you will build for me?
Where will my resting place be?
2 Has not my hand made all these things,
and so they came into being?"
declares the Lord.
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Theos is not dependent on people to meet his needs or run his errands. People are dependent on him for “life, breath, and all things”
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. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.
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What the Greeks Believed
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Old Testament “Proof”
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ACTS 17:24-32 verse by verse counter “attack’
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Theos created all nationalities, beginning with one man (Acts 17:26) (Athenians believed they “sprang from the soil and their natives Greece,” and were superior to other races and nationalities.
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Genesis 1:27
27 So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
Genesis 2:7
7 the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
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26 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.
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Theos planned specific times and places for people to live and created an inhabitable planet before putting them on it.
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Genesis 1;1-26
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26 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.
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Theos provided everything needed for life and security so people could see what he’s done and reach out to him. (If God remains “unknown,” it is because humans suppress the truth about him visible in the created universe) He want people to know him.
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27 God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
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Theos doesn’t play hide-and-seek. In fact, we “can’t get away from him!”
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What the Greeks Believed
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Old Testament “Proof”
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ACTS 17:24-32 verse by verse counter “attack’
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Theos originated humans. It makes no sense to think he could be a statue chiseled by a human sculptor from gold, silver, or stone
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Isaiah 44:9-20
9 All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Those who would speak up for them are blind; they are ignorant, to their own shame. 10 Who shapes a god and casts an idol, which can profit him nothing? 11 He and his kind will be put to shame; craftsmen are nothing but men. Let them all come together and take their stand; they will be brought down to terror and infamy.
12 The blacksmith takes a too land works with it in the coals; he shapes an idol with hammers, he forges it with the might of his arm. He gets hungry and loses his strength; he drinks no water and grows faint. 13 The carpenter measures with a line and makes an outline with a marker; he roughs it out with chisels and marks it with compasses. He shapes it in the form of man, of man in all his glory that it may dwell in a shrine. 14 He cut down cedars, or perhaps took a cypress or oak. He let it grow among the trees of the forest, or planted a pine, and the rain made it grow. 15 It is man's fuel for burning; some of it he takes and warms himself, he kindles a fire and bakes bread. But he also fashions a god and worships it; he makes an idol and bows down to it. 16 Half of the wood he burns in the fire; over it he prepares his meal, he roasts his meat and eats his fill. He also warms himself and says," Ah! I am warm; I see the fire." 17 From the rest he makes a god, his idol; he bows down to it and worships. He prays to it and says, "Save me; you are my god." 18 They know nothing, they understand nothing; their eyes are plastered over so they cannot see, and their minds closed so they cannot understand. 19 No one stops to think, no one has the knowledge or understanding to say, "Half of it I used for fuel; I even baked bread over its coals, I roasted meat and I ate. Shall I make a detestable thing from what is left? Shall I bow down to a block of wood?" 20 He feeds on ashes, a deluded heart misleads him; he cannot save himself, or say, "Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?"
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29 "Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone — an image made by man's design and skill.
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What the Greeks Believed
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Old Testament “Proof”
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ACTS 17:24-32 verse by verse counter “attack’
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Theos Overlooked Atheniam ignorance about him in the past, but no more! Now they must turn from unknowing and know about God.
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30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.
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Theos has set a time for the world to be judged.
The identity of the presiding judge has been revealed: He’s the man God raised from the dead.
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Psalms 9:8
8 He will judge the world in righteousness;
he will govern the peoples with justice.
NIV
Psalms 96:13
13 they will sing before the Lord, for he comes,
he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples in his truth.
Hebrews 9:27-28
27 Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
NIV
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31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead."
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What the Greeks Believed
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Old Testament “Proof”
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ACTS 17:24-32 verse by verse counter “attack’
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The identity of the presiding judge has been revealed: He’s the man God raised from the dead.
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John 5:25-27
25 I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.
NIV
Romans 1:4-5
4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.
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31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead."
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What is the significant of verse 28 of Acts 17?
'For in him we live and move and have our being.' Is a quote from Epimenides written around 600 BC. He wrote of Theos
“As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'” Is from Aratus, written around 300 BC
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