Skeptics Need to Hear the Truth About the True God

April 29, 2008 by admin.

In the Name of Our Savior, Whose Word Is Truth, Dear Friends in Christ,

Do you know what a paleontologist is? It’s someone who studies the fossils of plants and animals. Many conduct such studies with the purpose of determining the age of this earth and the origin of mankind. One such paleontologist by the name of Stephen Jay Gould, after doing his research, came up with this conclusion about man’s origin: “We are here because one odd group of fishes had a peculiar fin anatomy that could transform into legs for terrestrial creatures, because comets struck the earth and wiped out dinosaurs, thereby giving mammals a chance not otherwise available; because the earth never froze entirely during the ice age; because a small and tenuous species, arising in Africa a quarter of a million years ago, has managed, so far, to survive by hook and by crook. We may yearn for a higher answer to the meaning of life–but none exists.”

How do you feel when you hear such a blatantly anti-Christian statement? There are two possibilities: First, it probably makes you angry to hear of someone defying the creator God and his power, foolishly proclaiming instead to have the real answer to where man came from. But you might also feel a bit sad, because such a belief indicates that there are many living today who are lost in their own intellect, in their denial of the true God. You’re moved to feel sorry for those who are caught up in such ignorance, an ignorance which keeps them from knowing their Lord and Savior.

I’m sure the apostle Paul felt some anger when he was in the city of Athens. But for him, sorrow won out in the end. He cared for the people, lost in their ignorance, and he felt a sense of urgency to set them straight. He wanted to let the people in on the truth.

What Paul found in Athens parallels what we find in our world today. Our task remains the same:

“Skeptics Need to Hear the Truth About the True God”

I. Their ignorance moves us to care

II. God’s truth compels us to share

The city of Athens was a major metropolis of its day. It had a rich military and political history, being well-known for its architecture and art, and especially for its philosophy. And yet it remained a totally pagan city. The people of Athens worshiped many gods, gods invented by the heroes and writers of their past. They prided themselves on being open-minded, for they were quite willing to allow for the gods and goddesses of other cultures as well. It was this spiritual ignorance which Paul met upon his arrival at Athens, and it moved him (Ac 17:16), “He was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols.”

Paul went to work, preaching in the synagogue and the marketplace every day. But some philosophers became a bit upset with his teaching, so he was taken to the Areopagus, the place where Athen’s Supreme Council met. There he was questioned about his work (Ac 17:19,20), “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.” Paul seized this opportunity by beginning his answer on a positive note (v 22), “Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: ‘’en of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.’” During his time in their city Paul had seen the many shrines, statues, altars, and temples they had constructed. It was said that Athens had more gods than men. Certainly they fit Paul’s description of being “very religious.”

But their religious beliefs were founded on ignorance. Listen to what Paul stumbled upon during one of his walks through the city (v 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.” Imagine that! The Athenians were trying to cover all the bases. Fearing that they might offend some yet-to-be-discovered deity, they built this altar just in case. So totally steeped in spiritual ignorance were the Athenians!

That was the situation Paul found in Athens around the year 40 A.D. I’m afraid he’d find much the same in the year 2008 A.D. Today most people will admit to believing in a “god,” but they don’t know the true God. They feel that empty spot in their heart, but they try to fill it by believing in modern day idols such as money, entertainment, fame, or even themselves. Our coins may say “In God we trust,” and we may pledge to be one nation “under God,” and yet the true God still remains unknown to many who are left to grope around in darkness, hoping somehow to stumble upon what’s missing in their life.

But we still consider our country to be a “very religious” one. Over 1800 Christian denominations bear witness to this fact, and yet many who have been introduced to the true God have since forgotten him. We may be a “very religious” nation, but that doesn’t make us a “very godly” nation. Signs of this fact are quite evident: Christian worship attendance is declining, respect for the Bible as the Word of God has decreased significantly, and immorality of all kinds is on the rise. Spiritual ignorance abounds today, much as it did in Athens.

And our response? Do we find ourselves saying, “So what! It’s their funeral.” Perhaps we too often view unbelievers as savage wolves, waiting to attack our faith, instead of as lost sheep, having wandered from the fold. Paul always saw opportunities instead of threats. He cared for the lost. He knew he had what they needed, and he exercised great patience in dealing with them. Like children who need to be taught, use the same patience with those who are spiritually ignorant, those who don’t have what we have, those who need to hear the truth about the true God.

The ignorance of those living without Christ moves us to care about their souls’ welfare. We have the remedy for that ignorance — God’s Word. The truth of that Word compels us to share that remedy with all people.

Paul isn’t shy about pointing out the true God to these people (v 23), “Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.” Paul was going to change the “what” of their worship to a “whom.” He would take the unknown, impersonal “something” and change it into the living, personal God. He would show them the truth about the true God.

Paul proclaims the true God to them as the God of all creation (vv 24,25), “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. 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.” This was a God quite unlike the idol gods of the Athenians. Paul’s God didn’t need anything from mankind — mankind needed him! He was the one who created man, so how foolish it was to think that man, the offspring and creation of God, could itself create God (v 28), “For in him we live and move and have our being. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’” Even their own poets and philosophers recognized that man came from God! “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” (v 29). How foolish it is to believe that the Creator can be formed by his creation! Jeremiah points out their folly (Jer 10:5), “Like a scarecrow in a melon patch, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good.” Paul’s point is simple: Since we come from God, how could he come from us?

Since Paul’s God is the God who made the world, he’s also the one who governs that world (v 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.” Paul was speaking of the true God who has always been in control of all history. He has governed the world’s events to serve his own purposes (v 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.” The Lord has given all people a “time of grace,” a time in which they can seek him. He wants everyone to “reach out” for him, a word which actually means to “touch” him and be close to him. As Paul states, he isn’t far from us. He’s as close as his Word. There we learn about his Son Jesus, and in him we see his Father (Jn 1:18), “No one has ever seen God, but God the only Son, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.” Paul felt compelled by the truth of God’s Word to share that Word with the Athenians.

In Jesus God the Father revealed man’s redemption. Now there was no time to waste (v 30), “In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.” In the past God mercifully chose not to punish idolaters. As Peter tells us (2 Pe 3:9), “The Lord . . . is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” Now Jesus had been revealed. Now was the time to follow Peter’s Pentecost advice (Ac 2:38), “Repent and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven!”

The time is coming when everyone must account for what they’ve done (v 31), “For [God] has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed.” Someday we all must declare which God we followed as the true God. The “UNKNOWN GOD” would not be an acceptable answer for the Athenians.

Such judgment will be pronounced by one hand-picked by God himself. His own Son, Jesus Christ, will be that judge. How do we know? Paul explains (v 31), “He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.” By Christ’s resurrection God the Father proved the Old Testament prophecies to be true. He proved that his Son was the promised Messiah. He proved that his Son’s mission was a success. And he proved that he alone was the only true God. This was the message Paul felt compelled to share with the world.

Here at Messiah we have the knowledge of the true God today. We can make that claim on the basis of Scripture. Everything we believe is supported by God’s Word. This fact is made evident to all those who sit through one of our Bible Information Classes. We know the truth, and that truth compels us to share our knowledge with the world. The resource is available. The Bible is still the most widely purchased book in the world. But the world needs to read the book instead of just dusting off the cover every now and then. Then God won’t be just another “UNKNOWN GOD,” whatever people imagine him to be or want him to be or hope him to be. Then people won’t be able to just create their own versions of “God.” Instead they will know the truth about the true God. But to know the truth, we have to take that truth to them.

There’s no time like the present to do so (2 Co 6:2), “Now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” How important it is to know the true God in repentance and faith before we stand at his throne of judgment! That day is set and approaching fast. There’s nothing we can do to prevent it or change it. It could be tonight, tomorrow, or the next day — only God knows. Such a message sends chills down the spines of unbelievers. But not for you and me. That’s because we know who’s going to be doing the judging. And we know what his verdict will be. We know Jesus, the one who suffered under the curse and punishment we all deserved in order that we might have his righteousness and share in his heaven. It’s his own resurrection that serves as “proof” of our own resurrection. Another modern translation calls Jesus’ resurrection “a good reason to believe” (NET). That’s because ours is the only religion that has an empty tomb. Ours is the only religion that has a leader who gave his life for his people but still lives! Ours is the truth of God, the truth we are compelled to share!

Take roll call on any given Sunday in any given church and you’ll find that not all people are in attendance. Not everyone knows the truth. Many are still skeptical. How do you cure a skeptic? If someone is skeptical about the size of a fish you caught, you show them the fish. If someone is skeptical about the true God, then show them the true God. You speak out. You remove the doubt. You proclaim and show them the truth. You do so by following Peter’s advice from this morning’s reading (1 Pe 3:15), “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” Then step back and watch the power of God’s Word at work. Watch as skeptics become believers!

Amen

-Rev. Jonathan Rockhoff

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