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THE UNKNOWN GOD
ACTS 17:16-34
INTRODUCTION
Let me ask you a question today. Do you know God? I’m not asking do you know about God.
I’m asking you do you know God?
Do you have a personal relationship with the God of this Universe?
Please understand that God is not in the business of playing cosmic knock-knock jokes with us.
The one true God of the Universe wants people to know Him!
He says in Psalm 46:10–“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
The Psalmist said in Psalm 100:3–“Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves;. . .”
By and large the world does not know God!
Jesus prayed in John 17:25–"O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me."
A person can never have eternal life until he or she comes to know the only true God!
Jesus also said this in His prayer to the Father in John 17:3–"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."
The Apostle John said in his epistle of 1 John 5:20–"And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life."
WHY THE UNKNOWN GOD REMAINS UNKNOWN:
I. GOD REMAINS UNKNOWN BECAUSE OF IGNORANCE. (VS 23)
“Unknown” means “not to know.” It can mean to not know because of lack of information or intelligence; but the real implication of the word is that it is because the individual chooses to ignore someone because they are unwilling or reluctant to know them.
A. Paul No Doubt Was Reminded Of His Own Former Ignorance.
1 Timothy 1:12-13–"And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; {13} Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief."
Now understand that Paul thought that he knew God before he was saved on the Damascus road; but after he was converted, he freely acknowledges that he did not know God but was ignorantly in unbelief.
B. Paul No Doubt Was Reminded Of The Nation Of Israel’s Ignorance.
Paul said in Romans 10:1-3--“Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. {2} For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. {3} For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God."
Jesus told a group of Jews in John 8:43-45–"Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. {44} Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. {45} And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not."
Jesus was asked some questions by a group of Sadducees and here is what he said to them in Mark 12:24–"And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?"
Proverbs 4:19–"The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble."
GOD REMAINS UNKNOWN BECAUSE OF IGNORANCE.
II. GOD REMAINS UNKNOWN BECAUSE OF SELF-IMPOSED DARKNESS.
Psalm 14:1–"The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.”
Why is a man a fool who says that there is no God? Because everything in Him and around Him and about Him says that there is a God!
Paul said in Romans 1:20-21–"For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: {21} Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened."
Jesus said in John 3:19-20–"And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. {20} For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved."
A man knows that as long as there is no God, then there is no responsibility or day of reckoning! But it is extremely foolish to deny what is an obvious reality!
Exodus 5:2–"And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go."
Many today say the same thing! “Who is God that I should obey Him?” Acts 28:24-29
GOD REMAINS UNKNOWN BECAUSE OF IGNORANCE.
GOD REMAINS UNKNOWN BECAUSE OF SELF-IMPOSED DARKNESS.
III. GOD REMAINS UNKNOWN BECAUSE OF THE BLINDNESS OF HEARTS AND MINDS.
What is it that blinds mens hearts and minds?
A. Satan Blinds Men’s Hearts.
2 Corinthians 4:3-6--"But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: {4} In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. {5} For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. {6} For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."
B. Sin Blinds Men’s Hearts. (Isaiah 59:1-14)
C. Sedition Blinds Men’s Hearts.
“Sedition” is “the agitation against the authority of a government.” (i.e. rebellion)
John 12:37-40–“37But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: 38That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? 39Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, 40He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. 41These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.”
IV. GOD REMAINS UNKNOWN BECAUSE OF DECEITFUL LUSTS.
The Epicureans were followers of Epicurus who said that the chief end of man was pleasure and happiness. This pleasure, they believed, is attained by avoiding excesses and the fear of death, by seeking tranquility and freedom from pain, and by loving mankind. They believed that if gods exist they do not become involved in human events.
Ephesians 4:17-24
“Deceitful” means “tending to mislead, deceive or ensnare; trickish, fraudulent.”
“Lusts” means “a longing, especially for what is forbidden.”
1 Corinthians 12:2–"Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led." (“Carried away” means “out of control!”)
1 Thessalonians 4:3-5--"For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: {4} That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; {5} Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:"
That word “concupiscence” is the same word translated “lusts” in Ephesians 4:22 and means “a longing, especially for what is forbidden.”
GOD REMAINS UNKNOWN BECAUSE OF IGNORANCE.
GOD REMAINS UNKNOWN BECAUSE OF SELF-IMPOSED DARKNESS.
GOD REMAINS UNKNOWN BECAUSE OF THE BLINDNESS OF HEARTS AND MINDS.
GOD REMAINS UNKNOWN BECAUSE OF DECEITFUL LUSTS.
V. GOD REMAINS UNKNOWN BECAUSE OF WRONG IDEAS ABOUT GOD AND/OR SEEKING GOD IN THE WRONG WAY. (VS 16, 21-23)
“Too superstitious” means “more religious than others.”
The Stoics were followers of Zeno and got their name from the painted portico or stoa, where he traditionally taught in Athens. They were pantheistic in their view and felt that a great “Purpose” was directing history. Man’s responsibility was to fit himself and align himself with this “Purpose” through tragedy and triumph.
What is your idea of who God is and how He relates to man and his universe?
How do you think a man makes his way to God?
Listen very closely, if your ideas about who God is and how we make our way to Him is anything other than what the Bible says, then it is wrong! You may be very sincere in your belief, but friend you are deceived! Not only that, but unless you repent you will be separated from God and spend eternity in hell!
Proverbs 14:12–"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."
1 Corinthians 1:21–"For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not
God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe."
VI. GOD REMAINS UNKNOWN BECAUSE PEOPLE SERVE THE WRONG GOD. (VS 29)
Galatians 4:8–"Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which
by nature are no gods."
Joshua 24:15– "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
We don’t get to choose if we are going to serve but whom we are going to serve!
Acts 17:29–"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."
VII. GOD REMAINS UNKNOWN BECAUSE THE GOSPEL IS NOT PREACHED.
A. Paul Was Stirred By What He Saw. (Vs 16)
B. Paul Was Moved To Action By What He Saw. (Vs 17,18, 23)
Romans 10:13-15–"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. {14} How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? {15} And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!"
Paul preached the Gospel as the only remedy to these folks!
CONCLUSION
THE UNKNOWN GOD REMAINS UNKNOWN:
I. BECAUSE OF IGNORANCE.
II. BECAUSE OF SELF-IMPOSED DARKNESS.
III. BECAUSE OF THE BLINDNESS OF HEARTS AND MINDS.
IV. BECAUSE OF DECEITFUL LUSTS.
V. BECAUSE OF WRONG IDEAS ABOUT GOD AND/OR SEEKING HIM THE WRONG WAY.
VI. BECAUSE OF SERVING THE WRONG GOD.
VII. BECAUSE THE GOSPEL IS NOT PREACHED.
Well, what happened when the Gospel was preached? The same thing that happens when we preach the Gospel! (Vs 32-34)
1. SOME MOCKED. (Vs 32)
2. SOME WANTED TO HEAR MORE. (Vs 32)
3. SOME BELIEVED. (Vs 33-34)
Do you know God? Do you really know Him or do you just know about Him?
Do you have a personal relationship with Him?
God wants you to know Him! God has made a way for you to know Him!
That way is through His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ!
Home Page Contact Us Service Times Sermons Are You Going To Heaven?
NOTICE: THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!