The Pilgrim Path---Acts 17: 29 – 34

Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.”

So Paul went out from their midst. But some men joined him and believed, among whom were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.

“SOME MOCKED…OTHERS SAID, ‘WE WILL HEAR YOU AGAIN’…

---God is real: Paul was quick to tell the Athenians that there is “One” true and Living God. Marx was the soul that told the Russian people, “God did not make man---man created god.” Every generation needs this “myth” laid low---and normally many, many times!

---God commands ALL people everywhere to repent! With the amazing Cross-Work of Jesus, ALL people all called upon to turn from their sin---and rest in the Living Christ Alone for Salvation as He is offered in the Gospel. Redemption is not confined to the nation of Israel!

---God appointed a Man by whom ALL humanity is to be judged: The God-Man Jesus Christ. His unique authority is proven by His resurrection from the dead. “And he has been given authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.” John 5: 27—29.

---God sent the Son as Savior: “For the wages of sin is death, but the free GIFT of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our LORD.” Romans 6: 23

---God knows a few people “mock”---HE also has some believe (some of “them” used to be mockers).

From James Boice: Whether or not Paul was discouraged, he had a hard time in Athens. It is hard to speak to intellectuals, even harder to speak to people who are basking in the glory of a former age. It is hard for us too. Yet Paul did try to reach such people for Christ, and so should we. Suppose our results are meager. Well, so were Paul’s. On the other hand, we should not be profoundly disheartened, because God always allows His Word to bear fruit in one form or another. There will be some who sneer. There will be some who postpone their decision, perhaps indefinitely. But there will always be some who believe. They are the sheep Jesus is calling into His fold. It is our joy to be used by Him in calling them.

From Rico Tice: If we are to share Christ, we need to first love Christ! We need to ask the Spirit to go to work in our hearts with the gospel, so that we’ll love Christ more and more, and he’ll displace our idols; and so when we talk about what we love, we’ll be talking about him…

Grace and Peace in Jesus, the Only Redeemer of broken and wretched souls, Pastor Jason