ALTARS TO THE UNKNOWN GOD

Acts 17:22-31

Introduction: (Acts 17:22-23) In his travels, Paul came upon some very religious people. As he observed their instruments of worship, he notice that they built an altar to “The Unknown God.” Although these people recognized and gave tribute to God, they really did not know Him. Paul knew that it was not enough to build altars of sacrifice unto God. One had to truly know God (2 The. 1:8). With this in mind, Paul proceeded to educate these Athenians concerning the truth of Jehovah.

A. People are still building altars today to “The Unknown God”

1. They demonstrate this in the manner in which they worship

2. He is unknown in the sense that they have not taken the time to see what He wants from us

B. In this lesson we will analyze Paul’s sermon

1. We will learn who God is

2. We will come to understand what he wants from us

I. Making the unknown known

A. God is creator (v. 24)

1. In the beginning, God created (Gen. 1:1)

2. The creation helps to make God known

a. Psalm 19:1 – God is glorious

b. Romans 1:19-20 – God is omniscient and omnipotent

B. God is Spirit (v. 24)

1. He cannot be contained in nor limited to physical structures (1 Kings 8:27; Acts 7:48, 49)

2. Those structures simply represented God’s presence

3. This speaks to God’s Omnipresence (Psa. 139:7-12)

4. God is not a material being; there is nothing material in His nature

a. John 4:24 – Must worship Him in spirit

b. To think that acceptable worship is dependent upon a particular geographical location or man made structure is to have the wrong view of God’s nature

C. God serves mankind (v. 25)

1. The Word translated “worshipped” in this passage would mean to wait upon or serve; everywhere else this word is used it is translated “healed”

a. Jesus came not to be served by but to serve man (Mark 10:45)

b. We serve God as we serve others (Matt. 25:34-46)

2. Too many see God as someone who needs our help and are thus inclined to give Him whatever they believe could assist Him

a. They need to read Psalm 50:8-12

b. God doesn’t need anything from us

D. God is the giver of all life (v. 25)

1. According to Isaiah 42:5, God is responsible for the life of man

2. God holds man’s life within His hands (Deu. 30:20) – Only someone who is crazy and has a death wish would cast insults at a person who is holding a gun to his head

E. God is responsible for the brotherhood of man (v. 26)

1. Though each person is different, we all have something in common

a. We all bleed red

b. We all need oxygen

c. We all need food, clothing and shelter

d. We all need the Lord who is responsible for those provisions

2. This knowledge and understanding should eliminate the isms and schisms that exist among men

F. God laid everything out in such a way that man would seek him (vs. 26-27)

1. He is not the God over one nation but has an interest and control over all nations (Psa. 86:9; Zec. 14:9)

2. Men, outside of special revelation, grope after God because they sense the presence of something greater and beyond themselves that is responsible for their existence (Rom. 1:20)

3. He is always within reach because He is right there making sure we have everything we need to sustain life (Acts 17:28)

II. We are the offspring of God (vs. 28-29)

A. Man is created in the image of God (Gen. 1:27)

1. Paul used a quote that several Greek stoic poets used in reference to Zeus to indicate the folly of worshipping the objects of man’s own devising

2. I cannot imagine why men would think they owe their lives to some inanimate, lifeless object

B. Men must repent of such ignorance (v. 30)

1. God will judge the world and men must prepare themselves (v. 30)

2. He assured men of this and helped to prepare them by allowing Jesus to be raised from the dead (explain)

Conclusion: People today are still building altars to THE UNKNOWN GOD. He is unknown because they do not know what He wants and what is necessary to please Him. They view him as some helpless being, which needs whatever they are willing to sacrifice. Many more worship other gods—the works of man’s devising. Of this men must repent and turn to the One true God.