Paul's Call: Unity, Repentance, and the Resurrection

Devotional

Day 1: Unity in Creation

God has created all nations from one blood, emphasizing the unity and equality of humanity. This profound truth challenges us to look beyond cultural and national boundaries and recognize our shared origin and purpose in seeking God. In Acts 17, Paul speaks to the Athenians, reminding them that God is not distant but is the source of life, motion, and being. This unity in creation calls us to see each other as brothers and sisters, all part of God's family, and to live in harmony with one another. [00:32]

"And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us." (Acts 17:26-27, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively promote unity and understanding in your community, recognizing the shared humanity and divine purpose in those around you?

Day 2: Purposeful Existence

The ancient philosophical questions of life, motion, and being find their answers in God. Life is not an accident but a purposeful creation; motion is sustained by God’s power, and our being is contingent upon His self-existence. This understanding invites us to see our lives as part of a divine plan, where every moment and movement is significant. It challenges us to live with intention, knowing that our existence is not random but filled with purpose and meaning. [08:07]

"For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together." (Colossians 1:16-17, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you align your daily actions with the understanding that your life is a purposeful creation by God?

Day 3: The Mandate of Repentance

God commands all people to repent, not as an invitation but as a divine mandate. This call transcends cultural and religious boundaries, urging us to turn to Christ, the appointed judge of the world. Repentance is not merely a change of mind but a transformation of heart and life, aligning ourselves with God's will and purpose. It is a call to leave behind our old ways and embrace the new life offered through Christ. [26:24]

"Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus." (Acts 3:19-20, ESV)

Reflection: What specific area of your life is God calling you to repent and change today, and how can you take a step towards that transformation?

Day 4: The Assurance of the Resurrection

The resurrection of Christ sets Christianity apart from all other religions. It is the assurance of God’s power and the foundation of our hope, affirming that Jesus is the appointed judge and Savior. This truth is not just a historical event but a present reality that empowers us to live with hope and confidence. The resurrection assures us that death is not the end, and through Christ, we have the promise of eternal life. [28:59]

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you." (1 Peter 1:3-4, ESV)

Reflection: How does the reality of Christ's resurrection influence your perspective on life's challenges and your hope for the future?

Day 5: Responding to Truth

The truth of God’s sovereignty and the reality of judgment demand a response. While the truth may be demanding and condemning, it is also liberating, calling us to bow joyfully to Christ’s majesty. Recognizing God's authority and the certainty of judgment compels us to live in a way that honors Him, embracing His truth as the guiding principle of our lives. It is an invitation to experience true freedom through submission to His will. [30:58]

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil." (2 Corinthians 5:10, ESV)

Reflection: What steps can you take today to align your life more closely with the truth of God's sovereignty and the reality of His coming judgment?

Sermon Summary

In Acts 17, Paul stands before the philosophers at the Areopagus, delivering a profound message about the nature of God and humanity's relationship with Him. Paul asserts that God has made all nations from one blood, determining their times and boundaries so that they might seek Him. This God is not distant; He is the source of life, motion, and being. Paul challenges the Athenians' idolatry, emphasizing that God is not like the idols made of gold or silver, but is the living Creator who sustains all things. He declares that God has overlooked past ignorance but now commands all people to repent because a day of judgment is appointed, and Christ, whom God raised from the dead, will be the judge.

Reflecting on this passage, I am reminded of my own journey through philosophy and the timeless questions that have preoccupied humanity: the nature of life, motion, and being. These questions remain central to our understanding of existence. Paul’s message to the Athenians is a reminder that life is not a cosmic accident but a purposeful creation by God. Motion and change are not meaningless but are sustained by God’s power. Our very being is contingent upon the self-existent Creator.

Paul’s proclamation is not merely an invitation but a divine command to repent and turn to Christ. This is not a matter of personal preference or cultural heritage; it is a universal call to acknowledge the truth of God’s sovereignty and the reality of the resurrection. The resurrection of Christ is the cornerstone of our faith, distinguishing Christianity from all other religions. It is a testament to God’s power and the assurance of our hope in Him.

In a world that often celebrates human dignity while denying the divine, Paul’s message is a call to recognize the true source of our worth and purpose. It is a call to worship the Creator, not the creation, and to live in the light of His truth.

Key Takeaways

1. The Universality of God's Creation: God has made all nations from one blood, emphasizing the unity and equality of humanity. This challenges us to see beyond cultural and national boundaries and recognize our shared origin and purpose in seeking God. [00:32]
2. Life, Motion, and Being in God: The ancient philosophical questions of life, motion, and being find their answers in God. Life is not an accident but a purposeful creation; motion is sustained by God’s power, and our being is contingent upon His self-existence. [08:07]
3. The Call to Repentance: God commands all people to repent, not as an invitation but as a divine mandate. This call transcends cultural and religious boundaries, urging us to turn to Christ, the appointed judge of the world. [26:24]
4. The Distinctiveness of the Resurrection: The resurrection of Christ sets Christianity apart from all other religions. It is the assurance of God’s power and the foundation of our hope, affirming that Jesus is the appointed judge and Savior. [28:59]
5. The Demand of Truth: The truth of God’s sovereignty and the reality of judgment demand a response. While the truth may be demanding and condemning, it is also liberating, calling us to bow joyfully to Christ’s majesty. [30:58]
** [30:58]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:32] - Paul's Message to the Areopagus
[01:26] - The Call to Repentance
[02:18] - Prayer for Understanding
[03:23] - The Philosophical Background
[04:11] - Paul's Distress in Athens
[04:55] - The Idolatry of Athens
[05:39] - The Nature of God
[06:22] - The Unity of Humanity
[07:12] - God's Providence and Boundaries
[08:07] - Life, Motion, and Being
[09:36] - The Mystery of Life
[10:38] - The Humanist Perspective
[12:06] - The Dignity of Life
[13:48] - The Nature of Motion
[15:18] - The Problem of Motion
[17:11] - Zeno's Paradox
[18:29] - The Reality of Change
[20:18] - The Power of Motion
[21:03] - The Big Bang and Inertia
[22:16] - The Law of Inertia
[23:11] - The Question of Being
[23:58] - The Contingency of Existence
[24:45] - The Call to Worship the Creator
[25:28] - God's Patience and Command
[26:24] - The Divine Command to Repent
[28:02] - The Appointed Day of Judgment
[28:59] - The Uniqueness of Christ
[29:58] - The Need for a Savior
[30:58] - The Demand of Truth
[31:52] - Closing Prayer

Sermon Clips

"He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us." [00:00:32]

"Paul was beside himself with remorse because he penetrated beyond the visible, and he saw that what lie behind and underneath this great culture of the Western world was a city that had been given over and surrendered to idolatry. And, you remember, he rebuked those people though he acknowledged that they were religious in all ways." [00:05:03]

"He is the author and creator of all things. And he says, 'He has made not just you Athenians or the Spartans or the Romans or the Philistines or the Jews, but He has made the people of every nation and tongue under the earth, plus,' the apostle goes on to say, 'He has determined their appointed times.'" [00:07:14]

"Paul is not simply proclaiming a first cause on behalf of monotheism, but he is announcing a God of providence who places limits upon every civilization, every city, every culture, and He has appointed a time from eternity for the end of Greek domination, the end of Roman domination. And I can assure you He has appointed from all eternity the end of American domination." [00:07:23]

"Paul said, 'No, every change, every time we move, every place we go is in God, because God is not just the author of motion, the first cause of motion, but He sustains the power of motion in the universe from second to second; without Him no motion is possible.'" [00:20:08]

"Paul is telling these people. It is in Him we live, in Him we move, in Him we have our being, because apart from the being of God there is no possibility of any thing's being. The biggest question in philosophy is, 'Why is there something rather than nothing?' And if there ever was a time in which there was nothing, it is elementary, my dear Watson, the only thing that could be now is nothing." [00:23:11]

"And so, in one sentence Paul confronts the philosophers, addresses the three main issues of antiquity; life, motion, and being. And he said the answer to all three of these can only be found in the self-existence and eternality of the creator of the universe, who is not just the source of life and change and being, but He is the power of those things in every situation." [00:24:45]

"God commands all men everywhere to repent. Let me stop there for a second. Notice that Paul does not sound like a contemporary evangelist. Part of the language of evangelism of our day is that when the evangelist gives his sermon he follows his sermon with what is typically called the invitation, where he invites people to come to Christ, alright?" [00:26:24]

"God said, 'No, I command all men in every nation. I don’t care what their heritage is. I don’t care what their culture is. I command all men everywhere to repent.' Why? 'Because I have determined a day. I have appointed a day.' It is on God’s calendar in which He will judge the world in righteousness, not frivolously, not capriciously, not unfairly; but He will judge the whole world in righteousness." [00:28:02]

"On the Day of Judgment, you will not be judged by Confucius or Mohammed or Moses or Buddha. You will be judged by Christ, because God has appointed Him the judge of the entire human race, and He has demonstrated to the world who He is by raising Him from the dead. People say all these religions are basically the same. Let me tell you where they are not the same." [00:28:59]

"And you may think that it was narrow-minded of God to only provide one of them. I think it is unspeakably gracious that He provided one, because He was not required to provide any. I can give no reason why God would save me. He doesn’t owe me salvation, but He commands that I honor His Son whom He has raised from the tomb and has made the King of the kings and the Lord of the lords." [00:30:58]

"Father, sometimes we would prefer a lie to the truth, because the truth is too demanding. The truth condemns us. The truth reveals who we are and what we are. We have nothing to fear from the judgment of Athena or the judgment of Mohammed, but we have everything to fear from Your judgment which is altogether righteous. By Thy Spirit bring us to Christ that we may bow our knees joyfully and willingly to His majesty." [00:31:52]

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