Bible Study: Acts 17:28-31

In the first part of this passage, we saw that everyone has an innate sense of God’s existence and presence. The passage also tells us that God created everything, sustains in moment by moment, and, in light of these facts, it is ludicrous to think that God is lacking in anything whatsoever. We also understand from these verses that God has arranged the times and locations of our existence in such a way as to make sure that we understand our responsibility to Him and that we have the opportunity to respond to His loving offer of salvation.

In light of these previous verses, let us take up where we left off in Acts 17:

            “28 for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are  His children.’ 29 Being then the children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like  gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man.”

Paul reminds his hearers that even their own secular authors have made note that a god of some sort exists. And that they rely on this god to sustain them. We are reminded here that Paul is in the process of introducing these people to the one true God. He cautions them that the true God is not found, and does not consist of, gold, silver, stone, or any other man-made thing. He is separate, and above, all else.

            “30 Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent,”

Because God loves us, and He is gracious, He has given us time and opportunity to come to understand what He requires of us and for us to repent and live for Him. Had humanity gotten what we deserved (in other words; had God judged us according to our sins when we committed them), there would be no humanity left. However, He chose to graciously give us time to understand His revelation, in His Word and in the creation around us (Romans 1:20), so that we could choose to follow Him and so that those who chose not to follow Him could not say they were ignorant of the fact that they were accountable to Him.

            “31 because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”

Some view the phrase ‘judgment day’ as almost a cliché; a corny catch phrase created to ‘scare people into heaven’. However, the Bible repeatedly tells us that there will come a time when each of us will stand before God and answer for everything we’ve ever done and everything we’ve ever said. We will not be judged by our own vacillating opinions; we will be judged according to God’s holy standard. The One doing this judging will be Jesus Christ himself.

Conclusion

In light of what is contained within this one passage of Scripture (Acts 17:22-31), we know that (1) everyone has in innate knowledge of God within them, (2) God is not contained within any structure, nor is He bound to any material substance, (3) He created the universe, everything in it, and He sustains it each and every moment, (4) He so arranged the life and location of each person so that they would have the optimum opportunity to know Him and His love, and be confronted with the decision of whether or not to submit to His lordship, (5) He postponed judging our sins for a period of time but, (6) He will judge each and every one of us at some future date through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Therefore, we each must choose whether to repent of our sins and enter into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, having our sins forgiven and receiving eternal life. Or, we choose to reject His love and forgiveness, choosing to live by our own opinions, lusts, and desires. The latter choice insures that we will live eternally separated from His love…an eternity of misery and suffering.

He gives us this choice and it is one that each of us MUST make. Is your soul worth taking the time to make the right choice? God thinks so, and sent His Son to die on a cross to save you (John 3:16).

NOTE: All Scripture is from the New American Standard Bible

Article by Robert Driskell