When Paul visited Mars Hill, he found all kinds of gods represented by statues.  Luke recorded in Acts 17:22-23, Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. 23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. The people had erected a statute to an unknown god. Paul gave the unknown god a name; the name is God he said, the creator of heaven and earth and then proceeded to tell them about the God whom they didn’t know.  

In the verse cited, two words are used that reveal much about the era of that day and the time now in which we live. The word superstitious indicates fear of a god     in a religious and good sense (alternately fear [Greek-phobos] means awe and respect for a higher power); they knew gods ruled the world but they didn’t know his name among the many others they worshipped.

The other word is ignorantly. It simply means that the men of Athens didn’t know, perceive, understand or comprehend the god whom they were trying to worship.  While the men of Athens had not heard of God, the people of today can’t say they haven’t heard the message. Paul wrote in Romans 1:19-21: Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. 20 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. While the men of Athens hadn’t heard of God until Paul arrived, the people of today have no excuse (see Paul’s words verse 20). The gospel message has been preached through the ages, beginning with the first Pentecost, and the Bible has been available in various forms and translations for hundreds of years.

Yet today, there are all kinds of theories given for how all that we have was created. Many refuse to honor God as Paul wrote in verse 21. Strange beliefs crop up and people foolishly follow because those beliefs don’t require any sacrifices of self to help others. They are self serving and promote self righteousness which isn’t any righteousness at all. Paul in addressing Israel’s zeal for God wrote in Romans 10:2-4, 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. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.  The only righteousness that counts is that which comes from Jesus Christ; consequently righteousness doesn’t exist when God is ignored and efforts made to be saved are futile.

Paul leaves no doubt as to the name of the giver of righteousness, life, and salvation. He addresses Jesus thusly: 6  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

No matter how much one thinks that God doesn’t exist; or how righteous they think they are; and no matter how much Christ is denied, at the end, all will bow and honor Jesus Christ. As Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:5-6, [There is] One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. There is but one God above all. That is the message of the Bible.

© 1-21-2007 DEC

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