WEBVTT 00:00:00.780 --> 00:00:22.760 Father in heaven, firstly we pray for the children of this church, those that are in Messiah Kids and those that are in the service, Lord, we pray a blessing upon them, that they would know your love towards them, Lord, and that it would so move them by your spirit, that they would always know, never having a memory of not knowing, your love towards them. 00:00:22.760 --> 00:00:49.840 We pray also for the leaders and the helpers in kids' ministry, and Lord, as we open up your word and look at the Apostle Paul in Athens, Lord, help us to be brave people, people that would, by your Holy Spirit, ask difficult questions about our own allegiances, about the idolatry in our own lives, not so that we would remain in shame, but that we would be liberated. 00:00:49.840 --> 00:00:59.720 For freedom, you have set us free, that we would know that in a truer, deeper sense afresh this morning. We pray all of this in Christ's name. Amen. 00:01:01.720 --> 00:01:11.100 If you don't have one of these scripture journals, feel free to grab one. Yep, there's still a pile at the back welcome table. 00:01:11.760 --> 00:01:19.580 They're our gift to you. We like these because you can flip to the sermon text, and there's a 00:01:19.579 --> 00:01:26.400 bunch of lines on the other side that you can take notes. It's a way that we pray that you'll dive deeper into God's word. 00:01:27.379 --> 00:01:31.840 And if you are following along in one of these scripture journals, we're on page 102. 00:01:32.480 --> 00:01:38.519 Now, Josiah read just starting from verse 22, but we'll be in verses 16 to the end of the chapter. 00:01:38.519 --> 00:01:53.099 But before I get into that, a bit of a story. So in the fall of 2015, a very close friend of mine who worked on Parliament Hill helped out a local conservative candidate that was seeking to be an MP. 00:01:53.099 --> 00:02:16.379 So if you remember, I think it was the end of the summer or the beginning of the fall, the writ dropped, the election cycle kicked into gear, and all of these lovely, loyal staffers were encouraged to give up weeks of their time without pay to candidate for, to canvas for a candidate that they may or may not have believed in. 00:02:16.419 --> 00:02:20.539 It was an interesting thing. I never participated in any of this, but I had a good friend that did. 00:02:20.539 --> 00:02:24.939 So by the time the election was called, my friend was fairly tired of politics. 00:02:25.879 --> 00:02:36.419 He did not really have anything going on afterwards, so he decided to canvas for this MP, or at least this candidate that was trying to be an MP. 00:02:36.959 --> 00:02:43.120 Job was to door knock. Go around day in, day out, knocking on doors. Strangers. 00:02:44.519 --> 00:02:50.399 Pamphlet encouraging them to consider voting for this specific person. 00:02:50.539 --> 00:03:02.919 Here's the problem. The riding was Ottawa Vanier. Now if you've lived in Ottawa for any amount of time, Ottawa Vanier is like the reddest of red ridings in all of Canada. 00:03:03.219 --> 00:03:12.680 It's been around since the 30s. It has never not voted Liberal, and the big chunk of it that existed before voted Liberal from like the 1880s. 00:03:12.680 --> 00:03:18.080 It's a liberal, it's like as strong as it can be. 00:03:18.700 --> 00:03:27.719 But my friend is canvassing. Politically, this person's not there, doesn't really believe in the candidate, doesn't really believe in the platform, 00:03:28.319 --> 00:03:30.700 nevertheless is going around knocking on doors. 00:03:31.500 --> 00:03:37.680 Having more doors literally slammed in his face than invited in. 00:03:37.680 --> 00:03:41.640 It was a terrible experience, one that we've laughed about since. 00:03:42.780 --> 00:03:47.599 The ground wasn't exactly fertile for a blue flower to bloom. 00:03:50.159 --> 00:03:57.960 Not only that, but my friend lacked this passion and belief needed to endure multiple weeks of such canvassing. 00:03:57.960 --> 00:04:03.219 Hard soil, no zeal. Hard soil, no zeal. 00:04:04.840 --> 00:04:09.700 Let's say one thing, that there's a connection why I bring this story up. 00:04:10.460 --> 00:04:12.659 Sometimes evangelism can feel like that for us. 00:04:14.260 --> 00:04:19.060 Hard soil, and if we're honest, a lack of zeal. No zeal. 00:04:19.060 --> 00:04:29.899 There's a lot of connections and commonalities between evangelism and canvassing in an election. 00:04:31.420 --> 00:04:38.220 And like I said, here in Ottawa in 2024, it feels a lot like being a conservative, 00:04:39.399 --> 00:04:41.840 knocking on doors in Ottawa-Vanier in 2015. 00:04:42.620 --> 00:04:45.899 Or 2025, whenever the next election is. 00:04:46.579 --> 00:04:48.079 Hard soil, and no zeal. 00:04:48.079 --> 00:04:52.099 So we come to the second half of Acts 17. 00:04:52.959 --> 00:04:56.319 And the Apostle Paul's famous Mars Hill address. 00:04:56.439 --> 00:05:00.719 The Areopagus is just to say it's the hill of Ares. 00:05:01.060 --> 00:05:02.599 It's Mars Hill. It's the same thing. 00:05:03.339 --> 00:05:10.899 And we see that the Athenians, in many ways, aren't much different than the citizens of Ottawa today. 00:05:10.899 --> 00:05:19.419 In terms of their leanings, their desires, their proclivities, and most importantly for us this morning, their idolatry. 00:05:19.420 --> 00:05:29.800 And friends, I am referring not just to people in Ottawa that are out there, but in here as well. 00:05:29.800 --> 00:05:31.980 So here's the thing. 00:05:32.300 --> 00:05:36.680 The beauty of a text like this, and the beauty of preaching through books of the Bible, 00:05:37.040 --> 00:05:47.160 means that we are going to face some difficulty in the text that is going to attack our own sensibilities, 00:05:47.160 --> 00:05:52.380 and expose our own hearts for being the idol factories that they are. 00:05:52.379 --> 00:06:00.699 In our text, we'll also see that there is great hope in the gospel for the idol worshipers, 00:06:01.319 --> 00:06:06.139 even those sitting beside you and who's speaking to you right now. 00:06:06.759 --> 00:06:11.360 So, for the sake of breaking up the text, we'll break it up into three sections. 00:06:11.360 --> 00:06:16.660 The first, we'll see that idolatry is evil and ubiquitous. 00:06:17.080 --> 00:06:18.340 It's evil and it's everywhere. 00:06:19.199 --> 00:06:24.540 The second thing we'll see is that idolatry is deeply incoherent. 00:06:25.500 --> 00:06:31.720 And then the third and final thing is that there is a great antidote and cure for idolatry. 00:06:32.500 --> 00:06:34.319 So jump in the text with me. 00:06:34.580 --> 00:06:37.680 We'll be in verse 16 for our first point. 00:06:38.180 --> 00:06:39.720 Again, page 102. 00:06:39.720 --> 00:06:41.340 It says this, 00:06:42.040 --> 00:06:44.900 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, 00:06:45.280 --> 00:06:50.020 his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. 00:06:50.260 --> 00:06:53.700 So if you remember the past few weeks, great. 00:06:53.780 --> 00:06:55.740 If you haven't or if you're visiting, a bit of a recap. 00:06:56.900 --> 00:07:00.880 The apostle Paul and his companions have been traveling the second missionary journey. 00:07:02.160 --> 00:07:05.660 And they have had success, but they have had a lot of opposition. 00:07:06.080 --> 00:07:07.780 They have endured great hardships. 00:07:07.779 --> 00:07:10.539 They have been embarrassed. 00:07:10.939 --> 00:07:13.299 They have been wrongfully arrested. 00:07:13.559 --> 00:07:14.579 They have been beaten. 00:07:14.779 --> 00:07:16.299 They have been run out of town. 00:07:17.000 --> 00:07:18.139 They have been attacked. 00:07:18.259 --> 00:07:20.939 They've been subjected to mob violence. 00:07:20.939 --> 00:07:26.879 And yet, the gospel message has continued to be fruitful wherever it has gone. 00:07:28.199 --> 00:07:36.420 The previous section in verse 17 saw Paul in Thessalonica, which was the capital of Macedonia. 00:07:36.420 --> 00:07:38.420 The mob came after him. 00:07:38.420 --> 00:07:39.480 He went to Berea. 00:07:39.860 --> 00:07:46.900 And now he was encouraged to essentially just take some time out, more or less, to recoup. 00:07:47.319 --> 00:07:51.400 And now he is in Athens waiting for Timothy and Silas. 00:07:52.920 --> 00:07:54.759 He's supposed to get a bit of R&R. 00:07:54.939 --> 00:07:56.580 And he looks around. 00:07:57.620 --> 00:07:58.480 And what does he see? 00:07:58.480 --> 00:08:06.200 He sees the Athenian structures, the architecture. 00:08:07.400 --> 00:08:14.800 Does he go visit museums, if there are museums, to look at the history of Socratic thought and Plato, 00:08:16.040 --> 00:08:19.720 the pedigree of Athenian philosophy? 00:08:19.720 --> 00:08:28.820 Does he think about, wow, democracy, it has taken root in Athens and it's going to spread across the world. 00:08:29.580 --> 00:08:31.240 There's a lot to see in Athens. 00:08:31.600 --> 00:08:34.120 But instead, what he sees is idolatry. 00:08:35.440 --> 00:08:36.899 He can't help but see it. 00:08:37.560 --> 00:08:40.220 The Apostle Paul is about the glory of God. 00:08:40.220 --> 00:08:47.320 And when he sees things that don't just not stack up to the glory of God or give God glory, 00:08:47.460 --> 00:08:52.920 but look to actively subvert God's glory, doesn't sit well with him. 00:08:52.980 --> 00:08:55.540 His R&R will have to be put on pause. 00:08:56.000 --> 00:08:59.340 And it says here in verse 16 that his spirit was provoked. 00:08:59.820 --> 00:09:02.220 Now, it's a good word, I suppose. 00:09:02.220 --> 00:09:13.800 The original language has this image of the word provoked, has this image of his spirit seizuring. 00:09:15.160 --> 00:09:18.360 The best I could think of it is if you had like a big gut punch. 00:09:18.860 --> 00:09:23.620 You feel kind of sick to your stomach over something that is just troubling you. 00:09:23.920 --> 00:09:26.379 It's something that just rattles your cage. 00:09:27.379 --> 00:09:28.139 It's difficult. 00:09:28.279 --> 00:09:30.460 It's not like, oh, that's unfortunate, idols. 00:09:30.779 --> 00:09:31.519 Too bad for them. 00:09:32.220 --> 00:09:35.820 His very spirit is seizuring. 00:09:36.860 --> 00:09:38.320 He is a giant gut punch. 00:09:39.519 --> 00:09:42.580 He sees idols everywhere. 00:09:42.800 --> 00:09:44.320 He sees shrines everywhere. 00:09:44.519 --> 00:09:46.960 He sees temples everywhere. 00:09:48.080 --> 00:09:50.660 And what Paul notices, again, isn't the architecture. 00:09:50.660 --> 00:09:51.820 It's not the philosophy. 00:09:52.160 --> 00:09:53.820 It's not democracy. 00:09:54.040 --> 00:09:55.100 It's not any of these things. 00:09:55.200 --> 00:09:58.279 But he sees the true beating heart of this city. 00:09:58.279 --> 00:10:08.539 More than anything else, the true measure of a city is not the things it has or the reputation it boasts of, but the gods it worships. 00:10:08.539 --> 00:10:11.199 That's the true beating heart of the city. 00:10:11.199 --> 00:10:12.559 That's the true beating heart of you and I. 00:10:13.899 --> 00:10:18.899 What is it that the city of Athens worships? 00:10:18.899 --> 00:10:22.899 And it is not the one true living God, but a plethora of gods. 00:10:22.899 --> 00:10:28.279 In a place like Athens, those idols were obvious to the naked eye. 00:10:28.419 --> 00:10:30.139 Like I mentioned, temples everywhere. 00:10:30.139 --> 00:10:40.039 A few centuries before Paul arrived, the philosopher Xenophon, he said Athens was one great altar, one great sacrifice. 00:10:41.439 --> 00:10:45.199 Nothing had changed in the centuries after that quote. 00:10:45.200 --> 00:10:49.820 It was also said of Athens, there were more gods than there were people. 00:10:50.860 --> 00:10:51.600 It was obvious. 00:10:51.840 --> 00:10:52.980 You saw everything. 00:10:53.180 --> 00:10:59.740 The worship of Ares or Mars, Nike, Zeus, Caesar himself, Athena. 00:11:00.460 --> 00:11:05.040 Not to mention the household gods, the family gods that were worshipped. 00:11:05.759 --> 00:11:06.680 They're obvious. 00:11:07.759 --> 00:11:08.860 But here's the thing about idols. 00:11:09.340 --> 00:11:10.680 They're not merely shrines. 00:11:10.759 --> 00:11:12.900 They're not merely what goes on in temples. 00:11:12.899 --> 00:11:15.439 They're not merely statues to pagan gods. 00:11:16.120 --> 00:11:21.439 But it describes anything, any person, anything that a human being puts eternal hope in. 00:11:22.199 --> 00:11:30.600 Anything that promises genuine and true prosperity and requires quite the sacrifice in return. 00:11:33.199 --> 00:11:39.079 The late J.I. Packer, if you've been around an evangelical church, you've likely heard of his name. 00:11:39.159 --> 00:11:40.259 He was Annex-Own. 00:11:40.259 --> 00:11:42.899 He was a part of our denomination before he passed away. 00:11:43.379 --> 00:11:45.879 And he said this of idolatry in his Knowing God book. 00:11:45.939 --> 00:11:46.860 This is his famous book. 00:11:47.379 --> 00:11:47.879 He says this, 00:11:47.960 --> 00:11:49.100 Idolatry, quote, quote, 00:11:49.179 --> 00:11:55.419 Idolatry is any practice that honors and serves any creative thing as a god. 00:11:56.120 --> 00:11:59.580 It is not only the adoration of images and false deities, 00:11:59.580 --> 00:12:05.800 but also the worship of what ought to be used and the use of what ought to be worshipped. 00:12:06.840 --> 00:12:08.300 You catch that last bit there. 00:12:09.900 --> 00:12:23.300 Dr. Packer, he talks about idolatry being a perversion and an inverse of the way God has designed humanity to worship and to enjoy him. 00:12:23.299 --> 00:12:31.939 He says this, that worship is, where does it say this here, that worship is the things, is to worship, sorry, 00:12:33.240 --> 00:12:37.819 the worship of what ought to be used and the use of what ought to be worshipped. 00:12:37.820 --> 00:12:40.460 So what does idolatry do? 00:12:40.520 --> 00:12:42.760 It upends the created order. 00:12:43.280 --> 00:12:44.900 It turns everything upside down. 00:12:45.180 --> 00:12:50.740 In the first half of Acts 17, last week, you would have remembered that one of the accusations against Paul 00:12:50.740 --> 00:12:53.740 was that he and his companions were turning the world upside down. 00:12:55.240 --> 00:12:56.260 That's very apt. 00:12:56.540 --> 00:13:01.160 It's a very apt thing that Luke, the biographer of Acts, records. 00:13:01.159 --> 00:13:25.559 It is to take God and use him and the things, wealth, beauty, reputation, whatever it may be, social connections, 00:13:25.559 --> 00:13:31.699 things that are good but are just tools or aspects of life and elevate them to be worshipped. 00:13:32.399 --> 00:13:36.639 It is the complete upending of God's created order. 00:13:37.500 --> 00:13:43.399 It is also a failure to understand that life and everything in it has a reason for its creation 00:13:43.399 --> 00:13:46.479 and a purpose or a direction to where it is headed, 00:13:46.659 --> 00:13:51.839 namely the worship and eternal glorification of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:13:51.840 --> 00:14:01.200 This opens us up to the reality that we are worshippers, whether we like it or not. 00:14:01.360 --> 00:14:02.540 We cannot not worship. 00:14:03.019 --> 00:14:03.580 We just cannot. 00:14:04.440 --> 00:14:07.860 It is something that is baked into our very DNA. 00:14:09.300 --> 00:14:10.720 We will find something to worship. 00:14:10.840 --> 00:14:14.320 There are no true atheists, non-worshippers. 00:14:14.879 --> 00:14:16.400 Everybody is a worshipper. 00:14:16.399 --> 00:14:22.000 We are created to worship, created to know the sacred and transcendent triune God. 00:14:22.340 --> 00:14:25.379 But here's the thing, and to give him glory, of course, but here's the thing. 00:14:27.000 --> 00:14:29.000 Sin enters the human reality. 00:14:30.840 --> 00:14:37.319 Our disposition to worship does not change, but our object of worship changes in a huge way. 00:14:38.419 --> 00:14:43.480 And we make gods out of little things, not the one eternal triune God. 00:14:43.480 --> 00:14:53.240 Therefore, idolatry is incredibly disrespectful and dishonoring to the glory and renown of the one true God. 00:14:54.539 --> 00:14:59.080 But it's also incredibly destructive and disastrous to all who practice it. 00:15:00.100 --> 00:15:06.240 Because we are putting eternal hope and joy and security in things that cannot produce those things, 00:15:06.340 --> 00:15:10.720 and we are cutting ourselves off from the only true source of life itself. 00:15:10.720 --> 00:15:24.480 So Athens worshipped idols, physical carvings, gilded things in shrines, in temples, in their own homes. 00:15:26.060 --> 00:15:29.040 But as we just saw, idols can be anything. 00:15:29.220 --> 00:15:30.240 So how about Ottawa? 00:15:30.240 --> 00:15:37.580 If the true gauge or the beating heart of the city is what it worships, what does this city worship? 00:15:38.200 --> 00:15:39.080 What do we worship? 00:15:39.659 --> 00:15:40.500 What are our gods? 00:15:42.220 --> 00:15:43.060 Let's say this. 00:15:43.200 --> 00:15:44.580 I mean, there's a million people in Ottawa. 00:15:44.840 --> 00:15:47.840 How many countries are represented in this city? 00:15:48.820 --> 00:15:50.740 Dozens and dozens and dozens and dozens. 00:15:50.740 --> 00:15:57.200 So I want to be careful to not brush a million plus people with one brush stroke. 00:15:58.460 --> 00:16:03.700 But I'll throw out a few ideas in terms of how we are idolaters. 00:16:05.159 --> 00:16:12.659 In suburban Ottawa, Kanata, Stitzville, parts of Barhaven, we are rife with false gods. 00:16:13.299 --> 00:16:14.100 Here are a few of them. 00:16:14.100 --> 00:16:18.080 Our identity, especially in this city, our identity. 00:16:18.820 --> 00:16:20.019 We want to be put together people. 00:16:21.139 --> 00:16:22.519 We want a good reputation. 00:16:23.500 --> 00:16:27.899 Money, therefore, can easily, all too easily become an idol. 00:16:28.700 --> 00:16:31.180 We don't see money as a tool, but as a master. 00:16:32.440 --> 00:16:33.379 Status in work. 00:16:35.100 --> 00:16:37.840 Promotions, raises, better titles. 00:16:39.060 --> 00:16:41.560 Our status among our peers, our comfort. 00:16:42.200 --> 00:16:43.360 I said our good reputation. 00:16:44.100 --> 00:16:45.659 Pleasure and sex. 00:16:46.680 --> 00:16:48.159 Living through our children. 00:16:48.879 --> 00:16:49.840 Our free time. 00:16:50.440 --> 00:16:51.680 The list goes on and on. 00:16:51.759 --> 00:16:52.779 These are just a few things. 00:16:54.240 --> 00:16:55.159 Here's one for me. 00:16:55.860 --> 00:16:56.040 Okay? 00:16:57.440 --> 00:17:03.980 I'll share with you one of my default bits of Daniel idolatry. 00:17:04.759 --> 00:17:07.160 Maybe you want to share it with me after one of yours. 00:17:07.279 --> 00:17:07.779 Or not. 00:17:07.860 --> 00:17:08.599 That's totally fine. 00:17:09.220 --> 00:17:10.900 I really enjoy being a pastor. 00:17:11.299 --> 00:17:12.579 I really do. 00:17:12.700 --> 00:17:13.120 I love it. 00:17:13.119 --> 00:17:14.539 It's hard work. 00:17:15.179 --> 00:17:16.139 But it's good. 00:17:16.239 --> 00:17:16.739 It's wonderful. 00:17:16.859 --> 00:17:17.219 It's fun. 00:17:19.419 --> 00:17:21.399 But here's where it becomes an idol for me. 00:17:22.099 --> 00:17:22.339 Okay? 00:17:22.459 --> 00:17:30.619 I'm a pastor primarily to help people, and myself, but to help people, to help you glorify and worship God. 00:17:30.619 --> 00:17:32.559 To become more like Christ. 00:17:32.559 --> 00:17:34.519 To know God's word in deeper ways. 00:17:35.519 --> 00:17:36.899 To trust in him. 00:17:38.699 --> 00:17:49.059 But if I'm honest, what I really like, what really kind of gets me happy and scratches my itch, is being seen as a wise person. 00:17:49.059 --> 00:17:50.559 Or to be really liked. 00:17:50.559 --> 00:17:53.039 Or to be sought after. 00:17:53.039 --> 00:17:57.619 Because, my goodness, there's a problem, and maybe Daniel can fix it. 00:17:57.619 --> 00:17:59.000 I kid you not. 00:17:59.000 --> 00:18:00.419 I'm dead serious in this. 00:18:01.299 --> 00:18:07.539 And all of a sudden, this shepherding role, this pastoring role, which is not mine. 00:18:07.679 --> 00:18:08.579 It is Christ. 00:18:08.679 --> 00:18:09.559 I'm an under-shepherd. 00:18:09.679 --> 00:18:10.319 I am a servant. 00:18:10.319 --> 00:18:16.659 It becomes the platform for my own pride to flourish. 00:18:17.220 --> 00:18:19.259 And my own reputation to grow. 00:18:19.399 --> 00:18:22.579 And my own love of self to blossom and bloom. 00:18:24.139 --> 00:18:26.399 See how anything can be idolatrous. 00:18:28.960 --> 00:18:30.759 I appreciate your prayers, by the way. 00:18:31.359 --> 00:18:32.839 I genuinely would. 00:18:35.500 --> 00:18:36.839 Be honest with yourself. 00:18:38.220 --> 00:18:39.539 What are the good things? 00:18:39.539 --> 00:18:44.000 The great things in your life that you have put a bit too much hope in. 00:18:44.480 --> 00:18:51.420 Or you have not seen them as things to be used, or tools to be had, or just nice things that are a part of your life, 00:18:51.740 --> 00:18:55.319 but have become gods that you're willing to sacrifice for. 00:18:58.119 --> 00:18:59.019 Be honest. 00:18:59.339 --> 00:19:00.700 Be terribly honest. 00:19:01.420 --> 00:19:05.319 And ask the Lord to, by his Spirit, open your eyes and reveal the truth to you. 00:19:06.759 --> 00:19:08.059 And you might feel ashamed. 00:19:08.059 --> 00:19:09.319 You might feel the weight of it. 00:19:09.519 --> 00:19:18.960 But this wonderful reality of seeing life for what it truly is will lead us to renounce them and to repent. 00:19:19.519 --> 00:19:20.980 And we'll see about repentance at the end. 00:19:21.039 --> 00:19:24.039 It's one of the antidotes for idolatry. 00:19:24.039 --> 00:19:29.779 But it will be the beginning of you worshipping God rightly. 00:19:29.779 --> 00:19:36.160 I mentioned before about the human heart being an idol factory. 00:19:36.160 --> 00:19:37.379 John Calvin says this, 00:19:37.440 --> 00:19:40.240 The human heart is a perpetual idol factory. 00:19:41.379 --> 00:19:47.399 It is in man's nature to idolize, and the mind begets an idol, and the hand gives it birth. 00:19:47.519 --> 00:19:51.399 Anything, anything we can think of, we can make into an idol. 00:19:51.400 --> 00:19:56.660 So you see that idolatry is terribly evil, and it's everywhere. 00:19:58.180 --> 00:20:02.600 So as we return to our text, we understand why Paul was so provoked within his spirit. 00:20:03.259 --> 00:20:09.200 He is provoked not for his own glory, but for the glory befitting the Lord, 00:20:09.620 --> 00:20:11.820 and for the salvation of the Athenian people. 00:20:11.819 --> 00:20:20.439 He sees the idol worship, and it is just seizuring his spirit. 00:20:20.779 --> 00:20:21.779 It's giving him a gut punch. 00:20:22.839 --> 00:20:26.200 These are the people that God loves but are confused, 00:20:26.419 --> 00:20:29.339 even though they boast incredible philosophical clarity. 00:20:30.240 --> 00:20:35.039 These are the people even that are terribly weak, though they boast incredible strength. 00:20:36.259 --> 00:20:40.220 And this leads the Apostle Paul to action. 00:20:40.220 --> 00:20:43.440 And in doing so, we will see, this is the second point, 00:20:43.880 --> 00:20:46.279 that idolatry is terribly incoherent. 00:20:47.400 --> 00:20:50.759 Look with me, verses 17 to 21, and we'll read the whole section here. 00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:54.279 So he reasoned, this is the Apostle Paul, 00:20:54.400 --> 00:20:56.880 in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, 00:20:56.980 --> 00:20:59.519 and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. 00:21:00.079 --> 00:21:04.039 Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. 00:21:04.900 --> 00:21:07.700 And some said, what does this babbler wish to say? 00:21:07.700 --> 00:21:10.580 Others said, he seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities, 00:21:11.080 --> 00:21:13.500 because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. 00:21:14.240 --> 00:21:17.160 And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus or Mars Hill, saying, 00:21:17.819 --> 00:21:20.799 may we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting. 00:21:21.740 --> 00:21:23.960 For you bring some strange things to our ears. 00:21:24.059 --> 00:21:25.819 We wish to know, therefore, what these things mean. 00:21:26.180 --> 00:21:26.680 Verse 21, 00:21:27.039 --> 00:21:29.740 now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there 00:21:29.740 --> 00:21:34.100 would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new. 00:21:34.099 --> 00:21:36.759 Paul doesn't stand idly by. 00:21:36.899 --> 00:21:39.159 He sees the idolatry, 00:21:39.619 --> 00:21:40.659 and like I said, he doesn't say, 00:21:40.799 --> 00:21:42.299 that's tough, I need my rest. 00:21:42.480 --> 00:21:43.759 He jumps right into it. 00:21:45.379 --> 00:21:46.399 He is provoked 00:21:46.399 --> 00:21:48.980 to both compassion for the Athenians, 00:21:49.059 --> 00:21:49.599 and like I mentioned, 00:21:49.959 --> 00:21:52.099 to provoke to see the Lord's name 00:21:52.099 --> 00:21:53.319 be lifted high. 00:21:53.939 --> 00:21:55.359 And he reasons everywhere. 00:21:55.559 --> 00:21:57.740 He is with the Jews and the devout people, 00:21:57.919 --> 00:22:00.159 which are like Jewish proselytites 00:22:00.159 --> 00:22:00.679 in the synagogue. 00:22:00.680 --> 00:22:03.620 He is in the marketplace with passerbys, 00:22:03.860 --> 00:22:06.620 and now he is sparring 00:22:06.620 --> 00:22:10.299 with some of the main philosophers of the day 00:22:10.299 --> 00:22:12.240 that seem to be mocking him 00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:13.720 and definitely are misunderstanding 00:22:13.720 --> 00:22:15.140 what he is saying 00:22:15.140 --> 00:22:17.940 and what he is purporting to believe. 00:22:18.960 --> 00:22:20.120 So some of the mocking philosophers 00:22:20.120 --> 00:22:22.799 were the Epicureans and the Stoics. 00:22:23.720 --> 00:22:25.340 They called Paul a babbler. 00:22:25.519 --> 00:22:27.920 And this is, again, this is where it's tough. 00:22:27.920 --> 00:22:30.160 I mean, I am no Greek scholar, 00:22:30.320 --> 00:22:32.640 but it's helpful to dig deep 00:22:32.640 --> 00:22:34.259 into some of the commentaries 00:22:34.259 --> 00:22:35.460 with the original language. 00:22:35.680 --> 00:22:38.980 It doesn't grasp what is being said 00:22:38.980 --> 00:22:40.060 in the Greek. 00:22:40.920 --> 00:22:42.100 The word, the babbler, 00:22:42.240 --> 00:22:44.200 is this word that's used only here 00:22:44.200 --> 00:22:46.519 in all of Greek literature, 00:22:47.279 --> 00:22:48.300 Bible or not, 00:22:48.380 --> 00:22:51.080 and it's describing a bird 00:22:51.080 --> 00:22:53.580 that is pecking at and picking up seeds. 00:22:53.579 --> 00:22:55.359 And the idea behind it is 00:22:55.359 --> 00:22:59.619 Paul is this kind of bespoke spiritualist. 00:23:00.019 --> 00:23:01.539 He has a few ideas. 00:23:01.759 --> 00:23:03.079 He's believed a few different things. 00:23:03.199 --> 00:23:04.720 He's kind of amalgamated 00:23:04.720 --> 00:23:06.259 a bunch of different spiritualities 00:23:06.259 --> 00:23:07.139 and philosophies. 00:23:07.359 --> 00:23:08.539 It's all half-baked. 00:23:09.179 --> 00:23:11.639 What he's purporting to preach 00:23:11.639 --> 00:23:12.799 is just a bunch of garbage. 00:23:13.299 --> 00:23:17.679 It's kind of like getting all of your spiritual 00:23:17.679 --> 00:23:19.559 and philosophical fix from TikTok 00:23:19.559 --> 00:23:21.480 and kind of like boiling it down 00:23:21.480 --> 00:23:21.960 and saying, 00:23:22.559 --> 00:23:24.779 I know the secrets of the universe. 00:23:25.279 --> 00:23:27.440 That's what they're essentially accusing him of. 00:23:28.639 --> 00:23:30.019 He is a babbler, 00:23:30.139 --> 00:23:32.139 but really he is a half-baked, 00:23:32.899 --> 00:23:35.819 like wannabe philosopher, spiritualist. 00:23:36.519 --> 00:23:38.139 He ought not to be listened to. 00:23:38.899 --> 00:23:39.759 He's being mocked. 00:23:40.200 --> 00:23:40.940 The Apostle Paul. 00:23:43.379 --> 00:23:45.679 He's also accused of introducing foreign gods, 00:23:45.759 --> 00:23:46.819 and that's an interesting thing. 00:23:46.879 --> 00:23:47.779 Some philosophers think, 00:23:47.779 --> 00:23:51.180 it says here he's accused of this 00:23:51.180 --> 00:23:53.160 because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection 00:23:53.160 --> 00:23:55.119 as if Jesus was one God 00:23:55.119 --> 00:23:57.220 and the resurrection was another God. 00:23:58.240 --> 00:23:59.899 Interesting food for thought. 00:24:00.240 --> 00:24:03.019 Nevertheless, he is being misunderstood and belittled. 00:24:04.139 --> 00:24:05.200 And what he doesn't do, 00:24:05.899 --> 00:24:07.579 he doesn't defend himself. 00:24:08.019 --> 00:24:09.039 In other parts of scripture, 00:24:09.500 --> 00:24:11.879 he will talk about his own reputation 00:24:11.879 --> 00:24:12.799 and his own credentials, 00:24:13.299 --> 00:24:14.319 but even there, 00:24:14.519 --> 00:24:15.619 it's always, 00:24:16.079 --> 00:24:17.000 whenever Paul does it, 00:24:17.000 --> 00:24:19.940 it's always for the sake of proclaiming the glory of God. 00:24:20.200 --> 00:24:22.460 Here, he doesn't push back against them and say, 00:24:22.559 --> 00:24:23.460 what are you talking about? 00:24:23.519 --> 00:24:24.920 Do you know who I've studied under? 00:24:25.240 --> 00:24:26.799 Do you know the type of pedigree I have? 00:24:27.059 --> 00:24:28.059 He doesn't say anything. 00:24:29.500 --> 00:24:29.900 Instead, 00:24:31.119 --> 00:24:33.700 he takes the opportunity afforded to him 00:24:33.700 --> 00:24:34.480 to, again, 00:24:34.559 --> 00:24:37.140 reason and proclaim the truth of scripture. 00:24:37.140 --> 00:24:40.320 And in doing so, 00:24:40.320 --> 00:24:42.700 this is the genius of this, 00:24:42.820 --> 00:24:44.440 and we're not going to jump into it too, too much, 00:24:45.000 --> 00:24:47.680 but the apostle Paul both commends their philosophy, 00:24:47.860 --> 00:24:49.000 but also condemns it 00:24:49.000 --> 00:24:51.680 in one sermon. 00:24:52.880 --> 00:24:54.259 So what are those beliefs? 00:24:54.380 --> 00:24:56.020 What are those beliefs that he condemns 00:24:56.020 --> 00:24:57.920 and commends? 00:24:57.920 --> 00:25:00.240 So we have two examples, 00:25:00.380 --> 00:25:01.840 the Epicureans and the Stoics. 00:25:02.019 --> 00:25:02.200 I mean, 00:25:02.740 --> 00:25:04.620 we have people that are like 00:25:04.620 --> 00:25:07.440 chin deep in philosophy in this congregation. 00:25:07.900 --> 00:25:08.920 You can seek them out 00:25:08.920 --> 00:25:11.000 and get more of a background 00:25:11.000 --> 00:25:13.600 on both of these philosophies after the service. 00:25:13.599 --> 00:25:17.139 But in short, 00:25:17.259 --> 00:25:18.639 the prevailing philosophies, 00:25:19.659 --> 00:25:21.119 if we're going to combine them together, 00:25:21.319 --> 00:25:22.519 from Epicureanism, 00:25:22.899 --> 00:25:24.079 there was a high value 00:25:24.079 --> 00:25:27.119 of pleasure and escapism. 00:25:27.719 --> 00:25:28.199 Chance, 00:25:29.139 --> 00:25:29.919 self-sufficiency, 00:25:30.159 --> 00:25:30.439 reason, 00:25:30.559 --> 00:25:30.919 endurance, 00:25:31.039 --> 00:25:32.279 and those latter three 00:25:32.279 --> 00:25:33.219 were from the Stoics. 00:25:34.059 --> 00:25:35.919 So we have an interesting bit 00:25:35.919 --> 00:25:38.500 of kind of conflicting 00:25:38.500 --> 00:25:41.899 but coherent to each other philosophies 00:25:41.900 --> 00:25:43.780 that both say, 00:25:44.380 --> 00:25:44.640 listen, 00:25:45.440 --> 00:25:46.800 there is no God. 00:25:47.980 --> 00:25:48.220 Well, 00:25:48.259 --> 00:25:48.920 maybe there's a God 00:25:48.920 --> 00:25:50.300 but he's so far and distant 00:25:50.300 --> 00:25:51.220 so listen, 00:25:51.620 --> 00:25:52.700 there's no life to come. 00:25:52.900 --> 00:25:54.360 Let's just enjoy it for what it is. 00:25:54.400 --> 00:25:55.300 And then this other group, 00:25:55.720 --> 00:25:56.300 they're saying, 00:25:56.920 --> 00:25:57.600 hard work, 00:25:59.340 --> 00:26:00.560 rationality, 00:26:01.440 --> 00:26:03.040 personal responsibility, 00:26:03.340 --> 00:26:04.040 mental resilience. 00:26:04.600 --> 00:26:06.440 This is what we are going to rely on. 00:26:06.500 --> 00:26:06.720 Again, 00:26:07.019 --> 00:26:07.640 maybe there's a God, 00:26:07.720 --> 00:26:08.620 maybe there's not a God. 00:26:08.759 --> 00:26:09.460 Who cares? 00:26:09.700 --> 00:26:10.680 This is the life we have. 00:26:10.680 --> 00:26:12.820 So we have these two philosophies 00:26:12.820 --> 00:26:14.259 that essentially reject God, 00:26:14.660 --> 00:26:15.539 focus on this life 00:26:15.539 --> 00:26:16.340 in different ways, 00:26:16.840 --> 00:26:18.480 and yet at the same time, 00:26:19.200 --> 00:26:20.980 there's this plethora of gods 00:26:20.980 --> 00:26:22.580 for all sorts of different beliefs 00:26:22.580 --> 00:26:23.799 that you sacrifice to 00:26:23.799 --> 00:26:25.080 for various things. 00:26:25.620 --> 00:26:27.519 It's a big giant philosophical 00:26:27.519 --> 00:26:29.019 and religious soup. 00:26:30.259 --> 00:26:32.279 And there's a giant incoherence 00:26:32.279 --> 00:26:33.200 within it. 00:26:33.200 --> 00:26:37.640 There is no one truth 00:26:37.640 --> 00:26:40.819 that creates a framework 00:26:40.819 --> 00:26:42.440 by which you can be certain 00:26:42.440 --> 00:26:45.299 that you can have true joy 00:26:45.299 --> 00:26:46.299 and true meaning 00:26:46.299 --> 00:26:47.160 and true purpose 00:26:47.160 --> 00:26:49.620 and also have an assurance 00:26:49.620 --> 00:26:50.840 that the life to come 00:26:50.840 --> 00:26:52.580 is even there, 00:26:52.680 --> 00:26:53.759 let alone a life 00:26:53.759 --> 00:26:54.960 that has, again, 00:26:55.080 --> 00:26:56.140 purpose and meaning 00:26:56.140 --> 00:26:57.460 and truth and joy. 00:26:57.460 --> 00:27:02.620 There's some rightly held beliefs, 00:27:03.579 --> 00:27:04.380 but overall, 00:27:05.120 --> 00:27:08.440 a giant soup of inconsistency 00:27:08.440 --> 00:27:09.299 and incoherence. 00:27:10.340 --> 00:27:11.660 I would say there's 00:27:11.660 --> 00:27:13.480 a similar situation here in Ottawa 00:27:13.480 --> 00:27:16.140 with affluence comes 00:27:16.140 --> 00:27:19.600 an overemphasis on self-sufficiency 00:27:19.600 --> 00:27:21.259 and an overindulgence 00:27:21.259 --> 00:27:22.160 also in pleasure 00:27:22.160 --> 00:27:23.460 and leisure 00:27:23.460 --> 00:27:24.440 that can take the form 00:27:24.440 --> 00:27:25.380 of escapism. 00:27:27.080 --> 00:27:28.559 The here and now, 00:27:28.840 --> 00:27:30.779 here in our day, 00:27:31.340 --> 00:27:31.840 by and large, 00:27:31.940 --> 00:27:32.100 again, 00:27:32.259 --> 00:27:33.400 broad brushstrokes, 00:27:33.519 --> 00:27:34.200 the here and now 00:27:34.200 --> 00:27:34.840 is emphasized 00:27:34.840 --> 00:27:35.559 while eternity 00:27:35.559 --> 00:27:36.820 is either ignored 00:27:36.820 --> 00:27:37.360 or denied. 00:27:39.539 --> 00:27:41.360 Very interesting 00:27:41.360 --> 00:27:41.700 that, 00:27:43.019 --> 00:27:45.400 that like the Athenians, 00:27:46.340 --> 00:27:47.039 the afterlife 00:27:47.039 --> 00:27:48.600 is just a maybe 00:27:48.600 --> 00:27:49.440 at best. 00:27:50.299 --> 00:27:51.440 There's a claim here 00:27:51.440 --> 00:27:51.840 in Ottawa 00:27:51.840 --> 00:27:52.900 of self-sufficiency, 00:27:52.900 --> 00:27:54.820 but if we're honest, 00:27:54.920 --> 00:27:55.580 we can't live 00:27:55.580 --> 00:27:56.320 without our phones. 00:27:58.300 --> 00:27:58.920 We are, 00:27:59.560 --> 00:28:00.440 we fancy ourselves 00:28:00.440 --> 00:28:01.160 as resilient 00:28:01.160 --> 00:28:02.840 until a gadget breaks 00:28:02.840 --> 00:28:04.280 or a sickness hits 00:28:04.280 --> 00:28:06.100 or a bad interaction 00:28:06.100 --> 00:28:07.160 with a co-worker happens. 00:28:07.259 --> 00:28:07.759 This week, 00:28:07.900 --> 00:28:08.600 I tell you, 00:28:09.000 --> 00:28:09.420 I've shared this 00:28:09.420 --> 00:28:10.100 with a couple people, 00:28:11.519 --> 00:28:13.540 we had like 00:28:13.540 --> 00:28:14.960 two or three nights 00:28:14.960 --> 00:28:15.500 where there was 00:28:15.500 --> 00:28:16.259 minimal sleep 00:28:16.259 --> 00:28:18.300 and my self-resiliency 00:28:18.300 --> 00:28:19.200 went out the window. 00:28:19.800 --> 00:28:20.360 We've been sleeping 00:28:20.360 --> 00:28:20.840 really good. 00:28:20.940 --> 00:28:21.720 We have younger kids, 00:28:21.720 --> 00:28:22.620 but they sleep 00:28:22.620 --> 00:28:23.140 through the night 00:28:23.140 --> 00:28:23.680 fairly well. 00:28:23.779 --> 00:28:24.860 We had our little guy, 00:28:25.000 --> 00:28:25.579 he's not here 00:28:25.579 --> 00:28:26.279 this morning, 00:28:26.980 --> 00:28:27.940 he was up coughing 00:28:27.940 --> 00:28:28.880 like two nights 00:28:28.880 --> 00:28:29.319 in a row. 00:28:30.019 --> 00:28:30.779 Christine and I, 00:28:30.880 --> 00:28:31.920 we had maybe 00:28:31.920 --> 00:28:33.319 an hour and a half 00:28:33.319 --> 00:28:34.519 straight of sleep. 00:28:35.380 --> 00:28:36.240 So interesting 00:28:36.240 --> 00:28:37.140 how self-resiliency 00:28:37.140 --> 00:28:37.740 disappears 00:28:37.740 --> 00:28:38.980 when you're tired. 00:28:38.980 --> 00:28:46.819 like we just discussed, 00:28:47.220 --> 00:28:47.519 friends, 00:28:47.620 --> 00:28:48.920 we are worshipful people 00:28:48.920 --> 00:28:50.539 with the idolatry 00:28:50.539 --> 00:28:51.380 in our own lives. 00:28:51.460 --> 00:28:52.059 So here we are, 00:28:52.200 --> 00:28:53.380 people that 00:28:53.380 --> 00:28:54.740 are also 00:28:54.740 --> 00:28:55.660 kind of confused 00:28:55.660 --> 00:28:56.480 and incoherent 00:28:56.480 --> 00:28:57.279 in our belief system. 00:28:59.819 --> 00:29:00.579 We do have 00:29:00.579 --> 00:29:01.960 a very similar 00:29:01.960 --> 00:29:03.259 philosophical 00:29:03.259 --> 00:29:04.319 and religious 00:29:04.319 --> 00:29:04.940 soup. 00:29:04.940 --> 00:29:08.180 So, 00:29:08.320 --> 00:29:08.980 sharing the gospel. 00:29:10.080 --> 00:29:10.840 Hard soil, 00:29:11.200 --> 00:29:11.860 lack of zeal. 00:29:12.960 --> 00:29:14.039 The hard soil, 00:29:14.279 --> 00:29:14.840 I think, 00:29:14.880 --> 00:29:15.860 is always going to exist. 00:29:16.580 --> 00:29:16.740 Okay? 00:29:18.320 --> 00:29:18.960 It's just 00:29:18.960 --> 00:29:19.799 the reality of it. 00:29:20.860 --> 00:29:22.080 We scatter seed 00:29:22.080 --> 00:29:23.860 as the 00:29:23.860 --> 00:29:24.940 parable 00:29:24.940 --> 00:29:25.420 that Jesus 00:29:25.420 --> 00:29:26.080 shares 00:29:26.080 --> 00:29:26.640 about the 00:29:26.640 --> 00:29:27.100 different kinds 00:29:27.100 --> 00:29:27.519 of soil. 00:29:28.559 --> 00:29:29.600 And where it lands, 00:29:29.680 --> 00:29:30.559 it's not up to us. 00:29:30.559 --> 00:29:33.200 But the zeal, 00:29:34.379 --> 00:29:35.440 and I say zeal 00:29:35.440 --> 00:29:35.919 because 00:29:35.919 --> 00:29:37.019 obedience 00:29:37.019 --> 00:29:38.799 can only be 00:29:38.799 --> 00:29:39.960 a motivating factor 00:29:39.960 --> 00:29:40.619 for so much. 00:29:41.240 --> 00:29:42.019 And even compassion 00:29:42.019 --> 00:29:43.039 can only be 00:29:43.039 --> 00:29:44.259 a motivating factor 00:29:44.259 --> 00:29:44.779 for so much. 00:29:44.879 --> 00:29:45.980 But a zeal 00:29:45.980 --> 00:29:47.179 for the glory of God 00:29:47.179 --> 00:29:48.519 is like the highest 00:29:48.519 --> 00:29:49.440 form of motivation. 00:29:49.919 --> 00:29:50.720 Why do we lack 00:29:50.720 --> 00:29:51.759 such zeal 00:29:51.759 --> 00:29:52.819 when it comes 00:29:52.819 --> 00:29:53.659 to sharing our faith? 00:29:55.779 --> 00:29:56.299 Because, 00:29:56.519 --> 00:29:57.200 like I've shared 00:29:57.200 --> 00:29:57.819 and maybe you've 00:29:57.819 --> 00:29:58.460 been thinking about, 00:29:59.460 --> 00:29:59.980 we are more 00:29:59.980 --> 00:30:00.700 Athenian 00:30:00.700 --> 00:30:01.980 in our 00:30:01.980 --> 00:30:03.240 religious proclivities 00:30:03.240 --> 00:30:03.860 than we'd like 00:30:03.860 --> 00:30:04.200 to admit. 00:30:06.319 --> 00:30:07.160 We find 00:30:07.160 --> 00:30:08.839 a small view 00:30:08.839 --> 00:30:09.259 of, 00:30:10.099 --> 00:30:11.440 we find that 00:30:11.440 --> 00:30:12.180 we have a small view 00:30:12.180 --> 00:30:13.140 of the glory of God 00:30:13.140 --> 00:30:14.640 and a big view 00:30:14.640 --> 00:30:15.519 of our own importance. 00:30:16.480 --> 00:30:17.640 We make much 00:30:17.640 --> 00:30:18.680 of the here 00:30:18.680 --> 00:30:19.279 and now 00:30:19.279 --> 00:30:19.799 and little 00:30:19.799 --> 00:30:20.860 of eternity. 00:30:22.200 --> 00:30:23.000 We're fine 00:30:23.000 --> 00:30:23.819 if God's 00:30:23.819 --> 00:30:24.420 name 00:30:24.420 --> 00:30:25.200 and his glory 00:30:25.200 --> 00:30:26.620 gets tarnished 00:30:26.620 --> 00:30:27.620 or disrespected 00:30:27.620 --> 00:30:28.839 or dishonored. 00:30:28.839 --> 00:30:31.919 but if our name 00:30:31.919 --> 00:30:32.799 gets dragged 00:30:32.799 --> 00:30:33.220 through the mud 00:30:33.220 --> 00:30:33.740 just a bit, 00:30:34.819 --> 00:30:36.139 we will turn 00:30:36.139 --> 00:30:36.980 heaven and earth 00:30:36.980 --> 00:30:37.619 upside down. 00:30:40.139 --> 00:30:40.939 So how do we 00:30:40.939 --> 00:30:41.740 move past this? 00:30:42.539 --> 00:30:43.359 How do we find 00:30:43.359 --> 00:30:44.000 coherence? 00:30:44.159 --> 00:30:44.799 How do we find 00:30:44.799 --> 00:30:45.419 consistency? 00:30:45.619 --> 00:30:46.099 How do we find 00:30:46.099 --> 00:30:46.500 truth? 00:30:47.659 --> 00:30:48.399 Where is the 00:30:48.399 --> 00:30:49.279 antidote for 00:30:49.279 --> 00:30:50.480 the idolatry 00:30:50.480 --> 00:30:51.419 in our own lives 00:30:51.419 --> 00:30:52.159 but also 00:30:52.159 --> 00:30:53.699 so that we can 00:30:53.699 --> 00:30:54.459 then proclaim 00:30:54.459 --> 00:30:55.819 this better message, 00:30:55.819 --> 00:30:57.519 this better news 00:30:57.519 --> 00:30:59.019 to those around us? 00:31:00.000 --> 00:31:00.839 We find that 00:31:00.839 --> 00:31:01.700 the antidote 00:31:01.700 --> 00:31:02.439 for idolatry 00:31:02.439 --> 00:31:04.220 is in the next 00:31:04.220 --> 00:31:04.500 section, 00:31:04.599 --> 00:31:05.679 verses 22 to 31. 00:31:05.759 --> 00:31:06.139 This is what 00:31:06.139 --> 00:31:06.799 Josiah read 00:31:06.799 --> 00:31:08.399 and it is 00:31:08.399 --> 00:31:10.099 an incredible 00:31:10.099 --> 00:31:11.839 condensed 00:31:11.839 --> 00:31:12.480 version 00:31:12.480 --> 00:31:13.139 of 00:31:13.139 --> 00:31:14.579 orthodox 00:31:14.579 --> 00:31:15.279 theology. 00:31:16.179 --> 00:31:17.139 The gospel 00:31:17.139 --> 00:31:18.119 is woven 00:31:18.119 --> 00:31:18.579 in there. 00:31:19.039 --> 00:31:19.460 I'll just say 00:31:19.460 --> 00:31:19.819 this. 00:31:20.939 --> 00:31:21.379 Orthodox 00:31:21.379 --> 00:31:21.939 theology 00:31:21.940 --> 00:31:23.840 is a beautiful 00:31:23.840 --> 00:31:24.220 thing 00:31:24.220 --> 00:31:25.220 because it 00:31:25.220 --> 00:31:25.740 leads us to 00:31:25.740 --> 00:31:26.279 truth and it 00:31:26.279 --> 00:31:26.980 allows us to 00:31:26.980 --> 00:31:27.299 worship 00:31:27.299 --> 00:31:28.840 in a proper 00:31:28.840 --> 00:31:29.600 way before 00:31:29.600 --> 00:31:30.320 the one true 00:31:30.320 --> 00:31:30.620 God. 00:31:31.360 --> 00:31:31.900 So read 00:31:31.900 --> 00:31:32.480 with me 00:31:32.480 --> 00:31:32.960 verses just 00:31:32.960 --> 00:31:34.039 22 and 23. 00:31:34.340 --> 00:31:34.680 We're going to 00:31:34.680 --> 00:31:35.100 kind of go 00:31:35.100 --> 00:31:35.680 through this 00:31:35.680 --> 00:31:37.059 somewhat 00:31:37.059 --> 00:31:38.100 quickly but 00:31:38.100 --> 00:31:39.720 also fairly 00:31:39.720 --> 00:31:40.340 methodically. 00:31:41.019 --> 00:31:41.620 The apostle 00:31:41.620 --> 00:31:42.840 Paul at 00:31:42.840 --> 00:31:43.460 Mars Hill, 00:31:44.480 --> 00:31:45.039 he will 00:31:45.039 --> 00:31:45.580 both 00:31:45.580 --> 00:31:46.920 commend and 00:31:46.920 --> 00:31:47.559 condemn 00:31:47.559 --> 00:31:49.440 the Athenian 00:31:49.440 --> 00:31:50.220 people for 00:31:50.220 --> 00:31:51.120 their idolatry 00:31:51.119 --> 00:31:52.639 in four 00:31:52.639 --> 00:31:53.959 big theological 00:31:53.959 --> 00:31:54.539 ways. 00:31:54.659 --> 00:31:55.179 He subverts 00:31:55.179 --> 00:31:56.279 it in four 00:31:56.279 --> 00:31:57.319 big theological 00:31:57.319 --> 00:31:57.779 ways. 00:31:59.419 --> 00:32:00.699 Verse 22 00:32:00.699 --> 00:32:01.199 and then we'll 00:32:01.199 --> 00:32:01.799 just jump into 00:32:01.799 --> 00:32:01.899 it. 00:32:01.959 --> 00:32:02.659 So verses 22 00:32:02.659 --> 00:32:03.059 and 23 00:32:03.059 --> 00:32:03.599 says this. 00:32:03.979 --> 00:32:04.419 So Paul 00:32:04.419 --> 00:32:05.619 standing in the 00:32:05.619 --> 00:32:06.039 midst of the 00:32:06.039 --> 00:32:06.819 Areopagus said, 00:32:07.239 --> 00:32:07.759 Men of Athens, 00:32:07.899 --> 00:32:08.619 I perceive that 00:32:08.619 --> 00:32:09.259 in every way 00:32:09.259 --> 00:32:09.819 you are very 00:32:09.819 --> 00:32:10.159 religious. 00:32:10.679 --> 00:32:11.179 This is a good 00:32:11.179 --> 00:32:11.439 thing. 00:32:12.559 --> 00:32:13.239 He is commending 00:32:13.239 --> 00:32:14.419 them in them 00:32:14.419 --> 00:32:15.459 thinking in a 00:32:15.459 --> 00:32:16.039 religious way. 00:32:16.739 --> 00:32:17.119 For as I 00:32:17.119 --> 00:32:17.859 passed along 00:32:17.859 --> 00:32:18.359 and observed 00:32:18.359 --> 00:32:18.939 the objects 00:32:18.939 --> 00:32:19.500 of your worship 00:32:19.500 --> 00:32:20.279 I found also 00:32:20.279 --> 00:32:20.759 an altar. 00:32:21.119 --> 00:32:21.500 With this 00:32:21.500 --> 00:32:22.219 inscription, 00:32:23.000 --> 00:32:23.439 To the 00:32:23.439 --> 00:32:24.359 unknown God, 00:32:25.059 --> 00:32:25.479 what therefore 00:32:25.479 --> 00:32:25.979 you worship 00:32:25.979 --> 00:32:26.559 as unknown, 00:32:26.719 --> 00:32:27.419 this I proclaim 00:32:27.419 --> 00:32:27.679 to you. 00:32:27.699 --> 00:32:28.279 Pause really 00:32:28.279 --> 00:32:28.559 quickly. 00:32:29.119 --> 00:32:29.759 He is finding 00:32:29.759 --> 00:32:31.339 these cultural 00:32:31.339 --> 00:32:31.719 bridges, 00:32:31.899 --> 00:32:32.379 these religious 00:32:32.379 --> 00:32:32.759 bridges, 00:32:32.959 --> 00:32:33.619 and it's a 00:32:33.619 --> 00:32:34.299 wonderful thing. 00:32:34.639 --> 00:32:34.979 What Paul 00:32:34.979 --> 00:32:35.839 isn't doing 00:32:35.839 --> 00:32:37.599 here is he 00:32:37.599 --> 00:32:39.039 isn't somehow 00:32:39.039 --> 00:32:40.119 making a case 00:32:40.119 --> 00:32:42.599 for a 00:32:42.599 --> 00:32:43.599 pluralistic 00:32:43.599 --> 00:32:44.519 religious view. 00:32:45.719 --> 00:32:46.639 We'll see, 00:32:46.779 --> 00:32:47.299 it'll be very 00:32:47.299 --> 00:32:47.959 obvious what's 00:32:47.959 --> 00:32:49.139 coming next, 00:32:49.140 --> 00:32:50.280 is that he 00:32:50.280 --> 00:32:50.840 is making a 00:32:50.840 --> 00:32:51.180 case that 00:32:51.180 --> 00:32:51.380 there is 00:32:51.380 --> 00:32:51.759 one true 00:32:51.759 --> 00:32:52.140 God and 00:32:52.140 --> 00:32:52.560 there's one 00:32:52.560 --> 00:32:52.940 true way 00:32:52.940 --> 00:32:53.480 to worship 00:32:53.480 --> 00:32:53.800 him and 00:32:53.800 --> 00:32:54.080 it's through 00:32:54.080 --> 00:32:54.420 Christ. 00:32:55.080 --> 00:32:55.420 But what 00:32:55.420 --> 00:32:56.040 he is not 00:32:56.040 --> 00:32:56.759 saying here 00:32:56.759 --> 00:32:58.540 is that 00:32:58.540 --> 00:32:59.720 all roads 00:32:59.720 --> 00:33:00.060 lead to 00:33:00.060 --> 00:33:00.259 Rome. 00:33:01.000 --> 00:33:01.320 So, 00:33:01.880 --> 00:33:02.600 he's going 00:33:02.600 --> 00:33:02.960 to lay out 00:33:02.960 --> 00:33:03.220 some 00:33:03.220 --> 00:33:04.000 orthodox 00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:05.300 theology. 00:33:05.720 --> 00:33:06.200 The first 00:33:06.200 --> 00:33:06.740 truth, 00:33:06.880 --> 00:33:07.700 verses 24 00:33:07.700 --> 00:33:08.160 and 25, 00:33:08.300 --> 00:33:08.580 that God 00:33:08.580 --> 00:33:08.840 is the 00:33:08.840 --> 00:33:09.240 creator and 00:33:09.240 --> 00:33:09.800 sustainer of 00:33:09.800 --> 00:33:09.980 all. 00:33:10.880 --> 00:33:11.200 This is what 00:33:11.200 --> 00:33:11.540 it says, 00:33:11.539 --> 00:33:13.319 the God 00:33:13.319 --> 00:33:13.759 who made 00:33:13.759 --> 00:33:14.159 the world 00:33:14.159 --> 00:33:14.559 and everything 00:33:14.559 --> 00:33:14.920 in it, 00:33:15.279 --> 00:33:15.839 being Lord 00:33:15.839 --> 00:33:16.180 of heaven 00:33:16.180 --> 00:33:16.500 and earth, 00:33:16.899 --> 00:33:17.099 he does 00:33:17.099 --> 00:33:17.799 not live 00:33:17.799 --> 00:33:18.339 in temples 00:33:18.339 --> 00:33:18.899 made by 00:33:18.899 --> 00:33:19.259 man, 00:33:19.319 --> 00:33:19.680 nor is he 00:33:19.680 --> 00:33:20.180 served by 00:33:20.180 --> 00:33:20.839 human hands 00:33:20.839 --> 00:33:21.420 as though he 00:33:21.420 --> 00:33:22.139 needed anything, 00:33:22.859 --> 00:33:23.359 since he 00:33:23.359 --> 00:33:24.279 himself gives 00:33:24.279 --> 00:33:26.619 to all mankind 00:33:26.619 --> 00:33:27.359 life and 00:33:27.359 --> 00:33:27.740 breath and 00:33:27.740 --> 00:33:28.079 everything. 00:33:31.799 --> 00:33:32.559 If God 00:33:32.559 --> 00:33:32.859 is the 00:33:32.859 --> 00:33:33.379 creator and 00:33:33.379 --> 00:33:33.960 sustainer of 00:33:33.960 --> 00:33:34.279 all, 00:33:35.279 --> 00:33:36.000 how on 00:33:36.000 --> 00:33:36.599 earth can we 00:33:36.599 --> 00:33:37.339 limit or 00:33:37.339 --> 00:33:38.399 localize this 00:33:38.399 --> 00:33:38.700 God? 00:33:38.700 --> 00:33:41.059 creating a 00:33:41.059 --> 00:33:41.819 statue that 00:33:41.819 --> 00:33:42.080 is supposed 00:33:42.080 --> 00:33:42.799 to represent 00:33:42.799 --> 00:33:44.100 the God 00:33:44.100 --> 00:33:44.700 who created 00:33:44.700 --> 00:33:45.279 everything, 00:33:45.440 --> 00:33:45.819 but we're 00:33:45.819 --> 00:33:46.840 representing him 00:33:46.840 --> 00:33:48.140 in the 00:33:48.140 --> 00:33:48.799 very elements 00:33:48.799 --> 00:33:49.120 that he 00:33:49.120 --> 00:33:49.980 created himself? 00:33:52.200 --> 00:33:53.019 He does 00:33:53.019 --> 00:33:53.640 not need to 00:33:53.640 --> 00:33:54.700 be fed by 00:33:54.700 --> 00:33:55.519 our prayers 00:33:55.519 --> 00:33:56.299 or alms 00:33:56.299 --> 00:33:56.819 or cared 00:33:56.819 --> 00:33:57.100 for. 00:33:57.779 --> 00:33:58.200 He is not 00:33:58.200 --> 00:33:59.200 dependent upon 00:33:59.200 --> 00:34:01.039 us for 00:34:01.039 --> 00:34:02.000 his sustenance. 00:34:03.259 --> 00:34:03.680 Therefore, 00:34:04.100 --> 00:34:04.559 the Apostle 00:34:04.559 --> 00:34:04.980 Paul is 00:34:04.980 --> 00:34:05.920 saying to 00:34:05.920 --> 00:34:06.460 the Athenians, 00:34:07.160 --> 00:34:07.539 the one true 00:34:07.539 --> 00:34:07.940 God is 00:34:07.940 --> 00:34:08.400 omniscient. 00:34:09.179 --> 00:34:09.460 He is 00:34:09.460 --> 00:34:10.119 all-powerful. 00:34:11.339 --> 00:34:11.739 There is 00:34:11.739 --> 00:34:12.639 no power 00:34:12.639 --> 00:34:13.199 greater than 00:34:13.199 --> 00:34:13.379 him. 00:34:13.460 --> 00:34:13.819 In fact, 00:34:13.899 --> 00:34:14.339 he is the 00:34:14.339 --> 00:34:15.179 source of 00:34:15.179 --> 00:34:15.799 all power. 00:34:16.579 --> 00:34:16.960 He lacks 00:34:16.960 --> 00:34:17.339 nothing. 00:34:17.460 --> 00:34:17.599 He's 00:34:17.599 --> 00:34:17.960 completely 00:34:17.960 --> 00:34:18.919 self-sufficient. 00:34:19.699 --> 00:34:19.960 Therefore, 00:34:20.179 --> 00:34:20.519 it is 00:34:20.519 --> 00:34:21.619 we who 00:34:21.619 --> 00:34:22.159 need him. 00:34:23.239 --> 00:34:23.539 And he 00:34:23.539 --> 00:34:24.199 delights to 00:34:24.199 --> 00:34:24.639 give us 00:34:24.639 --> 00:34:25.019 what we 00:34:25.019 --> 00:34:25.559 need. 00:34:25.659 --> 00:34:26.000 He gives 00:34:26.000 --> 00:34:26.699 us life 00:34:26.699 --> 00:34:27.539 and breath 00:34:27.539 --> 00:34:28.259 and everything. 00:34:28.480 --> 00:34:29.859 This is who 00:34:29.859 --> 00:34:30.299 this God 00:34:30.299 --> 00:34:30.579 is. 00:34:30.639 --> 00:34:30.799 He's 00:34:30.799 --> 00:34:31.259 omniscient. 00:34:32.539 --> 00:34:33.059 The second 00:34:33.059 --> 00:34:33.279 thing, 00:34:33.339 --> 00:34:34.079 verses 26. 00:34:35.279 --> 00:34:35.839 And he 00:34:35.839 --> 00:34:36.339 made from 00:34:36.339 --> 00:34:36.819 one man 00:34:36.819 --> 00:34:37.480 every nation 00:34:37.480 --> 00:34:37.980 of mankind 00:34:37.980 --> 00:34:38.619 to live 00:34:38.619 --> 00:34:39.079 on all 00:34:39.079 --> 00:34:39.519 the face 00:34:39.519 --> 00:34:39.740 of the 00:34:39.740 --> 00:34:39.960 earth, 00:34:40.380 --> 00:34:40.579 having 00:34:40.579 --> 00:34:41.039 determined 00:34:41.039 --> 00:34:41.440 allotted 00:34:41.440 --> 00:34:42.019 periods 00:34:42.019 --> 00:34:42.360 and the 00:34:42.360 --> 00:34:42.699 boundaries 00:34:42.699 --> 00:34:43.099 of their 00:34:43.099 --> 00:34:43.500 dwelling 00:34:43.500 --> 00:34:43.940 place. 00:34:44.460 --> 00:34:44.900 There's a lot 00:34:44.900 --> 00:34:45.559 to say here. 00:34:47.960 --> 00:34:48.659 There's a lot 00:34:48.659 --> 00:34:49.260 to say here, 00:34:49.400 --> 00:34:51.119 but just to 00:34:51.119 --> 00:34:51.599 say that the 00:34:51.599 --> 00:34:52.719 Lord is 00:34:52.719 --> 00:34:53.420 sovereign over 00:34:53.420 --> 00:34:53.699 all. 00:34:54.340 --> 00:34:55.019 There is no 00:34:55.019 --> 00:34:55.780 power greater 00:34:55.780 --> 00:34:56.219 than him. 00:34:57.380 --> 00:34:57.820 He is, 00:34:58.139 --> 00:34:58.280 again, 00:34:58.360 --> 00:34:58.920 in need of 00:34:58.920 --> 00:34:59.199 nothing. 00:34:59.340 --> 00:34:59.960 He is sovereign 00:34:59.960 --> 00:35:00.519 over all. 00:35:00.519 --> 00:35:00.920 And this 00:35:00.920 --> 00:35:01.559 doesn't mean 00:35:01.559 --> 00:35:02.539 that in 00:35:02.539 --> 00:35:03.219 his sovereignty 00:35:03.219 --> 00:35:03.719 where he 00:35:03.719 --> 00:35:06.219 has created 00:35:06.219 --> 00:35:06.719 the world 00:35:06.719 --> 00:35:07.199 and put 00:35:07.199 --> 00:35:07.719 everything in 00:35:07.719 --> 00:35:08.300 its place 00:35:08.300 --> 00:35:09.280 and he 00:35:09.280 --> 00:35:10.019 rules over 00:35:10.019 --> 00:35:10.360 history, 00:35:10.539 --> 00:35:11.320 that he is 00:35:11.320 --> 00:35:12.300 somehow responsible 00:35:12.300 --> 00:35:13.460 for evil 00:35:13.460 --> 00:35:14.139 and tyranny 00:35:14.139 --> 00:35:14.840 and the 00:35:14.840 --> 00:35:16.460 despots that 00:35:16.460 --> 00:35:18.219 have peppered 00:35:18.219 --> 00:35:18.820 history throughout 00:35:18.820 --> 00:35:19.360 the ages. 00:35:19.820 --> 00:35:20.820 But it is to 00:35:20.820 --> 00:35:21.800 say that he 00:35:21.800 --> 00:35:22.380 is sovereign 00:35:22.380 --> 00:35:23.019 over history. 00:35:23.940 --> 00:35:24.699 He's sovereign 00:35:24.699 --> 00:35:25.099 over the 00:35:25.099 --> 00:35:26.440 rising and 00:35:26.440 --> 00:35:27.079 falling of 00:35:27.079 --> 00:35:27.500 nations. 00:35:27.500 --> 00:35:30.179 And we 00:35:30.179 --> 00:35:30.900 see that all 00:35:30.900 --> 00:35:32.420 of this is 00:35:32.420 --> 00:35:32.679 for the 00:35:32.679 --> 00:35:33.219 purpose of 00:35:33.219 --> 00:35:34.079 sinful and 00:35:34.079 --> 00:35:35.280 bent humanity 00:35:35.280 --> 00:35:36.199 so that we 00:35:36.199 --> 00:35:37.199 can turn to 00:35:37.199 --> 00:35:37.940 him and seek 00:35:37.940 --> 00:35:38.619 his face. 00:35:39.639 --> 00:35:40.159 It is not 00:35:40.159 --> 00:35:40.900 that God is 00:35:40.900 --> 00:35:41.820 far from us, 00:35:41.900 --> 00:35:42.599 it is that we 00:35:42.599 --> 00:35:43.480 are far from 00:35:43.480 --> 00:35:43.739 him. 00:35:44.699 --> 00:35:45.400 And he 00:35:45.400 --> 00:35:46.760 is waiting 00:35:46.760 --> 00:35:47.619 to be found 00:35:47.619 --> 00:35:48.219 in Christ 00:35:48.219 --> 00:35:48.659 Jesus. 00:35:52.920 --> 00:35:53.639 Those in 00:35:53.639 --> 00:35:54.280 humility who 00:35:54.280 --> 00:35:54.900 throw themselves 00:35:54.900 --> 00:35:55.500 at the mercy 00:35:55.500 --> 00:35:56.260 and grace 00:35:56.260 --> 00:35:56.800 of Christ, 00:35:56.800 --> 00:35:57.760 he will be 00:35:57.760 --> 00:35:58.080 found. 00:35:59.280 --> 00:35:59.980 This is why 00:35:59.980 --> 00:36:01.340 all roads do 00:36:01.340 --> 00:36:02.980 not lead to 00:36:02.980 --> 00:36:04.060 eternity with 00:36:04.060 --> 00:36:05.240 God, but 00:36:05.240 --> 00:36:05.760 only through 00:36:05.760 --> 00:36:06.200 Christ. 00:36:07.440 --> 00:36:08.100 It also means 00:36:08.100 --> 00:36:08.600 that God must 00:36:08.600 --> 00:36:09.380 reveal himself 00:36:09.380 --> 00:36:10.039 to us. 00:36:11.740 --> 00:36:12.120 And his 00:36:12.120 --> 00:36:13.180 sovereignty means 00:36:13.180 --> 00:36:13.980 that he is 00:36:13.980 --> 00:36:14.680 able to do 00:36:14.680 --> 00:36:15.180 just that. 00:36:15.260 --> 00:36:15.760 So the third 00:36:15.760 --> 00:36:17.340 truth, that we 00:36:17.340 --> 00:36:18.140 are made in 00:36:18.140 --> 00:36:18.780 God's image, 00:36:18.920 --> 00:36:19.680 not the other 00:36:19.680 --> 00:36:20.600 way around. 00:36:20.760 --> 00:36:21.220 Look with me 00:36:21.220 --> 00:36:22.800 here in 00:36:22.800 --> 00:36:24.340 verses, the 00:36:24.340 --> 00:36:24.900 second part of 00:36:24.900 --> 00:36:26.060 verse 28 and 00:36:26.060 --> 00:36:26.560 29. 00:36:27.780 --> 00:36:28.240 For we are 00:36:28.240 --> 00:36:28.900 indeed his 00:36:28.900 --> 00:36:29.600 offspring. 00:36:30.180 --> 00:36:30.560 Being then 00:36:30.560 --> 00:36:31.740 God's offspring, 00:36:31.940 --> 00:36:32.539 we ought not 00:36:32.539 --> 00:36:33.180 to think that 00:36:33.180 --> 00:36:33.980 the divine 00:36:33.980 --> 00:36:34.640 being is like 00:36:34.640 --> 00:36:35.120 gold or 00:36:35.120 --> 00:36:35.640 silver or 00:36:35.640 --> 00:36:36.620 stone, an 00:36:36.620 --> 00:36:37.300 image formed 00:36:37.300 --> 00:36:37.900 by the art 00:36:37.900 --> 00:36:38.560 and imagination 00:36:38.560 --> 00:36:39.980 of man. 00:36:40.780 --> 00:36:41.400 Once again, 00:36:41.480 --> 00:36:42.080 we see that 00:36:42.080 --> 00:36:42.700 idolatry 00:36:42.700 --> 00:36:43.460 inverts this 00:36:43.460 --> 00:36:44.160 created order. 00:36:45.120 --> 00:36:45.600 We are made 00:36:45.600 --> 00:36:46.060 in God's 00:36:46.060 --> 00:36:46.660 image, which 00:36:46.660 --> 00:36:47.480 means we are 00:36:47.480 --> 00:36:48.019 in a sense 00:36:48.019 --> 00:36:48.980 icons of 00:36:48.980 --> 00:36:49.240 God. 00:36:49.340 --> 00:36:49.920 Now, we 00:36:49.920 --> 00:36:50.460 are deeply 00:36:50.460 --> 00:36:51.060 marred and 00:36:51.060 --> 00:36:52.360 tarnished by 00:36:52.360 --> 00:36:52.940 sin, so 00:36:52.940 --> 00:36:53.519 therefore we do 00:36:53.519 --> 00:36:54.200 not reflect 00:36:54.199 --> 00:36:54.939 God's glory 00:36:54.939 --> 00:36:56.199 in the way 00:36:56.199 --> 00:36:56.579 that God 00:36:56.579 --> 00:36:57.279 has intended. 00:36:58.719 --> 00:36:59.219 And a big 00:36:59.219 --> 00:36:59.759 part of the 00:36:59.759 --> 00:37:00.259 reason why we 00:37:00.259 --> 00:37:00.659 don't reflect 00:37:00.659 --> 00:37:01.399 God's glory is 00:37:01.399 --> 00:37:02.960 that we try to 00:37:02.960 --> 00:37:04.000 make God into 00:37:04.000 --> 00:37:04.939 our own image. 00:37:05.099 --> 00:37:05.599 Again, things 00:37:05.599 --> 00:37:06.199 are inverted. 00:37:08.599 --> 00:37:09.519 We try to make 00:37:09.519 --> 00:37:10.299 an idol out of 00:37:10.299 --> 00:37:11.319 God, a double 00:37:11.319 --> 00:37:12.339 disrespect, for it 00:37:12.339 --> 00:37:13.119 implies that God 00:37:13.119 --> 00:37:14.539 can be captured in 00:37:14.539 --> 00:37:15.539 an image made by 00:37:15.539 --> 00:37:17.439 his creation, and 00:37:17.439 --> 00:37:18.159 that we somehow 00:37:18.159 --> 00:37:19.359 have the capacity 00:37:19.360 --> 00:37:20.240 to capture that 00:37:20.240 --> 00:37:20.539 image. 00:37:22.860 --> 00:37:23.500 Finally, the 00:37:23.500 --> 00:37:23.940 fourth thing, 00:37:24.000 --> 00:37:24.660 verses 30 to 00:37:24.660 --> 00:37:25.780 31, says 00:37:25.780 --> 00:37:27.200 this, the 00:37:27.200 --> 00:37:27.640 times of 00:37:27.640 --> 00:37:28.280 ignorance God 00:37:28.280 --> 00:37:29.099 overlooked, but 00:37:29.099 --> 00:37:29.920 now he commands 00:37:29.920 --> 00:37:30.420 all people 00:37:30.420 --> 00:37:31.059 everywhere to 00:37:31.059 --> 00:37:32.099 repent, because 00:37:32.099 --> 00:37:32.880 he has fixed 00:37:32.880 --> 00:37:33.400 the day on 00:37:33.400 --> 00:37:33.840 which he will 00:37:33.840 --> 00:37:34.340 judge the 00:37:34.340 --> 00:37:35.240 world in 00:37:35.240 --> 00:37:36.460 righteousness by 00:37:36.460 --> 00:37:37.079 a man whom 00:37:37.079 --> 00:37:37.740 he has appointed, 00:37:37.920 --> 00:37:38.820 and of this he 00:37:38.820 --> 00:37:39.220 has given 00:37:39.220 --> 00:37:40.700 assurance to all by 00:37:40.700 --> 00:37:41.680 raising him from 00:37:41.680 --> 00:37:42.300 the dead. 00:37:42.620 --> 00:37:43.480 The fourth and 00:37:43.480 --> 00:37:44.880 final bit of 00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:45.860 theology Paul 00:37:45.860 --> 00:37:47.440 preaches on is 00:37:47.440 --> 00:37:48.440 that God is a 00:37:48.440 --> 00:37:49.099 righteous and 00:37:49.099 --> 00:37:50.099 judge, and 00:37:50.099 --> 00:37:50.860 just judge. 00:37:52.039 --> 00:37:52.960 The one true 00:37:52.960 --> 00:37:53.799 sovereign God has 00:37:53.799 --> 00:37:54.699 made himself known 00:37:54.699 --> 00:37:56.500 and therefore to 00:37:56.500 --> 00:37:57.159 all, and therefore 00:37:57.159 --> 00:37:57.920 his judgment is 00:37:57.920 --> 00:37:58.420 universal. 00:37:59.319 --> 00:38:01.279 It is completely 00:38:01.279 --> 00:38:02.420 righteous, and it 00:38:02.420 --> 00:38:03.239 will happen. 00:38:03.679 --> 00:38:04.659 It's definitely 00:38:04.659 --> 00:38:05.360 going to happen. 00:38:06.159 --> 00:38:06.860 The day of 00:38:06.860 --> 00:38:07.739 judgment is fixed. 00:38:09.000 --> 00:38:09.799 It means no one 00:38:09.799 --> 00:38:10.539 will be without 00:38:10.539 --> 00:38:11.239 excuse. 00:38:12.679 --> 00:38:13.599 It says here that 00:38:13.599 --> 00:38:14.319 he commands all 00:38:14.319 --> 00:38:17.699 to repent, all to 00:38:17.699 --> 00:38:19.000 humbly throw 00:38:19.000 --> 00:38:19.880 themselves at the 00:38:19.880 --> 00:38:20.820 mercy of God in 00:38:20.820 --> 00:38:21.239 Christ. 00:38:21.860 --> 00:38:22.440 And by the way, 00:38:22.500 --> 00:38:22.980 that might make 00:38:22.980 --> 00:38:23.559 us feel very 00:38:23.559 --> 00:38:25.179 uncomfortable, because 00:38:25.179 --> 00:38:26.219 judgment is always 00:38:26.219 --> 00:38:26.739 negative. 00:38:28.199 --> 00:38:28.800 We don't want to 00:38:28.800 --> 00:38:29.539 be judgy people. 00:38:29.719 --> 00:38:30.500 That might be a 00:38:30.500 --> 00:38:31.239 part of our own 00:38:31.239 --> 00:38:32.679 kind of idolatry. 00:38:34.019 --> 00:38:35.420 We want to be 00:38:35.420 --> 00:38:36.719 liked by everybody, 00:38:36.719 --> 00:38:37.679 so the idea of 00:38:37.679 --> 00:38:38.960 being judgy will 00:38:38.960 --> 00:38:39.480 make people not 00:38:39.480 --> 00:38:39.960 like us. 00:38:40.099 --> 00:38:40.659 We don't like it. 00:38:40.719 --> 00:38:41.239 It's uncomfortable. 00:38:41.539 --> 00:38:42.059 I get it. 00:38:42.099 --> 00:38:42.679 I feel the same 00:38:42.679 --> 00:38:42.920 way. 00:38:42.920 --> 00:38:45.579 But understand 00:38:45.579 --> 00:38:46.840 that the 00:38:46.840 --> 00:38:47.760 Apostle Paul isn't 00:38:47.760 --> 00:38:49.500 saying that God 00:38:49.500 --> 00:38:50.300 is the judge of 00:38:50.300 --> 00:38:51.460 all to scare the 00:38:51.460 --> 00:38:53.019 Athenians into some 00:38:53.019 --> 00:38:53.720 kind of submission, 00:38:53.940 --> 00:38:54.980 but it is ultimately 00:38:54.980 --> 00:38:55.860 good news, and it's 00:38:55.860 --> 00:38:56.740 good news for us. 00:39:03.680 --> 00:39:05.099 For those of us who 00:39:05.099 --> 00:39:06.019 are facing judgment 00:39:06.019 --> 00:39:07.039 because of sin, 00:39:07.920 --> 00:39:08.760 because of the 00:39:08.760 --> 00:39:09.639 brokenness in our own 00:39:09.639 --> 00:39:10.500 life, because of the 00:39:10.500 --> 00:39:11.380 things we have done in 00:39:11.380 --> 00:39:12.280 the past, and as we 00:39:12.280 --> 00:39:13.880 get older, that list 00:39:13.880 --> 00:39:14.720 continues to grow. 00:39:15.360 --> 00:39:16.119 Things we're ashamed 00:39:16.119 --> 00:39:19.019 of, things that we'd 00:39:19.019 --> 00:39:21.079 be happy would 00:39:21.079 --> 00:39:22.340 disappear from 00:39:22.340 --> 00:39:22.780 existence. 00:39:25.480 --> 00:39:26.079 We have 00:39:26.079 --> 00:39:27.980 affronted, we have 00:39:27.980 --> 00:39:29.079 caused an affront to 00:39:29.079 --> 00:39:30.180 the one true just 00:39:30.180 --> 00:39:31.059 God, and his 00:39:31.059 --> 00:39:32.039 judgment towards us is 00:39:32.039 --> 00:39:32.860 just, but here's the 00:39:32.860 --> 00:39:33.059 thing. 00:39:34.019 --> 00:39:35.160 His judgment is sure, 00:39:35.780 --> 00:39:36.820 but it has already 00:39:36.820 --> 00:39:38.660 been poured out on 00:39:38.660 --> 00:39:40.420 Jesus Christ, in our 00:39:40.420 --> 00:39:41.280 place, on the 00:39:41.280 --> 00:39:43.860 cross, that God has 00:39:43.860 --> 00:39:45.920 made a way for us to 00:39:45.920 --> 00:39:47.900 somehow survive his 00:39:47.900 --> 00:39:49.360 just judgment because 00:39:49.360 --> 00:39:50.500 somebody else took it 00:39:50.500 --> 00:39:52.320 upon himself and paid 00:39:52.320 --> 00:39:53.860 the penalty in our 00:39:53.860 --> 00:39:54.280 place. 00:39:56.440 --> 00:39:57.820 God is just, he is 00:39:57.820 --> 00:39:58.960 just, but he is also 00:39:58.960 --> 00:39:59.360 merciful. 00:40:00.580 --> 00:40:01.560 And in Christ we see 00:40:01.560 --> 00:40:02.380 this beautiful, 00:40:02.720 --> 00:40:04.580 beautiful marriage 00:40:04.580 --> 00:40:06.220 between justice and 00:40:06.220 --> 00:40:06.540 mercy. 00:40:06.539 --> 00:40:09.480 he will shower grace 00:40:09.480 --> 00:40:11.179 upon grace for those 00:40:11.179 --> 00:40:11.920 that are in Christ 00:40:11.920 --> 00:40:12.380 Jesus. 00:40:15.340 --> 00:40:16.219 So judgment 00:40:16.219 --> 00:40:17.380 ultimately for those 00:40:17.380 --> 00:40:19.139 in Jesus is not a 00:40:19.139 --> 00:40:20.960 picture of damnation, 00:40:21.119 --> 00:40:21.940 but a picture of 00:40:21.940 --> 00:40:22.420 salvation. 00:40:25.159 --> 00:40:26.279 What Paul is doing 00:40:26.279 --> 00:40:28.159 here, he's completely 00:40:28.159 --> 00:40:30.340 upending the Athenian 00:40:30.340 --> 00:40:31.960 way of thinking, the 00:40:31.960 --> 00:40:33.119 Athenian philosophy, the 00:40:33.119 --> 00:40:34.259 Athenian religious 00:40:34.259 --> 00:40:34.759 structures. 00:40:35.759 --> 00:40:37.000 And he is saying that 00:40:37.000 --> 00:40:38.599 there is a better way 00:40:38.599 --> 00:40:40.779 and that there is true 00:40:40.779 --> 00:40:42.659 worship to be had and to 00:40:42.659 --> 00:40:43.679 be participated in. 00:40:44.279 --> 00:40:45.179 And we start to see that 00:40:45.179 --> 00:40:47.400 real, true, godly, 00:40:47.519 --> 00:40:50.059 biblical theology, it 00:40:50.059 --> 00:40:51.500 leads to real, true, 00:40:51.699 --> 00:40:52.579 godly, and biblical 00:40:52.579 --> 00:40:53.659 doxology, that is 00:40:53.659 --> 00:40:53.980 worship. 00:40:53.980 --> 00:40:56.940 I'll close with this. 00:40:57.980 --> 00:40:59.099 Idolatry is abhorrent 00:40:59.099 --> 00:41:00.699 because God is 00:41:00.699 --> 00:41:01.659 untamable. 00:41:02.900 --> 00:41:03.500 He cannot be 00:41:03.500 --> 00:41:04.639 localized, he cannot be 00:41:04.639 --> 00:41:05.920 manipulated, he cannot be 00:41:05.920 --> 00:41:07.179 domesticated, there's no 00:41:07.179 --> 00:41:08.400 kind of quid pro quo 00:41:08.400 --> 00:41:08.900 with God. 00:41:10.079 --> 00:41:11.400 I've done this for you, 00:41:11.539 --> 00:41:12.699 you owe this to me. 00:41:13.840 --> 00:41:15.300 We cannot create icons 00:41:15.300 --> 00:41:16.840 of God, but here's the 00:41:16.840 --> 00:41:17.079 thing. 00:41:18.219 --> 00:41:19.300 God, the son of God, 00:41:19.380 --> 00:41:20.800 becomes incarnate and he 00:41:20.800 --> 00:41:22.079 takes upon himself human 00:41:22.079 --> 00:41:23.840 flesh, perfectly 00:41:23.840 --> 00:41:25.200 representing God, the 00:41:25.200 --> 00:41:26.920 father, for he remained 00:41:26.920 --> 00:41:28.600 God, but also perfectly 00:41:28.600 --> 00:41:30.720 representing mankind 00:41:30.720 --> 00:41:32.680 because he was fully man. 00:41:33.260 --> 00:41:35.780 Therefore, Christ is the 00:41:35.780 --> 00:41:37.280 ultimate and perfect icon 00:41:37.280 --> 00:41:37.860 of God. 00:41:38.480 --> 00:41:40.420 Not an idol, but an icon, 00:41:40.559 --> 00:41:42.519 the perfect window for us 00:41:42.519 --> 00:41:44.059 to see God, the father 00:41:44.059 --> 00:41:44.460 almighty. 00:41:44.820 --> 00:41:46.539 If you see the son, you 00:41:46.539 --> 00:41:47.140 see the father. 00:41:47.280 --> 00:41:48.840 If you know the son, you 00:41:48.840 --> 00:41:49.600 know the father. 00:41:51.360 --> 00:41:52.620 And why did he do this? 00:41:52.619 --> 00:41:55.119 So that by faith, we would 00:41:55.119 --> 00:41:56.980 become united with him 00:41:56.980 --> 00:41:59.259 and enjoy a real, genuine, 00:41:59.579 --> 00:42:01.000 eternal relationship with 00:42:01.000 --> 00:42:01.859 almighty God. 00:42:02.239 --> 00:42:04.199 No longer under the 00:42:04.199 --> 00:42:06.079 subjugation and the 00:42:06.079 --> 00:42:07.799 slavery of idol worship. 00:42:08.380 --> 00:42:09.139 We can be free. 00:42:11.519 --> 00:42:13.279 And if you are like me and 00:42:13.279 --> 00:42:14.539 struggle with idolatry, if 00:42:14.539 --> 00:42:15.359 you struggle with making 00:42:15.359 --> 00:42:16.699 much of this life and 00:42:16.699 --> 00:42:18.440 little of eternity, if you 00:42:18.440 --> 00:42:19.960 struggle with zeal for God's 00:42:19.960 --> 00:42:21.980 glory, friends, I will say 00:42:21.980 --> 00:42:23.480 this, cast your eyes upon 00:42:23.480 --> 00:42:23.900 Christ. 00:42:24.860 --> 00:42:25.679 Think about him. 00:42:26.940 --> 00:42:27.940 Dwell on him. 00:42:28.820 --> 00:42:30.440 Ask him by his spirit to 00:42:30.440 --> 00:42:34.760 rip apart the idolatry in 00:42:34.760 --> 00:42:36.579 your life, to expose it for 00:42:36.579 --> 00:42:37.260 what it is. 00:42:37.780 --> 00:42:38.679 And friends, throw yourself 00:42:38.679 --> 00:42:39.800 at the mercy of God 00:42:39.800 --> 00:42:40.119 almighty. 00:42:41.039 --> 00:42:41.599 Let us pray. 00:42:43.159 --> 00:42:44.519 Heavenly Father, we thank you 00:42:44.519 --> 00:42:45.820 for the Apostle Paul. 00:42:45.820 --> 00:42:49.640 We thank you for his sermon 00:42:49.640 --> 00:42:52.519 at the Areopagus at 00:42:52.519 --> 00:42:53.000 Mars Hill. 00:42:53.100 --> 00:42:54.360 We thank you that he did 00:42:54.360 --> 00:42:56.440 not shy away from telling 00:42:56.440 --> 00:42:58.019 the truth, that he didn't 00:42:58.019 --> 00:43:01.180 love his life more than he 00:43:01.180 --> 00:43:02.380 was about your glory. 00:43:02.720 --> 00:43:04.180 Lord, he is a wonderful 00:43:04.180 --> 00:43:05.140 example to us. 00:43:05.860 --> 00:43:07.080 And by your spirit, Lord, we 00:43:07.080 --> 00:43:08.800 want to be more and more 00:43:08.800 --> 00:43:09.140 like him. 00:43:09.200 --> 00:43:10.320 But Lord, actually, we want 00:43:10.320 --> 00:43:11.180 to be more and more like 00:43:11.180 --> 00:43:13.840 your blessed son, who 00:43:13.840 --> 00:43:15.200 perfectly represented you, 00:43:15.960 --> 00:43:18.240 who had no idols at all, 00:43:18.480 --> 00:43:19.980 but he is the object of 00:43:19.980 --> 00:43:20.440 our worship. 00:43:21.260 --> 00:43:22.260 Lord, help us to be more 00:43:22.260 --> 00:43:23.300 and more like Christ, to 00:43:23.300 --> 00:43:24.860 gaze upon him, to trust in 00:43:24.860 --> 00:43:26.700 him more, to value him 00:43:26.700 --> 00:43:29.519 above all else, to trust in 00:43:29.519 --> 00:43:30.800 him above and beyond. 00:43:31.640 --> 00:43:34.120 And Lord, help us, again, by 00:43:34.120 --> 00:43:37.240 your spirit, by faith, to 00:43:37.240 --> 00:43:39.100 long for eternity with 00:43:39.100 --> 00:43:40.500 Christ that begins in part 00:43:40.500 --> 00:43:43.120 now, but will be in full in 00:43:43.119 --> 00:43:43.799 the life to come. 00:43:44.380 --> 00:43:45.259 We pray all of this in 00:43:45.259 --> 00:43:45.779 Christ's name. 00:43:46.460 --> 00:43:46.739 Amen.