The Spirit in Athens
The Spirit in Athens
Acts 17:16-34
On June 24th, 2022 the Supreme Court of the United States of America held that the US Constitution does not confer the right for abortion overturning Roe vs. Wade and Planned Parenthood vs. Casey. It was a decision I have been praying for for over twenty years. I’ll never forget where I was sitting when I heard the news. I was in the auditorium at Camp Clarity with 600 teenagers including young people from our church including two of my children. My eyes filled up with tears of joy after thousands upon thousands of prayers were answered. I paused to thank God for all the men and women on the front lines of the pro-life movement for their years of faithfulness in defending the unborn and caring for mothers and their children. It was a momentous day. It was a day I will never forget.
And yet, my joy and gratitude for the Supreme Court’s decision shifted to extreme sadness, outrage, and righteous indignation when I saw the response of those who opposed the ruling and want to continue to advocate for the destruction of precious unborn human life. Company after company coming forward to provide financial compensation for their employees pursue abortions, liberal-leaning states offering to pay for people’s travel to subsidize the extermination of human life, and government leaders making outlandish claims of their unending pursuit to overturn the decision and to codify abortion into law. I knew many people were going to be unhappy with the decision, but I was still not prepared for how evil and demonic the responses were for a decision that should have only caused great joy and gratitude to God.
My spirit has been provoked within me when I look at how our nation is full of idolatry. I know my response is a gift of God. Outside of the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, I would be those on the other side. God has changed my heart as I have turned to Him “from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come.” (1 Thess 1:10) The Holy Spirit has changed my outrage. I am outraged in my spirit when I see the idolatry of those who stand against God and the gracious gift of life he gives. And I am thankful for it, because I know it is a work of the Holy Spirit. John Calvin has famously written,
[M]an’s nature, so to speak, is a perpetual factory of idols… man’s mind, full as it is of pride and boldness, dares to imagine a god according to its own capacity; as it sluggishly plods, indeed is overwhelmed with the crassest ignorance, it conceives an unreality and an empty appearance as God.
He would later write, “the mind conceives an idol, and the hand gives it birth.” Beloved, God must change our hearts. We have to turn to God from idols. The human heart is restless to find something to serve for it is made to worship and bow down. As believers we turn from idols by filling our hearts and minds with knowledge of God as displayed in the person of Jesus Christ.
Our battle today is not merely pro-life vs. pro-abortion. It is a battle of worship. Will we worship God or serve our idols? Who will be King of our hearts? 2 Corinthians 4:4–6
[4] In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. [5] For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. [6] For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Will we serve the true image of God, Jesus Christ or will we serve the idols of our age? In Athens, the Apostle Paul masterfully preaches the gospel in pleading for people to repent from their idolatry to serve the One true God. I pray we will learn from Paul’s example and we would root out any idolatry in our own heart.
The Spirit Provoked against Idols (v. 16)
The Apostle Paul was in Athens waiting for Silas and Luke to arrive. He had been forced to leave Berea after Jews from Thessalonica, who were jealous of Paul’s following, stirred up the crowd against him. Acts 17:16
[16] Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols.
Paul looked around the city and saw it was full of idols. The idols were material ‘gods’ fashion by the people of Athens. And as Paul looked around the city and saw all the false gods the people were serving his heart was provoked within him. It is the same word used of the Lord’s response to his people’s idolatry in Isaiah 65:2–3,
[2] I spread out my hands all the day
to a rebellious people,
who walk in a way that is not good,
following their own devices;
[3] a people who provoke me
to my face continually,
sacrificing in gardens
and making offerings on bricks;
They were following their own devices and provoked the Lord to anger in offering sacrifices to false images or idols and serving the Lord.
Paul’s ministry in Athens began when he saw people worshiping false gods and responded in zeal for God’s glory in his own heart before he moved towards the people. The beginning of good evangelistic ministry is a zeal for God’s glory. We should desire no one to worship idols because God is the only one worthy of glory, honor and praise. God and God alone. Are you consumed with God’s glory? Do you wake up every day and ask, “how can I glorify you today?” We are never going to be moved by the idols of our nation unless we are filled with a desire for the glory of God. Listen to that passage from 2 Corinthians again,
[4] In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. [5] For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. [6] For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:4–6)
God has revealed himself to us in the person of Jesus Christ. We have turned from idols to God. We should be consumed with his glory. Has God shone in your heart the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ?
If he has, you will be burdened with confronting the idols of our day. Our idols are not material images but ideas and philosophies and ideologies of the mind and heart. There are many idols that reign across the American landscape, but for time sake let me highlight one that I believe ungirds much of American idolatry: pleasure. The idol of pleasure undergirds the whole abortion movement. People want to pursue sexual pleasure with whomever and whenever and however they want without consequences. By restricting abortion, there is a restricting of a fulfilment of sexual pleasure. Even the LGBTQ+ movement which continues to dominate our society says, “Whatever you desire, whatever makes you happy, wherever you find the most pleasure go after it. No one should tell you who you can love or find pleasure with.” Our culture may not use this specific language, but what undergird the philosophy is the pursuit of one’s pleasure. True pleasure is not found in sexual expression but in serving God and submiting your sexual desire to him. For he is your Creator and he knows best. Romans 1 clearly shows how unnatural sexual desires are a form of idolatry and a rejection of God as the Sovereign Creator and Ruler of your life. Andy Crouch offers this perceptively wise counsel on idols,
All idols begin by offering great things for a very small price. All idols then fail, more and more consistently, to deliver on their original promises, while ratcheting up their demands, which initially seemed so reasonable, for worship and sacrifice. In the end they fail completely, even as they make categorical demands.
As one writer also notes, “Idols ask for more and more, while giving less and less, until eventually they demand everything and give nothing.
Do you see the idolatry in our culture? When you turn on Netflix or Disney do you see the philosophy and the ideology they are pushing? When you scroll your Instagram feed are you considering what people are truly communicating and how it is affecting your soul? My fear for the church is we will follow the world’s idols and not even see it. Paul walked around Athens and was provoked because he saw the idols. When you walk around Rock Hill, or when you virtually look around America, are you provoked in your spirit because of the idolatry you see?
The Spirit Persuades over Ideologies (v. 17 - 21)
After Paul was provoked, he then went to persuade and reason with people to turn from those idols to the living and true God. This should be our response as well. Acts 17:17–21,
[17] So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. [18] Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, “What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. [19] And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? [20] For you bring some strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean.” [21] Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new.
Paul went to the synagogue to confront the Jews and devout persons but he also went to the marketplace and engaged in daily conversations there about the gospel. Now Athens was a hub for intellectual thought. Luke mentioned two groups Paul encountered: Epicurean and Stoic Philosophers. As one scholar notes,
The Epicureans were followers of Epicurus (341–270 BC) and were indifferent to gods, viewing them as too removed to be objects of concern (Diogenes Laertius, Lives 10.1–21). They were like agnostic secularists. Diogenes summarizes their view of life: “Nothing to fear in God; Nothing to feel in death; Good [pleasure] can be attained; Evil [pain] can be endured” (Witherington 1998: 514).
And the Stoics,
were pantheists who argued for the unity of humanity and kinship with the divine (Diogenes Laertius, Lives 7.1–160). Reason, the world-state, and the “cosmopolis” (or community as the great city) were major themes, along with self-sufficiency and obedience (Bruce 1988a: 330)
Paul would have been very familiar with these two dominant philosophies as they were not only prominent in Athens but throughout the region. And these philosophers were mocking Paul saying, “What does this babbler wish to say? He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities.” The term babbler literally means a bird who picks up seeds so it often means scavenger. In this context, the philosophers were saying Paul is picking up bits of information and spreading them as if he knows what he is talking about. It was a dig at Paul and his message. Even though they may not have had a lot of respect for Paul, they still were willing to hear what he had to say for they loved “new things.” They weren’t after the truth but simply something new.
Is our culture much different? We have seemed to abandon the things that are old, tried and long-lasting only to replace them with things that are new. Either way Paul had an opportunity to address the crowd and he did so masterfully.
The Spirit Perceives with Inspection (v. 22 - 29)
As Paul was in Athens, he was studying and observing the beliefs, the values and customs of the people. He didn’t immediately go in attacking the people but first identified with them and what they believed. Acts 17:22–23,
[22] So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. [23] For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’
R.C. Sproul writes, “the sin of man is not atheism but religion…that is what religion is—the substitute of a false god for the true God.” Man is religious. No matter where you go, you find some form of religion. People trying to make sense out of their existence. In Athens, they had an inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ It may be they didn’t want to miss any deity so they added a general one or they realized there was a god who was behind the world. Today, we may not have an inscription, but many believe in a ‘higher power.’ People claim to be spiritual today. The reason most people believe in a ‘higher power’ and not the Higher Power is they do not want to be held accountable by God. They know deep down they were created by something or someone but do not want to pursue who or what that is because they do not want to submit to it. They want to be the highest power of their lives.
And Paul speaks directly to it. This is his transition to point the Athenians to the One, True and Living God. Acts 17:23–29,
[23] For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. [24] The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, [25] nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. [26] 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, [27] 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, [28] for
“‘In him we live and move and have our being’;
as even some of your own poets have said,
“‘For we are indeed his offspring.”
[29] Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man.
Paul begins with Creation because as creatures we are accountable to the Creator. One of the greatest travesties of the 20th century is a denial of God as Creator. God being our Creator grounds us in this world. He gives purpose. He gives us meaning. As a painting or a song, can’t be ultimately understood without the artist explaining the meaning. People cannot ultimately understand the meaning of life without the Creator of life explaining the meaning. God created life and therefore he and he alone can explain its true meaning. He not only created life, but established all its boundaries. He is one who gave you your parents. He is the one who gave you your height, eye color, and body shape. He is the one who gives you life and breath and everything. He determines your hometown and your nationality. God and God alone provides meaning and purpose for someone’s life.
The Athenians are seeking after God. They are trying to feel their way towards him, but they are not arriving. They needed special revelation on how to get there. Therefore God speaks to them by his word. Our modern culture is not seeking after God, but they are still seeking after meaning. The great quest of the modern mind is to find one’s identity. Who am I? The travesty is that our culture believes we are the ones who can ultimately establish our own identity. The Creator makes me man, but our culture says we can reject the Creator and choose our own identity. God makes us male and female. And in our maleness and our femaleness he determines our sexual preference. God has determined our identity. We are image-bearers of God. We are precious creatures who were given life by him. We have eternal souls that will live forever. We can’t find our true identity outside of God. If we try, it will be chaos. And it will not only be chaos in the world, but in our own soul.
Paul speaks to the secular mind at Athens and says, “you are seeking after God, but seek no more. You can know God. He is not in some image formed by the imagination of man in silver or gold or stone. He doesn’t live in temples made by man. He does need anything. He is God. And He has revealed himself in Creation and in His Word.
Friend, if you are not a follower of Jesus Christ, we are welcome you are here. We are grateful you have chosen to be with us today. Have you ever wondered what is the purpose of life? Have you ever asked, “Why am I here? What does this all mean?” The reason we do easily know that answer is because of sin. The Bible teaches that sin has blinded us from the truth and has twisted our minds and hearts to confusion. In this fallen world, we don’t think rightly or live according to our purpose. We were created to live for the glory of God, but the Bible says, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” So we are like the Athenians, we are groping and searching for God. We are searching for meaning and value and purpose, but we will not find it….unless…you first understand the Creator who is Lord of heaven and the earth. I would encourage you to listen to these next verses which help solve our ignorance or not knowing who we are.
The Spirit Preaches to Ignorance (v. 30 - 31)
Paul is building his argument to show their need for God and then provides the solution in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Acts 17:30–31,
[30] The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, [31] because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”
Notice God is commanding all people everywhere to repent from idolatry. There is no other choice. This is not a suggestion, but a command from the Creator. Repent. Turn from your sin and trust in God. Turn from idols. To repent is to make a 180 degree turn; an about face; a complete change in direction. Literally it means to change your mind. You are commanded to change your mind about who is your Lord and Master. You can no longer live in ignorance and believe you can serve idols or gods of your own making. You must serve the Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth.
And he has given you the reason why. “Because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” Let’s walk through this verse phrase by phrase.
He has fixed a day - The Day of the Lord is fixed. It is set in stone. It cannot be changed. We are all moving towards that Day. God has determined the beginning and the end of this world. And only the Sovereign Creator has that choice. He has fixed a day.
On which he will judge the world - There will not be a static end to the world. We will not cease to exist but rather we will be judged. We will either be condemned to an eternal hell where there will be unquenchable fire and the weeping and gnashing teeth forever in outer darkness or we will be received into God’s eternal kingdom where there is eternal joy and unending pleasures in God’s presence for all forevermore. When the Lord returns or when we die, we will face judgment. We will be judged. It is fixed and unavoidable.
In righteousness by a man he has appointed - Our judgment will be in righteousness. Our judgment will be fair and perfect. We will be judged in righteousness and by righteousness. The same one who will judge us is the same one who came to offer his life for us. Jesus Christ was appointed to walk in righteousness to pay for the unrighteousness of man. Romans 5:15–19,
[15] But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. [16] And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. [17] For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. [18] Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. [19] For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
The one who has been appointed to judge was judged for us. Jesus Christ did on a cross to pay for all our unrighteousness so that we can be made right with him or have righteousness. This is staggering. Romans 3:22–26,
[22] the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: [23] for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, [24] and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, [25] whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. [26] It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
We are judged in righteousness by the one who offers us his righteousness. This common to repentance is not burdensome. It is a delight.
And of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead - God is giving assurance that all people will be judged in righteousness by raising Jesus from the dead. When we are judged, we will be judged by a man who lived and walked and died and was buried and raised from the dead. We will be without excuse for we will be judged by the one who lived as a man, died as a man, and raised as a man. The resurrection gives us assurance that we will be judged but also that Jesus' righteous sacrifice was accepted by God. It is both a warning for those of us who don’t repent and a blessing for all of those who do.
Acts 17:30-31 will either be one of the greatest sentences of your life or one of worst. It will either give you assurance you are righteous or assurance you awaiting judgment. If you are in Christ, your sins have already been judged by Christ and you are declared righteous. If you are not in Christ, God is commanding you to repent or face judgment. He is not asking. He is commanding. You must choose to obey and be blessed or disobey and be condemned.
The Spirit Parts all Individuals (v. 32 - 34)
The gospel divides. It divides truth from error. The righteousness from the unrighteous. The saved and the damned. The commended and the condemned. They all heard of the resurrection from the dead, but there were different responses. Acts 17:32–34,
[32] Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.” [33] So Paul went out from their midst. [34] But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.
Some mocked the resurrection. Some decided to stay seeking. Some believed. The gospel response is never neutral. We will either accept it or reject it. But all must choose.
Beloved, our culture is full of idols. When we see them, are our spirits provoked? If yes, are we going to the marketplace to reason with them with the gospel. Are we paying attention to what they believe and trying to help them find their true identity in the Creator and Sustainer of life? Are you trying to find your identity in something other than the Creator? Are you living for an idol? God is commanding everyone, everywhere to repent because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man he has appointed and of this he has given assurance to all by raising Jesus from the dead. He is commanding us to repent and he is sending us to command others to repent.
Beloved, let us just be faithful to see and speak to the idols in our culture, to repent of the idols in our own hearts and always rest in Jesus Christ who knew we would run after idols, which is why he ran after us.