Athen(ology) Acts 17 (Pt. 2)

We will hear you again about this. . . .

The resurrection of Jesus Christ causes many people to jump ship.

Everyone will confess they sin in some capacity, because their conscience bears witness to it. But to convince the hearer that Jesus Himself rose from the grave is a truth that draws the line and separates the saved from the condemned. It apparently is far easier to struggle in a vehement ocean and drown, than to receive the gift of salvation Jesus has to offer.

In Paul’s sermon in Athens, it appeared he had had the attention of his audience as he worked his way through the Deity. So long as he did not force the issue of Jesus into their lives, he was able to speak. Even as he personally confessed to believe Jesus as God, that was ok, too, because common teachings at the UA was that all roads lead to some form of higher consciousness. However way you choose to get there.. is up to you. (I know I am border-lining on conjecture, but this is fairly safe to say given the fact that the scriptures tell us who his audience was.)

I can hear all of these smarty’s concluding that God is whoever or whatever you interpret Him to be, and all agreeing, that His incarnation manifest itself in many different forms, and likenesses.(let’s not forget about the Gnostics)

They may even have argued that there are no such things as absolutes, because if there were, and we could understand them, then we’d have absoluteness, and by pagan reasoning, there is no such thing. All humans are finite, and death comes to all, plus, the thought of God and ambiguity go together, and that alone is the reason for the multiplicity of religions. Sound familiar?

When Paul said that God was near to all of us, and that all people are His offspring, they accepted that because it fit into their structure of thought. But when Paul spoke on the resurrection- they mocked at him.

Like one woman said to me once (as I spoke on the resurrection), “that’s where I get off”

The resurrection forces a decision.

Jesus’ earthy professions said little to the culture He was reaching out towards, His miracles helped, but His resurrection sealed the deal. As Paul stated to the Corinthians church later on;
If Jesus had failed to rise again, we Christians would be the most pitiable of all men. 1 Corinthians 15:12-20

But indeed He has risen- He has risen, indeed!

Now that is Supremacy and Deity working together.

It was not at all a loss, however, because the Word was spoken which brought about accountability to those who heard it, and God called His chosen to spring forth to new life in Dion & Damaris, as well as others.

Now on to Corinth. . .