The Lord of Heaven and Earth; Acts 17:16-32

Sermons

Bro. Tim Baker
First Baptist Church Festus/Crystal City, MO
Acts 17:16-32

Download: May 18, 2008 AM Audio, mp3

1. Viewpoints of Society – Paul engages both religion and public beliefs 17.17

   1. 1. There are many ways

         1. Religion – Many ways

         2. Philosophy

            1. Stoics – They were Pantheists who believed the ultimate divine principle was to be found in all nature, including human beings. The spark of divinity, which they referred to as the logos, was the cohesive rational principle that bound the entire cosmic order together. Humans thus realized their fullest potential when they lived by reason so they could discover the ultimate truth for themselves.

            2. Epicureans – They were materialists, believing that everything came from atoms or particles of matter. There was no life beyond this; all that was human returned to matter at death. They did not believe in providence of any sort.

      2. Society is searching for something that will fill their need for knowledge and understanding.

         1. Therefore, evolution has become naturalism’s way of replacing intelligent design in our world today.

Naturalism is the view that every law and every force operating in the universe is natural rather than moral, spiritual or supernatural. Naturalism is inherently anti-theistic, rejecting the very concept of a personal God.

The Battle for the Beginning. John MacArthur. Pg.11

1. 1. 1. 1. Evolution is a theory that was introduced, which we have attempted to justify by fabricating evidence and or more theories. It takes more faith to believe in evolution than it does intelligent design.

      2. Society has turned away from Intelligent Design as a whole

         1. Because of our desire to not be accountable to an authority over us.

         2. “It boils down to the sheer love of sin. People want to become comfortable in their sin, and there is no way of doing that without eliminating God” - John MacArthur

1. Would Someone Please Tell Me the Truth? 17.23-24

   1. 1. We have to start at the beginning to understand the truth.

         1. We cannot think that Science supersedes Scripture in any way; specifically, the origin of our earth and everything within the earth.

         2. We must rely upon the authenticity of the Scriptures to give us our foundation in which to believe.

         3. Remember that science has never contradicted Scripture.

      2. What is Paul saying?

         1. He cannot be contained in anything that we make. 17.24b

         2. God is not dependent upon us to give Him power or validity. 17.25

         3. He set the boundaries of man. 17.26

1. He is the Lord of Heaven and Earth! 17.24;26-27

1. God reigns over humanity.

   1. 1. 1. We are accountable to Him because He is our Creator. 17.27

         2. We will be judged by Him. 17.31

2. There is a human responsibility to God.

   1. 1. 1. Acknowledge Him and what He has provided for our redemption.

         2. Repent from your sin from your knowledge and understanding of who He is. 17.30

Acts 17:24

(1) That he speaks here of God as the Creator of the world, thus opposing indirectly their opinions that there were many gods.

(2) He speaks of him as the Creator of the world, and thus opposes the opinion that matter was eternal; that all things were controlled by Fate; and that God could be confined to temples. The Epicureans held that matter was eternal, and that the world was formed by a fortuitous concourse of atoms. To this opinion Paul opposed the doctrine that all things were made by one God. Compare Acts 14:15.

(from Barnes’ Notes, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1997 by Biblesoft)

Tags: Acts, audio, Baker, Video, Word of God Speak

Posted by Valerie on May 18, 2008