Acts 17:29–31 (NKJV): Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising. 30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”
Here is the heart of the Gospel as well as the offense of the Gospel. Everyone likes Jesus meek and mild, they want to respect His gentle teachings; they want (others) to obey "love your neighbor" and they think that they would get along just fine with the Jesus they imagine. They want to remember the baby in the manger and the story of the shepherds who came to look in awe at the baby announced by angels… we all love the magi, (presents!) and we all think that Jesus loves us and is fine with us living out our lives according to our own desires… But as soon as someone mentions judgement, righteousness and (worst of all!!) God actually COMMANDING us to repent - at that point people start calling "foul!". They want to scream that no one has a right to speak for God, and that no one has the right to judge them, and how dare we impose our uptight religion on them?!?! But here is the truth; we don’t make this up, God has spoken it, and whether you believe it or not, whether you want to admit it or not; there awaits for YOU a day of judgement by the righteousness of the God-Man Jesus; a day when you will not be the one demanding, but the one of whom the demands are being made. And the whole of the conversation will revolve around this question. "are you guilty of violating the revealed LAW of God?" And in case you wonder, the answer is YES! The only hope to escape the punishment for that guilt is for someone else to pay the debt… and no one would ever do that, except for the fact that Jesus, the God-Man of the Bible, did. For every single person who cast themselves upon the mercy of Jesus HERE, the conversation THERE will not end in your doom, but in an open armed welcome into the presence of God. Precious child, the days of God overlooking our rebellion have ended, now is the time to repent and cry for mercy. you will find it offered today, but when you stand before Him on THAT day, mercy is no longer offered to those who hated Him. There remains only a fearful expectation of judgement… run to Him today while you may. It truly is your ONLY hope!
Acts 17:26-28 26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, 27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
Acts 17:26-27 26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, 27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
Acts 17:24–26 (NKJV): God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. 25 Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
Acts 17:24–26 (NKJV): God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. 25 Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
Psalm 7:9–13 (NKJV): Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, But establish the just;For the righteous God tests the hearts and minds.10 My defense is of God,Who saves the upright in heart.11 God is a just judge,And God is angry...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
Fear, Faith and Resting in God Psalm 11:1–4 (NKJV): In the Lord I put my trust; How can you say to my soul, “Flee as a bird to your mountain”? 2 For look! The wicked bend their bow, They make ready their arrow on the string, That...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
Acts 17:16 (NKJV): 16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols. All too often we hear the "calming" drone of the scared, the pretenders, the politically correct,...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
Acts 17:11–12 (NKJV): These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed,...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
Acts 16:14 (NKJV): Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. Pay careful attention to the dispensation of God's...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
