Shall His Resurrection Benefit You?

© 2020 by Tom Boynton (editing by Kathy Boynton)

Rampant Athenian idolatry stirred the Apostle Paul to tell them about Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.

“… his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.” (Acts 17:16)

Many Epicurean and Stoic philosophers, there, were curious about Paul’s teaching.  They said:

“… May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?  For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.  (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)” (Acts 17:18-21)

They took him to Mars Hill, the popular gathering place for philosophers, where Paul said:

“… Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.  For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.” (Acts 17:22-23)

Paul explained that this God they didn’t know, is the one and only true God of Heaven.  He explained that Christ, having died for sinners, rose again.  He warned that now, having heard the truth, they were accountable to Christ for their response.

“And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:  Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man [Jesus Christ] whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.” (Acts 17:30-31)

It’s interesting to note that, just as today, preaching truth about Christ’s resurrection caused a division in his audience.

“And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.” (Acts 17:32)

Today, Christians preaching about Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, observe this same division.

“For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:  To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?” (2 Corinthians 2:15-16)

Such preaching pleases and vindicates God, regardless of the hearer’s response.

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