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Reaching out to the reaching out

 Paul’s proclamation before the Areopagus: Acts 17

24"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.

25And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.

26From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.

27God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.

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God is not far!, Jesus is the way

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Acts 17:16 

While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was

greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols.

Acts 17:22  

Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and

said: "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very

religious. (Also women > Damaris)

Acts 17:23

…now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.

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Paul “reasoned” (Men’s quest to know)

In the synagogue with Jews and God fearing GreeksIn the marketplace with:

Epicureans (indulgence, food, nihilistic)Stoics (self control, moderation, pantheistic)

Both: “ How can I be happy” , No developed concept of an afterlife

Success formula for evangelism? (given the circumstances)A few men became followers of Paul and believed.

Not a formula, but a passion.1 Corinthians 9:16  … I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do notpreach the gospel!

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Which God does Paul introduce? No “soft” approach

The “unknown” God…not a god in a row of other Hellenistic family of

gods, but the only One and True God :

The Creating and sustaining God, who determines time and

space, and who is not depending on men.

God, who has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by

the man he has appointed…

He has given proof of this to all men by raising him (Jesus) from the

dead

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Paul’s first argument: God, Creator of heaven and earth

“The book of nature” : Galileo Galilei (1564-1642)

Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternalpower and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understoodfrom what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

Galileo’s conflict with the church:(letter to the Grand Duchess of Tuscany 1615)

Church: Aristotle's worldview: The earth is the center of the universe.

Galileo: Copernicus, (1473 –1543) Heliocentric worldview: Earth movesaround the Sun. Galileo cited Cardinal Baronius (1598) "The Bible was written to showus how to go to heaven, not how the heavens go “

“It still moves”

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Why did God give us the perception of awe, wonder and beauty? To recognize Him, and bow before him.

Psalm 8: 3,4 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon andthe stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you aremindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?

Acts 17:27 God did this so that men would seek him and perhapsreach out for him (they might feel after him KJV) and find him, thoughhe is not far from each one of us.

Blind…, feeling around…In darkness we cannot see.

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God is not far … though he is not far from each one of us.

Ps 1397 Where can I go from your Spirit?

       Where can I flee from your presence?  8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;

       if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.  9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,

       if I settle on the far side of the sea,  10 even there your hand will guide me,

       your right hand will hold me fast.

Psalm 23: 4Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I willfear no evil, for you are with me…

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Science: Knowing by comparison..God is incomparable. Research from the wrong (dead) end.Science can be intimidating if you do not know its boundaries

Paul: There is no excuse! He preaches creation, resurrection and judgment. Tough message!

There are other ways to know: Different Epistemologies. “Epistemology of Love” = Knowing God through Love.Deuteronomy 6:5  Love the LORD your God with all your heart’…”

Ephesians 1:18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order thatyou may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of hisglorious inheritance in the saints,

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How do I know, what can I see?

1 Corinthians 13:12(NIV)

Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; (or through a dim

window ) then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall

know fully, even as I am fully known.

Our limited view requires Faith

Epistemology of Faith: “Sure and Certain”

Hebrews 11:1,2

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do

not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.

 

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Reaching out to those who reach out