Confronting the Pagan World

MEMORY VERSE: “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” —Romans 1:16

ACTS 17:16-19, 32; 19:23-29

PAUL was a faithful ambassador of Christ, bearing witness to Jesus and his redemptive work in the divine plan on all suitable occasions. How true is his testimony, as given in our memory verse, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ.” In Athens we find this great apostle presenting the truth concerning Jesus in the Jewish synagogues, and to “devout persons” and to all in the market place who would give ear to his message.

Because of his activity certain Grecian philosophers invited Paul to address them on Mars’ hill. It seemed to them that he was a “setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.” The doctrine of the resurrection has always seemed strange to non-Christians, for the religion of the Bible is the only one in the world that holds out a hope for a resurrection of the dead.

One reason for this is that all heathen religions deny the reality of death. If there is no death there cannot be a resurrection of the dead. This “no death” theory has even permeated most branches of the professed Christian religion, so that while the word “resurrection” appears in the creeds, its real meaning has been lost sight of. The theory is that the “spirit” goes to heaven, hell, or purgatory at death, and that some time in the distant future the body will be resurrected and reunited with the spirit. But this is contrary to the teachings of the Bible.

Paul preached an eloquent sermon on Mars’ hill, closing with a general statement concerning the resurrection of Jesus, and a future day of probation for the world of mankind, a day in which they would be enlightened and learn to know the “unknown god” to which the Athenians had erected a monument.

Concerning the darkness of the past, Paul said, “The times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent: because he hath appointed a day [of enlightenment], in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man 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

The Athenian philosophers did not like this, and we read, “When they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.” (vs. 32) Such has been the attitude of the unbelieving world throughout the centuries. Occasionally there is a “hearing ear” for the Gospel of the resurrection, but for the most part the people do not have sufficient faith to believe that such a thing is possible. Actually, however, it is the hope of the resurrection that gives vitality to the blessed message of hope set forth in the Word of God.

ACTS 19:23-29

A great fundamental of the Gospel is the fact of one true and living God in contrast with the many false gods of the heathen; gods which are not alive, but formed by human hands of wood and metal, etc. These idols, it is true, are purported merely to represent deities such as the sun and moon, as well as others, like Diana, of the Ephesians. But these are not gods, either, except in the minds of their deluded votaries.

In Ephesus and its vicinity there were many craftsmen who obtained their living by making “gods” and other articles of worship. One named Demetrius, a silversmith, agitated against Paul because he was preaching “that they be no gods, which are made with hands.” It seemed to this pagan silversmith that Paul’s preaching was threatening his business and the business of the other craftsmen, so they wanted to drive them out of the territory.

The fears of Demetrius were unfounded. The true Gospel of Christ has not, as a rule, swayed the crowds. Its purpose thus far has been to reach a select few whom the Lord calls. While at first quite a number of Ephesians were probably moved by the message, certainly the whole country was not being converted, as feared by Demetrius.

The Gospel is not designed to convert the masses in this age. The work of enlightening and blessing the world will be accomplished during the next age, the messianic age.

QUESTIONS

What is one of the central themes of the Gospel of Christ?

Is the Gospel designed to convert the world during the present age?

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