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People Everywhere Should Repent

People Everywhere Should Repent

The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked. But now he commands that all people everywhere should repent, Acts 17:30 WEB

These words to the people of Athens concern the worship of idols in ignorance of the God who created all things. Proclaiming the gospel message of the resurrected Christ, Paul points to an altar in Athens dedicated to “The Unknown God.” He uses this as a starting point to reason with the Athenians and reveal the nature of the one true God who is eternal spirit and not an idol made by human hands.

Paul begins to explain the foolishness of worshiping idols saying in Acts 17:24-25, “God who made the world and all things in it, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, doesn’t dwell in temples made with hands. He isn’t served by men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself gives to all life and breath, and all things. WEB” Paul then teaches that as God reveals himself to man, “people everywhere should repent.”

Convicted of Sin 

In law, ignorance is no excuse. But God is more generous than man. Jesus himself says in Luke 23:34, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing. WEB” But as we live and learn, our ignorance is replaced by knowledge. Under the new covenant believers have the Holy Spirit and unbelievers have the conviction of conscience. As Jesus says of the Holy Spirit in John 16:8, “When he has come, he will convict the world about sin, about righteousness, and about judgment. WEB”

Christ denounced those who witnessed the truth of God without repenting. This is revealed in Matthew 11:20 which reads, “Then he began to denounce the cities in which most of his mighty works had been done, because they didn’t repent. WEB” As we grow in knowledge of the Lord, there should be a corresponding change in our behavior as we conform to the word and will of God. 

The Kingdom Is at Hand

That people everywhere should repent is a critical part of the teaching of Christ. We read in Matthew 4:17, “From that time, Jesus began to preach, and to say, ‘Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.’ WEB” As the word of God is revealed in our lives, we have a choice. We either repent or choose to continue in sin. 

Prayer: ‘Father God, thank you for the revelation of your holy word. Thank you for your patience and righteousness. Guide me with your Holy Spirit. Put your commandments deep in my soul and at the forefront of my mind that I may serve you at all times. In Jesus name – Amen”  

Yesterday’s Devotional: The Image of His Son

Alone

And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. Genesis 2:18 KJV Up to this point in the story of creation, Genesis reports that God saw everything he made as good or very good. This is the first instance where...

Teaching Them

teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Matthew 28:20 WEB This is the final verse of Matthew’s gospel. It is the second verse of the great commission in which the resurrected Christ...

In God’s Image

God created man in his own image. In God’s image he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27 WEB This verse records the creation of mankind in God’s image. In the previous verse, God gave his reasoning for the creation of man. We read in Genesis 1:26...