“Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoics, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection” (Acts 17:18-19). 

Here is an example in the book of Acts where the truth was set forth among people who had an entirely different world view.  They are interested in hearing his words yet are still holding on to their own.  Paul did not back away from controversial matters.  Consider three things that he set forth of the proper world view from a Biblical perspective.

1.  One God.  Athens, Greece of the first century was filled with images to many gods (cf. Acts 17:16).  Paul’s initial beginning point of the discourse is the God whom they “ignorantly worship” (Acts 17:23).  He starts with God the Creator and Sustainer (cf. Acts 17:24-28).  He ultimately moves to God the Caller to repentance and ultimate Judge of the world (cf. Acts 17:29-31).  Not one time does the Holy Spirit through Paul refer to God as being like their world view.  When Paul wrote to the Ephesians where the temple of Diana stood, he wrote, “One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Eph. 4:6).  How would the advocates of the philosophies of atheism and agnosticism hear Paul’s words?  How would the religious world of Buddhism, Hinduism, and the like hear Paul’s words?  Faith that pleases God “must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Heb. 11:6).

2.  One Gospel.  Luke recorded that Paul “preached unto them Jesus” (Acts 17:18).  Philip preached the same to the eunuch (cf. Acts 8:35) and led him to obey the gospel of Christ (cf. Acts 8:36-39).  Paul wrote of the gospel to the Galatians, saying, “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed” (Gal. 1:8-9).  Paul would not preach in Athens anything different from what he preached anywhere else.  He wrote to the Roman brethren, “So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For 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” (Rom. 1:15-16).  Paul stressed to Philippi that they should “with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel (Phil. 1:27).

3.  One Goal.  When Paul preached “Jesus, and the resurrection” (Acts 17:18), he closed his discourse with the words “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 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 resurrection of Jesus points to another day in which mankind will be judged.  This points to life and accountability after death.  Paul stated of his goal in life, “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead” (Phil. 3:10-11).  Eternal life is the world view of the Bible.   

Jimmy Clark

“And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the Lord with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the Lord, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines” (1 Sam. 7:3). 

Samuel is exhorting the defeated nation who “lamented after the Lord” (1 Kings 7:2) to do several things if they would be right with God.  Preparation is a vital quality of success as the Bible teaches.  Men sometimes pray before the preaching that God would give him a “ready recollection of the things he has prepared to say.”  What if the song leader is not prepared in the leading of the singing?  What if no one made preparation for the taking of the Lord’s Supper?  Expectations are high when it comes to those who lead, but what about the preparing of the hearts of the worshippers to worship and live out their devotion to the Lord every day?  Consider some thoughts about this great exhortation of Samuel and other passages that stress preparing the heart.

1.  Focus in Preparing.  Samuel made two great points about returning to the Lord “with all your hearts” (1 Sam. 7:3).  First, there is the essentiality of putting away any and all forms of religion that are the opposite of the will of God.  The very first commandment of the commandments written on tables of stone was “I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Ex. 20:2-3).  The Lord God explicitly forbade bowing down and serving any image or form of a god, saying, “for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;” (Ex. 20:5).  Thus, one does not love God who would turn his heart to something outside of God.  Second, the nation was to prepare their hearts unto the Lord and “serve him only” (1 Sam. 7:3).  God is exclusively to be worshipped and served.  Jesus said this as much to Satan (cf. Matt. 4:10) when citing the statement in Deuteronomy 6:13.  Hence, a single-minded heart is required to approach God.

2.  Failure of Not Preparing.  There are examples of dire consequences when people did not prepare their hearts.  It is said of Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, “And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord” (2 Chron. 12:14).  It is said of the people in Jehoshaphat’s day, “Howbeit the high places were not taken away: for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers” (2 Chron. 20:33).  Whenever leadership and followers do not focus on the Lord, problems arise.

3.  Fruits of Preparing.  There are several examples of great leaders who helped their people by being spiritually-minded.  It is stated of Jehoshaphat, “Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek God” (2 Chron. 19:3).  It is stated of Jotham, “So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the Lord his God” (2 Chron. 27:6).  The nation of Judah was greatly blessed by the influence of Ezra.  It is stated of him, “For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments” (Ezra 7:10).  Just as bad things happen when preparation is lacking, good things come in preparation.   

Jimmy Clark

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness” (Rom. 1:18). 

Another translation states of this passage, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth” (Rom. 1:18, ESV).  The original Greek word translated “hold” or “suppress” means “to restrain, hinder (the course or progress of)” (Thayer, p. 339).  Here is an explicit statement to the effect that it is possible to hinder truth from making progress in the lives of people because of unrighteous attitudes and activities.  Consider three such things that hold back or hinder progress.

1.  Presuppositions.  There are several passages that show the danger of supposing something to be the case when it is not.  Luke wrote, “Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day” (Acts 2:13-15).  Again, “And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled” (Acts 16:27).  “Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place. (For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)” (Acts 21:28-29).  Thinking something to be true without investigating the facts is a hindering and misleading thing.

2.  Prejudice.  Men can and do hold certain things to be true in their minds regardless of what the evidence shows.  This problem of prejudice or prejudging is similar to the suppositions of the first point yet more dangerous.  Prejudice blinds the mind into believing that the facts are already established and that one’s viewpoint is reality.  Jesus faced such with the scribes and Pharisees, where he stated, “If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth” (John 9:41).  Nathanael said, “Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see” (John 1:46).  When Nathanael came to investigate, Jesus said of him, “Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!” (John 1:47).  There was no prejudice with Nathanael in investigating though Nazareth likely had a bad reputation.  Solomon wrote, “He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him” (Prov. 18:13).

3.  Pride.  The attitude that hinders the most is self-confident, self-centered pride.  Isaiah wrote, “Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine!” (Isa. 28:1).  Before the fall of Sodom there was pride (cf. Eze. 16:49).  Pride brought painful results to the Edomites (cf. Obadiah 3).  Pride often is the root to prejudice and presuppositions.  Some will not obey the gospel because of it.  Some will not be restored due to it.  Some will not forgive because of it.  Pride truly destroys (Prov. 16:18).

Jimmy Clark

“And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding” (Job 28:28). 

If there was ever a man who looked for answers to the hard questions of life it was Job.  The first two chapters of the book of Job show that this “perfect and upright” man (Job 1:1, 8; 2:3) was tested by Satan in major ways.  The Lord knew the character of Job and “will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Cor. 10:13).  Knowing such a verse and knowing the answer to a specific trial are two different things.  Job did not understand, yet he did know the importance of searching.  Consider three lessons on searching for answers.

1.  Answers are Not in Materialism.  The world clamors for material gain trusting that such a lifestyle equals success.  Paul warned Timothy about such a philosophy.  “Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Tim. 6:5-6).  Jesus himself was no man of great means yet there is none who could give answers like him (cf. Luke 2:47; John 7:46).  He gave a stern warning about materialism, where he said, “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15).  Job had riches at one time in his life, but his life was foremost about God (Job 1:1, 8, 21-22; 2:3, 10).  Serving God is not about fearing God “for nought” (Job 1:9).  It is said of Moses “Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward” (Heb. 11:25-26).  Money, mansions, mutual funds, etc. are had by people only to be left behind (cf. 1 Tim. 6:7) and ultimately burned up (cf. 2 Peter 3:10-12).

2.  Answers are Not in Men.  Job’s three friends were truly “miserable comforters” (Job 16:1).  The general points that they all made were countered with Job saying, “What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you” (Job 13:2).  If answers are found in experience, history and sound reasoning alone, the answers would have been present.  Job knew that man is helpless to find the answers to the deepest of questions apart from the word from God.  Jeremiah admitted, “O Lord, I know that the way of man in not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps” (Jer. 10:23).  Solomon wrote, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Prov. 14:12).

3.  Answers are Necessitated in the Master.  The book of Job clearly points out that the Maker and Master of the universe is the source of all truth and wisdom.  It is in Job 28:28 that the summary of that chapter on searching states from the mouth of God, “Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding” (Job 28:28).  Such a knowledge as seen by Job at the end of the book (cf. Job 40:4-5; 42:2-6) shows that the Sovereign One of all takes care and does right.  One need only heed the Master’s word and will and be blessed whether life be easy or difficult.  Faith leans on the strength from God and rejoices in it (cf. Neh. 8:10).  Therefore, the Bible is one of the greatest treasures given by the Master. 

Jimmy Clark

“If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself” (John 7:17). 

Jesus said these words in the context of certain ones who sought to kill him (cf. John 7:1, 19).  The Jewish leadership considered Jesus a threat.  This hindered them from understanding the source and content of the teaching that Jesus gave.  Those who believed that Jesus is the Christ (cf. John 6:68-69) had the “want to” to listen and learn.  Therefore, having the “want to” has everything to do with understanding the doctrine of the Lord.  Consider three thoughts about this mentality.

1.  Wanting to Discern Between Truth and Error.  Solomon wrote, “Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish” (Prov. 12:1).  Again, “A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth” (Prov. 14:6).  Much of knowing and understanding is in the “want to.”  If one wants to know the truth, then the simplicity of the word of God will make him “wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 3:15).  If one does not want the truth but only that which suits his own desires, then the word of God is “no good concerning me, but evil” (1 Kings 22:18).  The kind of heart one has is a major factor in the obtaining of wisdom and knowledge.

2.  Wanting to Defeat the Devil in One’s Life.  Once a person has the desire to know the truth, then he can do battle with his real enemy, the devil.  It is the putting on of the whole armor of God that “ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Eph. 6:11) that bring success against Satan.  When a child of God fails and gives into sin, God says to his children, “Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works” (Rev. 2:5).  The Father does not want his children to have a defeatist attitude.  James wrote, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you” (James 4:7-8).  When a person wants to overcome, victory is attainable.  When one is not really willing to try that hard to overcome, then discouragement and struggle persist.  One must always remember that when it comes to the real problems of life “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Eph. 6:12).

3.  Wanting to Do What Pleases God.  Jesus stated of the mentality of his mind toward the will of God, “My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work” (John 4:34).  When an athlete really wants to please the coach, what kind of eyes and ears are present?  When an employee is truly desiring to please the employer, what level of work will be given?  Knowing that God loves (cf. 1 John 4:10) and desires the best for each and every one (cf. 1 Tim. 2:4) should motivate all to want to please the One from which comes “Every good gift and every perfect gift” (James 1:17).  David wrote of himself, “I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word” (Ps. 119:16).  Again, “Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart” (Ps. 119:34).  Such a “want to” clearly shows why David is described by God as “a man after mine own heart” (Acts 13:22).  May all have the “want to” in every spiritual thing and find the reward therein.    

Jimmy Clark