When Paul arrived at Athens, he was moved by the pervasive idolatry in the city (Acts 17:16). He began to dispute with philosophers and idolaters that filled Athens and was even brought by them to the Areopagus in order to hear this “new doctrine” he was teaching (Acts 17:18-19). Now how was Paul going to present the gospel to these Athenians? Would he quote the Old Testament and appeal to Jesus’ fulfillment of the prophecies as he did in Antioch of Pisidia in Acts 13:16-41? No. These Athenians had little if any knowledge of the Old Testament, and did not have the proper concept of the true God. Thus we find Paul establishing some more basic truths in his sermon in Acts 17.
 

Paul first combated the prevailing belief of pantheism among his audience. Pantheism is the belief that the world is deity. Paul shows how God is the creator of the world and all things therein, but is also distinct from the world (Acts 17:24). Next, Paul countered the assumption that deity is limited to a certain locale and has human-like needs. God does not dwell in temples made with hands (Acts 17:24). As Solomon recognized when the temple was built, nothing in this world can contain God because He is everywhere (1 Kings 8:27). God also does not need anything from mankind to continue to prosper, but instead is the sustainer of all things (Acts 17:25). God is self-existent and can live independently of all other beings; we, on the other hand, are completely dependent on Him.
 
After establishing some truths about God, Paul teaches the Athenians some truths about man. Contrary to the beliefs of many throughout history, the different ethnic groups that exist in the world do not have varying values. They did not come into being from different sources, but are all of one blood (Acts 17:26). Thus, the message of salvation is for all nations who inhabit the earth.
 
As a balance to the truth that God is distinct from the world, Paul goes on to point out that God desires men to seek Him. Contrary to many of the philosophers in Athens who believed in an impersonal God, Paul taught the truth that God, while being transcendent of the world, also desired personal involvement with His creatures. Thus, he declared the reason for our lives on this earth is that we should seek the Lord, who is distinct from the world, but not so distant that He cannot be reached (Acts 17:27). Paul even used the words of Cleanthes, a Stoic, who acknowledged that man is the offspring of God, to hammer home the acknowledged truth of God’s operating within the universe (Acts 17:28).
 
In conclusion, Paul shows that the above truths make idolatry wrong (Acts 17:29). Thus, he pleads with the Athenians to give up these practices, which are offensive to the true God, and turn to Him (Acts 17:30). It is only at the end of establishing these truths that Paul mentions the resurrection of Christ, which is fundamental to the gospel message (Acts 17:31).
 
In twenty-first century America, we cannot assume that those outside of Christ have biblical notions of God. Like the Athenians, many Americans may have never heard the most basic concepts of Christianity, and to them these truths may be considered “new doctrine” (Acts 17:19). As laborers for the harvest (Luke 10:2), we should be prepared to meet people where they are like Paul did with the Athenians. Are you ready to talk to people about moral absolutes, the exclusivity of truth, the nature of God, the concept of holiness, the definition of sin, the certainty of an afterlife, and many other issues that we often assume people understand? Let’s make sure people understand these concepts when we evangelize.
 
–Mark Day

Ephesians 1:3 declares that all spiritual blessings are found in Christ. To be in the proper location in regard to Christ is of supreme importance. What the religious world needs to continue to hear from us is the truth of how to get into Christ. There are many people that may engage in religious activities, but have never been baptized into Christ (Romans 6:3-4; Galatians 3:26-27). Because they are not in Christ, they are not in His body of saved people, the church (Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18). They are outside of all the spiritual blessings that are found in the location of Christ; therefore, if they do not change their location, they will be lost, even if they have done many religiously oriented activities (Matthew 7:21-23).

Tantamount to the importance of location in regard to Christ is one’s character in regard to Christ. Unfortunately, we have all met people who have been baptized into Christ, in the proper location, but who have not developed the proper Christ-like disposition. Jesus said, “Abide in me, and I in you” (John 15:4). This gives both location – “Abide in me,” and disposition – “I in you.” Perhaps we have a problem with our concept of the church in that we only think of it in terms of location. We tend to think of it only in terms of a static realm in which we are placed. Though it is true that when we are baptized into Christ, we are translated into the realm of the kingdom of light, the church (Colossians 1:13), we should get more out of the concept of “in Christ” than merely location. The church as the body of Christ embodies His love (Ephesians 4:15-16). That requires more than the right location; it requires the right motivation.

 
To be in Christ means to live in Him day by day. We must be partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). We must have the mind of Christ in us, exhibiting humility and service as He did (Philippians 2:5-8). We ought to trust fully in the operation of God when we are baptized that God fully puts off the sins of our flesh (Colossians 2:11-12). But we cannot have the concept that our duty is done at this point. If we are to please God, we cannot live today on the spiritual capital of yesterday. As Paul did, we must “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). We are in Christ, but we must endeavor to make sure we put Christ in us by putting His word into practice in our lives and letting it mold our hearts (Colossians 3:16).

–Mark Day