Notes from the Margin of My Bible – Our Great and Generous God

by Wayne Jackson

During his visit to Athens, Paul addressed those of the Areopagus, a body of men who served as court justices (Acts 17:22). The Greeks had made it clear that the true God was unknown to them, as some of their idols revealed.

Thus, the apostle would introduce them to the genuine God. In an obviously condensed fashion, the apostle asserts five characteristics of true Deity (vv. 24-25).

HIS LIMITLESS POWER The real God is all-powerful, having made the “world” (kosmos, signifying the entire “universe”).

No one knows for certain the size of the universe. Some astronomers estimate it to be twenty billion lightyears across (i.e., the distance light will travel at the rate of 186,000+ miles per second in twenty billion years!).

The phrase “God said” is found ten times in Genesis 1. How powerful is the one who can speak such wonderful worlds into existence?

AUTHORITY Paul declared that the true God is “Lord of heaven and earth.” “Lord” (kurios) signifies one of authority. The term is applied to God the Father, Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit (4:26; Mt. 28:18; 2 Cor. 3:17). However, in the New Testament, Christ receives a divinely appointed Lordship that persists even now (Acts 2:36). The scope of divine authority extends universally (1 Cor. 10:26).

HIS PRESENCE EVERYWHERE The God’s lordship over heaven and earth argues for his omnipresence. The term “omnipresent” relates the fact that all things are in God’s presence. He declares that no one can hide from him, for he fills both heaven and earth (Jer. 23:24).

An atheist sought to shake a young boy’s faith. He challenged: “If you can show me where God is, I’ll give you a dime.” To which the precocious lad responded: “I’ll give you a dollar if you’ll show me where he ain’t!”

INFINITELY SUFFICIENT Paul contended God does not live in temples created by men, because he does not stand in need of any human assistance. He is completely self-sufficient. His interest in humanity is strictly out of love (1 Jn. 4:8,16).

This is something the human mind, from its present vantage point, simply cannot fathom completely. The richness of his love, however, should stir us deeply toward surrender to our Lord.

GOD THE GIVER The apostle states: (a) God gives to us (in Greek, a continuous flow). (b) His Generosity is universal, offered to all who lovingly accept it. Search leaves us breathless! (c) The gift embraces life, which no man can create, breath, the process that no man could invent, and all things good – needful and wonderful. How stupid is so much of humankind in rejecting the generosity of God Almighty and refusing his gracious offerings.

Note these points.

Brother Jackson started the monthly publication, The Christian Courier in May of 1965. Currently, one of the sections in the monthly publication is “Notes from the Margin of My Bible” where this article came from, May 2019 issue. (He also wrote a book “Notes from the Margin of My Bible” which is now out of print). To subscribe to Christian Courier, send $1 or any amount to: Christian Courier, PO Box 11746, Jackson Tennessee, 38308. Articles may also be found online at: https://www.christiancourier.com.

–submitted by Jerry D. Sturgill