MOST of our readers will have heard of the celebrated city of Athens. It still exists, though comparatively a place of but trifling importance, but once it was the chief center of power and opulence in the earth. At the period of which we are about to speak, the Greek empire, of which it was the capital, had succumbed before the power of the Roman. But it was still a remarkable city, renowned as a great seat of learning, philosophy, science, and art. But with all its boasted enlightenment and renown, the pen of inspiration tells us that it was wholly given to idolatry (or, full of idols).
Whatever the favorable circumstances and progress of man, as long as he remains in the unconverted state, he is without Christ,... having no hope, and without God in the world (Eph. 2:1212That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: (Ephesians 2:12)). And blinded by the god of this world, his heart becomes enslaved to idols, even though found amongst the ranks of learned Athenians. Men of all sorts had gravitated to this great center, and we find the representatives of demon worship in the idolatrous mass, Jews cleaving to the traditions of their forefathers, devout religionists worshipping they knew not what, commercial men whose object was gold, rationalistic philosophers of different schools of thought, and newsmongers gloating over the latest follies of the day. And Satan reigned supreme over all (John 14:3030Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. (John 14:30); Rev. 12:99And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. (Revelation 12:9)).
But the eye of God was fixed upon this blinded people, and His heart of love was about to send a message to them for their good. The learned Saul of Tarsus, brought up at the feet of Gamaliel, now Paul the apostle, His devoted servant, is the chosen herald. Waiting at Athens for his fellow-laborers, in the course of his journeyings, his spirit was stirred within him, when he saw the city full of idols. True to the ways of God, and fearless of man, he first confronts his kinsmen after the flesh in their own citadel, the synagogue, and then the devout persons, all sorts and conditions of men, in the market daily, Epicureans, Stoics, &c. Tradition, religion, idolatry, rationalism are all alike brought face to face with the truth of God. The Lord’s servant has but one theme for all, “Jesus and the resurrection.” The rejected and crucified Jesus of Nazareth was the true Christ, the Son of God. And God had raised Him from the dead as the Saviour of sinners, both Jews and Gentiles alike. Jews, religionists, idolaters, business men, philosophers, newsmongers, all needed Jesus. And the resurrection was God’s testimony to the value of His sacrifice once for all. If Christ be not raised, ye are yet in your sins. But He “was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification. Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 4:2525Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:25), vs. 1).
The learned philosophers are the first to challenge the new-comer. The doctrine of a risen Saviour was quite outside the misty philosophy, and the reasoning minds of both Epicureans, and Stoics, alike. Their eminence and renown will soon go to the winds, if the people are to believe such stuff and nonsense as Paul preached. However they will give him a hearing, that they may all the more easily confound him publicly, and expose him to the ridicule of the mass. So boldly advancing to the encounter, some said, “What will this babbler say? Other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods, because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection. And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus,” &c. (Acts 17:18,1918Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, 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. 19And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is? (Acts 17:18‑19)).
Some looked upon him as a mere chatterer, babbling forth his own inventions to exalt himself, and perhaps put a little cash into his own pocket on the quiet. Others, such was their ignorance, with all their philosophy, seem actually to have thought that “Jesus” was one god, and “the resurrection” another. In this land of open Bibles it seems almost incredible, but so it was. “The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Cor. 2:1414But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14)). Accustomed all their days to found their doctrines of this life on a system which was the concoction of their own brains, how could they understand the blessed truth of Jesus, the Son of God, risen triumphant over all the power of Satan, death, and hell, a Saviour for the guilty and the lost, His precious blood and risen life a sure passport for the life to come? Ah! dear reader, the dark grave is the end of all human philosophy, ―the portal, God tells us, to judgment and everlasting woe. “Jesus and the resurrection,” the blessed theme of the so-called babbler at Athens, is the only key to true wisdom, and a philosophy that opens the way to everlasting glory.
Well, the philosophers take the preacher, and bring him to Areopagus (or Mars Hill), saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest is? New doctrine indeed! “Jesus” a new doctrine What!! could Athenian philosophy boast a longer existence than the doctrine of Christ? Was it older than the precious promise, the seed of the woman shall bruise the head of the serpent, &c. (Gen. 3:1515And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. (Genesis 3:15)). And “to him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins” (Acts 10:4343To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (Acts 10:43)). Where was Athenian philosophy then? But what knew they of Scripture promises, and what did they want to know, even now that their blest fulfillment in the Person of God’s Son is brought before them? Ah! dear reader, as the sequel will show, the mass of them had no heart for Christ, though, through infinite mercy and grace, a few were won to His blessed name.
“Thou bringest certain strange things to our ears; we would know, therefore, what these things mean?” they continued. “For all the Athenians and strangers which were there, spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.”
The latest news appears to have been the thing of greatest importance in those days at Athens. How about the nineteenth century? Newspapers had not yet come into vogue. But Mars Hill was the convenient spot where both natives and foreigners could discuss at their leisure the latest topics. Paul with his “strange things” was the lion for the moment. A glance would tell the clever leaders than he was no ignoramus. The strange things that crossed his lips had reached their ears, as they said (would that they had sunk into all their hearts!), and they would like to know the meaning of them. Curiosity often brings the preacher a congregation, even though the hearts are closed to the precious gospel of God’s grace. But God could break Athenian hearts (and yours too, dear reader; may He do so). As they spent their time in nothing else, they had plenty of leisure to listen to a new thing at Paul’s lips. Their itching ears were ready at once to hear the babbler! But alas! how few cared for the truth he announced, by which alone, when all their time was spent here, they could reach eternity in glory. Ah this was entirely outside the range of Athenian wisdom.
What a scene Mars Hill must have presented at this moment! Picture to yourself, dear reader, the vast crowd of rationalists, religionists, Judaists, idolaters, worldlings, with Paul in their midst, every eye fixed upon him, and every ear eager to catch his burning words; and all heaven intent upon the issue. Paul, in the confidence of faith, standing before God, boldly confronted the vast audience, and said, “Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, To THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom, therefore, ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you,” &c. &c. (vers. 22-31).
The Lord’s messenger faithfully delivers the Lord’s message. Suiting his words to his audience, he exposes the folly of idolatrous worship, and their confessed ignorance in dedicating an altar to “the unknown God.” He it was who had revealed Himself to Paul, and whom he now declared to them; God, the Creator of the universe, the omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent One, the Lord of all, Governor amongst the nations, who alone had determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of man’s habitation, &c. What utter folly, then, for men to think that the Godhead was like gold, silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device! And what a manifest confirmation of the truth of the Word of God, that the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not (2 Cor. 4:44In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (2 Corinthians 4:4)); and that “the world by wisdom knew not God” (1 Cor. 1:2121For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. (1 Corinthians 1:21)).
And how about the world of today? “Well, we are not idolaters,” some may boastfully reply. What, are there no images in Christendom? No idolatrous pictures? No worshipping of man and angels? No strange fire or false worship? Are God and Christ the only objects of worship and adoration? Alas! alas! superstition, tradition, and the commandments of men are found more or less wherever we turn, and the Word of God made of none effect. The mass have lapsed into a mixture of Judaism, heathenism, and Christianity; and worship in spirit and in truth is offered but by the few. Ah! dear reader, as the apostle said, “We ought not to think;” that is, we ought to let God think for us, for His thoughts are not as ours (Isa. 55:99For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:9)). “I hate (vain) thoughts,” says the Psalmist (Ps. 119:113). Man’s blinded mind thinks wrongly both about God and himself. Naturally we are “alienated and enemies in our mind by wicked works” (Col. 1:2121And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled (Colossians 1:21)). On all hands the Christian is met with, “I think this,” and “I think that,” and “Mr. So-and-So thinks the other.” But the point is, “What does God say? What are His thoughts? How does His Word say that He is to be worshipped and served? “Ye do err,” said the Lord to some, “not knowing the Scriptures,” &c. (Matt. 22:2929Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. (Matthew 22:29)). God has spoken. And “to this man will I look,” saith the Lord, “even to him that is poor, and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word” (Isa. 66:22For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. (Isaiah 66:2)). “The way of the ungodly shall perish” (Psa. 1:66For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. (Psalm 1:6)). His word endureth forever (1 Peter 1:2525But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. (1 Peter 1:25)).
The apostle continued, “And the times of this ignorance God winked at, but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent,” &c. &c. (Acts 17:3030And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: (Acts 17:30)). The period when God overlooked men’s ignorance had passed, and all men were now called upon to judge themselves before Him. Christ had been presented to the world. The world would not have him. The world crucified Him. And the world was under judgment (Rom. 3:1919Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. (Romans 3:19)). God now commandeth all men everywhere to repent. Dear reader, dare you disobey?
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Who is He who commands?
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God.
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When does He command?
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Now.
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Whom does He command?
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All men.
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Where does He command?
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Everywhere.
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What does He command?
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To repent.
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Why does He command?
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To escape judgment.
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What will be the consequence of disobedience to the command? Death, judgment, and the lake of fire. What will be the consequence of obedience? Life, salvation, and the glory of God. Then will you obey?
Thousands have been aroused to their responsibility to repent, and yet lack salvation, because their thoughts are all wrong about repentance itself. Sensible of their sinful condition, and unfitness for God’s holy presence, they have what the world calls, turned over a new leaf. Giving up their former habits of sin and folly, they strive to lead a good and religious life (!), thereby hoping to make amends for their past misdeeds; and Christ having died, in some vague and indistinct way, they trust they will reach heaven at last. But is this repentance? Nay, but the manifest evidence of the deeply rooted self-righteousness of the poor deceived heart of man. It is simply reformation. Now God commandeth to repent, not to reform. Reformation is all very well for this world, but repentance towards God and repentance unto life are quite another thing. Reformation, if trusted in, is self-justification; repentance is self-judgment. Now the self-justified are judged by God, whereas the self-judged are justified by faith in His Son. How vast the difference!
The self-judged sinner is met by the abounding grace of God. And there, dear reader, if you will but take that place, God will meet you. A sinner, guilty and lost, you are, and hence of the class whom Jesus came to seek and to save (Luke 19:1010For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10)). “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Tim. 1:1515This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15)). And “to him give all the prophets witness, that through his name, whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins” (Acts 10:4343To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (Acts 10:43)). Jesus, the appointed Judge, is the Saviour now. And the same resurrection that is the sure witness of the judgment of God upon all the impenitent, at the hand of the risen One, is for the justification now of every one that believeth (Rom. 4:2525Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:25)). Works worthy of repentance will follow as the fruit of faith in Him who died and rose.
Now when the Athenians heard of the resurrection of the dead, we read, “Some mocked; and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. So Paul departed from among them. Howbeit certain men clave unto him and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them” (Acts 17:32-3432And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. 33So Paul departed from among them. 34Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them. (Acts 17:32‑34)).
The testimony of the apostle was received in three ways. Some mocked, others procrastinated, and others believed. It is the same today, even in this so-called Christian land. The class of mockers is on the increase. Many are scoffing at sacred things. Scarcely a truth of Christianity but what is rejected in some quarter; oftentimes even revelation itself. Striking confirmation of the Word of God, which warns that “there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,” &c. (2 Peter 3:33Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, (2 Peter 3:3)). Well, men may scoff and mock; but “be not deceived, God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Gal. 6:77Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (Galatians 6:7)). Ah! there will be no mocking in hell, though all scoffers, mockers, skeptics, and infidels will most surely be there. God grant, dear reader, that you may not be found amongst them.
Others too say today, “We will hear thee again of this matter.” Like Felix they put it off to a more convenient season (Acts 24:2525And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. (Acts 24:25)). But, alas! how often the convenient season never comes. Thousands delay the momentous question of their soul’s salvation, whilst acknowledging the importance of it. They recognize that there is a great deal of force in what the preacher of Jesus and the resurrection says. It is a matter they would like to hear about again and again, but still they go on undecided. Undecided, and every day, yea, every moment bringing them nearer and nearer to death, and judgment, and the lake of fire.
Procrastinator, when will you be wise? This night your soul may be required of you, and you may never hear of this matter again. No message of love and grace can reach you in hell. Repent of your folly and unbelief you surely will then, but it will be too late to repent unto salvation. No joyful news of Jesus and the resurrection will ever be sounded forth in that awful region of woe. The same lips of Jesus, the Son of God, which proclaimed the joyful news that “he that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life,” added, “but he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:3636He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36)).
“Howbeit certain men clave to him and believed,” &c. Yes, a third class reaped the blessing. Whilst some mocked, and others delayed, certain men believed. There do not appear to have been many, but it is blessed to find that there were some. Are you one today? The name of one man, Dionysius the Areopagite, and of one woman, Damaris, are handed down to us, and there were others. Their faith is precious. There was joy in the presence of the angels of God over them (Luke 15:77I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. (Luke 15:7)). Dear reader, shall there be joy over you? Believe in Jesus, the gift of God’s wondrous love, and you are forgiven, justified, saved. God is “just and the justifier of him which believeth, in Jesus” (Rom. 3:2626To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. (Romans 3:26)). “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved,” &c. (Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)). The whole blessing is yours in believing. Not in believing about Him as an historical fact, but faith in the blessed Person and finished work of the risen One. “Jesus and the resurrection” are what you need (Acts 17:1818Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, 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)).
You cannot do a single thing to please God before you believe, for “in all your doings your sins do appear” (Ezek. 21:2424Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because ye have made your iniquity to be remembered, in that your transgressions are discovered, so that in all your doings your sins do appear; because, I say, that ye are come to remembrance, ye shall be taken with the hand. (Ezekiel 21:24)). Good works are the fruit of faith, not the ground of salvation. You must believe on Him first, and then He says, and not till then, “Follow thou me” (John 21:2222Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. (John 21:22)). E. H. C.
THE last time the world saw Christ they gave Him “a crown of thorns”―emblem of the curse―put a reed in His right hand in bitter mockery, and then pierced that hand with nails, and fastened it to the cross. The next time the world sees Christ He will be crowned with “many crowns,” out of His mouth will go a “sharp sword,” and His yet pierced hand will hold a rod of iron. That will be a sad day for the world and the worldling. Reader, will you risk meeting Him in judgment then? Had you not better meet Him now in the day of His grace? W. T. P. W.