There are many views about "God" in the religious world, but can they all be true? Is Islam's "Allah" the true God? Is present day Judaism's "Jehovah," or "Yahweh," the true God? What about the "God" of the so-called "Christian" denominations? Is their "God" the true God? Let us examine Paul's sermon on Mars' Hill to know the truth about the true God (Acts 17:23-31).

The True God Is Unknown To Most People

When Paul was in Athens, he stood "in the midst of Mars' Hill," and said, "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" (Acts 17:23). Earlier, as Paul waited in Athens for his coworkers, "his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry" (Acts 17:16). Ancient historians have acknowledged that the Athenian landscape was dotted with idolatrous shrines. Standing from where Paul was, evidence of idolatry could literally be seen in every direction. The Athenians had a god for just about everything. If an altar was dedicated to the wrong god or if they accidentally left out a god, they feared the anger of that god. Thus, to give themselves an out, they erected this altar "TO THE UNKNOWN GOD." As Paul makes the application, he declares that this unknown god is the true God. The Athenians knew many "gods," but the only true God was completely unknown to them. There are people today, who are "very religious" (Acts 17:22, NKJ), but are completely unknowledgeable of the true God. Why? Because their idea of God comes from human tradition and/or man-made religion. Yes, these views of God may contain some Biblical truth, but when we mix Biblical truth with human-made doctrine, we cannot still have Biblical truth. We must, therefore, derive our full view of God from what the Bible teaches. If not, we cannot really know the true God!

The True God Created The Universe

Paul declared that "God...made the world and all things therein" (Acts 17:24a). The idea that there is a "god for this" and a "god for that" is absurd. The true God made it all (Gen. 1:1-31; Isa. 42:5). This one true God was not to be confused with any of the numerous gods the Athenians knew. The only one of their gods to whom the true God could be identified was "THE UNKNOWN GOD"! Because the true God "is Lord of heaven and earth," He "dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 25Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things" (Acts 17:24b-25). Contrary to the many shrines dotting the landscape of Athens, no temple can contain the true God, which should be an obvious conclusion based upon His superiority over all creation (cf. Col. 1:15-18). The true God is self-sufficient. Unlike the false gods of Athens who needed to be waited on with offerings and temples, the true God does not need the service of human hands. Rather, the true God is the source of life, breath, and all things we enjoy. Do we know this God?

The True God Made All People For A Purpose

There is unity of the human race through God's creation of Adam. Paul declared that God "hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth" (Acts 17:26a). The word for "blood" is not in the Greek manuscripts upon which most newer translations are based. They render it, "he made of one" (ASV). Either way, this concept would seem strange to the Athenians because they believed that each nation had its own god. However, Paul said that all nations of people come from the one true God! In making all people from one, God "hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation" (Acts 17:26b). This phrase emphasizes God's providential control of human affairs without denying human free will. Nations rise and fall according to God's will and for His purpose (cf. Job 12:23). Instead of being regulated by separate national gods, as the Athenians thought, all nations are controlled by the true God!

Why has God arranged it this way? "That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: 28For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring" (Acts 17:27-28). God wants all mankind to seek Him, not turn away from Him (cf. Rom. 1:18-32). God is not so far away that people cannot find Him. In fact, the very environment in which God placed us points us to Him (Ps. 19:1-6; Rom. 1:20). Even pagan poets reached the conclusion that Paul has preached! Because we are the "offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device" (Acts 17:29). "Godhead [Divine Nature, NKJ]" cannot be represented by anything human wisdom, skill, or craftsmanship can fashion. Therefore, all idolatry is wrong!

The True God Wants All People To Repent

Paul concluded his sermon on Mars' Hill, "And the times of this ignorance God winked at [overlooked, NKJ]; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31Because 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). Note that God did not overlook sin, but rather "the times of...ignorance." Paul made clear that God has never approved the idea of many gods, although He did not always exercise His full power against idolaters. Now, however, all people are called upon to repent because all are accountable to the true God (cf. 2 Cor. 5:10). The true God will judge the world by His Son. This is the first mention of Jesus in this sermon. Its coming at the end shows us that people cannot know the Son of God unless they first know the true God. Evidence of the truth that Jesus will be the Judge is the fact that God "hath raised him from the dead" (cf. Jn. 5:26-27).

Unintimidated by these philosophers, Paul gave an excellent sermon on the true God. This God is unknown to many; He made all things; He made all people; and He demands repentance. God is still the same. He wants the sinful to acknowledge His will and repent (cf. Acts 2:38). Judgment Day is coming, but the true God has provided salvation to the obedient (Heb. 9:27-28). Do we know the true God?