Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent.The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked. But now he commands that all people everywhere should repent,And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked; but now he commandeth men that they should all everywhere repent:
4 sermons cite this verse
I'm going to begin reading with verse 22 of Acts 17. Then Paul stood in the midst of Arpegeus and said, Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious. But religion is not Jesus. Religion is not, that's not what he's about. you're very religious, for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, that's in reference to the idols in Athens, Greece, I even found an altar with the inscription to the unknown God. Therefore, the one whom you worship without knowing, You worship him without knowing. That's a way of saying ignorantly. Him I proclaim to you. God who made the world and everything in it, since he is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. nor is he worshiped with men's hands as though he needed anything. Please understand you're not doing God a favor raising your hands and even being in church this morning. He doesn't need anything from you. He, we need him. He doesn't need us. …
… treated them so much better than they deserved because of the promise of the mediator to come. Acts 17.30, Paul says that God overlooked the times of ignorance for a long time with the Gentiles. He bore with them in great patience. And to consider in the Bible, with the judgments upon His people, every significant act of judgment was foretold by the prophets or by the Messiah Himself. of the flood as they had opportunity for year after year after decade to watch Noah pound out the ark as a warning of the flood of judgment that was to come. God warned His people with the famine in Egypt, with the earthquake in Amos' day, with captivity into Babylon, with the removal of the ten tribes in the north, with the destruction of temple. He gave warnings that He might spare His wrath. He delayed His wrath even when there were no signs of softening. It's one thing if you said, look at that, those people, they're really close to getting it, but they were not close to getting it, and yet He delayed. We're told He waited until the cry of the sins of Sodom grew strong before He destroyed the city. Such a wicked city, and He waited. And even then, remember as he talks with Abraham, he was willing to delay his judgment further if he could find but the small remnant of godly persons in the city. We're told in Genesis 15, he waited 400 years for the sins of the Amorites to accumulate. That means the Canaanites …
… If that was true then, how much more is it true today? Acts 17 verse 30. truly these times of ignorance God has overlooked but now commands all men everywhere to repent number two you must believe that Jesus is God died on the cross and rose from the dead John 20 verse 31 says these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ the son of God and that believing you may have life in his name the first Corinthians 15 verses 3 and 4 says I delivered to you first of all that which I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures and that he was buried and then he rose again the third day according to the scriptures and three confess with your mouth what you believe this is where it all comes together you know just praying the prayer just going through the motion of praying the prayer just I raised my hand and I'm trusting in my hand being raised or I trust in getting dipped in the pacific ocean it doesn't cut it because unless you did this none of that is true or real you have to do this you have to confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and you have to believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, and you will be saved. …
… Now look over at Acts chapter 17. Look at Acts chapter 17, verse 30. This is Paul speaking in Athens. He's giving an overview of the gospel. And this is the core of the gospel that he brings out. Verse 30 says, in the past, God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to what? repent. So there's a few instances where we see just repent. Faith is not mentioned specifically that word in those different passages. Now, let me show you an instance where faith or belief in Christ is the only thing mentioned, is apart from repentance. Look at Acts chapter 16, one chapter before, verse 31. this is the jailer Paul's talking to. It says, they replied, believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household. So you're saved by believing in the Lord Jesus. Now I want you to look at an instance where we see both of them mentioned. Look at Acts chapter 20, verse 21. we've seen repentance we've seen faith now let's see them both together Acts chapter 20 verse 21 says I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus they're both there one more time Acts chapter 26 go to close to the end of the book there Acts chapter 26 look at verse 20 Paul is talking about his his mission to preach the gospel. Listen to what he says. He says, to those in Damascus, …