Part 1 posed a question: how do I know who the REAL God is??? In part 2, Paul gave 4 things that we can know about the REAL God:
1. Creator
2. Sustainer
3. Ruler
4. Father.
In this final part we’ll see a 5th thing that Paul says about the REAL God, and it is this:
5. Judge // The Real God is the judge of the world (Acts 17: V30-31). In the past, God was merciful by delaying judgement of people for their ignorance about Him and their worship of fake gods (idolatry).
BUT now, God “commands all people everywhere to repent”. To repent is to turn away from sin and the worship of fake gods AND turn towards the True and Living REAL God. Check out v31: “For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.”
Who is the man that the REAL God has appointed? Jesus. Jesus is going to come and judge the world with justice. How do we know that Jesus is the one? Because the REAL God has raised him from the dead.
Here’s the deal. Jesus died on the cross 2000 years ago. Jesus didn’t deserve to die. In fact, he is the One person who hasn’t rebelled against the REAL God and therefore the One person who doesn’t deserve to die! Yet, when
Jesus died on the cross, he – the sinless one – willingly died in the place of sinners. Jesus died in the place of people who have rejected him, people who have created fake gods, people just like you and me. He took upon himself our shame, guilt and penalty for our sin.
He did this so that we can actually stand on that day of just judgement. That is, because of his death on the cross, we can be forgiven by God and restored into relationship with him.
How do we know all this stuff is legit? Is it really true? YES! We know this because Jesus was raised from the dead. This is proof that: his death worked; and that he will be the one who will come in justice.
How do I know who the REAL god is? Ultimately – it’s Jesus. We know it’s Jesus because he is ALIVE. He rose from the dead. The REAL God is the one who can’t be contained in a box, can’t be made with our hands, can’t remain buried in a tomb!
In the final few verses (V32-34), we read that some sneered when they heard about the resurrection of the dead – while others believed in Jesus. Repent – turn back to God. Or don’t. But know that God has set the day and you are approaching it, you need to be prepared.
Check out SAVIOUR-KING if you want to read more about Jesus.