Disorderly Children
Acts 17:28-30
For 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.
Now if I had any musical abilities at all, I would sing this section for you. Some of you who have grown up hearing it in church will recognize the tune. Here, God gives us the grace for the living, the moving, and the being. While being God's child is certainly no surprise, the news might come as a shock to some of you. In effect the text is saying that God is reflected in whatever you do. You know how some parents are strict while others let their children run wild. But when you see somebody's child in the news, the first thing you say is 'I wonder how the parents feel.' For do you not by your own behavior reflect the nature and teaching of your parents. Now God is not like some of you. He is perfect, holy, and brooks no argument. So, all his ways praise his name. It is little wonder then that his own children do likewise. It seems this doctrine is completely natural; so, it is proclaimed by all creation and by their own philosophers. Thus, when Paul suffers is he not like his Savior. Now is he made into God's likeness being changed from glory to glory as in 2 Corinthians 3:18. Some of you really ought to find your comfort, as did Paul, in some rather unholy things. Now before you are shocked, listen to me very carefully here. When you are weak God is strong. When you have not, then God is more. When you lack, then God provides. The situation might not feel very glorious right now. But when God is through, your story written, and the book done you will know it as did Paul. Might I suggest that those unholy things like infirmities, reproaches, necessities, persecutions, and distresses are but doorways for his glory to enter. Hear with me now the teaching of 2 Corinthians 12:10-14 for it is a hard text indeed.
Forasmuch then as 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.
Both the offspring of God and the apostles have come with proof identifying who they are. Their acts, works, and faith all testify to their identity. So also, the prophets came not alone. God is not your magical lucky charm, goody-two shoes ticket to eternity or even a better life. Proof is in the pudding as they say, truth be told; I have little profit from my books thus far. But how many of you know the benefit of eternity that far outweighs the here and now. As such the Godhead cannot be bribed or even bought. Thus, it is not as I will but rather as he wills. For this cause Psalm 40:8 says he came "to do thy will, oh God." How many know people that are trying to reduce God to something portable, pocket-sized, and convenient for them to handle. Some have made fortunes from doing so. Now I will not call names nor even take roll. The Lord knows whose are his compared with who these others are. Hearing this really ought to be scary indeed for some of you.
For the whole earth cannot contain him much less these mortal temples that he has made. Here Paul is saying he has gloried for nothing unto the church. Lest someone think him boastful and proud, remember all that God has done. Then see how his glory follows. For such do we give him praise. Now the little church has compelled Paul to foolishness rather than commending him for his good works. Indeed, he speaks of a sad situation. He really ought to have been offered the best they had from the finest meats to the noblest seat. For in his weakness, God made him chief among the apostles. His life also exhibited all the symptoms of a divinely credentialed apostolic ministry. Such is shown from patience, by signs, through wonders, and to many mighty deeds. More so we see a life lived solely for Christ alone. Indeed, no one has witnessed more than Paul. Yet the church, like the disciples blinded to Christ's presence, seems slow to understand this. Something somewhere is very wrong. We will soon see exactly what.
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
Ah, now we are getting somewhere. Here we see that the heart of the matter is man's ignorance. But now it has blossomed into full blown rebellion. Much like the angels that sinned and lost their original position, these also are standing in the place of eternal peril. How many of you know just how dangerous it is to play games with God. He most certainly can forgive their lack of knowledge and their deliberate ignorance of what God had said. Yet whether he will, is another matter entirely. Here Paul has been teaching some strong doctrine. As I said before, he ought to have been given the best. Yet now is he called a fool by some for Christ's sake. The Corinthian church has not lacked. By no stretch of the imagination could they be considered inferior to any other. Nor has Paul made himself overly troublesome unto them. If it be so, he begs their forgiveness. Should he come to them again, he will pester the little church no more. For so he seeks only the church's good rather than his own gain. Here they are being spoken to as children which know no better. As such the duty falls to another to care for them. Paul says he lays up treasure as would a parent for the charges in his care. Yet at the end will all things be revealed, even the wonders God has saved for them that love him. We might be going through some troubles now. But when God is done, we will not for long. As for the rest we will see that Paul addresses it later, saving it as he should for last of all.