Preacher: Jeremy Herbert
Text: Acts 17:16-34
Theme: The Providence of God
Notes:
The working of God’s sovereignty to continually uphold, guide, and care for His creation.
The God who rules the world reveals himself in human history and redeems rebels through Jesus Christ.
v. 18, “…he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection.”
Paul Preached Christ:
- Acts 13, 14, 16
“God’s not going to save America through the president–
He’s going to save America through the preaching of Jesus Christ.”
Hebrews 1:1-4
The Glory of God:
- God is glorified in Creation
- God is glorified in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ
- God is glorified in the redemption of sinners
- God is glorified in redeemed sinners living for Him
God’s Providence
- God rules over all things
- Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 5: Of Providence, “God, the great Creator of all things, doth uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures, actions, and things, from the greatest even to the least, by his most wise and holy providence, according to his infallible fore-knowledge….”
- Acts 14:17, “Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.”
- Acts 17:25, “nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.”
- Even sinners get the overflow blessings of God’s immanence in this world
- Matthew 5:45, “…For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good,
and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”
- Matthew 5:45, “…For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good,
- God reveals Himself through human history
- Acts 17:26-27, “And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live yon all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place,
27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,” - Daniel 2:21, “He changes times and seasons;
he removes kings and sets up kings;
he gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to those who have understanding;” - God elevated Cyrus the Great
- God humbled Nebuchadnezzar
- Acts 17:26-27, “And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live yon all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place,
- God redeems people through Jesus Christ
- Acts 17:29, “…we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man.”
- God has been patient and merciful in unfolding His plan of redemption through Jesus Christ
- 17:30, “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but know he commands all people everywhere to repent,”
- But God will judge the world by Christ:
- 17:31, “because he has fixed ma day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed….”
- No matter who wins this year’s election, Christ is on the throne
- We must be redemptive in our outlook–there are bigger things at stake than who is president
- It is the responsibility of each of us to prioritize the redemption of sinners through Jesus Christ
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