The Athenians encountered the Paul preaching in the marketplace and asked, “May we know what this new doctrine is of which you speak?” (Acts 17:16-19). Paul graciously obliged them and preached to them of the one true God, finishing on the subject of Christ’s resurrection (vv. 22-31). Here’s a couple of observations based on the first part of their question, “May we know”.
How refreshing it is to find people who are interested in the truth and will give it a fair hearing. “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). It won’t come any other way: Faith is not, “caught” as some claim, but taught! As Jesus would say, do you have, “an ear to hear”? So few today do, yet that’s how the Corinthians (Acts 18:8), Galatians (Galatians 3:2), Ephesians (Acts 19:1-10), Colossians (Colossians 1:5), and every other person in the first century became a Christian (Mark 16:15-16). And you can too!
Yes, you can know God’s will. It’s not a mystery revealed by some modern-day priest or prophet, creed book, catechism, dream, vision, or personal experience. You can read and understand it because God expects you to (Ephesians 3:3-5; 5:17), provided you want to know and have a love for the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:9-11). Jesus said, “If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority” (John 7:17). Come and learn more about God’s will along with the rest of us!
Adapted from Shawn Smith
