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DD2007
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As an chance to segwey into preaching the gospel, Paul commended the heathen athenians for worshiping what they do not know.Very nice. Yet Paul commended the Athenians for worshipping his God, the one true God, even though they knew Him not.
Surely it is equally possible to serve and follow Christ without perfectly knowing Him - for if full knowledge of Him were required then none of us has it!
He also bewailed the Jews for not accepting Christ and said that it isn’t the children of the flesh that are children of God but the Children of the promise. The Elect.
Romans 9:1-8 ESV
9:1 I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. 4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. 5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen. 6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, 7 and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.
One’s knowledge of him can be so warped that they are actually serving the enemy instead.
Matthew 7:21-23 ESV
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
One must believe in Christ (trust him) to be saved.
John 3:18 ESV
18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
A knowledge of the truth is what God desires for us.
1 Timothy 2:3-4 ESV
3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.