Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Acts 17:18 A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, "What is this babbler trying to say?" Others remarked, "He seems to be advocating foreign gods." They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.
THE RESURRECTION? FOOLISHNESS TO UNBELIEVING SKEPTICS
The passage above is drawn from the episode of Paul's visit to Athens on his second missionary tour. He came there preaching the Good News of the Savior who had sent to earth from heaven by the one true God of the universe (not an idol!) to save His people from their sins and win for them an unending life of heavenly glory. When Paul started talking about the "resurrection" many viewed him as a crazy fellow who was running off at the mouth and promulgating an idiotic teaching.
To this day there are many who laugh at this core tenet of the Christian faith and view it as preposterous. Can a person who dies and whose body is reduced to dust and ashes live again? Can his soul live again in the same body in which it lived before and have the same eyes, ears, hands, and feet? Come now! How can anyone believe such nonsense!
We would agree with unbelieving skeptics were it not for the fact that the resurrection doctrine is taught by our faithful Lord in His inspired and inerrant Word. The teaching of the resurrection is part of the foolishness of the Gospel of Jesus which is wiser than men and that He uses to save those who believe (1 Corinthians 1:20-21).
Such rest we shall enter, Such rest we shall enter,
And then rise To the skies
When the Savior's call "Come forth" shall waken
Both the blessed dead and bold dissenter.
Lord of Life, in our strife
Oh, leave us not forsaken!
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 603:3)
