Scripture Blog

This weblog is my personal online scripture journal. I try to read the scriptures each morning as I exercise on my cross-trainer. It has a great impact on my life and my testimony of the Savior and his restored church. The journal is really for my own benefit but I have set it up as a web log in hopes to benefit anyone else that may be interested. "For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost..." 1 Nephi 10:19

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Acts 17

Luke records that -

"...after he [Paul] had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them...."  (New Testament | Acts 16:10)

In several following verses, he again wrote "we" and "us" which suggests to me the Luke now was with Paul.  In Thessalonica, Paul taught in the synagogue -

"Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ."  (New Testament | Acts 17:3)

Some Jews and Greeks believed.  But Paul was run out of town leaving Silas and Timothy.  From there Paul went to Athens were he gave one of his greatest speeches.  In that this speech is included in the Book of Acts, I wonder if Luke was with him as He spoke on Mars Hill.  Besides many great principles and doctrines that would taught in just a few words, there were a few that caught my attention including God -

"...made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation..."  (New Testament | Acts 17:26)

Which teaches us that we are all brothers and sisters and were pre-determined when and where we would live during our mortal experience.

"That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us..."  (New Testament | Acts 17:27)

One of the purposes of our mortal existence was to seek the Lord and develop faith in Him.  In other words, this is part of "proving" ourselves...to find Him.

"For we are also his offspring.
29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God..."   (New Testament | Acts 17:28 - 29)

We are literally His spiritual offspring in a pre-mortal existence.

And with that -

"...we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead."  (New Testament | Acts 17:29 - 31)

We are taught that God is literally our Father being a real personage.  That there is a Godhead which includes His Son, Jesus Christ.  Two distinct personages and individuals.