When God healed the crippled man in Lystra, the onlookers misinterpreted what it meant.
And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” 12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds. Acts 14:11-13 (ESV)
God intended for the attesting healing miracle in Lystra to convince people of the truth of the gospel, but the people of Lystra tried to fit it into their existing pagan paradigm. Before knowing the truth about God, we like to create for ourselves “gods” that fit into our presuppositions about life and reality and allow us to do whatever we want.
God’s name, as revealed to Moses, is “I am Who I am.”
God is not who we might want him to be. He is who he is, whether we like it or not. We must change to be like him, not the other way around.
He revealed himself fully through his Son, Jesus the Messiah King of Israel.
If we want to know what God is really like, we can find out by believing in and knowing Christ.
The gospel is a presentation of the truth about God as revealed through Christ. Our responsibility as gospel preachers is to carefully present the Good News so that people will not easily misinterpret it.
Only faith in the true God as revealed in the true gospel saves. Our job is to make sure that is what people hear.
As for us, we can’t help but thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters loved by the Lord. We are always thankful that God chose you to be among the first to experience salvation—a salvation that came through the Spirit who makes you holy and through your belief in the truth. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 (NLT)
