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ACTS 17: 22 - 31 

"GOD'S OFFSPRING"

lntro: Paul was in Athens, center of Greek culture and art. "Moved" when he saw their  quest
       for God, "very religious". Quotes their poets, "We are also His offspring."  Affirms 
       this truth, "for as much..."

I. MAN IS THE OFFSPRING OF GOD.
        A. The natural man likes to see himself at the tap of the ladder of
                evolutionary progression.
                1. He sits as king, being the fittest, he has survived.
                2. He seeks to relate to the lower forms of life.
                        a. Speaks of animal instincts.
                3. He sees himself the offspring of the ape.
        B. Man is not in an exhalted elevated state.
                1. Being the offspring of God he has degenerated, fallen state.
                2. His answers and purposes will never come by seeking to relate to  animals,
                   but by relating to God.

II. EVIDENCES OF OUR RELATIONSHIP? TO GOD
        A. Passion for life.
                1. Rich young ruler.
                2. Conscious that life more than just existence.
        B. Desire for order.
                1. Motivation for government, to arrange orderly development of our
                        society.
                2. "Women love to set an orderly table."
        C. Thirst for knowledge.
                1. The establishment of schools. 
        D. Appreciation of beauty.
                1. Enjoy watching colorful sunset.
                        a. Dogs and birds seemed oblivious.
        E. Desire to create.
                1. Music.
                2. Art.
                3. Beauty.
        F. Capacity for love.
                1. Both to give and receive.

III. EVIDENCES OF DEGENERATION AND FAlLURE.
        A. Death.
        B. Chaos.
        C. Still do dumb things.
        D. So much ugliness.
        E. Destructive forces.
        F. So much hatred, war, strife, bitterness.

IV. GOD DESIRES TO LIFT FALLEN MAN BACK INTO RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM  AGAIN.
        A. For this purpose He sent His Son.
                1. In Him was life.
                2. Perfect order.
                3. "In Him are hid all the treasures of wisdom."
                4. "Bright and morning star."
                5. All things were made by Him.
                6. Embodiment of love.
        B. He was man in perfect relationship with God. 
                1. All that I admire and desire, He is.
                2. All that l am by the fall, He isn't.
        C. He identified with me.
                1. He yielded to the fallen forces.
                2. "God made Him to be sin for me..."
        D. Man can again be related to God through Jesus Christ.
                1. "He was in the world..."
                2. "But as many as received Him to them..."