Are unbelievers included?

We are proclaiming the "Gospel" - the good news that God loves all mankind both believers and unbelievers. It is sad, however, that some people are opposing this message and can not really believe the extent of God's grace. They even claimed that when the Bible speaks of God's love it is exclusively for believers only.

When Paul went to Athens, he met UNBELIEVERS, his spirit was provoked because the city was full of idols.He reasoned in the synagogues and in marketplace. Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were there too (Acts 17:16-21)

He stood in the midst of Areopagus addressed the Men of Athens who are very religious and yet are idolaters. They even have an altar: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. (verses 22 - 23 )

He explained that this Unknown God is the Creator - that He gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.(verses 24-25). That they should seek God , in the hope that they might feel their way toward Him and find Him. (v 27)

YET...Is God distant to this unbelievers of Athens?

YET he is actually NOT FAR from each one of US. ( Paul and everybody there listening to him, most of them are unbelievers) verse 27

"In him we live and move and have our being" and even some of YOUR own poets have said. " For we are indeed his offspring."  ( verse 28 )

Being then God's offspring we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone an image formed by the art and imagination of man... (verse 29 )

Let us make that more simple:

Being then God's offspring, let us gave up idolatry.  Because the unbelievers of Athens are God's offspring (children), they must gave up idolatry.

Paul told them their real identity ( God's offspring ) , Who they are already in Christ. And because of their identity, he made them realized their having idols is not appropriate for who they are so they must repent of it.

Paul NEVER said, You must give up idolatry SO THAT you will become God's offspring.

As a result of knowing and believing their identity "Some men joined him and believed among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them . (verse 34 )

THE GOOD NEWS is for unbelievers , DO NOT BE DECEIVED when others say that the Bible is for BELIEVERS only, for how can you evangelize, how do you do mission when you can not quote from the Bible because you were made to believe that unbelievers can not apply those verses to themselves.


The news is really good - you are included by grace...