“As I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship,” Paul told the Athenians at the Areopagus, “I found also an altar with this inscription, ‘To an unknown God.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you” (Acts 17:23). The pagans in Greece were worshiping God, but it was a blind service. They were ignorant of his covenant name Yahweh (Jehovah), his eternal nature, and his infinitely holy character.
Modern Judaism has also missed the truth about God. Orthodox Jews believe in the “one Lord” presented in Old Testament scriptures (Deut. 6:4-5). But by rejecting Jesus as Messiah and Son of God, they spurn the very One whose grace their sacred writings anticipate.
Islam, like Judaism, recognizes only one God. In Arabic al-Lah means “the God.” Muslims, however, worship God in ignorance of his Son. Islam gives lip service to the great prophets of the Bible-even Jesus. The true authority, though, is the false prophet Muhammad, author of the Quran.
Athenian paganism served “an unknown god.” But its worship failed to please the true Lord. Judaism and Islam also serve the God unknown to both religions, the God who has a unique and beloved Son. No one who rejects the Son really honors the Father. The fourth Gospel records the following conversation between Jesus and one of his disciples: “Philip said to him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and we shall be satisfied.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you so long, and yet you do not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father; how can you say, “Show us the Father”? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in me?”‘ (John 14:8-10).