The Ten Commandments
“First Commandment”
Honoring God
Putting God “First”
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…”
-Genesis 1:1 [Creator]
“Before I formed you [God] in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
-Jeremiah 1:5
“Your hands [God’s hands] shaped me and made me… you molded me like clay… clothed me with skin and flesh and knit me together with bones and sinews? You gave me life…”
–Job 10:8-12
“You created [God] my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed body … 17 How precious to me are your thoughts, God!”
[Everyone has thoughts, but God’s are the most important.]
-Psalm 139:13-17
Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."
-Matthew 19:14
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body … 17 How precious to me are your thoughts, God!”
[Everyone has thoughts, but God’s are the most important.]
-Psalm 139:13-17
3 Hear, O Israel, and be careful to observe it, that it may be well with you … 4 “ Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one, 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.”
-Deuteronomy 6:3-6
“An expert in the law, [Pharisee] tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
-Matthew 22:35-40
The First Commandment
2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. [So you don’t have to look to any other gods in my place] 3 “You shall have no other gods before me. [beside me, or in opposition to me] 4 “You shall not make for yourself an image [an idol or substitute for God] in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.”
-Exodus 20:1-6
General Notes:
No other gods
By definition there cannot be more than one God.
If people define God as sovereign then by definition there cannot be more than one entity that is sovereign.
[Supreme Ruler]
Q: What are some false gods that we see today?
Q: What are some things that people look to for strength, security, guidance, and forgiveness?
False sources of Strength & Security?
Money
Possessions
Position
Abilities
Connections
“God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”
-Philippians 4:19
God provides
False sources of Guidance:
Authoritative people in your life.
Luck
Fate
Karma
Boldness …… Passiveness
God Guides
“The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.”
-Isaiah 58:11
False sources of Forgiveness?
Good works
The thought that you don’t need it.
But everyone needs forgiveness…
“It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
-Ephesians 2:8-10
General Notes:
No Images/Idols
Signs & Symbols are supposed to point to something greater than themselves.
Be very careful not to worship the sign or symbol.
(Superstition)
Cross/Crucifix
The sign of the cross
Rabbits foot
Dream catchers
Angels
Rosary
“Lucky charms”
The idol worship of the pagans was
* Illogical
* Immoral
Temple Prostitution
* Inhumane
Child sacrifice
General Notes:
Jealous God
God deserves all the praise.
God is jealous FOR you, not jealous OF you or anyone or anything else.
The object of his jealousy is YOU, not the other god.
“This is what the Lord Almighty says: “I am very jealous FOR Zion; [Israel] I am burning with jealousy FOR her.”
–Zechariah 8:2
General Notes:
Punishing children for the sins of the parents… 3rd & 4th generations
God doesn’t punish people for the sins of others.
People are responsible to pay for their own sins only
“For everyone belongs to me, the parent as well as the child—both alike belong to me. The one who sins is the one who will die.”
-Ezekiel 18:4
The sad consequences of the sins of the parents is that most often it has lasting affects upon their children.
[Generational influences].
Ie. Adult child of an alcoholic, Fetal alcohol syndrome, crack babies, etc
General Notes:
Blessing children of the righteous for 1,000 generations
We can “Break the Cycle”
6 “BUT showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.”
-Exodus 20:6
We can break the cycle.
Black sheep/White sheep
Thank God for His Forgiving Grace
“Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered… whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.”
-Psalm 32:1,2
The First Commandment
2 “I am the Lord Your God… 3 “You shall have no other gods before me.
“Your” (Hebrew) = Singular/Personal
God is YOUR God.
He loves YOU.
He promises to be with YOU.
He will never leave YOU
He forgives YOU of every one of YOUR sins.
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