Faith in the One God

Minister:
Date: AM
Text: Ezekiel 14; Lord's Day 34
Psalters: 258, 382, 309, 234
  1. God is.
    1. God is spirit, Who is personal, infinite and one
      1. As to His essence He is beyond our definition (cf. Job 11:7-10; 26:14; Psalm 145:3). Transcendent (I Kings 8:27).
      2. God is spirit - not a spirit, but He is pure spirit (John 4:24).
      3. God is personal.
      4. He is the Infinite One, unlimited in any sense: time, space, and ability.
      5. He is one in His Being and in all His activity (Deut. 6:4).
    2. God is God, i.e., He is, always is - unchanging deity.
      1. He is good - infinitely so.
      2. He is sovereign.
  2. Forbidden idolatry.
    1. The big idol is always self (II Tim. 3:1,2) - very self-centered, our perceived needs and wants and rights and happiness.
    2. Idolatry is to conceive of other than as He has revealed Himself in His Word.
    3. Thus idolatry is when we trust anyone or anything other than God.
    4. Other violations of the first commandment: sorcery, enchantments, superstitions, invocation of saints and any other creature.
  3. God requires right worship from all His creatures of His most glorious Being for Who He is and for all He has done.
    1. Man was created to have a relationship with God, so every human has a god.
    2. Right worship requires right knowledge of Him, derived from what He reveals of Himself to us.
    3. Right worship means that I trust in Him alone.
    4. Right worship means that I submit to Him and His decretive will with all humility and patience.
    5. Right worship is to expect all good things from Him only, for no one and nothing else can give good things.
    6. Right worship is to love, fear, and glorify Him with my whole heart.
    7. And right worship means that I am constantly striving to do only what the will of His commandments.
  4. We receive great blessing in the way of obedience.
    1. The worship of other gods results in discontent and in a slavish fear.
    2. Those who believe in and trust in Jehovah have perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3).