The One True Living God

Minister:
Date: PM
Text: Jeremiah 10:6,10; Lord's Day 34
Psalters: 300, 14, 194, 282
  1. The truth.
    1. The truth behind the law and the first commandment is the truth that God is God, and thus complete and irrevocable.
      1. God Himself spoke the law, so we must be acknowledging Him in the law.
      2. The law was placed IN the ark of the covenant (so it was not added to the covenant), but it is the “owner’s manual.”
    2. God gave this command when His people came out of a land of idolatry and as it entered another land of many gods.
      1. God is the only Creator, Sustainer, and Governor of all (Acts 17:24ff).
      2. He is One in His Being and in all His activity and purposes (Deut. 6:4). He is owed all of our love (Deut. 6:4; Mark 12:29).
  2. The first command forbids some things of us.
    1. Man was created a servant and dependent, so we always serve and trust something. Sinful man looks everywhere but to God.
      1. A big idol is self (II Tim. 3:1,2): personal happiness, individual rights desire fulfillment and materials of the earth.
      2. We must love God and Christ so we are not enslaved by our attachments.
      3. Be aware that Christians easily make their own ideas of God other than God's self-revelation.
    2. Other violations of the first commandment: sorcery, soothsaying, superstitions, calling on saints, addictions.
  3. God requires a right worship from us.
    1. Right knowledge of God by faith is necessary first.
    2. We are to “cleave” (adhere, attached) to Him (Deut. 4:4; 10:20; 11:22; 13:4; 30:20; Josh. 22:5; 23:8; II Kings 18:6).
    3. Trust in Him alone, with all humility and patience.
    4. Expect all good to be from Him only.
    5. Love, fear, and glorify Him with our whole heart.