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Archive for May, 2026

Fourth Commandment

Posted in Baptist Catechism, Faith, General, God's Law, tagged , , , , , , , on May 31, 2026| Leave a Comment »

There is probably not any theological issue about which you cannot find controversy and disagreement in some sphere. From major heresies to minor differences in conviction, they are everywhere. This fact fortifies the double need of confessions and catechisms, to pin down the Scripture’s teaching on sound doctrine, and to define and defend what it means to be Christian. In my years of contact and interaction with the public, there have been two disagreements of doctrine and practice that are quite common: what version of the Bible you use and the Sabbath.

It may surprise you to find out that there are more than two convictions (Saturday or Sunday) about what the Sabbath is for present day Christians, and how it should be practiced (1).

Sabbath does not originate in the Law of Moses but in the command of God at creation. The word sabbath means rest or stop work. It is an acknowledgement, commemoration, and practice of what God did after creating the world. We worship, serve, rest, and refresh in Sabbath. The word hallowed means sanctified or set apart as holy. Since God hallowed the day, so should we.

Question 63: Which is the fourth commandment?
Answer: The fourth commandment is, “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.” Exodus 20:8-11

Question 64: What is required in the fourth commandment?
Answer: The fourth commandment requires the keeping holy to God such set times as he has appointed in his word, expressly one whole day in seven to be a holy Sabbath to himself.

Leviticus 19:30; Deuteronomy 5:12

Question 65: Which day of the seven has God appointed to be the weekly Sabbath?
Answer: From the creation of the world to the resurrection of Christ, God appointed the seventh day of the week to be the weekly Sabbath; and the first day of the week ever since, to continue to the end of the world, which is the Christian Sabbath.

Genesis 2:3; John 20:19; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1, 2; Revelation 1:10

  1. Defining the Debate by R.C. Sproul

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Third Commandment

Posted in Baptist Catechism, Faith, General, Glory, God's Law, tagged , , , , , , , , on May 22, 2026| Leave a Comment »

What is in a name? Is it a mere label or representation of a concept, thing, or person? Does a name have significance, and if so, who assigns the significance? In the case of God’s name, He assigns significance to His name by the third commandment and many other commands, exhortations, and warnings. The significance of His name is more than a representation of His person, power, deeds, and glory, however. His name has innate power proceeding from His person (1) to put demons to flight, heal the sick, bring meaningful comfort to the distraught, and more. I am reminded of Proverbs 18:10: “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and are safe”, or more literally, “are set securely on high.”

Taking God’s name in vain is using it intentionally or flippantly with disrespect. (2) God demonstrates His intolerance of denigrating the glory of His name during several circumstances in Scriptures. The first of these appears in the early stages of Israel. “The son of the Israelite woman blasphemed the Name and cursed… let all the congregation stone him… ‘If anyone curses his God, then he will bear his sin. Moreover, the one who blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death.'” (3)

His name is not a talisman to be wielded at the will of anyone who names it, but God does endow His name with power for those who trust in Him according to His will. We must treat His name with reverence and care, but we are also commanded to call on His name (4) and “Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to His name” (5).

Question 59: Which is the third commandment?
Answer: The third commandment is, “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” Exodus 20:7.

Question 60: What is required in the third commandment?
Answer: The third commandment requires the holy and reverent use of God’s name, titles, attributes, ordinances, words, and works.

Psalm 29:2; 111:9; 138:2; Deuteronomy 32:1-4; 28:58-59; Matthew 6:9; Ecclesiastes 5:1; Job 36:24; Revelation 4:8; 15:3, 4.

Question 61: What is forbidden in the third commandment?
Answer: The third commandment forbids all profaning and abusing of anything whereby God makes himself known.

Exodus 20:7; Malachi 1:6, 7; Leviticus 20:3; 19:12; Matthew 5:34-37; Isaiah 52:5.

Question 62: What is the reason annexed to the third commandment?
Answer: The reason annexed to the third commandment is, that however the breakers of this commandment may escape punishment from men, yet the Lord our God will not suffer them to escape his righteous judgment.

Exodus 20:7; Deuteronomy 28:58, 59; Malachi 2:2.

  1. Psalm 29:2a, 115:1 (Notice the phrase “because of”.), 148:13 (Notice the parallel of name’s glory and “His glory”.)
  2. What is taking the Lord’s name in vain?
  3. Leviticus 24:10-16
  4. Isaiah 12:4, 55:6; Psalm 105:1
  5. Psalm 29:2a

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Second Commandment

Posted in Baptist Catechism, Doctrine, Faith, General, God Thoughts, God's Law, Worship, tagged , , , , , , , , , on May 17, 2026| Leave a Comment »

In our day, we are not given to graven or carved images to worship. A strong argument could be made that we have substituted the visual arts, especially screen time with its plethora of images of strength and beauty. The lack of carved images does not make us any less idolaters. As John Calvin said, “The human heart is a perpetual idol factory.” As I was considering Calvin’s quote one day, I heard a radio preacher say, “You think most about what you love most.” Following that train of thought, it may be said that what you love most you worship.

Good theology, but how does that intersect with my daily life? Here is an example. On my way to work I pass a billboard showing the lottery millions you can win. I never have nor will I waste money on any kind of lottery, but as I passed this billboard daily, I began daydreaming about being rich and what I would do with all of that money. Of course, I could rationalize the activity as trivial or mention all of the good ways I would use the funds. One or two random thoughts about using money for good might be dismissed as an imaginative thought experiment, but this went on for more than a few days. ”If I were a rich man” (1), became a morning theme song. After a few weeks I had to avert my eyes from seeing the billboard and quote Scripture out loud to avoid the distraction.

You may be saying, he has an overwrought conscience. I don’t think so, and what if the billboard instead had pictured an insufficiently dressed man or woman? (2) The Scripture says, “Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.”” (Hebrews 13:5) Rather than be thankful for what God had abundantly provided, I began to worship unseen riches. Ezekiel 14:1-3 says, “Then some elders of Israel came to me and sat down before me. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts and have put right before their faces the stumbling block of their iniquity. Should I be consulted by them at all?“ God is changing the hearts and minds of those whom He has called to Himself in salvation, so that they may consult with Him and be taught by Him. Let us flee “idols of the heart”, worshipping God alone, being thankful for all God has provided, and loving God more than people or things.

Question 55: Which is the second commandment?
Answer: The second commandment is, “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them; for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.” Exodus 20:4-6

Question 56: What is required in the second commandment?
Answer: The second commandment requires the receiving, observing, and keeping pure and entire, all such religious worship and ordinances, as God has appointed in his word.

Deuteronomy 12:32; 32:46; Matthew 28:20

Question 57: What is forbidden in the second commandment?
Answer: The second commandment forbids the worshipping of God by images, or any other way that draws the heart away from his glory rather than toward his glory.

Romans 1:22, 23; Deuteronomy 4:15, 16; Colossians 2:18; 3:17; 1 Corinthians 10:31

Question 58: What are the reasons added to the second commandment?
Answer: The reasons added to the second commandment are God’s holy jealousy for his name, and the zeal he has for his own worship.

Exodus 20:4-6; Exodus 34:14; 1 Corinthians 10:22

  1. “…Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.” You know, “Fiddler on the Roof”
  2. Rhetorical question with an obvious answer: Matthew 5:27-28

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Wayside Boulders

Posted in Climbing, Nature, Outdoors, tagged , , , , , on May 16, 2026| Leave a Comment »

John Douglas Wayside boulders are what I speak of actually, and I went with two of my young friends to work out as many problems as possible. I was told that there were upwards of 20 problems there, and we worked out about 15. Most of them were V0 to V2, but there were several that I would rate at V3 or V4. We had a great day of it at the wayside. Check it out at “John Douglas Wayside Boulders“.

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First Commandment

Posted in Doctrine, Faith, General, Gospel, Grace, Salvation, tagged , , , , , , , , , on May 6, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Before I write these short commentaries, I interact with the questions, answers, and Scripture passages, looking for details that I think may need clarification or ideas that jump out at me. Recently, I have had multiple opportunities to witness to a young woman. She has been involved in a church all of her young life. I gently pressed her for evidence of salvation. She replied with works. I carefully shared the Gospel of salvation by grace through faith alone. Since she was open to the discussion, I gave her multiple verses to read over a period of time, and for us to discuss. She asked many good questions. At length, she came to an intellectual understanding of the Gospel, confiding in me at one point that she has never heard of grace through faith as the means of salvation. Let that sink in a moment. In a church for over 20 years and she had never heard the Gospel.

Reflecting on this situation, then coming to the answer in question 52 and 52, a phrase seemed highlighted to me: “the only true God, and our God”. For the sake of this story, I want to personalize the phrase “our God” to ‘my God’. You see, this young woman knows about God, and she acknowledges Him as “the only true God.” She worships Him, though I would say, not “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23-24). She gives glory to God as Creator and Sustainer of all things. She is quite morally upright compared to others. Her one problem is, she cannot say that God is ‘my God’. She does not know Him, or rather, is not known by Him. Is that your fault, or rather sin, that you are a transgressor of the first commandment, because God is not “your God”? You have heard of Him, you may claim to “be spiritual”, but you do not have a saving knowledge of God by faith in Jesus Christ. “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart…” (Hebrew 3:15). If you sense Him calling you, respond in faith.*

Question 51: Which is the first commandment?

Answer: The first commandment is, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:3

Question 52: What is required in the first commandment?

Answer: The first commandment requires us to know and acknowledge God to be the only true God, and our God, and to worship and glorify him accordingly. Joshua 24:15; 1 Chronicles 28:9; Deuteronomy 26:17; Psalm 29:2; Matthew 4:10

Question 53: What is forbidden in the first commandment?

Answer: The first commandment forbids us to deny or not to worship and glorify the true God as God and our God; and to give that worship and glory to any other, which is due unto him alone.  Joshua 24:27; Romans 1:20-21, 25; Psalm 14:1

Question 54: What are we especially taught by these words, “before me,” in the first commandment?

Answer: These words “before me,” in the first commandment teach us that God, who sees all things, takes notice of, and is much displeased with the sin of having any other God. Deuteronomy 30:17, 18; Psalm 44:20-21; 90:8

*If you have questions about any of this, email me at leonnarf@yahoo.com. I would love to help you in your search for God. If you desire to, He is the one drawing you.

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