CreatorWorship

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.