The First Commandment

Exodus 20 v. 1 - 3 Intro:- The First Commandment

1. Declares God's Power -

v. 2 "I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage."

based on:-

(a) Creation - Psalm 19 v. 1 " The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork."

(b) Redemption - Exodus 20 v. 2 "I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage." Exodus - story of redemption -

1 Corinthians 6 v. 19 & 20 "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."

(c) Provision - v. 2 "I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage." Exodus 13 v. 21 & 22 "And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people."

2. Reveals God's Purpose - v. 3 "Thou shalt have no other gods before me."

Matt 6v33 "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

3. Recognises Man's Potential "Thou shalt" - Man has the:-

potential to choose, power to choose and prerogative to chose

Note its:-

CONTEXT in the light of:-

(a) Who God is - "I am the Lord"

(b) What God's done - "thy God" - i.e. by his will, his word, his work - v. 2 "brought thee out"

(c) What God's doing

CONTENT v. 2 "I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage." We must:-

(a) Know God as God - 1 Chronicles 28 v. 9 "And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever."

John 17 v 3 "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."

(b) Acknowledge God as God - Deuteronomy 26 v 17 "Thou hast avouched the LORD this day to be thy God, and to walk in his ways, and to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and to hearken unto his voice:"

Proverbs 3 v. 5 & 6 "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." i.e. His:-

Uniqueness - Deuteronomy 6 v. 4 & 5 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might."

Omnipresence - Matthew 28 v. 20 "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."

Omnipotence - Matthew 28 v. 18 "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth."

Omniscience - John 16 v. 30 "Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God."

Eternity - John 17 v. 5 "And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was."

Immutability - Hebrews 13 v. 8 "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."

Personality - Exodus 20 v. 3 "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." -

Know him:- initially, increasingly, intimately, eternally

(c) Worship God as God - Malachi 1 v. 6 "A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?"