The First Commandment

Good morning register or good evening Grace Church amused just preaching in the morning so forgive me. As of the light be here with you wherever very grateful for the time that we've spent with this congregation. Through the years all the support that we received and I want to do a first commandment redo week we had a series on the 10 Commandments. Several years ago and told Doug as were walking and this is my opportunity to help get some things out on the table that I left on the table several years ago will focus on the first commandment by looking first at Deuteronomy chapter 6 Deuteronomy chapter 6 will read verses four through nine. Together, and then will go to Exodus chapter 20 and will read the first three verses brothers and sisters. This is the word of God here oh Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise, you shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the door posts of your house and on your gates that Exodus 20 verses one through three and God spoke all these words say I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of a house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me is credited or gracious God and heavenly father returned to you tonight for you to shine life-giving light upon your word or we have heard your word read and now we pray that you would help us inwardly digest the mark to meditate, to understand what your word has to say to each individual heart here into the church at large array look to you for help and for grace only by your Spirit's power will we see Christ only by your Spirit's power Lord will read will we be transformed. Come and meet us in this world.

Now we pray all for Jesus sake and all God's people said and then we proceed lest we begin this evening I want to start off with a little story you can relate this to the Brown family.

If you like. But there was once a family on vacation at the beach in September the weather was horrible.

It rained every day and so the two boys in the family decided desperate with nothing to do to work a big jigsaw puzzle is not something my boys normally do. They decide to make it hard on themselves so they turn the box cover over and began to work the puzzle pieces and they got some of the edges and some of the corners around about. But finally, the youngest broke down is just too hard and flipped the cover over any set I get it now the king is in the middle. It was a picture of the medieval court seen and once the king was in the middle. The rest of the puzzle came together and this is the fundamental reality of the world that we live in the world that God has made. The king is in the middle and unless he's in the middle unless he's in the middle of your life. The pieces of the puzzle just simply don't fall into place. It's really a parable for life.

Everything coheres. Everything revolves around him and that's the message of the first commandment. It calls for your life. My life to revolve around the one who made us the one who sustains us the one who saves his people, and then redeems him by his grace know the, the Reformed Church has always believed in the abiding validity of the law of God. Sometimes you would question that by the way, we said we like to pit law and grace against each other.

But the reality is, the law has a gracious design to it. We read in Exodus chapter 20 after God had redeemed his people after he had brought them out of Egypt, he gave them a gracious law to keep them free to keep them at liberty in this first commandment you shall have no other gods before me. It's at the top of the list. It reminds us that God is the basis for everything else in his word and his law is to be of first importance. This is basic to everything else. Our lives are to orbit and live around the one who made a sustains us.

The triune God of Scripture that puts a question to us individually. Tonight it is your live revolve around one who made can you say that God is at the center of your life.

More importantly, can the people who know you best say that his life revolves around the God of Scripture.

You might even say can a person is been around for 10 minutes say this person's life revolves around the God of the Bible. They they they have a fragrance about them. That says God is of central importance to their lives are nurse our merciful God gives us this commandment remind us that he is chief, and all things that grabbed all all life revolves around him and he is the central point of everything it does.

So, first by showing us that we serve and intolerant God. I know that's politically incorrect but you know that that that this God is exclusive.

He alone is God there.

There are no there there.

Is he alone is to be acknowledging worship is God. If you look back at the commandment in verse three of Exodus 20 he says you shall have no other gods before me.

Not for not three.

Not not to not even one. There's no other gods before me and don't misunderstand the phrase no other gods there's no suggestion here that there are in fact other gods. Remember what Paul says in first Corinthians chapter 8 says innocence. There are many gods and wards in the world but there really is no other God.

There is no other care competitors to God.

None at all. There are noother sovereigns, no creators, no true competitors. He alone is the exclusive God big G most of you have a footnote in your Bible beside before that says that this this word could be translated.

No other gods besides me.

No other gods before my face. This God, the God of Scripture is telling Israel. I demand exclusive loyalty there to be no other rivals in your life for pride of place now. This would have been crucial for the Israelites. They just left Egypt. There were hundreds of gods in Egypt little G they had no real existence.

Mind you, but if you remember, with the the 10 plagues Yahweh, the Lord that brought them out of Egypt is toppling the so-called gods of Egypt wanted a time so that Israel is very aware there's there's but one exclusive God and each plague brought about by Yahweh, attacks, assaults, a particular false God in their culture so the Lord brings darkness over the land. The Egyptians can pray to Isis or Amaral. They want to, but until Moses prays to Yahweh, there's no light in the land of Israel, or in Egypt, the Lord sets up one idol.

He topples it he sets up another idol he topples it he knocks them all down and slays and defeats them all.

And as we listen to this commandment we realize that our God. He commands exclusive loyalty and he's intolerant he's dogmatic about he's he's a Nero God and that means that though the way this that this God indeed must be the true God who who would wish for God like this who would wish for a God who demands exclusive loyalty demands that there be no other rivals and says that he is jealous. Verse five of Exodus 24 his people's affections that he alone is in charge and in Lord of everything that they say that they do.

This is not a a God of wish fulfillment we would invent a God like this. Know this God demands exclusive loyalty. He's intolerant God because he's the true God is the true living God, and you can't go running to the New Testament and sale. The New Testament is a little more open about this matter because you run into places like Matthew chapter 10 verse 3738 where Jesus says the person who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me. A person who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever doesn't take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Jesus says that even that even good things in our lives can actually take his place and he won't allow that. And it is amazing when you when you read this and you see Jesus saying this one intolerant claim. Jesus is making did you hear what Jesus said if you want to take your Jehovah's Witness friends to place in Scripture were Jesus claims to be the true God. Here here's a place you can use in your conversation with them because Jesus is saying the commandment is just in a different key is Exodus 20 in a different note, you shall have no other gods before me. Father, mother, son, daughter, nothing else before me in. In place of affection in place of loyalty and love your neighbor in John's Gospel how Jesus takes the divine name upon himself revealed at the time of Moses and the burning bush says I am going me. I am the good shepherd. I am the door.

I am the light of the world. I am the bread of life. I am the resurrection and the life before Abraham was, I am Jesus. He unequivocally says I am God, creator of the world's though his flesh had a beginning in time and space is person always existed. Jesus says if you want to obey first commandment Israel take up your cross and follow me. The triune God of the Bible. Father, son and Holy Spirit explains a claims exclusive rights to our loyalty to our love to our devotion love that that will be the wedge that are secular. Pluralistic culture continues to try to drive a wedge in between the church and her Lord will always say we let that isn't intolerant claim that your Mickey's very exclusive what you're saying that this God demands exclusive loyalty to him and no one else. What about these other face these other religions and we cannot lawfulness for the sake of the exclusivity of the gospel. When Jesus says I am the way and the truth and the life Jesus is saying without me without the way there is no going in this world there's no path to travel. There's no other place you can turn without the truth without me there is no knowing there is no understanding there is no basis for which you to live your life upon Jesus says when he says I am the life. He says there is no living there is no true life that will satisfy and bless the longings of the heart. If you do not have me.

When Jesus says this he saying it cuts to the heart of the pluralistic agent cannot waffle at this place so that the demand of Jesus the command of the. The first commandment is indeed an intolerant claim, but it's also we see an important command here, by the way it's phrased we mentioned this at start. There's an importance to this command when you come to commandment number one. It really is the foundation and the capstone for every other commandment. Without this commandment the rest of it falls apart when he says there's no other gods you can imagine someone in the 20th century say now, Lord, let me help you out here today that doesn't seem really, that doesn't strike us. It doesn't have any bulletin board appeal to it is not going to be what I put on my twitter feed are my Facebook page but let me help you out here because we live in a society that the culture of death. If we put the six commandment first were going to attract more people.

It's going to draw people, or what about the fifth commandment.

We have all his generation gap in our society if we put the fifth commandment first then that will that will draw people in. That will that will attract the Crowder we've got so much fake news and information streams that are piling into us day after day, don't you think the knife commandment would be very attraction will that'll get everyone's attention, but the reality is beloved. The first commandment tells us, reminds us that the greatest issue of importance in this life is not first of mankind's need. But God's place. This is the foundational commandment beneath all the rest, the linchpin commandment.

And if it's not there. Everything else falls apart. Jesus taught that as well.

We spoke about Matthew 10 just a minute ago. Now look at Mark 10 Mark 10 chapter 17 chapter 10 Mark 10 verse 17 through 22. This is the rich young ruler passage uses to remember with the rich young ruler. You see how Jesus saw this as such a foundational commandment. The rich young ruler runs to Jesus.

They falls down before Jesus at his knees and he asked Jesus a question is a good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life.

He was looking for something beyond the basics, something beyond the elementary and remember Jesus listed a half-dozen commands he he listed the second table of the law and the rich young ruler.

What is he say all these commands I've Been to my youth, which really shows the rich young ruler did not understand the commandments the way he thought because Jesus turns to the rich young ruler and were told in the text he looked at him and he loved him. He said one thing you lack go and sell everything you have given it to the poor, then you will have treasure in heaven and come, follow me in the text literally says Luke came over his chalk, he went away because he knew that with his great possessions that his heart was fixed upon those possessions. It wasn't his possessions that were the problem. The possessions had a hold of him. It had a hold of his heart. It was the first thing in his life. He went out after that and was sorrowful and sad. The disciples turned to Jesus and said board.

Were we to do.

Jesus is giving us a test saying where you willingly leave everything behind, follow me, will you be Abraham and leave father mother brother lands everything else and go after the one who made you and sustains you see Jesus stepped upon this rich young ruler snow toes. He put his finger in the man's heart and began to poke around and the man began to realize his love was not his deep as he thought this commandment keeps everything in order isn't amazing to you again in this text that Jesus can demand that kind of exclusive loyalty say come and follow me leave everything else behind. Mark 10. Beloved, not just shows us the importance of the commandment, but it gives us some hope because it also tells us that when God loves you that when Jesus loves you that he will take the first commandment.

And he will topple your idols in front of your face Hemphill who he'll deal with the thing that is keeping you from him is keeping you from a close relationship with him. Brothers assist sisters are idols are rarely wood and stone.

In fact, I would.

I would bet I would not see an idol of wood and stone in anyone's house here at Grace Church. What are idols can be numerous. Calvin set our hearts are an idol factory were continually pumping them out PCA pastor Tim Keller wrote a book several years ago called counterfeit gods. It's about helping its readers identify the idols in their lives, and he asked this question.

He says what's more than fundament.

What's more fundamental than God for your happiness and never said anything like this. I would be happy only if only, if I only had this thing I would be happy that this and that phrase that that would be your idle seems like such a simple question, but has a powerful effect getting at the idols of the heartbeat goes all in the book to identify three common idols in our culture. One of the idols in our culture is love. If only I had love. I would be happy if I can only find Mr. right or Mrs. right then I would be happy is not just a single person that struggles with this. Married couples who struggle with us to. If only my husband was a little bit more like this, or if only my wife was a little bit more like that then I would be happy.

Our culture right now is bowing down to the idol of happiness and love. If we can only pursue this relit illicit relationship or only pursue this type of attraction in my life then I would be happy that will not ultimately make anyone happy without God having pride of place filling the the heart and soul and mind of an individual. The person will never be happy.

Keller mentions another major idle in our culture is success. This, my idol might look like wealth might look like a promotion if I only had this promotion or this place in my job, then I would be happy or if I could only get this amount of approval from this person, then I would be happy love and we can make an idol have anything success idolatry activism reputation status.

That's the reason why first John ends the way it does.

First John five verse 21 children keep yourself from idols never present temptation for the people of God to see. Commandment is intolerant. It focuses its its importance within this is an intense commandment to is where I want to direct your attention to Deuteronomy 6 verses four through nine. This is really just an application of the first commandment the 10 Commandments are given in Deuteronomy 5 also and you you hear those words here oh Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one Lord love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength. Literally, verse five verse five says with your whole heart. The center of who you are.

The controlling command center of your life should be centered upon God with all your soul, that is, with every fiber of your being from the top of your head to the soles of your P's feet, and with all of your much in its with all your strength. With that is with everything that you have, that's pretty all-encompassing, just as you think about yourself personally. Then think about how it extends itself out into the world with your family and your family circle when you're sitting down when you're waking up when you're walking upon the law or roadway should be talking about the word of God. The commands of God the desires of God with those that you love and use either the intensity of the commandment. It deals with the person. Every fiber of the persons, be it deals with every level of society.

Beginning with the home and working itself out word she see the intensity of this commandment, all-encompassing God is to be in the center and there's a passion here heart, soul, strength every area waking, sleeping, sitting with your family with your family without your family, your whole heart. Is this the type of intensity that you bring to your relationship with Yahweh triune God of Scripture. Do you treasure do you price him. Do you long for him and Pat for him sold 42 as it dear pants for living water. I know you I know you see why this is so important in a and in someone is probably listening, saying, okay Bruce, this is the Sunday evening crowd where here on Sunday evening were here this morning I put my my offering in the offering plate mile.

I want my life to revolve around I'm going to read my Bible someday this week I'm going to read my Bible several times this week were going to talk about the Scriptures together in the home, but what are we going to do in the margins in the places where we want to keep away from God we going to do with the 15 minutes when the ClickBank comes up upon our computer with that amount of time really be zealous and passionate for him.

We going to do with the the extra change of the are the money in our lives when God calls us to steward every penny for his glory. We going to do in that area of our lives we going to do in the Lord places upon our heart.

The need to call and repair or restore a relationship that that we know we've been putting to the back burner and we can we know that there could be some gospel good if we would humble ourselves, or we going to do with our time when when James tells us that the tongue is a world of a fire that it that it can set the whole world ablaze organa tamer tongue because God he claims all of us.

If these and the sooner he gets every piece, every portion, every bit of us. We can't say it's only five minutes.

We can't say it's only five bucks.

We can't say it's only five words.

Everything belongs to him.

He's he's called us into an exclusive intense whole right life relationship with himself and he's a jealous God. This this command covers it all. 11 Exodus 20 verse three is not telling you to be mildly probe God is telling you to be a passionate lover of his truth of his word and of all that he calls you to do in the world. This is an issue of craving. I can read over this commandment and I can breeze by when I read places like Psalm 43 or David says in verse four I go to the altar of God to God, my joy and my delight that cuts me to the quick because I have to ask myself, Bruce, do you love, do I run to the house of God for his truth, for his ways. MI passionate about making God, my joy and my treasure. This is a command that calls us to to delight in him, so this commandment is intolerant. This commandment is important its intense.

I want you to also see that the intent of the command as we would close here. This commandment is calling you to keep the King of Kings at the center of your life. But as it does so. It's also making you a promise.

One could say that this commandment have no other gods besides me is really just say have no other gods because there are no other gods you need no other God, the Lord is saying I am the ruler maker sustainer with me at the sooner you have all you need. I am sufficient for your life, and NS.

The flipside of this commandment. That's the positive reality of what were being told. This commandment is it was given to Israel to keep her liberated to remind her that there are no other gods and to be devoted to him gives the people of God.

All they need is a blessing and a gift that's its true intent, CH Spurgeon tells of a time when he had his pastors college and seminary and try to keep a close eye on a young man in his ranks because he noticed that the young men's clothes were often tattered, spoiled, and so one day he decided to do something about it.

He asked the young man to run an errand for him. He told him he said take this note to this address and wait for reply and that was the demand young man was very beautiful. He went up on his way. He went to this place. It was an odd place looked almost like a tailor shop, he handed it to the person and when the reply came. It was a new pair of pants, shirt, and a coat for the young man free of charge. That's the intent of this command. No other gods have no other because you need no other. I will give you all you need.

I am sufficient for you may assault they we all hear the word of this command and remind ourselves in it. Yes, it is a call the cultural engagement is a call to reform and shape our lives and sometimes we can fill the heaviness in the burden of it that the commandment puts a mirror in front of us and helps us see our fault, but all of it is to drive us to Jesus Christ as a gracious demand that the Lord gives us and we come to him. Father, son and Holy Spirit. We hear his words words of Romans 831 and 32. What then shall we say in response to these things, God is for us who can be against us.

He who did not spare his own son but gave them up for us all, how will he not, how will he not also, along with him graciously give us all free.

God is given us everything we need in the work of his son and because of the Lord Jesus Christ we have the prime example and model of the one who has devoted his life is meat. It is great every portion, every, every, every fiber of his being devoted to the one who called him is given us an example, and he's given us the foundation for living a life with the king at the center of life is pray and ask the Lord to help us do that as his demand must pray together, gracious God and Savior Iran is searching, Lord, it penetrates us humbles us the places a mirror before her eyes and helps us to see our failings. Lord and her need pray to God that your word in its commandments are also a map, Lord, it gives us a path to run on a gracious guide to remind us Lord were to turn and who will give us everything that we abundantly need. We praise you Lord for the one who has given us the first commandment deed. All the commandments we ask you to help us to keep them front and center to reform our lives. Lord and seek his grace so that we might reflect the image and glory of Christ. We pray in Jesus name