In part one of this series we focused on the fact that the God of the Old Testament (Covenant) made it clear that God is the true Christian’s ONLY GOD. The other God (the Word–Jn. 1:1-4,14) came to earth as a man named Jesus of Nazareth Who lived, taught and died for mankind. When Jesus said that He and God were “one” (Jn. 10:30), He meant one in character, will, etc. The same is true of the true saint who is “one” with both Father and Son (Jn. 17:21). Those who refuse to obey their Word are one with Satan.

Relative to this series generally and this posting specifically, the man Jesus had one God. If we are on earth as He was on earth (1 Jn. 2:6), we can have only one God as did the Christ (anointed one). Biblically, the MAN Jesus (1 Tim. 2:5) is now our spiritual Brother IF we “walk” (live) as He lived as while on earth. In Matthew 12:46-50 Jesus tells us that His true spiritual brethren are: “… WHOSOEVER DOES THE WILL OF MY FATHER IN HEAVEN.” The Ten Commandments are GOD’S WRITTEN PROCLAMATION OF HIS WILL.

Commandment # 2: This commandment is equally as important as commandment number one. We are told that the entire Law of God “hangs on these two commandments” (Mat. 22:40). The word “hang” relative to the Law is used because in the Hebrew language words extend downward from the line while English words rise upward from the line. The entirety of the Law is encompassed within commandments one and two, both of which involve the foundation for worshiping and serving God as well as for worshiping and serving a false God–a deadly sin known Biblically as IDOLATRY. In several series involving that most deadly of sins I refer to idolatry as man’s gateway sin and the basis for all of mankind’s other sins. Simply stated: ALL SIN IS IDOLATRY. The idolatry series can be reached using the word–Idolatry.

In order to discuss the first two commandments they must be combined into one topic, for in reality, they are, like Jesus and the Father, one. Idolatry is the foundation for all sin because it comes naturally for unconverted mankind. The fact is, we have all been guilty of idolatry at some point of our lives. We can become attached to an entity that, if not kept in its rightful spiritual place, can become, in the eyes of God, another god to us. Such things as sports, drinks, foods, television programs, sex, games, etc. can, and often do, become something we feel we cannot do without. The object becomes like an addictive drug. These things by nature are not sins, but if they become too important to us, they become sins in the eyes of God–THE ONLY EYES THAT COUNT. WE MUST NOT VIEW SUCH THINGS THROUGH OUR OWN EYES, BUT RATHER THROUGH THE EYES OF GOD, WHO VIEWS THEM FROM A TOTALLY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE. I pointed out to a close relative that the wearing of wedding bands by married couples comes from heathen sun worshipers and signified that the couple was united in their worship of the sun. Her reply was typical: “But that’s not why I do it.” Problem solved, right? Wrong.

God commands that we “abstain from even the appearance of evil” (1 Thes. 5:22). Other symbols of paganism such as crosses, fish symbols, statues, pictures, movies and television programs that depict Jesus Christ are, in God’s view, heathen abominations. I was addicted to watching sports on television until God got hold of me, called me into His ministry and showed me what it took to be one of His Very Elect saints. I asked Him to remove my sports addiction. He did–instantly, totally and permanently–because He knew that I wanted more than anything else in this life to please Him. Today, nothing, not family, not possessions, not even life itself is as important to me as pleasing the Father and the Son. They taught me early on that there is only one way to please them–TOTAL AND CONTINUOUS OBEDIENCE TO THEIR LAW. No amount of religiosity will substitute for strict obedience to the Ten Commandments which must be obeyed in both letter and spirit.

In Luke 18:18-23 we find Jesus speaking to a rich man who, having found Him, had run to Him, fallen to His knees before Him and asked Him what he must do in order to inherit eternal life. Jesus told him that he had to stop lusting for things. The man would not receive salvation because he refused to obey commandment number 10. We must not take commandment keeping lightly. Many who call themselves Christians believe that the Law of God was nailed to the cross of Jesus Christ. However, the earthly life of Jesus exposes that belief for what it is–one of Satan’s many lies which he has deceived the church into embracing. Jesus, who practiced what He preached, shows us how He felt about the Law He supposedly did away with. He said: “I have kept My Father’s commandments” (Jn. 15:10). In so doing He kept Himself in God’s love (Jn. 15:10). In that same verse He tells us that in order to remain in His (Christ’s) love we must follow His example of commandment-keeping. In First John 2:3-5 the apostle makes an even stronger case for obeying God’s Law. Those who study the Old Testament know that it is written therein that the Lord’s Messiah would come to earth to “magnify the Law and make it honorable” (again)–Isaiah 42:21. Throughout what has come to be known as “The Sermon on the Mount” Jesus clarified, illustrated and amplified the Ten Commandments. Bear in mind that the sermon was taught to His disciples. He was telling them that they must set the example of holiness and righteousness that come only through obedience to God’s Law. Those who followed their example would spend eternity with Him and Them; those who did not would not. In the final analysis, where we spend eternity is determined by man himself. God has laid out the path to paradise; we decide if we will walk it. Jesus said that few would.

In His most famous sermon Jesus left no doubt that His chosen and sent ministers must obey and teach all ten of the Father’s commandments–not just a select few. He also make it clear that nothing was to be changed, diluted, misapplied, added to or removed from those life-giving commands from God Himself. Religious man, both Christian and otherwise, is basically heathen. By virtue of the fact that only a minutely few believe and obey the writings of the one and only true God reveals that the vast majority of people on earth have exalted themselves over the Biblical God. When we decide that one of His ten commands is no longer to be obeyed, we place ourselves on God’s throne. This was Adam and Eve’s basic sin–they became their own self-appointed, self-anointed gods. The Lord said so when He noted that “The man (Adam) has become (made himself) AS ONE OF US–ABLE TO DETRMINE GOOD AND EVIL” (Gen. 3:22). Only a God can determine good and evil. Churchman has replaced the one true God with himself by choosing to reject one of the commandments in His Law. In so doing he has broken the first commandment, thereby making himself his own god. L.J.