The Ten Commandments

Number 1

Exodus 20: 1-3

February 25, 2007

Ex 20:1-3

And God spoke all these words: “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.”

You may not realize it, but the Law of God is very effective in leading sinners to Christ. I hope to help you see just how effective it is. Many non-Christians will say, “I’m as good as any Christian!” But a Christian, by himself, isn’t good. Only God is good. The only goodness that a Christian has comes from Jesus. Without Christ, man is corrupt and filthy. “There is no one good, no not one.” Rom 3:10

There is a key to reaching the lost. It’s biblical and has been used for centuries. Jesus used it. Paul used it. James used it. Stephen used it. Peter used it. But the Pharisees bent it out of shape so it wouldn’t work. Satan hates it. It is the Law of Moses. The Bible says the “law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers” (1 Tim 1:8-10). This law is the Ten Commandments and it is the key to reaching the lost. It shows a person that he is a sinner.

To the person who said he was as good as any Christian, listen to this conversation:

Okay, then. Have you ever told a lie?

Never.

Not once? Not a fib, white lie, half-truth, or an exaggeration?

Never.

You have always spoken the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?

Yep.

Have you ever stolen anything?

Never.

Not even a ballpoint pen?

Never!

Okay. Have you kept the first of the Ten Commandments?

Yep.

What is it?

I don’t know.

It is to put God first in your life. Have you loved God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength?

Yet.

The Bible says that there are none who seek after God. So one of you is lying - either you or God, and the Bible says that it’s impossible for God to lie. So you’ve broken the first of the Ten Commandments, and you’ve broken the ninth by lying. You will be in big trouble on Judgment Day.

So let’s look at the Ten Commandments one-by-one. This morning we’ll look at number one “No other god’s before me — God is number One!”

This proves He isn’t the only God! That’s true because man has always made false gods. Hindus have millions of gods. Sometimes they’re made of wood or stone. The Egyptians worshiped the sun, cats, dead things, fire, water, the sky, the weather, the seasons. Today some cultures worship rocks and trees and animals. Some so-called “sophisticated” cultures worship ideas, people, philosophies. And it’s becoming increasingly popular to simply worship yourself — that’s what “humanism” is all about: making yourself and your needs the number one focus of your life. Whatever the case, making a god to suit yourself is called idolatry and it’s a transgression of the first and second commandments.

We are to have no other gods before the one true God. He is to be preeminent in our hearts. The most quoted verse in the Bible is “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” Deut 6:4-9

And here’s a question for you: Why would you want any other gods besides the one true God?
-He is GOD! What more is there to say?
-He is the one who spoke and the stars burst forth into existence.
-He is the one who breathed life into dust and created man.
-He is the one who stands outside of time and space, who knows all things, who holds all power in his hands, who is infinite and holy and beyond anything you and I can even pretend to imagine.
-He is the one who has spoken to mankind, who has reached out to everyone who has ever walked this planet.
-He is that still, small voice that whispers to our soul on those nights when we’re staring at the ceiling trying to figure things out.
-He is the one who has shared every moment of your life in our presence and he still loves us.
-He is the one who is eager to hear about our joys, our frustrations, our struggles, and our sorrows.
-He knows us inside and out; he knew us before we were born, he knows the number of hairs on our heads, he knows our dreams and our heartaches, and he knows the day we will die.

Why would anyone want a substitute when he can have the one true God?
Where do you start? Probably the best place is to take a good long look at your life with eyes wide open and the courage to deal with the truth. Is God number one in the big choices you make in life — career, family, and that sort of thing? What about the little choices — those day-to-day decisions about what you’re doing and with whom you’re doing it?
God is number one. In fact, he is number one in the universe whether we choose to acknowledge it or not. But he wants us to choose him for ourselves — to bow down before him in all things with overflowing joy because we love him so much.
Question: Of all the people spoken of in the Bible (other than Jesus), who would you say best lived out the Lord’s first commandment? Job, Paul, Ruth, Mary?
The LORD your God is the God of the Bible – the Old and New Testaments. He’s Triune – Father, Son, and Spirit. That means that He’s different from the Allah, the god of Islam. He’s different from the gods of Hinduism and Buddhism. People want to say that all religions are basically the same. Islam and Christianity have different gods. They cannot both be right.
False gods arise from wrong loyalties. Even atheists have a god. What I mean is this: In everyone’s heart – at the core of everyone’s being – is something that drives us, something that energizes us, something that’s a real priority for us. And that something is our god – whether we want to call it that or not.
Anything (or anyone) you love more than God becomes your god.
When God says “no” to sex outside marriage, when God says “no” to getting drunk, when God says “no” to pornography, but you say “yes” because you love it, then pleasure is your god. When you spend an inordinate amount of time and money in pursuit of great physical fitness, but you neglect yoursoul, then your health is your god. Anything you love more than God becomes your god.
Anything (or anyone) you trust more than God becomes your god.
When God says for you to give generously – to tithe ten percent of your income to build His kingdom, but you withhold your tithes and offerings because you don’t trust Him to meet your needs if you give to Him first, then money (or a sense of security) is your god. Anything you trust more than God is your god.
Anything (or anyone) you delight in more than God becomes your god.
When you take great delight in your house, your clothes, your car, but show little interest in your spiritual growth, then your things have become your god. Anything you delight in more than God becomes your god.
Anything (or anyone) that comforts you more than God…becomes your god.
Anything (or anyone) you serve more than God becomes your god.
When you spend 60-70 hours a week on the job but can’t find any time to serve Christ, then your career is your god. When you spend every moment off the job pouring your resources of time, talent, and treasure into your family but can’t find any time to serve Christ’s church, then your family is your god. When you spend every spare minute seeking to be a great athlete, then sports is your god. Anything you serve more than God is your god.

Then Joshua said to the people, “You will not be able to serve the LORD, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgression or your sins.
If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you after He has done good to you.
Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.
If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Now therefore… incline your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.”
The people said to Joshua, “We will serve the LORD our God and we will obey His voice.” Joshua 24:19-20, 14-15, 23-24
Who’s on the throne of your life today? Who is in charge? Who’s in charge? Who’s making the decisions? Your answer affects the quality of your life now…. And the destiny of your life later.
Is He number one in your life?