The First Commandment

I posted reflections on the first commandment at Out of the Ordinary today.

To keep the commandment to worship the Lord our God and no other god, we need to know him as he has revealed himself. When our view of God is skewed, it isn’t quite the one true God we are holding in our minds when we worship. To the extent that our view of God is different than his self-revelation, we are  “exchanging the truth of God for a lie” (Romans 1:25)—and that’s idolatry. This is why the Westminster Larger Catechism lists ignorance and misapprehensions of God right beside unbelief and misbelief in the list of sins forbidden by the first commandment. 

Read the whole post.

Theological Term of the Week

prayer
“An offering up of our desires unto God, for things agreeable to his will, in the name of Christ, with confession of our sins,and thankful acknowledgment of his mercies”:1 personal communication with God;2 speaking with God.

• From scripture:

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior … .  (1 Timothy 2:1-3 ESV)

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Heidelberg Catechism

Question 12. Since according to the righteous judgment of God, we deserve temporal and eternal punishment, is there no way by which we may escape this punishment, and be received again into favour?

Answer: God will have his justice satisfied. (a) Therefore we must make this full satisfaction, either by ourselves, or through another. (b)

(Click through to see scriptural proofs.)

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