Enjoying Life Under the Sun

Q. What is the second law of the LORD?   You shall not make for yourself a graven image,   or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above,   or that is in the earth beneath,   or that is in the water under the earth;   you shall not bow down to them or serve them;  ...for I the LORD your God am a jealous God,  visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me,  but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love Me and keep My commandments. Reading the first and the second commandments, you might ask what difference exists between them, for they appear to deal with the same thing.  The first commandment reads, “You shall have no other gods before Me.”  The second reads, “You shall not make a graven image of any likeness...”  Even though they appear to be the same, they deal with two different subjects.  The first commandment deals...

The first commandment says that we are to trust wholly in God and in no other.  We must depend completely and only upon Him.  We must expect all good from Him alone. There are a number of things which we must know before we can really trust God.  1. God’s omnipotence.  Unless we believe that God has complete power, we cannot have complete trust in him.  We must believe that He is able to do anything that He wants to do.  We must believe that nothing is impossible with Him.  2. God’s love.  If we have any doubts about God’s love for us, we will not fully trust Him.  For we do not trust one who hates us.  We do not trust our enemies.  We trust our friends who love us.  Now God has revealed His great love for us in His Son. Surely if God has given us such a great gift as His only begotten and well-beloved Son,  He will surely give us all that we need (Romans 8:32). 3. God’s faithfulness.  There are times when we must exp...

1. You shall have no other gods before Me. Q. What does the LORD require in the first commandment?  That I rightly come to know the only true God,  John 17:3  And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.  trust in Him alone,  Jeremiah 17:5  Thus says the LORD: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the LORD.”  Jeremiah 17:7  Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD.  submit to Him with all humility  1 Peter 5:5-6  Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”  Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,  and patience,  Romans 5:3-4  And not only that, but we also glory in ...

Q. What is the law of the LORD?  God spoke all these words, saying: I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.  1. You shall have no other gods before Me. Q. What does the LORD require in the first commandment?  That for the sake of my very salvation I avoid and flee all idolatry,  1 Corinthians 6:9-10  Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,  nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.  1 Corinthians 10:5-14  But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.  Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.  And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is writt...

Q. But what are good works?  Only those which are done out of true faith,   in accordance with the law of God,   and to His glory,  and not those based on our own opinion or on precepts of men.  For the Bible Tells Me So... John 15:5  I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.  Romans 14:23  But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin. Hebrews 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.  Leviticus 18:4  ‘You shall observe My judgments and keep My ordinances, to walk in them: I am the LORD your God.  1 Samuel 15:22  Then Samuel said: “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behol...

What is the coming to life of the new nature?  It is a heartfelt joy in God through Christ,  and a love and delight to live according to the will of God in all good works. For the Bible Tells Me So... Psalm 51:8  Make me hear joy and gladness, that the bones You have broken may rejoice.  Psalm 51:12  Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit.  Isaiah 57:15  For thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.  Romans 5:1  Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,  Romans 14:17  for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.  Romans 6:10-11  For the death that He died, He died to ...