Catechetical sermons preached in PCC Evening Worship Services, Feb 2013 to Dec 2017
WSC 45-48 of 107
“Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3).
WSC 45. Which is the First Commandment?
A. The First Commandment is, Thou shalt have no other gods before me.1
1Ex 20:3.
WSC 46. What is required in the First Commandment?
A. The First Commandment requireth us to know and acknowledge God to be the only true God, and our God,1 and to worship and glorify Him accordingly.2
11 Chr 28:9; Dt 26:17; 2Mt 4:10; Ps 29:2.
WSC 47. What is forbidden in the First Commandment?
A. The First Commandment forbiddeth the denying,1 or not worshipping and glorifying the true God as God,2 and our God;3 and the giving of that worship and glory to any other, which is due to Him alone.4
1Ps 14:1; 2Rom 1:21; 3Ps 81:10–11; 4Rom 1:25.
WSC 48. What are we specially taught by these words “before me” in the First Commandment?
A. These words—“before me,”—in the First Commandment, teach us, That God, who seeth all things, taketh notice of, and is much displeased with, the sin of having any other god.1
1Rom 1:20–21; Ps 44:20–21; Ezk 8:5–18.
We have entered into a study of the Ten Commandments as part of our exposition series based on the Westminster Shorter Catechism. In this sermon, the Lord helping us, we shall consider questions 45-48.
Thus far, we have considered how the Ten Commandments summarise God’s Revealed Will as the duty God requires of men. We have noted how the sum of the Ten Commandments is love. We must obey God if we love Him; we must obey Him in love. God would have us obey Him out of love and gratitude because He is our LORD, our Creator, and our Redeemer.
The Ten Commandments are, no doubt, in God’s mind, of paramount importance for mankind and especially for His people to know. In a way, it defines the heart of His relationship with His people. He spoke it audibly in the hearing of His people as a whole. It alone was inscribed by the finger of God, not once but twice. It alone is kept in the ark of the covenant, which is placed in the Holy of Holies in the Holy Tabernacle of God.
But it is also the summary of God’s Moral Law. As such, all men, whether Christian or non-Christian, must obey it, though only genuine believers, enabled by grace, will love and desire to obey it.
Yes, all true Christians will love it. If you do not love the Law of God, you cannot possibly be a believer because the Lord Jesus Christ says, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (Jn 14:15). The Ten Commandments are the commandments of Christ. In His earthly ministry, recorded in Matthew and Mark alone, Christ taught the observance of all ten commandments! It is, as such, essential for all of us to know the commandments well.
With this in mind, the Lord helping us, we must consider the First Commandment today. We want to do so by considering six simple propositions. See if you can discover the acrostic as I list them.
- Only a fool says there is no God
- Not only worship of idols, but all idolatry is forbidden
- Equalising all religions, or pluralism, is condemned
- God—the alone living and true God—must be worshipped exclusively
- Other than God, nothing should receive unqualified glory
- Doing or saying anything that detracts from God’s glory violates the First Commandment
1. Only a Fool Says There Is No God
“The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God,” says the Psalmist (Ps 14:1). Therefore, the fool is an atheist. An atheist does not believe in the existence of God. An atheist is a fool.
Today, atheism appears to be in vogue in many countries, and many militant atheists would put up huge and expensive advertisements to promote their cause. There are even Hollywood films that promote atheism.
Now, it is not so evident that the First Commandment condemns atheism. But it is implied, for the only living and true God has spoken and called upon His people and all men to acknowledge Him as God and the only true God. Therefore, as our Shorter Catechism, Q. 47 puts it: “The First Commandment forbiddeth the denying, or not worshipping and glorifying the true God as God…”
This implies that it is rebellion to believe that there is no God. In fact, as the apostle Paul teaches us in Romans 1, there are no natural atheists in the world. All men, created in the image of God, know in their hearts that God is. All atheists speak of not believing in the existence of God because they hold down, or suppress the truth in unrighteousness. Why do they do so? Because they hate God! Because they love their idols. “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon,” says the Lord Jesus (Mt 6:24). Man is designed to serve something. If he does not serve God, he will serve an idol. What is the idol of the fool? Money, possession, status, lust of the flesh, etc.
So, secondly, let us be clear that the First Commandment also condemns idolatry. Indeed, …
2. Not only Worship of Idols, but All Idolatry Is Forbidden
The LORD says, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” This is as clear a condemnation of idolatry as there can be. Now, idolatry is not simply about worshipping idols of wood and stone. Idolatry is essentially the worship of anything other than the living and true God.
Whatever is worshipped that is not the living and true God is an idol. This idol could be made into an image of wood and stone like those found in Taoist and Hindu temples.
Or, it may even be a god of man’s imagination, which is not worshipped using images. The god of Islam is an idol by this definition. So is the god of the Jews today, for the Jews deny that God is triune, so the god they worship is not the living and true God revealed in the Scriptures.
In fact, an idol may not even be a religious entity, as we saw in our first point. When the apostle Paul says, “Coveteousness is idolatry” (Col 3:5), he essentially links the Tenth Commandment with the First. Anything that a person loves more than God or regards to be so important that he is willing to violate God’s laws to get it—is an idol to him. It may be a material thing, a car, or money; or it may be a person: a film star or a loved one; or it may be a career or a degree. Whatever it is, God says, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”
Beloved brethren, children, and friends, I trust that none of us here are religious idolaters in that you hold to another religion and serve another god. The Scripture teaches us that there is only one living and true God, and that the Lord Jesus Christ is the only way to Him. In fact, the apostle Paul reminds us in no uncertain terms that all false religions have demonic origins. “When the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God,” insists Paul (1 Cor 10:20). Are you guilty of idolatry, dear friends? May I urge you to turn away from your sin and seek the Living and True God.
But brethren and children, though you are Christian, you must understand that it is possible for you to fall into materialistic idolatry. Remember that as soon as you are willing to compromise obedience to the LORD to get something, you have essentially fallen into idolatry.
Idolatry, beloved brethren and children, is condemned in the First Commandment. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all the things you need in this life will be added unto you.
But thirdly, …
3. Equalising all Religion, or Pluralism, Is Condemned
What is pluralism? Pluralism is the belief that all gods and religions ultimately lead to the same goal.
When the LORD says, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me,” He is not only condemning idolatry but pluralism as well: for there were amongst God’s people those who would worship Jehovah, who would have no qualms about praying to pagan idols such as Baal, Astheroth or Chemosh.
Today, Pluralism is often found in multi-faith societies like ours. There is, we must remember, a difference between a multi-faith society and a pluralistic society. A multi-faith society is one in which adherents of different religions dwell together in harmony and tolerance. It is commendable that Singapore can function as a multi-faith society, and we should teach our children to maintain that attitude of tolerance and benevolence.
However, pluralism is quite another kettle of fish. Pluralism contradicts the First Commandment and is detrimental to the cultivation of true religion. But pluralism is rife amongst the religious persons in our society.
How do you know whether a person is a pluralist? Well, when you talk to a person about religion, and he tells you that every religion is the same, or that they fundamentally teach the same thing, or that they all lead to heaven, then you know you are talking to a pluralist. You may realise that many of our senior citizens, including some who attend church, are actually pluralists.
The pluralist can accept that Christ is a way to God. But he will insist that Christ is not the only way. The Virgin Mary is another way, Islam is another way, and so is Judaism, Buddhism, Taoism, Sikhism, or Hinduism.
Now, we really need not be concerned about pluralists who do not profess to be Christians since they would be violating the First Commandment regardless of whether they are pluralistic or not.
However, quite sadly, there are many professing Christians who are actually pluralistic, and we are not just talking about uneducated or ignorant persons. I am talking about ministers, churches, and denominations. The World Council of Churches is essentially a vehicle to encourage pluralism today. Even such great names as Billy Graham actually held to pluralism. Billy Graham once suggested that sincere Buddhists and Muslims who do not even know the name of Jesus are saved and going to heaven![1]
“How can it be?” you say, “our First Commandment says, ‘Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” “Ah,” says the Christian pluralist, “You don’t know the Scripture. The commandment says, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” It does not say, ‘There are no other gods,’ or ‘You may not have any other gods.’ It simply says that the Christian God or Yahweh should be prioritised. He must be the chief of the gods!”
But beloved brethren and children, this reasoning cannot be correct. The Scripture allows no place for pluralism. The apostle Paul could not have used a more robust statement when he said, “When the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God” (1 Cor 10:20). The pluralist and the Scripture cannot both be right. Either Scripture is wrong, or the pluralist is wrong. We do not doubt that the Scripture is correct. On the other hand, it is not difficult to prove that pluralism is wrong. It is wrong because it is contradictory and anti-biblical.
Can the pluralist possibly be correct when each religion has its contradictory claim?
Can Christianity, which believes that there is only one God and only one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, be said to be sharing only a part of the truth alongside the Muslim, which denies that Christ is God or mediator?
Can Christianity be said to agree with the 360 million gods of Hindus?
Can Christianity be said to agree with Judaism, which claims that Jesus either never existed or was merely a disillusioned Jew?
Can Christianity agree with Buddhism, which claims that after this life, you will be reincarnated in endless circles until you reach the bliss of Nirvana or nothingness?
Indeed, can Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Sikhism, and the rest of the religions of the world all be true when they contradict each other?
Furthermore, will the pluralist agree to the Christian assertion that all other religions are wrong and are to be destroyed by the preaching of the Word of God?
The living and True God has spoken: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” You cannot have it both ways. You can either obey God or hold to the tenets of pluralism and deny God. What is the proper interpretation of the words “before me,” then? Our Shorter Catechism Q. 48 puts it, “The words ‘before me’ teach us that God who sees all things, takes notice of, and is much displeased with the sin of having any other god” (WSC 48). The words condemn pluralism.
Therefore, let us consider fourthly how the First Commandment commands exclusivism, for…
[1] Dr Billy Graham’s comment on On 31st May, 1997 while interviewed by Dr Robert Schuller
4. God, the Alone Living and True God, Must Be Worshipped Exclusively
The alone Living and True God has spoken. He says, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”
Now, note again that this does not mean Jehovah must be number one. The Hebrew for “before me” may be literally translated as “before my face.” It speaks of living Coram Deo, before the face of God—God who is everywhere present, all-knowing, and all-seeing.
Therefore, The First Commandment teaches us that we must neither worship, conceive of, nor admit the existence of any other gods. The religion revealed in the Bible is monotheistic from cover to cover. Moses declares to the people:
“The LORD he is God; there is none else beside Him.… the LORD He is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else” (Dt 4:35, 39).
Jeremiah adds: “But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king” (Jer 10:10a). In so saying, he affirms that the other so-called gods are both false and dead.
These false gods are as dead and as impotent as the idols that represent them. As the Psalmist puts it:
“Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat” (Ps 115:4-7).
Only the God of the Bible is self-existent. He introduced Himself to Moses as the “I AM” or “I AM THAT I AM.” Only the God of the Bible is the Creator. All other gods are created in the imagination of man under the instigation of Satan. Only the God of the Bible is omnipotent—all-powerful, omniscient—all-knowing, and omnipresent—always present. Only the God of the Bible is holy, just and loving. Only the God of the Bible has taken on human nature to suffer and die for His people. All the gods of man’s imagination must be sought after; the God of the Bible alone seeks to save His people. Let us not forget that!
Not only is there one God but there is only one way to Him, even the way revealed in His holy Word. Christ said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (Jn 14:6). He is not saying that He is the means of salvation, even for those who have never heard of Him nor believe Him. There are no secret trap door to heaven! Only those who trust in Christ and personally embrace Him may have salvation. The Apostle John says, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (Jn 1:12). The Apostle Peter adds, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
You cannot be a Christian and a pluralist at the same time. A Christian is necessarily an exclusivist. Christianity teaches that the only religion instituted by God is the religion of the Bible. All other religions in the world are borne out of the fallen imagination of man. We must not even say that Christianity is nearest to the truth. Christianity IS the truth.
God has revealed. God has spoken: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” The First Commandment requires us to be exclusive trinitarian monotheists and to believe that the God of the Bible alone is the Living and True God. Thus, we are taught in the 46th question of our Shorter Catechism:
“WSC 46. What is required in the First Commandment?
A. The First Commandment requireth us to know and acknowledge God to be the only true God, and our God,and to worship and glorify Him accordingly.”
This leads us to our fifth point, namely, …
5. Other than God, Nothing Should Receive Unqualified Glory
The second part of Q. 47 of our catechism teaches us:
“The First Commandment forbiddeth… the giving of that worship and glory to any other, which is due to him alone” (WSC 47).
But what is it to give God the glory?
In his famous exposition of the Ten Commandments, John Calvin lists four things that belong to God alone, by which God is to be glorified. They are Adoration, Trust, Invocation, and Thanksgiving:
i. Adoration. This refers to love and worship for God. “Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness” (Ps 29:2), says the Psalmist. Every Christian must ascribe glory to God and learn to praise Him and Him alone.
ii. Trust. In Calvin’s words, this refers to “judging that we are blessed only by communion with Him as we rest on His wisdom, righteousness, might, truth and goodness.” In other words, we are not to place our ultimate faith and trust in anything else or anyone else but in God.
This does not mean we cannot trust our friends, parents, or anyone else. It means, instead, that we must rely on God to provide our needs and direct our lives.
iii. Invocation. This refers to the habit of our minds when in dire need. The First Commandment reminds us to resort to God’s faithfulness and help as our only support at such times. In other words, we must always first call out to God through Christ to help us in times of need. It means that when you are ill, the first person you should call out to should not be the doctor but your Heavenly Father. “Ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father,” says Paul (Rom 8:15b).
iv. Thanksgiving. This refers to the gratitude with which we ascribe praise to God for all good things. It is one of the most prominent ways unbelievers violate the First Commandment. When Paul begins his discourse about the unbelief of the Gentiles, one of the first sins he highlights is ingratitude:
“…when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were they thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish hearts was darkened” (Rom 1:21).
Besides God, nothing should receive unqualified glory, whether through adoration, trust, invocation, or thanksgiving.
But conversely and practically, let us remember …
6. Doing or Saying Anything that Detracts from God’s Glory Violates the First Commandment
How so? Let’s consider the four ways to glorify God given by Calvin: Adoration, Trust, Invocation, and Thanksgiving.
i. Adoration. How do you detract from God’s glory by way of adoration?
Well, suppose you visit a pagan temple and put your hands together in a gesture of prayer to the idols. Then, whether you believe the idols to be gods or simply wooden statues, you have violated the First Commandment. If you have a poster of a soccer star or movie star in your room and spend a lot of time looking at it and dreaming of meeting the person, you have also broken the First Commandment. There is such a thing as hero worship.
Indeed, if Christ is not the first love of your life, you have broken this commandment. If you love anyone more than you love Christ and are even willing to do what Christ has forbidden to please the person, then you have broken this commandment. Christians must give their highest adoration and love to God alone. Every unbeliever is constantly incurring the wrath of God by breaking the First Commandment.
ii. Trust. How do you detract from God’s glory by way of trust?
The Psalmist says, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God”(Ps 20:7). Today, there are no horses and chariots. But there is technology and wealth. If you trust in technology or your wealth, you have violated the First Commandment.
Likewise, if you have consulted a Fengshui man to position your furniture to get better luck, or read the Horoscope to know how to live this week, you have grievously violated this commandment.
Indeed, if you carry a lucky charm, or even a crucifix or cross, believing that that will bring you luck or protection from evil, you are also breaking the First Commandment. You have given the trust that should be directed to God alone to some abominable superstitions.
iii. Invocation. How do you detract from God’s glory by way of invocation?
Well, anyone who prays through Mary as a co-mediatrix violates the First Commandment. There is no co-mediatrix in the Scripture. The Scripture recognises only one mediator: Christ Jesus. If you have addressed Mary or any of the saints or angels, you have violated the First Commandment and blasphemed God.
It also means that if you have touched wood or crossed your fingers to ward off bad luck, you have violated the First Commandment. Who are you invoking when you do all those things? Certainly not God! There is no such thing as harmless superstitions. Whatever you are invoking by those superstitious actions, you have transgressed the First Commandment. Indeed, you should never wish someone “good luck.” There is no such thing as luck. Say instead, “May the Lord grant you grace or success.” Do not use the dreadful phrase “good luck.”
iv. Thanksgiving. How do you detract from God’s glory by way of thanksgiving?
Well, if you are full of complaints and murmuring, you are behaving like the unbelievers and breaking the First Commandment. One of the chief qualities of the Christian is thankfulness. Paul says:
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving” (Col 2:6-7).
Beloved brethren and children, if you would keep the first commandment, let your heart be filled constantly with thanksgiving to God for every blessing received. Indeed, it is the will of God that you give thanks in all circumstances, including unhappy ones (1 Th 5:18).
Conclusion
God has spoken: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” How do you measure up to this First Commandment, dear brethren, children, and friends?
Consider again what we are taught in our catechism:
“WSC 45. Which is the first commandment?
A. The First Commandment is, thou shalt have no other gods before me.
WSC 46. What is required in the First Commandment?
A. The First Commandment requireth us to know and acknowledge God to be the only true God, and our God, and to worship and glorify Him accordingly.
WSC 47. What is forbidden in the First Commandment?
A. The First Commandment forbiddeth the denying, or not worshipping and glorifying the true God as God, and our God; and the giving of that worship and glory to any other, which is due to him alone.
WSC 48. What are we specially taught by these words “before me” in the First Commandment?
A. These words “before me,” in the First Commandment, teach us, That God, who seeth all things, taketh notice of, and is much displeased with, the sin of having any other god.”
From these statements, we have considered six simple propositions:
- Only a fool says there is no God
- Not only worship of idols, but all idolatry is forbidden
- Equalising all religions or pluralism is condemned
- God, the alone living and true God, must be worshipped exclusively
- Other than God, nothing should receive unqualified glory
- Doing or saying anything that detracts from God’s glory is sinful.
Consider these propositions. Have you kept the First Commandment? I am not sure about you, but I know I fall short in many ways. Indeed, pride makes me an I-dolator even before I consider anything else. But thank God there is deliverance in Christ. We are without hope, except He first kept the law for us, then covered us with His righteousness, and then made us willing and able to keep His commandment out of love and gratitude. Thank God for the Lord Jesus Christ; there is no hope, no joy, no peace without him, for we have barely entered the door of the commandments, and we find ourselves failing miserably. Amen.
—JJ Lim