Introduction: Some hyper-dispensational Bible teachers would have us to believe that we are living in the age of grace while those in the Old Testament times were living under the law. They say that those in the Old Testament were saved by the keeping of the law and that violation that law would mean not only certain death, but also the loss of one's salvation. You see, if salvation is gained by the works of the law, then it can be lost by breaking that law. But, salvation is not gained by the keeping of the law nor has it ever been that way.
- "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." (Galatians 2:16)
- "For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure." (Hebrews 10:1-6)
The truth is, salvation has never been by the keeping of the law. It was not that way in the Old Testament, it is not that way now, and it will not be that way in the future or during the Millennium. This is why Hebrews tells us that salvation has always been through Jesus, "For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it." (Hebrews 4:2)
The purpose for the law was never to save but to show us our need of salvation. It is compared to three things in the Scriptures:
- A schoolmaster; "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster." (Galatians 3:24-25) The schoolmaster was not the teacher, but brought the student to the teacher.
- A plumbline; "Thus he shewed me: and, behold, the Lord stood upon a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand. And the LORD said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumbline. Then said the Lord, Behold, I will set a plumbline in the midst of my people Israel: I will not again pass by them any more." (Amos 7:7-8) The plumbline did not straighten a wall, but showed its need of straightening.
- A mirror; "For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." (James 1:23 25) A mirror does not clean a man's face, but shows the need for washing the face.
As we read earlier in Hebrews 10, "..."For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect...." The law has never made anyone perfect, but it has brought many to the place where they realized they needed a Saviour because they weren't perfect!
Even though the Ten Commandments are in the Old Testament, are they still valid today? Yes they are! This is the purpose of this series of messages, to show the pertinency of the Ten Commandments in today's world.
Our first message will deal with Exodus 20:1-3, "And God spake all these words, saying, I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me." Idolatry is a grievous sin and God puts it first on His list of ten commandments. Why? If our foundation is wrong, our structure will be shaky.
** Starvation exists in many countries today, not because of poverty, but because of people worshipping cattle, and sheep, and goats.
Idolatry is one of the first steps to hedonism and reprobation.
- Romans 1:18-32; "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them."
Not acknowledging God as God led to the worship of the creature instead of the Creator and even to homosexuality. When this happened, God gave them up in three areas:
- To uncleanness; "Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves." (Romans 1:24)
- To vile affections; "For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature." (Romans 1:26)
- To a reprobate mind; "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient." (Romans 1:28)
But just exactly what is having other gods before God? Idolatry is when anything comes before God in your life. An idol is anything that comes between you and God.
1. An idol can be a person. - Acts 12:21-23
"And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost."
- The people had set Herod up as a god, that is, a man to worship.
- Herod was a heathen and God still judged his sin of idolatry.
- Something similar happened to the prophet Isaiah. "In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple." (Isaiah 6:1)
- It wasn't until the year that king Uzziah died, that Isaiah saw the Lord. Before that, he say Uzziah, his hero.
- Isaiah esteemed Uzziah highly, perhaps too highly.
- When the king died, Isaiah was able to clearly see the Lord.
- Any person can be an idol to any other person and blur our vision of the Lord.* It can be a boy friend.
* It can be a girl friend.
* It can be a husband.
* It can be a wife.
* It can be a movie star.
* It can be a singer. Remember Elvis Presley?
* It can be a rock group. Remember the Beatles?
* It can be a Country-Western artist.
* It can be a successful business person.
* It can be a writer.
* It can be an artist.
* It can be a anyone at all.- When a person places another human being equal to or above the Lord, it is idolatry plain and simple.
- God doesn't want anybody to be placed before Him.
- Example of what happened in communist China years ago. When the children would go to class, the teacher would ask them to bow their heads and ask God for candy. Of course, after they had prayed, there was no candy on their desks. Then the teacher would ask the children to bow their heads and pray to Mao (their communist leader) for candy. The children were not allowed to peek. While the children were praying, the teacher would place candy on their desks. When the children were finally allowed to open their eyes, they found candy in front of them. Then the teacher would ask if God answered their prayers. The children said "no." The teacher then asked if Mao answered their prayers. The children said "yes." Finally, the teacher asked, "Who is God?" to which the children replied, "Mao is God."
- When our trust is in man, man comes between us and God. This is sin!
2. An idol can be a place. - Isaiah 31:1
"Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!"
- When a place comes between you and God, it is idolatry. That place or event should never come before the Lord.
- Notice the warning given here, "Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help..."
- Where do you turn to for your help? Egypt is consistently a type of the world throughout the Bible. God warns the people about going to the world for help.
- Even Jeremiah warns in a similar way, "Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them." (Jeremiah 10:2)* The welfare office has become a god to some.
* The US government become a god to some.
* The military has become a god to some.
* The workplace has even become a god to some.- God does not want any place to become an idol, that is, a place that comes before Him.
3. An idol can be a thing. - Isaiah 31:1
"Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!"
- Anything can come before the Lord if we allow it to.
* Cars, houses, lands, clothing, jewelry, money, gambling, alcohol, food, pleasures, games, sports, cosmetics, tapes, records, CDs, computers and computer programs, stereos, boats, skis, bicycles, motorcycles, collectibles, what-nots, decorations, yards, tools, equipment, books, magazines, and anything else you can think of. All of these become wrong when they are placed before the Lord.
Conclusion: All of this brings us to a simple conclusion, idolatry is not a thing of the past, it is ever-present today. In Bible times, God commanded that the places of idol worship be torn down and that idols be broken in pieces.
- God removed Isaiah's idol, Uzziah.
- God cursed Herod when he thought himself to be a god.
If the people you know, the places you go, and the things you own are not sinful, be careful to never let them become something that comes before the Lord. This is what the first commandment is all about. "And God spake all these words, saying, I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me." (Exodus 20:1-3)