Ten Commandments: Worshiping God in God's Way

Introduction

H: Pictures of Christ, Stain Glass, Dramatic Plays, Interpretive Dance, Basket Ball Courts

Exposition

8-9a: If God tells us who we are to worship in the first commandment, Him alone, then in the second command God tells us how He is to be worshiped. Specifically they are to:

Not make a carved images of anything

Not bow down and serve carved images

9b-10: Why should this commandment be obeyed? Well, because Yahweh our God is a jealous God. This doesn’t mean that God is a raving and petty lunatic. In fact God’s jealousy begins with a jealousy for His own name and glory, and, then by extension is God jealous for His people. God alone is worthy of worship and the worship due Him is that worship which He commands. For God to be jealous for another glory would be a breaking of the first and second commandment. Thus God’s people ought to be jealous for God’s glory as He is or face the consequences.

We might liken as God does His jealousy for his people to that of a husband for his wife. Marriage is a covenant between one man and one woman for life. One aspect of that covenant is sexual fidelity. A husband is to save himself for his wife and the same is true for the wife. A husband who is pure and faithful will be heartbroken and angry if he came to find out His wife was gave herself to another. Similarly, Israel making idols and bowing down to them would be a cheating on God who is perfectly pure and faithful period and specifically to the covenant He makes with His people. God won’t share his people anymore than I would share my wife with another.

Consider God’s Word to a wayward Israel and His reason for His patience:

Explains how His jealousy for His own glory will manifest in two different ways to two different kinds of people.

Judgement for those who hate Him

God is not saying that sons will be judges for their fathers sins, but that they will repeat the sins of their fathers and likewise be judged for them. This doesn’t excuse them for their rebellion. Instead of following their sinful fathers and blaming their up-bring they need to repent and love and obey God.

Steadfast love for those who love and obey Him

Big Idea/Reasons

Worship God His Way because He is Jealous

Worship God His Way because He is Spirit

Worship God His Way because He is Sovereign

Thus He alone has the right to make His own images and mediators

Big Idea/Applications

Worship God His Way by not making or bowing down to images

Worship God His Way by trusting in the true image of the invisible God

Worship God His Way by not making or bowing down to images

Worship God His Way by adhering to the regulative principle of worship in corporate gatherings

The regulative principle is that the church is to be regulated by the Word of God in its mission and worship. Whatever is not commanded or positively exemplified in Scripture, is prohibited in corporate worship.

he regulative principle is this that the church is to be regulated by the Word of God in its mission and worship. Whatever is not commanded or positively exemplified in Scripture is prohibited in corporate worship.

Go to a church that adheres to the regulative principle of worship in the corporate gathering of believers. The regulative principle is this that the church is to be regulated by the Word of God in its mission and worship. Whatever is not commanded or positively exemplified in Scripture is prohibited in corporate worship.

Conclusion

LCBF 22.1: The light of nature shews that there is a God, who hath lordship and sovereignty over all; is just, good and doth good unto all; and is therefore to be feared, loved, praised, called upon, trusted in, and served, with all the heart and all the soul, and with all the might. But the acceptable way of worshipping the true God, is instituted by himself, and so limited by his own revealed will, that he may not be worshipped according to the imagination and devices of men, nor the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representations, or any other way not prescribed in the Holy Scriptures. The Invisible and Spiritual God can defeat our invisible and spiritual enemies.

LCBF 22.1: The light of nature shews that there is a God, who hath lordship and sovereignty over all; is just, good and doth good unto all; and is therefore to be feared, loved, praised, called upon, trusted in, and served, with all the heart and all the soul, and with all the might. But the acceptable way of worshipping the true God, is instituted by himself, and so limited by his own revealed will, that he may not be worshipped according to the imagination and devices of men, nor the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representations, or any other way not prescribed in the Holy Scriptures.The Invisible and Spiritual God can defeat our invisible and spiritual enemies.

LCBF 22.5: The reading of the Scriptures, preaching, and hearing the Word of God, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord; as also the administration of baptism, and the Lord's supper, are all parts of religious worship of God, to be performed in obedience to him, with understanding, faith, reverence, and godly fear; moreover, solemn humiliation, with fastings, and thanksgivings, upon special occasions, ought to be used in an holy and religious manner.

LCBF 22.5: The reading of the Scriptures, preaching, and hearing the Word of God, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord; as also the administration of baptism, and the Lord's supper, are all parts of religious worship of God, to be performed in obedience to him, with understanding, faith, reverence, and godly fear; moreover, solemn humiliation, with fastings, and thanksgivings, upon special occasions, ought to be used in an holy and religious manner.

Sam Waldron gives four arguments to support the Regulative Principle

Sam Waldron gives four arguments to support the Regulative Principle

God alone has the prerogative to determine how sinners may approach Him in worship ;

God alone has the prerogative to determine how sinners may approach Him in worship ;

The introduction of extra-biblical practices into worship inevitably tends to nullify and undermine God’s appointed worship: , , ;

The introduction of extra-biblical practices into worship inevitably tends to nullify and undermine God’s appointed worship: , 8 , 9 ;

The wisdom of Christ and sufficiency of Scripture is called into question by introducing unappointed elements into worship:

The wisdom of Christ and sufficiency of Scripture is called into question by introducing unappointed elements into worship:

The Bible explicitly condemns all worship that is not commanded by God: ; ; 4:2 ; 12:29-32 ; ; 23:6-8 ; ; Conclusion

The Bible explicitly condemns all worship that is not commanded by God: ; ; ; ; ; ; ;

Elements and Accidentals

Accidentals: Time, length of service, and order

Elements: The Word, Prayer, Song, Baptism, Lord’s Supper, Offering

Conclusion

God’s Worship is to be Regulated by God’s Word. We are to worship God His way. This means any practice or song we have is to be scrutinized and regulated by the Word. The Worship God blesses is the worship that He commands.