Sermon Tone Analysis

Exodus 20:1‑3

INTRODUCTION

Series Background

The necessity of rules

We must have rules...

Ø      for the universe to work

Ø      for mathematics

Ø      for physics

Football game without rules

Overview

Two major divisions

Ø      1‑4 are God‑ward

Ø      5‑10 are man‑ward

Sermon Background

Focus begins on God

He makes an proclamation, prohibition and invitation...

\\ 1A.

The purpose of the law

1B.

To reveal the sinfulness of man (Romans 3:19-20)

When God intends to save a man, the first thing he does with him is to send the law to him, to show him how guilty, how vile, how ruined he is, and in how dangerous a position.

(Spurgeon)

2B.

To expose the awfulness of sin (Romans 7:7, 13)

3B.

To reveal the holiness of God

Nothing makes me value my Savior more than seeing the law condemn me.

(Spurgeon)

It is against the black backdrop of our sin that the light of God shines most brightly.

*1 John 1:5* This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.

4B.

To restrain the sinner and bring him to Christ (Galatians 3:19-24)

5B.

To regulate society (Romans 2:12-16)

2A.

The Proclamation

1B.

God Proclaims His Reality - "I am the LORD your God,"

The Bible assumes the existence and reality of God

The Bible nowhere tries to prove the reality of God

*Psalm 14:1* The fool has said in his heart, /There is /no God...

Ø      Atheism is not a problem of the head ‑ it's a problem of the heart.

Literally = The fool says in his heart, "no God"

No Pie

I am not interested in God.

I do not want any!

Does not deny the existence, just refuses the offer.

\\ 2B.

God Proclaims His Unity - "I am the LORD your God, ... no other gods before me."

*Deuteronomy 6:4*  "...The LORD our God, the LORD is one."

God is not plural

Ø      Not the "head" god

God is only god there is!

3B.

God Proclaims His Identity - "I am the LORD your God..."

The Creator

Ø      He is the God of creation

LORD = Jehovah, Yahweh ‑ God's specific name, points to His works, The eternal God.

The Christ

Ø      Reveals himself in Christ

*Colossians 1:15* He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

*Hebrews 1:3* who being the brightness of /His /glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high

*John 1:18* No one has seen God at any time.

The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared /Him./

The Redeemer

"...who brought you out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage"

*John 8:36* Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

\\ 2A.

The Prohibition - "You shall have no other gods before me."

Not atheism but polytheism

1B.

Unimaginable Possibility

People would worship substitute gods.

Some gods we worship today...

Material things

*Colossians 3:5* (NIV) "...and greed, which is *idolatry."*

Pleasure

*2 Timothy 3:4* …lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God

Sex

Education

Self

2B.

Unnatural Infidelity

*Matthew 6:24* No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other…

Ø      Would be like a man bringing his lover into the house to live with his wife and children.

3B.

Unquestionable Futility

*Exodus 20:3*  ""You shall have no other gods before me."

Two meanings of "before"

Ø      Substitute ‑ "In the place of..."

Ø      Additional ‑ "along side me"

You become like the God you worship

Ø      If you are polytheistic in your worship, you will be polytheistic in your personality.

Ø      The Bible calls it idolatry.

Ø      Psychology calls it neurosis.

\\ 3A.

The Invitation

1B.

You Can Know God Personally - "no other gods before Me"

*John 17:3* And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.