The first 4 commandments are considered the first tablet of the Law because they deal with our relationship to God. We are commanded to show our love for God by worshipping Him only, by not making graven images of Him or any other god, by not taking His name in vain and by setting apart the Sabbath day as holy celebrating Him and all He has done for His people. The next 6 commandments, the second tablet, are showing our love for God by how we love other people whom God has created in His image. God begins with the family. We show love for God by honoring the authorities he has placed over us beginning with our parents. Western culture is experiencing a crisis of authority because they have neglected obeying the 5th commandment. Even if many parents in our culture today do not expect their children to honor and obey them, Christian parents should teach and expect their children to obey their proper exercise of authority (TableTalk). Why? When children do not respect the authority of their parents, they end up not respecting any authority. Augustine of Hippo comments: “It’s your parents you see when you first open your eyes, and it is their friendship that lays down the first strands of this life. If anyone fails to honor his parents, is there anyone he will spare?”
NCF Sunday Worship
August 14, 2022 • Pastor Bob Becker • Exodus 20:12, Ephesians 6:1–4, Psalm 78:1–7, 1 John 5:2–3
NCF Worship 6/12/22 - Graduate Sunday
June 12, 2022 • Pastor Bob Becker • Exodus 20:1–2, Matthew 5:17–18, Psalm 118:14–21, Galatians 4:1–7
“The Holy God Saves His People” One mistake we often make in studying the Ten Commandments (Ten Words) is we fail to see the Gospel in them. We fail to see the good news of the Law. Therefore, we should not skip over the first two verses of Exodus 20. God reminds Israel that He is the God who brought them out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. God saves us to give us the ability to obey His Law. We, as Paul reminds us in Galatians 4, must never believe the Law saves us or make the Law a burden by adding to it. The Law shows us we need Someone else to fulfill it since we cannot fulfill it ourselves but are condemned by it. The freedom to obey the Law was given to us by God saving us through Christ Jesus. This should bring us great joy because even when we fail in our obedience we are still saved through Christ’s obedience.
NCF Sunday Worship June 19, 2022
June 19, 2022 • Pastor Bob Becker • 1 Corinthians 8:4–6, Exodus 20:3, Isaiah 45:22, Psalm 50:1–6
“The Only True God” We cannot have faith in faith. Most people have faith in something or someone. Some people believe it is not so much what or who you believe in as it is about just believing. There are people who worship sincerely, intensely, but are worshiping the wrong god. The first commandment puts that falsehood to rest. The first commandment is foundational to all the rest. If any moral Law is going to be binding on us, there must be a divine lawgiver. The Ten Commandments were not written up based on some internet poll. The question is, “Who has the right to tell us how to live?” The majority? God has the right to tell us how to live because He created us and knows what is best for us, what brings true freedom. “Which God?” someone might ask. Exactly says Exodus 20. There are not many gods. The only true God is the God of the Bible.
NCF Sunday Worship
October 16, 2022 • Pastor Bob Becker • Exodus 20:18–21, Psalm 111:10, Psalm 34:7–11, Matthew 10:24–31
What did the Israelites fear in hearing God speak His Law? Was it the Law itself or God’s judgment if they broke His Law? It was both. However, the latter was primary. God cannot look upon sin, that is, He cannot leave it unpunished. Heb. 10:31: “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” However, perfect love casts out fear. We find joy in fearing God not just because we find joy in His holiness, but also His holiness drives us to our need for Jesus Christ. The Law after condemning us drives us to Jesus Christ when the Holy Spirit gives us the eyes to see how holy our God is and how sinful we are. He reveals to our hearts we need a mediator between us and God and that mediator is Jesus Christ. Therefore, there is joy in fearing our Lord. Jesus said, “If you love me, you will obey what I command” (John 14:15).