What is forbidden in the first commandment?
Beddome's Scriptural Exposition 26 questions answered from Scripture
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Is it a sin to deny God? Yes.
“They deny the only Lord God” Jude 4
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May God be denied in his attributes? Yes.
“They say, How doth God know, and is there knowledge in the Most High?” Psalm 73:11
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And in his authority? Yes.
“Who is Lord over us” Psalm 12:4
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And in his providence? Yes.
“They say the Lord will not do good, neither will he do evil” Zephaniah 1:12
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And in his truths? Yes.
“They bring in damnable heresies, denying the Lord that bought them” 2 Peter 2:1
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And may God be practically denied even where he is doctrinally owned? Yes.
“They profess that they know God, but in works they deny him” Titus 1:16
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Is ignorance of God a great sin? Yes.
“They know not the way of the Lord” Jeremiah 5:4
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And forgetfulness of God? Yes.
“Thou hast forgotten God that formed thee” Deuteronomy 32:18
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And distrust of God? Yes.
“Is the Lord among us, or is he not?” Exodus 17:7
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And contempt of God? Yes.
“Wherefore do the wicked contemn God?” Psalm 10:13
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And any abatement of affection towards him? Yes.
“I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love” Revelation 2:4
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Is it a sin to neglect the worship of God? Yes.
“Thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob” Isaiah 43:22
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Or to divide it? Yes.
“They swear by the Lord, and swear by Malcham” Zephaniah 1:5
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Or to be remiss in it? Yes.
“Their heart was not right with him” Psalm 78:37
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Or to perform it for selfish ends? Yes.
“Did ye at all fast unto me, even to me” Zechariah 7:5
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Is idolatry a very heinous sin? Yes.
“Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them” 1 Corinthians 10:7
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Were the Gentiles idolaters? Yes.
“Ye have seen their idols, wood and stone” Deuteronomy 29:17
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Were they guilty of the grossest idolatry? Yes.
“They sacrificed to devils, and not to God” 1 Corinthians 10:20
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Are the Papists idolaters? Yes.
“For they do honour to one who sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God” 2 Thessalonians 2:4
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But is there such a thing as heart idolatry? Yes.
“These men have set up their idols in their hearts” Ezekiel 14:3
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Are proud men idolaters? Yes.
“Thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God” Ezekiel 28:2
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And covetous men? Yes.
“Mortify covetousness, which is idolatry” Colossians 3:5
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And sensualists? Yes.
“Whose god is their belly” Philippians 3:19
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Is undue flattery also a kind of idolatry? Yes.
“The people said, it is the voice of God, and not of man” Acts 12:22
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Is this a sin that God will correct in this world? Yes.
“Ye shall bear the sins of your idols” Ezekiel 23:49
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And will he severely punish it in the world to come? Yes.
“For idolaters shall not inherit the kingdom of God” 1 Corinthians 6:9
Benjamin Beddome (1717–1795), pastor at Bourton-on-the-Water. Verses from the King James Version.
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