Lesson 6: The Ten Commandments, Part 2

1. Why is idolatry perhaps the greatest sin?
Idolatry is perhaps the greatest of all sins because it opens the door to unrestrained evil.

2. Why do you think idolatry appeals to the secular mind?
It gives sinners license not only to tolerate sin, but to sanction it, fanned by demonic influence. If you make a god in your image, one you feel comfortable with, you can then create your own moral standards to go along with him...or her.

Some like to make a god that believes in a woman’s right to kill her children in the womb. Others prefer to create a god that rewards the killing of innocent people by granting immortality.

Listen carefully for people saying the words “To me, God is...” That is the key. To be an idolater, you make a god to suit yourself, one devoid of reference to sin, righteousness, and judgment. Make sure he or she likes the things you like and hates the things you hate. If you like lust, so will your god. If your god doesn’t mind lying and stealing, then you can lie, steal, and lust to your heart’s content. Your god will fill your heart with joy and your spirit with song ...right up until Judgment Day.

3. Before you were saved, what was your concept of God like?
Though I accepted Jesus years ago, my concept of God was off like most people. I would have described God as being loving and excepting, without fear and reverence.
But in the last few weeks I feel that my study of the Law in scripture has pointed out just how holy and righteous the God of the bible really is. As the teaching states:
"Cultivate an understanding of what God is like, as revealed in Scripture. That will put the fear of God in you and cause you to keep your heart free from sin, and at the same time you will have strong motivation to do what He says regarding the Great Commission."

4. Think of someone you know who is an idolater. What is his god like?
Just like the person.

5. How does the Catholic version of the Ten Commandments sidestep this prohibition?
It removed the second commandment! Then split the tenth commandment into 2, so they still have 10 commandments.
“You shall not make for yourself any graven image ...You shall not bow down yourself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and showing mercy to thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments” (Exodus 20:4–6).

Memory Verse
“You adulterers and adulteresses, do you not know that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”
JAMES 4:4