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UN official tells UK that food-bank growth is human rights issue
The SECOND Commandment
"You shall not make unto you any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: you shall not bow down to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord your God am jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of those who hate me; and showing mercy unto thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments." Exodus 20:4-6.
I. You shall not make unto you any graven image.
In the first commandment worshiping a false God is forbidden; in this commandment, worshiping the true God in a false manner is forbidden.
"You shall not make unto you any graven image." This does not forbid making an image for civil use. "Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, It is Caesar's." Matt 22:20, Matt 22.21-21. But the commandment forbids setting up an image for religious use or worship.
"Nor the likeness of anything," etc. All ideas, portraitures, shapes, images of God, whether by effigies or pictures, are here forbidden. "Take heed lest you corrupt yourselves, and make the similitude of any figure." Deut 4.15, Deut 4.16 . God is to be adored in the heart, not painted to the eye!
"You shall not bow down to them." The intent of making images and pictures is to worship them. No sooner was Nebuchadnezzar's golden image set up—but all the people fell down and worshiped it. Dan 3.7. God forbids such prostrating ourselves before an idol. The thing prohibited in this commandment is image-worship. To set up an image to represent God, is debasing him. If anyone should make images of snakes or spiders, saying he did it to represent his prince, would not the prince take it in disdain? What greater disparagement to the infinite God than to represent him—by that which is finite; the living God—by that which is without life; and the Maker of all—by a thing which is made?
[1] To make a true image of God is impossible. God is a spiritual essence and, being a Spirit, he is invisible. John 4:24. "You saw no manner of similitude on the day that the Lord spoke with you out of the midst of the fire." Deut 4:15. How can any paint the Deity? Can they make an image of that which they never saw? "There is no depicting the invisible." Ambrose. "You saw no similitude." It is impossible to make a picture of the soul, or to paint the angels, because they are of a spiritual nature; much less can we paint God by an image, who is an infinite, untreated Spirit.
[2] To worship God by an image, is both absurd and unlawful.
(1) To worship God by an image, is absurd and irrational; for, "the workman is better than the work," "He who has built the house has more honour than the house." Heb 3:3. If the workman is better than the work, and none bow to the workman, how absurd, then, is it to bow to the work of his hands! Is it not an absurd thing to bow down to the king's picture, when the king himself is present? It is more so to bow down to an image of God, when God himself is everywhere present.
(2) To worship God by an image, is unlawful; for it is against the homily of the church, which runs thus: "The images of God, our Saviour, the Virgin Mary, are of all others the most dangerous; therefore the greatest care ought to be had that they stand not in temples and churches." So that image-worship is contrary to our own homilies, and affronts the authority of the Church of England. Image-worship is expressly against the letter of Scripture. "You shall make no graven image, neither shall you set up any image of stone—to bow down unto it." Lev 26:1. "Neither shall you set up any image; which the Lord your God hates." Deut 16:22. "Confounded are all those who serve graven images." Psalm 97:7. Do we think to please God by doing that which is contrary to his mind, and that which he has expressly forbidden?
[3] Image worship is against the practice of the saints of old. Josiah, that renowned king, destroyed the groves and images. 2 Kings 23:6,2 Kings 23.24. Constantine abrogated the images set up in temples. The Christians destroyed images at Baste, Zurich, and Bohemia. When the Roman emperors would have thrust images upon them, they chose rather to die than deflower their virgin profession by idolatry; they refused to admit any painter or sculpture into their society, because they would not have any carved state or image of God. When Seraphion bowed to an idol, the Christians excommunicated him, and delivered him up to Satan.
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Do you have a called of God ministry where your whole purpose is to "feed the sheep", and God supplies your needs, or do you have books, tapes, videos, etc. that you SELL for a "donation", or just outright SELL, and your buyers supply your needs?
There is nothing wrong with being in business and selling things. However, if you are a church or any kind of "ministry", you may want to check your motive for how you are conducting the work of the Lord.
Remember the money changers in the temple where JESUS turned over the tables and threw them out. They were selling things in the "CHURCH". (God made it quite clear to us that we were not to charge for anything, that HE was our source.)
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 Robertthompson.gif Sermons on the Paster's page www.wor.org
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By David C. Pack
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20 Verses Christianity Ignores! (Part 1)
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The Trinity—Does the Bible Teach It?
Does the Bible teach that God is a “Trinity”—three persons in one being? Most professing Christians answer “yes.” Although long the litmus test of traditional
http://www.worldtocome.org/player.html#!Item=561008,1]
presented by David C. Pack
You Can Prove the Bible’s Authority
Many accept the Bible’s divine authority on faith, thinking it cannot be proven. Is what is often called the Book of books the Word of God? Or is it mere superstition—an uninspired work of men?
What Is Human Nature?
The human mind has brought awesome advancements in science, technology and exploration. But it also yields vanity, greed, lust, deceit—and appalling evil. Why this paradox? You can understand!
presented by David C. Pack
'Childrearing – God’s Way'
The family unit is under assault as never before. But parents can rear balanced, moral children in a degenerate, immoral society! God’s Word reveals much about proper childrearing. Here are life-changing biblical teachings!
presented by David C. Pack
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| Christians are left with real questions in reference to Islam:
What role if any did the teachings of the Qur'an play in the 9/11 attacks? What does Islam really teach? What about Jihad? Should Christians try to befriend our Muslim neighbors and share the gospel? If so, how? The title is Understanding Islam: A Christian Perspective. I would like you to watch it for free. Please forward this to all your friends!
Your free video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5fzeexxJno
Guest speaker James Walker of the Watchmen Fellowship
Free Video & Profile: Only six shopping days till Armageddon? The Mayan Calendar ends next Friday and the media is giving major coverage to a growing number of "doomsday preppers" getting ready for what they fear may be the "end of the world as we know it" next week on December 21, 2012.
I think they need to be getting ready for another end-times "false alarm." Apparently, the Mayan couldn't even predict the demise of their own civilization -- much less ours. Nevertheless, thousands around the world are holding their breath, waiting for next Friday. Even some on Christian Television, such as Jack Van Impe, cannot resist the temptation of date-setting. So what is a proper Christian approach to true Bible prophecies and end-times teachings in light of all the false prophets today?
http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=JxIbd&m=JHqs9G7j_w_D6D&b=FeI041clTWvMlX662GftBw
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