Pastor's Comments October 26 through November 02, 2012

October 26 through November 02, 2012

Dear Brethren,

In this writing I am posting the ‘Third Commandment’ from The Ten Commandments Booklet that is in its final stages of being completed by me.

Your friend,

Don Billingsley

Chapter Three

The Third Commandment

Exodus 20:7 “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that takes His name in vain.”

To have a greater depth of understanding of this commandment, “not to take the Name of God in vain”—of necessity, there is a need of focusing on the Holy Scriptures that reveal WHO is God!

This awesome and wonderful Creator God revealed Himself to Moses in the desert where he was shepherding a flock of sheep:

Exodus 3:2, 4-5 And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him (Moses) in a flame of fire from the midst of a burning bush.

So he looked, and behold! the bush burned with fire, but the bush was not consumed. . . . So when the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said to Him, “Here I am.”

Then He said to Moses, “Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.” Moreover, He said, “I Am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”

Exodus 3:13 Then Moses said to God (Hebrew: ELOHIM), “Indeed when I return to the elders of Israel and they say to me, ‘What is His Name?’ What shall I say to them?” And God (ELOHIM) said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. Thus shall you say to the children of Israel, “I AM has sent me to you.”

This name, “I AM WHO I AM” has the meaning:

1) “I shall be who I Am”

2) “I Am (or I will be) that who shall be (The Promised Seed)”

3) “YHWH The one who was and always will be”

4) “The Self-Existing One, the Eternal” (John 5:37; 18:4-8).

ELOHIM is the first name by which God introduces Himself to mankind (Genesis 1:26). ELOHIM spoke with the plural verb because He was speaking on behalf of another God-Being who is the Head of the Family (John 12:49; 14:9).

Genesis 1:26 So God (Elohim, the name allows for plurality like group or family John 1:1-2, in this instance the supreme God, the One we have come to know as the Father) said, “Let Us make mankind in Our Image, after Our Likeness.”

It was needful that ELOHIM use the plural in ‘Our Image’, after ‘Our Likeness’ to make known there are TWO GOD-BEINGS (Genesis 1:26-27); ELOHIM is a Family Name (Matthew 3:17).

After the closure of the Garden in Eden, and with the Cherubim guarding the entrance to the garden in Eden and a flaming sword which turned every way to guard the way to the Tree of Life (Genesis 3:24), for the most part the most sovereign and supreme God in heaven above was no longer known to mankind. To this day the Jewish people know no other than the LORD God (YHWH); the One that is known in the New Testament as Jesus Christ.

During His earthly ministry while preaching the gospel Jesus Christ revealed His Father to mankind (Matthew 11:27; John 17:1-6).

The Creator of this Physical Universe

Jesus Christ was the ‘YHWH’, the ‘I AM THAT I AM’ the God spoken of in the Old Testament as numerous Scriptures make known (Deuteronomy 7:9; John 14:15). He was the Spokesman who by His command brought into existence this physical universe (John 1:1-2; Colossians 1:15-18).

Concerning our salvation, the Apostle Paul wrote the following about Jesus Christ, not Mary, or any other name:

Acts 4:10, 12 “. . . Nor is there salvation in any other (NAME), for there is NO OTHER NAME under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Praying in the Name of Jesus Christ, and used properly, lawfully, and with meaningful reverence, and respect, can have a powerful impact that can result in miraculous interventions (James 5:16-18).

Reverent Respect for Jesus Christ

Though the following Scripture is speaking of the One who came to be Jesus Christ, it also speaks of the reverent respect and fear one should have for Him as the LORD God of the Old Testament:

Deuteronomy 28:58 “If you do NOT carefully observe all the words of this law that are written in this Book, that you may FEAR THIS GLORIOUS AND AWESOME NAME, THE LORD YOUR GOD, then I will bring upon you and your descendants extraordinary plagues—great and prolonged plagues—and serious and prolonged sicknesses.”

This is the same God who became Jesus Christ; and there should be such great reverent fear for His glorious and awesome name that His name will NOT be used unlawfully or irreverently.

Perjury and Profane Swearing

This Third Commandment is referred to as “The Law of Perjury” An unpardonable offense as considered by many for willfully lying while under oath or affirmation to speak the truth.

However Jesus Christ makes known all sins can be forgiven upon true godly repentance with the exception of blaspheming against God’s Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:31).

Profaning the Name of God

There is a grave warning against swearing by or profaning the Name of God!

Leviticus 19:12 “And you shall NOT swear by My Name falsely (an oath), NOR shall you PROFANE the Name of your God: I am the LORD.”

Leviticus 18:21 “. . . nor shall you PROFANE the Name of your God: I am the LORD.”

Unger’s Bible Dictionary: Perjury – See Oath, 5 . . . Profane - To make common, to desecrate, to defile – the opposite of holiness.

Profane is a physical term that connects with profanity, cursing, using God and Jesus Christ’ names in association with curse words! Jesus Christ stated very plainly and simply with a command from Him:

Mark 5:33-37 “. . . do NOT swear at all . . .” The Apostle James also wrote:

James 5:12 “But above all, my brethren, DO NOT SWEAR, either by heaven, or by earth, or by any other oath. But let your ‘yes,’ be ‘yes,’ and let your ‘no,’ be ‘no,’ lest you fall into judgment.”

Jesus Christ expects complete obedience to His commandments and takes to task those who disobey Him by asking:

Luke 6:46 “Why do you call Me, Lord, Lord, and do NOT the things I say?” 7:21-23.

‘Lord’ has the meaning of Master; it also has the meaning of: “. . . not taking His Name in vain.” The taking of God’s name in vain—has the meaning to curse, use lightly, irreverently, frivolously or insincerely, profanity (profane swearing, cursing), etc.

King Solomon who was graced by God to have greater wisdom and understanding than all men (I Kings 4:29-31), urged mankind to think and consider beforehand whatever they might speak lest it should come back to haunt them in facing judgment before this awesome and great God in whom we live, move, and have our being:

Ecclesiastes 5:1-5 NJPS Bible “Keep your mouth from being rash, and let not your throat be quick to bring forth speech before God. For God is in heaven and you are on earth; that is why your words should be few. Just as dreams come with much brooding, so does foolish utterance come with much speech! When you make A VOW to God, do NOT delay to fulfill it. For He has no pleasure in fools; what you VOW fulfill. It is better NOT to VOW at all than to VOW and not fulfill. Don’t let your mouth bring you into disfavor, and don’t plead before the messenger, that it was in error, but FEAR God.”

Thoughtless Prayers

This also includes prayers that are made to God. In the depths of despondency some have asked God to take their lives only to later experience great fear that He will answer that request after having been delivered from the weighty problems that brought about the depression and the thoughtless prayer.

One should seriously think carefully whatever they think, say, pray, or do; lest it come back to haunt them and then face possible terrible consequences.

Vows

There was no prohibition against ancient Israel from making vows; but there was a severe penalty for those who did and did not follow through with those vows as these Scriptures make known.

Numbers 30:2 “If a man makes a vow to the LORD, or swears an oath to bind himself by some agreement; he shall NOT break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.”

This also included a Nazarite vow which was made by a person to consecrate his or herself to God (Numbers 6.).

Unger’s Bible Dictionary: A Nazarite vow – one of either sex who was bound by a vow of a peculiar kind to be set apart from others for the service of God. The obligation was either for life [as was John the Baptizer, Luke 1:15; and Samson, Judges 13:5, 14] or for a limited time [as with the Apostle Paul due to unusual circumstances, Acts 18:18.]

Vows Legally Nullified

The following vows can be nullified and approved by God:

1) A man who has vowed never to cut his hair. This can be nullified by the Scripture that makes known it is a shame for a man to have long hair (I Corinthians 11:14).

2) A person, man or woman, who has vowed never to drink any alcohol (wine, beer, whiskey, etc.). Scripture reveals a true Christian must drink wine during the Passover service (Matthew 26:27-28; John 6:53-54; I Corinthians 11:23-26). (Red wine is symbolic of the shed blood of Jesus Christ in payment for mankind’s sins.)

3) A wife, son or daughter, who has made a vow without the husband and father being in their presence to hear it. Scripture reveals that on the day the husband or father hears of the vow he has the God-given right to annul it by over ruling it (Numbers 30:1-16).

Any vow made that is contrary to God’s holy and righteous laws can be annulled.

Case in point: Jephthah’s vow to sacrifice the first person he met after winning the war with Ammon (Judges 11:30-31, 34-40). His vow could have been annulled by either God’s Prophet or even himself had he seriously thought about his vow being contrary to the 6th commandment, “You shall do no murder” (Exodus 20:13).

Promises

Though promises were less binding than vows, they should never be made lightly, frivolously or insincerely for they speak of a person’s character, good or bad.

They should be considered as serious as shaking hands to an agreement being made to another person.

Deuteronomy 23:21-23 “That which has gone from your lips you shall keep and perform (promises), for you voluntarily vowed to the LORD your God what you have promised with your mouth.”

Consider the writing of the Apostle James that reveals the variables that should be considered when making emphatic statements or promises:

“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit,’ whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away! Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that” (James 4:13-15).

Upon realizing the failure of the fulfillment of a promise one should call, or write the person explaining why the promise cannot be fulfilled.

The Reason for Not Vowing

Even with the very best of intentions in fulfilling a vow, no one can predict the future or control circumstances! Therefore the answer should be what Jesus taught His disciples:

Matthew 5:33-37 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the LORD.’ But I say to you, do not swear at all; either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Not shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be Yes and your ‘No’ be No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.”

Appearing Before a Notary or Witness in Court

With this command from Jesus Christ in mind a person is not to raise their hand and swear to a notarized statement, nor when appearing in court before a judge with a needed testimony!

An affirmation by the true Christian should be as good as his or her bond that what is said will be the truth. And the constitution of the United States so stipulates that one can affirm lawfully without having to swear.

INTERNET: Facing History And Ourselves

“I Solemnly Swear (Or Affirm, If I Choose): Oaths, Faith, and the Constitution

“Article VI also allows a public servant to pledge loyalty to the Constitution via an affirmation, rather than an oath. An affirmation does not carry theistic implications. Many believing Christians, particularly Quakers, feel conscientiously bound to avoid oaths, based on their understanding of Scripture. When President-elect Franklin Pierce took office in 1852, he used the word affirm rather than swear in his pledge to uphold the Constitution. Pierce was a devout Christian who did not believe in oaths. Nonetheless, his affirmation was no less binding than if he had sworn an oath on a Bible.”

Swearing or Vowing Forbidden by Jesus Christ

The Apostle James was also used by Jesus Christ to make known the prohibition against swearing or vowing is forbidden in the New Testament Church of God:

James 5:12 “But above all, my brethren, do NOT swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your ‘yes,’ be ‘yes,’ and your ‘no,’ be ‘no,’ lest you fall into judgment.”

Always a person’s speech should be before others using forethought and wisdom in all that is said so there will be no need of regrets or needed apologies. The Apostle Paul wrote:

Philippians 4:6 “Let your speech always be with grace seasoned with salt (Ecclesiastes 10:12 - wisdom), that you may know how to answer each one.” Luke 4:22; Proverbs 10:32.

Based on the many Scriptural writings about the Third Commandment and the penalties for violating it, each person should carefully think before using God’s name in vain; for it carries the same penalty of death (unless repented of with godly sorrow) as do each of the nine other commandments:

Exodus 20:7 “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that takes His name in vain.”

To be continued with the 4th Commandment.

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