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(2) Israel crossing the Red Sea Exodus 14:13-16 “ Then Moses said to the people, ‘ Fear not, stand firm, and you will see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will see them again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you; therefore you must be still. ” Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘ Why do you cry to me? Tell the Israelites to move forward. But lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, so that the Israelites will go through the sea on dry ground. ’” God speaks to them through Moses. He tells them to simply observe what God is doing. This is salvation. Even today, with nothing we can do, people struggle to survive. Salvation is God's work, and all we need to do is enter into the faith He gives us. However, people believe and act according to their own thoughts and circumstances, regardless of the faith God gives them. Therefore, this faith changes depending on the circumsta...

  Question 101: But isn't it permissible to swear by God's name if we do so reverently? Answer: Yes. It is permissible when circumstances require an oath, or when the government requires it, for the purpose of preserving truth and promoting trust for the glory of God and the benefit of our neighbors. Such oaths are authorized by God's Word and were appropriately used by believers in both the Old and New Testaments. The answer to question 101 confuses the terms "oath" and "vow." The Greek word translated "oath" (horkus) means "to swear" or "to swear." It refers to a voluntary promise to do something. However, an oath is a different concept from an oath, as it refers to a pledge made when the government demands it, when one intends to refrain from false testimony, and when one wishes to tell the truth. Since it is not something one takes voluntarily, but rather is enforced by public authority, such as the government or a...

  Question 100: Is blaspheming God's name by swearing and cursing such a terrible sin that God's anger is kindled even against those who do not aid or abide by it? Answer: Truly. There is no sin greater than blasphemy, nor is there anything more provoking God's anger. Therefore, God punishes it with death. Those who do not believe in God and do not accept Jesus Christ blaspheme God's name and even curse Him with oaths. Romans 1:21-25 “For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor were thankful, but their thinking became futile, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for images made like corruptible man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonor of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served created things rath...

  Question 98: Then, can't those images be used as teaching aids in church? Answer: Yes. We shouldn't try to be wiser than God. God wants his people to be taught not by dumb idols, but by the preaching of his living Word. The image of God is Christ. The invisible image is made visible. Colossians 1:15, "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation." Each church community portrays Jesus in various ways. They portray him as Jesus Christ preaching the gospel, Jesus Christ on the cross, and Jesus Christ resurrected. No church would call these images idolatrous.   Question 99: What does the third commandment require of us? Answer: We are not to blaspheme God, nor to use his name in cursing, perjury, or unnecessary oaths; nor by being silent bystanders to such terrible sins, nor to participate in them indirectly. In short, the commandment is that we are to use God's holy name in all our words and deeds, confessing our faith in him, p...

  Question 96: What does the second commandment require of us? Answer: We are not to make any images of God in any way, nor to worship him in any way other than as he has commanded us in his Word. The second commandment is slightly different on the first and second stone tablets. Exodus 20:4-6 “ You shall not make for yourself any carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters under the earth … ” Deuteronomy 5:8-10 “ You shall not make for yourself any carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters under the earth … ” The first stone tablet forbade making for themselves images in the sky, on the earth, in the waters, or above. The second stone tablet forbade making images not only in the sky, but also on the earth, under the earth, in the waters, or in the waters. The first tablet forbade making images in the mind, w...

  Question 95: What is idolatry? Answer: Idolatry is trusting in or creating something to possess instead of, or alongside (equal to), the one true God who has revealed himself through his Word. Spiritually, idolatry is making oneself a god. The greedy desire to display one's own righteousness is idolatry. Colossians 3:5 says, "Therefore put to death your earthly members: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry." The members of the earth are the old self. The old self's most essential desire is wealth. For a believer to claim to serve God while also serving wealth is spiritual adultery. Matthew 6:24 says, "No one can serve two masters: either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth." The essence of greed is a love of the world, self, and sin. Those who are in Christ have died to the world with Jesus Christ, have deni...