Comprehending Pink’s Commandments Part 16

Foreword:

The following exerpt is taken from The Ten Commandments  by Arthur W. Pink

(BAKER BOOK HOUSE, 1994 GRAND RAPIDS, MI)

In this blog series I will work through this very important article a paragraph at a time – asking my reader comprehension style questions at the end. In our day, when people who identify themselves as Christians are so sensitive to any accusation of legalism that they tend to swing all the way out to antinomianism (that is lawlessness), it is perhaps now more than ever that we ought to prayerfully re-examine the Ten Commandments – and few do it better than Arthur Pink (1886 - 1952). I found this article to be very convicting as I first worked through it. And, lest we think we the church are not in need of this labour, let us be reminded that those whom Jesus will reject on the last Day even though they did many mighty works in his name, were accused by our Lord of not just having no intimate relationship with him (‘I never knew you’), but also that they were accused as workers of lawlessness by our Lord. The Law of God does not save, nor does it keep one saved – none the less we are called to obedience to it who are saved – but enough of me – here is Arthur Pink…

THE FIRST COMMANDMENT PART IV

"Thou shalt have no other Gods before Me." That is, thou shalt not give unto anyone or anything in Heaven or on earth that inward heart affiance, loving veneration, and dependence that is due only to the true God; thou shalt not transfer to another that which belongs alone unto Him. Nor must we attempt to divide them between God and another, for no man can serve two masters. The great sins forbidden by this Commandment are these: first willful ignorance of God and His will through despising those means by which we may acquaint ourselves with Him; second, atheism or the denial of God; third, idolatry or the setting up of false and fictitious gods; fourth, disobedience and self-will or the open defiance of God; and fifth, all inordinate and immoderate affections or the setting of our hearts and minds upon other objects.

They are idolaters and transgressors of this first commandment who manufacture a "God" as a figment of their own minds. Such are the Unitarians, who deny that there are three Persons in the Godhead. Such are Romanists, who supplicate the Savior's mother and affirm that the pope has power to forgive sins. Such are the vast majority of Arminians, who believe in a disappointed and defeated Deity. Such are sensual epicureans (Phil. 3:19), for there are inward idols as well as external. "These men have set up their idols in their hearts" (Ezek. 14:3). The Apostle Paul speaks of "covetousness which is idolatry" (Col. 3:5) and, by impartial reasoning, so are all immoderate desires. That object to which we render those desires and services which are due alone to the Lord is our "god," whether it be self, gold, fame, pleasure, or friends. What is your god? To what is your life devoted?

1) Can you put into your own words and detail the three things Pink lists that are only due to God:

a) “inward heart affiance”

b) “loving veneration”

c) “dependence”

2) Can you think of instances where you have failed to do so?

3) Can you think of examples of other world religions or philosophies, ideologies and ways of men that fail to do so?

4) Considering who God is, what He has done and what He can and will do – how is this failiure utter foolishness or blindness or madness?

5) Likewise considering God’s soveriegn wisdom and strength - why should we not “attempt to divide them (our trust, worship and affection) between God and another” – give both practical and scriptural reasons.

6) What are the “means by which we may acquaint ourselves with Him”? What such means has God presented even to the heathen and the atheist which leaves them with no excuses for denying his exsistence or setting up idols?

7) How does Pink’s fifth forbidden sin (that is: “all inordinate and immoderate affections or the setting of our hearts and minds upon other objects”) relate to you and your daily life? Examine yourself for specifics and pray that you may repent of these.

 
8) Finally I cannot improve on Arthur’s ringing question: “That object to which we render those desires and services which are due alone to the Lord is our "god," whether it be self, gold, fame, pleasure, or friends. What is your god? To what is your life devoted?”