As we begin, note two facts that should be obvious throughout this study. Fact one: relationship with God always begins with a basic understanding of God's position. Fact two: a basic understanding of God's position is always evidenced through our treatment of other people.

In fact one, yielding to God depends on understanding God's position. People who fail or refuse to understand God's position will not yield to Him. Another understanding is also essential. How people yield to God depends on understanding God's position.

God calls Christians to be people whose lives stand in contrast to those who reject God. God's people belong uniquely to God. Yet, they refuse to be hostile or antagonistic in their treatment of those who do not belong to God. Christians do not restrict honesty to Christian relationships. They do not, should not, and must not restrict kindness, mercy, forgiveness, truthfulness, and fairness only to Christian relationships. Just as was Jesus, they are people of character and integrity with both those who reject God and those who belong to God.

People who do not belong to God commonly regard the basic principles of Christian character and integrity as "unnatural, undesirable, and unproductive." Only when the Christian "sees" God in His rightful position will he or she yield to God's expectations. Christian character and integrity are the end result of yielding to God.

Answering "why" people who belong to God are people of godly character and integrity begins in Genesis 12:3 in the statement "…and in you all families of the earth shall be blessed." This is the earliest declaration of what Christians refer to as the great commission. It is God's clear statement that He is concerned about all people. God wanted all people to have opportunity to be His people. God wanted all people to reflect Him in their character and integrity.

Read the text. Note Israel's ten commandments are categorized into two sections. The first focuses on their response to God because they recognize God's position. The second focuses on their response to people because they recognize God's position.

Section one: An Israelite's treatment of God.

1. What is God's position to these people? (Exodus 20:2)
   1. Who is He?

   2. What did He do?

2. How will they react to other gods? (Exodus 20:3) Why?

3. What will they not do? (Exodus 20:4-7)
   1. Israel's basic reaction to God:
      1. They will not make…

      2. They will not worship…

      3. They will not serve…

   2. Why?
      1. "I am…."

      2. "I am…"

      3. "I visit…"

      4. "I show…"

4. In total context, state two reasons for refusing to take God's name in vain. (Exodus 20:7)
   1.  

   2.  

5. What day would they keep holy? (Exodus 20:8)
   1. What would they, their children, their servants, their livestock, and their non-Jewish visitors refuse to do? (Exodus 20:10)

   2. Why? (Exodus 20:11)

Section two: An Israelite's treatment of people.

1. How would an Israelite adult treat his parents? (Exodus 20:12)

2. An Israelite would not do these things to another person (Exodus 20:13-17)
   1.  

   2.  

   3.  

   4.  

   5.  

3. In total context, explain why an Israelite would treat people in this manner.

Link to Teacher's Guide Lesson 1

Copyright © 2002
David Chadwell & West-Ark Church of Christ

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