The Baptist Catechism: Who is the first and best of beings?

The Baptist Catechism: A Study of Baptist Doctrine

Question 1: Who is the first and best of beings?

Answer: God is the first and best of beings.

Scripture: Isaiah 44:6; Psalm 8:1; 96:4; 97:9, 1 Samuel 2:2

1. Isaiah 44:6 - Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: "I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.”

2. Psalm 8:1 - O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.

3. Psalm 96:4 - For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods.

4. Psalm 97:9 - For you, O LORD, are most high over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.

5. 1 Samuel 2:2 - There is none holy like the LORD; there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.

Isaiah 44:6-20

⁶Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: "I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god. ⁷ Who is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and set it before me, since I appointed an ancient people. Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen. ⁸Fear not, nor be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it? And you are my witnesses! Is there a God besides me? There is no Rock; I know not any."

⁹ All who fashion idols are nothing, and the things they delight in do not profit. Their witnesses neither see nor know, that they may be put to shame. ¹⁰ Who fashions a god or casts an idol that is profitable for nothing? ¹¹ Behold, all his companions shall be put to shame, and the craftsmen are only human. Let them all assemble, let them stand forth. They shall be terrified; they shall be put to shame together.

¹² The ironsmith takes a cutting tool and works it over the coals. He fashions it with hammers and works it with his strong arm. He becomes hungry, and his strength fails; he drinks no water and is faint. ¹³The carpenter stretches a line; he marks it out with a pencil. He shapes it with planes and marks it with a compass. He shapes it into the figure of a man, with the beauty of a man, to dwell in a house. ¹⁴ He cuts down cedars, or he chooses a cypress tree or an oak and lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest. He plants a cedar and the rain nourishes it. ¹⁵Then it becomes fuel for a man. He takes a part of it and warms himself; he kindles a fire and bakes bread. Also he makes a god and worships it; he makes it an idol and falls down before it. ¹⁶Half of it he burns in the fire. Over the half he eats meat; he roasts it and is satisfied. Also he warms himself and says, "Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire!" ¹⁷And the rest of it he makes into a god, his idol, and falls down to it and worships it. He prays to it and says, "Deliver me, for you are my god!"

¹⁸They know not, nor do they discern, for he has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, and their hearts, so that they cannot understand. ¹⁹No one considers, nor is there knowledge or discernment to say, "Half of it I burned in the fire; I also baked bread on its coals; I roasted meat and have eaten. And shall I make the rest of it an abomination? Shall I fall down before a block of wood?" ²⁰ He feeds on ashes; a deluded heart has led him astray, and he cannot deliver himself or say, "Is there not a lie in my right hand?"

THERE IS NONE LIKE THE LORD AND THERE IS GREAT FOLLY IN idolatry

I. Who is like the Lord? No one (6-8)

a. He is the first and the last, there is no other god beside Him.

b. He is the King and Redeemer of Israel.

i. Who is Israel?

1. Israel is the historic people of God. The people God called out of Egypt.

2. Israel is the people of God who by faith have been grafted in and called sons of God (Romans 9-11).

c. He is a Rock, He does not change (Malachi 3:6).

d. This section is a call to faith in the one true and living God.

II. Idolatry is great folly [stupid] (9-20)

a. Those who make idols are nothing. This would include those who worship them as well. (9-11)

i. The idols they make to not profit.

1. In fact, they cause loss, because our worship is supposed to be for God only (Exodus 20:3).

2. Also, we become like what we worship (Jeremiah 2:5-11).

a. When we worship God we reflect His glory (Genesis 1:26).

b. When we worship worthless things we become worthless (Jeremiah 2:5)

ii. Those who commit idolatry will be put to shame (Jeremiah 10:14).

1. Who were the first people to feel shame? Adam and Eve

a. When were they not ashamed? Before the fall (Genesis 2:25)

b. But after the fall they hid themselves out of shame (Genesis 3:10).

c. When should we feel shame? When we sin

iii. In idolatry, it is a man who makes god. Should not a god making man?

iv. Those who worship idols should be terrified (Exodus 20:4).

b. Worshipping idols is hard work (12)

i. The ironsmith uses a strong arm. This implies that he uses all his strength.

ii. He becomes hungry and weak, but drinks no water and becomes faint.

1. The labor of worshiping idols is hard – it is not easy!

a. What are some examples of idol worshiping that we do that is hard?

i. _________________________________

ii. _________________________________

b. But the Lord calls all to him who are weary for His burden is light (Matthew 11:25-30).

c. Why is worshiping idols hard and worshiping God easy?

i. Idols do not have any power to give (Jeremiah 51:17).

ii. Christ gives strength to those who trust in Him (Philippians 4:13).

c. Worshipping idols does not make since (13-17)

i. Half of the wood he uses for fire and half for an idol.

1. The fire satisfies him

a. When we use God’s creation properly it makes us happy

b. When we use God’s creation improperly is makes us fools

2. The other half he makes his god

a. He ask the piece of wood to deliver him

i. God is the one who delivers us from calamity (Psalm 51:14).

ii. But to idolaters he delivers them to calamity (Leviticus 26:25).

d. We should be a people who discern what is right (18-20)

i. Who is the he in verse 18? God (Romans 1:28)

1. Why did God close their eyes and hearts? Because they chose to worship idols

ii. Who realizes that half of the wood is used for fire and half for an idol? No one

iii. Who cannot deliver him? He cannot deliver himself for God alone is Deliver.

1. That is why we need the Gospel – it alone is the power of God for salvation (Romans 1:16).