Scriptures: Exodus 20:1-3, Deuteronomy 5:29, 6:6-7

The Ten Commandments were not given to the Nation of Israel as rules for a relationship with God, but as a reflection of a relationship with God. In this message, Dr. Merritt outlines the foundational teaching of the first commandment, God's clear instruction to put Him first, above all other relationships.

"The first commandment is foundational to the other nine, because if you don't get the first one you will never get the other ones. In the first commandment, God is not saying, 'If you want to have a relationship with Me, this is what you have to do.' He was saying, 'If you have a relationship with Me, this is what you want to do.'" --Dr. Merritt

Keywords: law, God, commandments, guidelines, first, rules, homeland, security, first, one, Egypt, Mt. Sinai