The Third Commandment – Keeping God Close
Exodus 20:7
The Meaning
Take – “lift up” specifically in a religious setting
Guiltless – “(morally) clean”
Vain – “empty; lightly”
Having the Name
Romans 10:9-13
Acts 11:26 – They were called Christians because of their obedience to Him
Three Ways of Breaking This Commandment
Profanity – cursing
Frivolity – joking
Hypocrisy – not meaning it
When Sincere Worship Declines
Preoccupied with problems
A Worldly spirit
Disobedience to God
A lazy causal approach
False teaching (no respect to God’s authority)
A discontent, grumbling spirit
Any time we have God’s name on our lips, and it is not currently burning on our heart, we have violated this commandment
Never lift up God’s glorious wonderful name without thinking about its meaning and sincerity believing it