WHAT DOES SIMILITUDE HAVE TO DO WITH THE LAW?

Introduction

We can only gain our meaning from one of two sources. Either it will come from the Creator or from the creature. How do we define God or is He beyond definition? Does He define us or do we define ourselves? Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines "similitude" as, "1. Likeness; resemblance; likeness in nature, qualities or appearance; as similitude of substance..." This is what God did in Genesis 1:26-27, "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." We are made in God’s similitude not God made in our similitude. We are not to be materialistic in our approach to God but spiritual. This is why God put the second commandment in the Bible in Exodus 20:4-6, "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments." God does not tolerate man’s attempt to define God.

Application

To properly understand the Bible, we need to use what is known as applied theology.

Idolatry is man’s attempt to define God and that God is to fit into this definition. It is an attempt by man to overturn God’s world. Deuteronomy 4:14-24 reads, "And the LORD commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go over to possess it. 15Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the LORD spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire: 16Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female, 17The likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air, 18The likeness of any thing that creepeth on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the waters beneath the earth: 19And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven. 20But the LORD hath taken you, and brought you forth out of the iron furnace, even out of Egypt, tobe unto him a people of inheritance, as ye are this day. 21Furthermore the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, and sware that I should not go over Jordan, and that I should not go in unto that good land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance: 22But I must die in this land, I must not go over Jordan: but ye shall go over, and possess that good land. 23Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee. 24For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God." Making idols is desiring to define things materially rather than spiritually. We know what John 4:24, "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." God’s Spirit is once again beyond definition by man. We are not to attempt to reverse the order.

Idolatry is an attempt by man to be the creator rather than the creature. Man knows deep down in his heart that he has been created by God. He attempts to deny this knowledge in Romans 1:18-25, "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. 20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen." Paul nails man down. He says that he has inescapable knowledge that there is Creator and that he is God’s creature. Man attempts to define God by materialism never by spirituality. This point just cannot be stressed enough.

Conclusion

The reason that man turns to idolatry is because he is spiritually dead. This is ethical death. When we speak of spiritual death, we are talking about being ethically dead. In other words, they do not obey nor believe in the law of God. In fact, from the outset, they have completely rejected in its entirety. Paul was once again nails down the idolater in Romans 8:6-8, "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." These materialists are in open warfare against the spiritual. They do not want to come into line with God’s law. This is why they make idols.