Do you know that God exists? If so, you’re already on the right track for his teachings. The first positive command as enumerated by Maimonides is simply to know that there is a God in Heaven. Essentially in Jewish understanding, the command is: “Thou shalt know God.”
P1 – The first of the positive commandments is the mitzvah to know that there is a God, as Exodus 20:2 states: “I am God, your Lord.[1]“
Oftentimes, the commands will show up more than once in Torah. This will be the first example of that. Maimonides quotes Exodus in the above reference, but you can also find the command repeated in Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy 5:6 (TLV)
6 ‘I am Adonai your God, who brought you out from the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
In literal form, the two proof texts apply directly to the Jewish people. It was them that God delivered out of Egypt and therefore this command was directed to them. Too often in Christianity, we are told “the law was nailed to the cross,” but I personally don’t know a single Christian, that would claim we are not obligated to this command. If you don’t believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, you’re not a Believer – it’s as simple as that.
God expects us to believe in Him and the New Testament writings make that abundantly clear. While this command may have initially been given to the Jewish people at Sinai, it is absolutely applicable to every Believer, Jew and Gentile alike. In fact, part of our understanding is literally the confession of faith in His Son:
Romans 10:9 (TLV)
9 For if you confess with your mouth that Yeshua is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
The verse above can be cross referenced with several more including Matthew 10:32, Luke 12:8, Phil. 2:11, 1 John 2:23, 1 John 4:14, Acts 8:37 – and others.
So, can we find P1 in the New Testament? I think the answer is a pretty cut and dry “yes.” Belief in God the Father and the call to return to His ways was the ministry of John the Immerser and then Jesus picked up that call: “repent.”
Not only are Believers called to know God, but I think we could argue that even non-believers are expected to acknowledge there is a God. Consider what Paul says early in his letter to the Romans:
Romans 1:18–20 (TLV)
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. In unrighteousness they suppress the truth, 19 because what can be known about God is plain to them—for God has shown it to them. 20 His invisible attributes—His eternal power and His divine nature—have been clearly seen ever since the creation of the world, being understood through the things that have been made. So people are without excuse—
As far as Paul is concerned, people are “without excuse.” Perhaps there are some that would argue that’s not a current requirement on a universal scale. Even if you want to argue that, there’s going to be a time when all flesh will accept this foundational truth of God’s existence. Later in his epistle, Paul quotes a verse from Isaiah 45:23 (quoted also in Philippians 2:10)
Romans 14:11 (TLV)
11 For it is written, “As I live, says Adonai, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall give praise to God.”
Ok. P1 was a softball. I promise, they get better, and the hunt becomes more intense. On to P2!