Grace Fellowship ChurchGrace Fellowship Church

www.GraceDoctrine.orgwww.GraceDoctrine.org

Pastor/Teacher - Jim RickardPastor/Teacher - Jim Rickard Sunday, November 29, 2009Sunday, November 29, 2009

1 John 5:211 John 5:21

Guarding against Idolatry!Guarding against Idolatry!

Guard = PHULASSO, Guard = PHULASSO, Aorist, Active, Imperative. Aorist, Active, Imperative. In the sense of carrying out In the sense of carrying out

sentinel functions. sentinel functions.

Luke 2:8Luke 2:8

Luke 2:8,Luke 2:8,“In the same region there “In the same region there

were were somesome shepherds shepherds staying out in the fields staying out in the fields and keeping watch over and keeping watch over

their flock by night.”their flock by night.”

It also means, “to hold in It also means, “to hold in reserve, to protect by reserve, to protect by

taking careful measures, or taking careful measures, or to store up for oneself.”to store up for oneself.”

It’s a command to have It’s a command to have volitional responsibility.volitional responsibility.

EIDOLON EIDOLON “an image “an image

(i.e. for worship), (i.e. for worship), an idol.” an idol.”

The Command to Guard The Command to Guard against Idolatryagainst Idolatry..

1 Cor 10:7-8, 1 Cor 10:7-8, “Do not be idolaters, as some of “Do not be idolaters, as some of them (them (some Israelitessome Israelites) were; as it ) were; as it is written, ‘The people sat down is written, ‘The people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to to eat and drink, and stood up to play.’ Nor let us act immorally.”play.’ Nor let us act immorally.”

In 1 John, it’s a command In 1 John, it’s a command to guard against being to guard against being

influenced by false influenced by false teachings, especially those teachings, especially those that deny the Person and that deny the Person and

work of Jesus Christ.work of Jesus Christ.

1) Idolatry is the worship of 1) Idolatry is the worship of anything that is not God. It anything that is not God. It can include people, angels, can include people, angels, your job, church, money, your job, church, money,

houses, cars, boats, hobbies, houses, cars, boats, hobbies, sex, drugs, alcohol, etc. sex, drugs, alcohol, etc.

Whatever you worship is an Whatever you worship is an idol.idol.

It is putting anything ahead It is putting anything ahead of your relationship with of your relationship with God that would prevent God that would prevent

you from doing His will. you from doing His will.

Col 3:5; 1 Peter 4:3Col 3:5; 1 Peter 4:3

Col 3:5, Col 3:5, “Therefore consider the “Therefore consider the members of your earthly members of your earthly

body as dead to immorality, body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to and greed, which amounts to

idolatry.”idolatry.”

1 Peter 4:3, 1 Peter 4:3, “For the time already past is “For the time already past is

sufficient for you to have carried sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, out the desire of the Gentiles,

having pursued a course of having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and carousing, drinking parties and

abominable idolatries.”abominable idolatries.”

2) Idolatry is always 2) Idolatry is always forbidden by God in any forbidden by God in any

form. form. Ex 20:1-6, 23; 23:24; Ex 20:1-6, 23; 23:24;

Deut 4:28; 5:6-10; 6:14; Deut 4:28; 5:6-10; 6:14; 7:16; 8:197:16; 8:19

3) The believer is 3) The believer is commanded to have commanded to have

nothing to do with idolatry. nothing to do with idolatry.

1 Cor 5:9-11; 6:9-11; 1 Cor 5:9-11; 6:9-11; 10:14; 10:14;

2 Cor 6:162 Cor 6:16

1 Cor 10:14, 1 Cor 10:14, “Therefore, my beloved “Therefore, my beloved

brethren, flee from brethren, flee from idolatry.”idolatry.”

4) Idols are senseless and 4) Idols are senseless and powerless objects. powerless objects.

Psa 115:5-8; Isa 46:7; Psa 115:5-8; Isa 46:7; Jer 10:5; Hab 2:18-19; Jer 10:5; Hab 2:18-19;

1 Cor 12:21 Cor 12:2

5) The unbeliever is 5) The unbeliever is characterized as an characterized as an

Idolater, among other Idolater, among other things. things.

Eph 5:5; Gal 5:20; Eph 5:5; Gal 5:20; Rev 9:20; 21:8; 22:15Rev 9:20; 21:8; 22:15

6) Idolatry for the believer 6) Idolatry for the believer means he is under demon means he is under demon influence and learns false influence and learns false

doctrine.doctrine.

1 Cor 12:2; 1 Tim 4:11 Cor 12:2; 1 Tim 4:1

1 Tim 4:1, 1 Tim 4:1, “But the Spirit explicitly “But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times says that in later times

some will fall away from some will fall away from the faith, paying attention the faith, paying attention

to deceitful spirits and to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons.”doctrines of demons.”

7) The positive believer 7) The positive believer has no idols in his life and has no idols in his life and he is free to live his life in he is free to live his life in the grace of God, serving the grace of God, serving

Him. Him. 1 Cor 8:4; 10:19; 1 Cor 8:4; 10:19;

Col 3:5; 1 Thes 1:9Col 3:5; 1 Thes 1:9

How do you guard How do you guard yourselves against yourselves against

idolatry?idolatry?

1) You use your volition to 1) You use your volition to reside and function inside reside and function inside

God’s Power System. God’s Power System.

Phil 4:7; 2 Tim 3:17Phil 4:7; 2 Tim 3:17

Phil 4:7,Phil 4:7,“And the peace of God, “And the peace of God,

which surpasses all which surpasses all comprehension, will guard comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds your hearts and your minds

in Christ Jesus.”in Christ Jesus.”

2) Knowing God’s truth 2) Knowing God’s truth will lead you to reject the will lead you to reject the

falsehoods of idolatry.falsehoods of idolatry.

Luke 12:15; 1 Tim 6:20; Luke 12:15; 1 Tim 6:20; 2 Tim 1:12-14; 4:14-152 Tim 1:12-14; 4:14-15

1 Tim 6:20, 1 Tim 6:20, “O Timothy, guard what has “O Timothy, guard what has

been entrusted to you, been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly avoiding worldly andand empty empty

chatter chatter andand the opposing the opposing arguments of what is falsely arguments of what is falsely

called “knowledge””called “knowledge””

Grace OfferingGrace Offering

Grace Fellowship ChurchGrace Fellowship ChurchSunday, November 29, 2009

Tape # 09S-048

Guarding Against Idolatry I John Series

1 John 5:21; Ex 20:1-6; 1 Cor 5:9-11; 1 Tim 4:1 

James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2009