The Root of All Uncertainty - I John 5:13-21

Introduction:

Let’s imagine that we were interviewing the Apostle John, and he had just finished speaking to us the entire letter of I John. If we were to ask John, “How would you summarize the entire letter in one sentence?” What do you think he might say. It seems outlandish and completely out of place, but look at I John 5:21. This is his summary.

1 John 5:21 KJV 1900

21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

Why speak of the nature of God, the certainty of Jesus in the flesh, the evidences of true Christians, the marks of those who are antichrists, the birthmarks of believers, the love of God, and love for brethren? In John’s estimation, anything that is contrary to the true God and the evidences of true believers is idolatry.

This is his final admonition.

Why summarize it this way?

[why summarize this way] Because of what Idolatry Means:

Definition of Idolatry:

What is the cause of this “strange melancholy” that permeates our society even during boom times of frenetic activity, and which turns to outright despair when prosperity diminishes? De Tocqueville says it comes from taking some “incomplete joy of this world” and building your entire life on it. That is the definition of idolatry.

Keller, Timothy. Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters . Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Idolatry is huge in the Bible,

dominant in our personal lives,

and irrelevant in our mistaken estimations. — Os Guinness

Idleman, Kyle. Gods at War: Defeating the Idols that Battle for Your Heart . Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

Idolatry isn’t just one of many sins; rather it’s the one great sin that all others come from. So if you start scratching at whatever struggle you’re dealing with, eventually you’ll find that underneath it is a false god. Until that god is dethroned, and the Lord God takes his rightful place, you will not have victory.

Idleman, Kyle. Gods at War: Defeating the Idols that Battle for Your Heart . Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

The problem is that the instant something takes the place of God, the moment it becomes an end in itself rather than something to lay at God’s throne, it becomes an idol.

Idleman, Kyle. Gods at War: Defeating the Idols that Battle for Your Heart . Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

Anything at all can become an idol once it becomes a substitute for God in our lives.

Idleman, Kyle. Gods at War: Defeating the Idols that Battle for Your Heart . Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

Because of what idolatry means and is the worship of any other God besides the true God, as He has revealed himself in Jesus Christ. Thus, idolaters are those who worship variations of Jesus that are slightly or drastically different than Jesus as He was revealed.

Seeing God How We Want Him to Be

Isn’t it tempting to see God like we want him to be, rather than how he has revealed himself? In an interview with Parade magazine, the musician Elton John said, “I think Jesus was a compassionate, super-intelligent gay man who understood human problems.”

One of the easiest ways to commit the sin of idolatry is to remake God in our image. For culture’s view of God, see Parade magazine. For an accurate view of God, see the Bible.

—Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell123

123 Dotson Rader, “Elton John: ‘There’s a lot of hate in the world,’ ” http://www.parade.com/celebrity/celebrity-parade/2010/elton-john-web-exclusive.html.

Wilson, J. L., & Russell, R. (2015). Seeing God How We Want Him to Be. In E. Ritzema (Ed.), 300 Illustrations for Preachers. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

How was Jesus revealed?

Illustration: John 20:24-29

John 20:24–29 KJV 1900

24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. 26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

[why summarize this way] Because of How We Are Created:

You and I were created to worship God — to adore God and find our ultimate sense of self worth and assurance in Him alone. Satan tempted Eve by telling her that they would be as gods, knowing good and evil. The temptation to replace God entered the human race in the Garden. It became the tendency of every other human.

If in doubt, would you please consider the first of the famed 10 Commandments. Exodus 20:3

Exodus 20:3 KJV 1900

3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

From this command flows all other commands. The next 3 commands show the removal of God from his rightful place. The last 6 commands explicitly show how what God is replaced with.

If you dishonor your father/mother, you are choosing to exalt your own authority above the Lord’s established authority. It is the idolatry of the power of self.

If you kill, you have chosen to exalt anger or vengeance. You could even say that you have idolized your own life above another’s.

If you commit adultery, you have idolized sexual sin or personal pleasure.

If you steal, you have idolized whatever motivated you to steal — the thrill of the steal, or you’ve idolized materialism.

If you lie, you have idolized your own image or possibly whatever you get out of lying.

Idolatry is at the heart of insecurity or a lack of confidence.

It’s our Natural Human Tendency:

Our natural response to this lack of assurance is to find lesser beings and things for our sense of meaning. This is the description of idolatry. Idolatry is attempting to find ultimate security & confidence in someone or something other than God. It is the enthronement of even good things in replacement of God Himself. It is attempting to fill the void we feel with someone other than God.

As it relates to the letter of I John, there are two kinds of people we must consider:

Those who have false confidence or assurance

Those who have failing confidence or assurance

By having a false confidence, I mean those individual’s who have confidence in based in something or someone that is a variation of the true God or Jesus. They may be assured, but their assurance is false because it is based on a false god.

By having a failing confidence, I mean those Christians who have believed in the true God and true Jesus but who are struggling for assurance because of the temptation towards false gods.

Kid’s Pause

The root of all false confidence and failing confidence is idolatry.

(1) Know that you are not immune to idolatry (I John 5:13)

1 John 5:13 KJV 1900

13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

This particular verse is one of transition as well as a purpose statement for the letter. I John 5:13 transitions to the final remarks of John, but it also tells you why John wrote the letter. There are a couple of things of primary importance here.

The fact that John is writing this to people who are believers confirms our suspicions that it is possible to be in relationship with God and lack assurance. But why? Because the distraction of a false god can cause one’s faith to waiver.

Illustration: Immunity Idol

Christians are not immune in any scenario.

app:

Today, this kind of idolatry may take on many forms, but one of the most glaring ways we see this is through the exaltation of educational knowledge to the status of identity and a person’s value. What you know and why you pursue knowledge must be informed by the relationship you already have in Jesus.

When you fall into the trap of knowledge idolatry, you are on the path to uncertainty and a lack of assurance.

The root al all false confidence and failing confidence is idolatry.

(2) Pray confidently for those in idolatry (I John 5:14-17)

1 John 5:14–17 KJV 1900

14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. 16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. 17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

When we are secure in our relationship with Christ, this gives a boost of confidence, but remember that any variation of Who Jesus actually is, is idolatrous. So, how does this confidence manifest itself? Through prayer for God’s will.

app:

God’s will is manifested first through God’s Word and not first by impressions of the heart. Luke 22:42

Luke 22:42 KJV 1900

42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

…a will revealed in the God’s OT words.

It is not just prayer for God’s will, but it is intercessory prayer.

Illustration: Peter in Luke 22:31-32 A reference to the impending denial of Peter.

Luke 22:31–32 KJV 1900

31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

It could easily be said that Peter denied Jesus because of the idol of self, but we see how Jesus prayed

app:

How should we pray for one another? We should pray for those battling against idols.

Illustration:

400 Prayers for Preachers We Have Been Polluted with Idolatry and Superstition

We Have Been Polluted with Idolatry and Superstition

Deuteronomy 4:24; Hebrews 12:29

Preaching Themes: Confession, Idolatry, Superstition

Prayer Type: Confession

O dreadful and most mighty God, who from the beginning has declared yourself a consuming fire against the condemners of your most holy precepts, and yet to the penitent you have shown yourself a favorable Father and a God full of mercy; we, the workmanship of your own hands, confess ourselves most unworthy to open our eyes unto heaven, for our conscience accuses us, and our manifest iniquity bears witness that we have declined from you. We have been polluted with idolatry and superstition; we have given your glory to creatures, and have sought support where it was not to be found. The manifest corruption of our lives evidently proves how far we have offended against you and against your just and most holy commandments.

We most humbly ask you, O Father of mercies, for Christ Jesus your Son’s sake, to remove the remembrance of our past iniquities, and by the power of your Holy Spirit so to govern us in all times to come that all the actions of our life may tend to the advancement of your glory, and to the comfort of your troubled flock.

JOHN KNOX

400 Prayers for Preachers Deliver Me from Idolatry

Deliver Me from Idolatry

1 Timothy 6:10; 1 John 5:21

Preaching Themes: Idolatry, Love

Prayer Type: Petition

Deliver me, O God, from all idolatrous love of any creature. I know infinite numbers have been lost to you, by loving those creatures for their own sake, which you permit, even command, to love subordinately to you. Preserve me, I ask you, from all such blind affection; be a guard to all my desires, that they fix on no creature any farther than the love of it tends to build me up in the love of you. You require me to love you with all my heart; I ask you that I may never open my heart to anything, but out of love to you.

Above all, deliver me, O my God, from all idolatrous self-love. I know, O God, that this is the root of all evil. I know you made me, not to do my own will, but yours. I know, the very corruption of the devil is, the having a will contrary to yours. O be my helper against this most dangerous of all idols, that I may both discern all its subtleties, and withstand all its force. O you who have commanded me to renounce myself, give me strength, and I will obey your command. My choice and desire is, to love myself, as all other creatures, in and for you. O let your almighty arm so establish, strengthen, and settle me, that you may ever be the ground and pillar of all my love.

JOHN WESLEY

The root of all false confidence and failing confidence is idolatry.

(3) Live with certainty about sin, self, and the Son (I John 5:18-20)

1 John 5:18–20 KJV 1900

18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. 19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. 20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

These final verses present three “we knows”. We know how the person born of God relates to sin. We know who we are. We know the Son of God has come. John is doing here what he has done throughout the letter. He is helping them to see what is the outworking of faith established in absolutely certain truths. (see verses)

app:

Satan in real, and the world is under his control. That is all those who do not know Jesus as He has been revealed.

Give yourselves to pursuing a deeper understanding of the Son of God.

1001 Illustrations that Connect (Illustration 228: The Poison in Everyday Things)

The greatest adversary of love to God is not his enemies but his gifts. And the deadliest appetites are not for the poison of evil, but for the simple pleasures of earth. For when these replace an appetite for God himself, the idolatry is scarcely recognizable and almost incurable. - John Piper, Hunger for God

The root al all false confidence and failing confidence is idolatry.

Kid’s Pause: the distractions of the good things

(4) Guard against idolatry intentionally (I John 5:21)

1 John 5:21 KJV 1900

21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

This verse is both endearing and a call to arms. It is a verse that confirms we should not take for granted how subtle variations of God or Jesus may enter into the lives of Christians.

Quote:

10,000 Sermon Illustrations Worldliness

Worldliness, then, is a preoccupation with ease and affluence. It elevates creature comfort to the point of idolatry; large salaries and comfortable life-styles become necessities of life.

The root al all false confidence and failing confidence is idolatry.

Conclusion:

Final Applications:

Consider Christ in John 17:3 - only true God

John 17:3 KJV 1900

3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Look for Heart Idols Manifested by Gossip

Thune: “false saviors promoting false gospels

Here are some common heart idols that can manifest themselves in the surface sin of gossip:

The idol of approval (I want the approval of the people I’m talking to)

The idol of control (Using gossip as a way to manipulate/control others)

The idol of reputation (I want to feel important, so I cut someone else down verbally)

The idol of success (Someone is succeeding—and I’m not—so I gossip about him)

The idol of security (Talking about others masks my own insecurity)

The idol of pleasure (Someone else is enjoying life—and I’m not—so I attack her)

The idol of knowledge (Talking about people is a way of showing I know more)

The idol of recognition (Talking about others gets people to notice me)

The idol of respect (That person disrespected me, so I’m going to disrespect him)

Thune, Robert H.; Walker, Will. The Gospel-Centered Life: Study Guide with Leader's Notes (pp. 55-56). New Growth Press. Kindle Edition.

Be committed in a way that people know how to specifically pray for you. James 5:16

James 5:16 KJV 1900

16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

The root al all false confidence and failing confidence is idolatry.

Conversely, the root of absolute assurance and lasting joy is a true heart of worship for the true God and His Son Jesus Christ. This is what Jesus came to give you.