1 John 5:21
Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
David Powlison nails this issue with one all-encompassing question:
[This verse] leaves us with that most basic question which God continually poses to each human heart. Has something or someone besides Jesus the Christ taken title to your heart’s trust, preoccupation, loyalty, service, fear and delight? It is a question bearing on the immediate motivation for one’s behavior, thoughts, and feelings…. Who or what “rules” my behavior, the Lord or a substitute?
The thing that hit me in preparing the preach from this text is that John does not give us a step-by step lesson in HOW to keep ourselves from idols. He states it clearly (and very briefly) then he ends the epistle. So how do we do it? The best answer as to how is found in the verse before.
1 John 5:20
And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
John front-loads the application. The command in verse 21 is preceded by the how to in keeping the command in verse 20. What he says about idolatry is actually preceded by its opposite or its antidote.
Knowing Him who is true and being in Him who is true is the opposite of idolatry.
Enjoying the true God and eternal life is the exact counter-point to idolatry.
Here we find, in John’s typical style, doctrine that is stated so simply yet is unfathomably deep.
Verse 20 unfolds in three parts:
The Incarnation of Christ
The Revelation of God
Our Union with Christ
Three words – Incarnation – Revelation – Salvation
You will be enabled to keep yourselves from idols when you fix your eyes on these truths. It is about believing the gospel. It really is. Engrave these truths upon your heart. Ask the Spirit to bloom these truths in your affections. Decide to meditate upon these truths with all of your attention. In so doing, you will keep yourselves from idols.