Tag: idols

‘Treason’ is a very strong word.

One would think that it is inappropriate in the context of the ‘Foundational’ posts.

The Apostle John concluded his first epistle with the following verse.

I John 5:21, NKJV, reads, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen”

This is the only instance the Apostle John uses the word ‘idol’ in his writings.

Q: Throughout the entirety of the Word of God, has the subject of ‘idolatry been an issue?

A: Yes.

The Apostle John was inspired by the Holy Spirit to make this clear understanding regarding the Lord Jesus Christ: “…but these things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” (John 20:31, NKJV)

Q: Does ‘idolatry’ mitigate against that truth?

A: Yes.

The substance of the Apostle John’s first epistle is summarized at the end of the epistle when he says, “We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the evil one. 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.” (I John 5:18-20, NKJV)

(Please read the previous post,’Foundational Truth!’, for further understanding.)

Therefore, in the context of the Apostle John’s summary, it is not surprising that he would end his epistle with this admonition to “keep oneself from idols”.

Why?

Because an ‘idol’ will move one’s center of attention from the truth found in the Lord Jesus Christ to another center of attention, a life centered and dependent upon another god.

Jesus, Himself, addressed this same thought in the Sermon on the Mount, when He said, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matthew 6:24, NKJV; context Matthew 6:1-34)

In short, idolatry is ‘treason’ against God.

Consider these acronyms for Idol(s). I.D.O.L.(S.)

Idols Deceives Our Love Spiritually.

Idols Destroy Our Lives Spiritually.

Idolatry’s Darkness Obliterates Light.

The Apostle John’s last sentence is the antithesis of the Absolute Truth found in the Lord Jesus Christ because an ‘idol’ deceives our living for God in His Love, His Life, and in His Light.

The word ‘treason’ is a turning from, a rebellion against, a disloyalty to, an act of betrayal.

“In the Bible, treason primarily means betrayal of trust, conspiracy against civil or divinely appointed leadership [i.e.: Lord Jesus Christ], or spiritual unfaithfulness to God. Because Israel functioned as a theocracy and later as a monarchy, disloyalty was treated as a severe crime against both the state and God Himself.” (source AI: christianconcern.com) [insert mine]

The Meriam-Webster Dictionary defines treason: “the offense of attempting by overt to overthrow the government of the state to which the offender owes allegiance or to kill or personally injure the Sovereign or the sovereign’s family.

[Thought: ponder that definition reflecting upon this scripture: “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. But I have come that they may have life; and they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10, NKJV)]

Jesus is not the thief. But there is a thief?

Jesus spoke these words when He shared that He was the Good Shepherd, John 10:1-30.

Selah.

The motivation for treason can be multi-faceted; but it has but one foundation, and that foundation is pride.

Q: What is the source of ‘treason’?

A. Lucifer/Satan. (Isaiah 14:12-15)

Satan’s pride was an act of rebellion against God’s authority.

Satan’s pride is an act of ‘treason’.

Q: What is the issue of the universe?

A. Who is in charge?

The Word of God leaves no doubt about who is in charge of the universe.

Let us look at one verse of scripture the is representative of many others.

Psalms 103:19, NKJV, “The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.”

In the Amplified Version, the words, “His kingdom rules over all” are rendered: “His sovereignty rules over all [the universe].”

Just before Christ’s ascension back to His Father, He said to His disciples, “…All authority has been given unto Me in heaven and one earth.” (Matthew 28:18, NKJV)

Paul writing to the Church at Philippi, explaining to them the coming of Christ, the Incarnation of the the Son of God, who took on human flesh, becoming the Son of Man, and having obediently completed the work that His Father had asked Him to do, says, “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” (NKJV) [Context Philippians 2:5-11]

The Lord Jesus Christ is the One who the Apostle John said our enemy, Satan, would attempt to turn our hearts away from the truth found in Him.

John 1:14, NKJV, says, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (emphasis mine)

When Lucifer/Satan said, “I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God…(Isaiah 14:13b, NKJV), he committed ‘cosmic treason’.

[Note: ‘Cosmic Treason’ is the title of an article written by R.C.Sproul, May 1, 2008]

When you read the account of the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness, His temptation was ordained by the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 4:1-3)

Prior to being sent into the wilderness, Jesus had come to the River Jordan to be baptized by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:13-17). After Jesus’ water baptism, the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus ‘like a dove’, and a voice from heaven came and said, “This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.”

Matthew 4:1, NKJV, says, “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”

Why?

Jesus is the Son of God in human flesh.

In human flesh, He is, now also, the Son of Man.

What is the significance of this?

Just as Adam was spoken to by Satan in the Garden of Eden; so Jesus, the Son of Man is going to be spoken to by Satan in the wilderness.

In the Garden, Satan asked a question, “Has God indeed said…?”; in the wilderness, Satan said, “If you are the Son of God…”

Satan questions God’s word to Adam. (Genesis 3:1-8)

Satan sought to manipulate God’s word spoken to His Son. (Matthew 4:1-11)

Jesus did not succumb to Satan’s temptations in the same way that Adam and Eve succumbed to Satan’s temptations.

Jesus stood against Satan’s deceptive words and lies, responding, “It is written”. (Matthew 4:4,7,10)

Satan’s third temptation is a revelation of his pride.

Matthew 4:8-11, NKJV, says, “And again the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give you if You will fall down and worship me.” “

[Note: Where did Satan get the kingdoms and the glory? He stole them. He is the thief of John 10. He stole them in the Garden from Adam.]

These words express the root of pride that Satan had voiced from his heart, “I will ascend into the heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest side of the north*; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will like the Most High.” (Isaiah 14:12-14, NKJV) [* ‘the side of the north’ reminded me of Psalms 48:1-2]

The very thing that Satan was offering to Jesus “if He would worship him”, was what Paul told the Church at Philippi (Philippians 2:1-11) Jesus received from His Father because He fully obeyed what His Father had asked Him to do, “…He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross. Therefore, God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, …”.

Think about the irony that exists between what Satan desired for himself and who Satan was speaking too, the Son of God/Son of Man.

The nations and the glory that Satan was offering to Jesus was stained with sin.

Jesus, the Creator (Colossians 1:17) did not need the kingdoms of this world; nor did He need the glory.

Jesus left the Glory (John 17:1-4) that He had in heaven to come to the earth.

Jesus came into what He had created originally without sin.

Therefore He didn’t come for the ‘glory’ and ‘position’ Satan was offering him. ( John 10:25-30)

Jesus came to take back what was stolen?

How?

Jesus came to fulfill His Father’s desire for Him to be the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world”. (John 1:29b, NKJV)

Because Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s spoken word to them, they committed ‘treason’ against God.

Disobedience to God’s word is sin.

Sin is ‘treason’ against God’s authority.

As previously written, “treason primarily means betrayal of trust, conspiracy against civil or divinely appointed leadership, or spiritual unfaithfulness.”

The immediate consequence of Adam and Eve’s sin was the forfeiture of their spiritual relationship with God through spiritual death.

Adam and Eve’s sin also had other consequences, see Genesis 3:13-24, which culminated in them being driven from the Garden (“expelled from the Garden, Tree of Life Version).

[It is important to point of the heart of God regarding His love from Adam and Eve. Yes, God, is a God of justice; but He is also a God of grace and mercy. Genesis 3:21-22 speaks loudly regarding God’s love. These two verses point us to the cross.]

Q: Why did the Son of God come, take on human flesh and become the Son of Man, and die on the cross?

A: Through the finished work of Christ’s death, burial, resurrection, and ascension, mankind-the descendants of Adam and Eve-all humanity has been offered the way to be forgiven of their sin, be reconciled to God, restored relationally to God, and brought back into God’s presence, no longer “expelled” from Him.

What is offered is a free gift to all of mankind; but it was provided at the highest cost-the cost of God, the Father, giving His Son for the ‘cosmic treason’ of the world(that is not universalism), so that we might have eternal life. (Isaiah 52:13-53:12)

Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden.

They lived on the earth but existed under the conditions specified by God because of their disobedience. (Genesis 3)

Because of the sin, they were governed by their own authority; but not God’s direct relational authority.

God’s authority is still absolute over all of His creation.

That authority is both Sovereign and Providental.

Adam and Eve governed themselves; yet are subject to, like all humanity to God’s Sovereignty and Providence.

Adam and Eve governed themselves.

Or did they?

Their disobedience had consequences as mentioned before; but it also had far reaching consequences.

Their sin subjected them to death, both in their spirit and in their natural body.

Romans 6:23 tells us that “the wages of sin is death”.

Their sin resulted in having a different, relational father, Satan himself. (John 8:44, context John 8)

Satan is also the God of this world. (see 2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:2; John 12:31; I John 5:10)

Satan is the father of lies. (John 8:44, context John 8)

Satan is a deceiver. (2 Corinthians 11:14-see context 2 Corinthians 11:5-15)

Satan’s goal is to deceive the whole earth. (Revelation 12:9)

Adam and Eve, all of humanity, because of their sin nature, not only govern themselves; but they are influenced by, and governed by the world, the flesh and the devil (Satan).

All humanity is descended from Adam and Eve, and all are born with a sin nature.

Therefore, as born sinners, we are all in need of a Savior. (Romans 3:23)

Enter the Son of God. (Luke 2)

Knowing Christ as our Lord and Savior does not exempt us from temptation.

As believers, we too, are susceptible to being influenced by the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil.

The entirety of scripture addresses this ‘cosmic foundational failure, its cause; its remedy; its purpose, and its ultimate hope. Ephesians 2:1-10)

But God…

Jesus spoke directly to this issue when He was talking with Nicodemus. (see John 3:16-18; context John 3:1-21)

The Apostle Paul writing to the Church at Ephesus elaborating on God, the Father’s, heart that is set into motion before the foundation of the world(Ephesians 1:1-18) says, “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world*, according to the prince of the power of the air (Satan)*, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of the flesh* and of the mind, and were by nature the children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in ^mercy^, because of His great ^love^ with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, make us alive together with Christ (by ^grace^ you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His ^grace^ in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by ^grace^ you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” {emphasis mine}

[Note: what is also highlighted*: the believer’s three enemies- the world, the flesh, and the devil, Satan.]

(Note: What are the three ^words^ that are highlighted that reveal to us God’s heart? They are mercy, love, and grace{4x}.

Remember, “where sin abounded, grace abounded much more” (Romans 5:20b; context Romans 5:12-21)

This is the longing heart of God of God, the Father for his fallen humanity.

I encourage you to read again about His mercy, love, and grace; ponder what He brought us out of and what He has brought us into ‘in Christ’. (Colossians 1:13, context Colossians 1:1-18; I Peter 2:9)

Our man-made idols are formed when we desire not to be ‘governed’ by God: the Father; the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ; the Holy Spirit-according to the Word of God.

Consider what you forfeit: John 17:3, NKJV, “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

I recommend that you read John 17.

This post has been a long journey; but I trust it has been a blessing to you who completed its entire reading and study.

Q: Why is this important to understand?

A: Our Father desires your ‘unshared love’ for Him.

It’s time for a break; you and me.

blessings, a brother in Christ, deo

To Be Continued