Little Children, Keep Yourselves from Idols

1 John 5:21
John’s teaching method in this letter has been described as cyclical. He introduces a topic and then leaves it momentarily, only to return later. John uses this method to explain three evidences of true faith: truth, love, and obedience. In chapter five, he shows how each of them are rooted in the work of God’s indwelling Spirit. If the Spirit is present, then the evidences will be the fruit of his work. He closes his letter with a short, but not disconnected statement: “keep yourselves from idols.” Idolatry is a key concept in the Bible. In this sermon, we’ll see how it relates to the work of the Spirit.