30/08/2020
FRCM Search the Scriptures LESSON 35
TOPIC: WARNING AGAINST IDOLATRY IN THE NEW TESTAMENT X
TEXT: I John 5:13-21
MEMORY VERSE: "Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen". I John 5:21
INTRODUCTION: Here in the epistle of Apostle John the Beloved to his children in the Lord and generally to the believed Gentiles, he also warned them against idol worshiping. This shall be our focus today.
LESSON
II.WARNING MESSAGE TO ALL GENTILES AND BELIEVERS AGAINST IDOLATRY
- Apostle John contrasts the word 'idols' with 'true God' in I John 5:20.
- In verse twenty-one (21), he warned his children and all the Gentiles to avoid idolatry, gods and have no idols in their hearts and lives. He admonished them to let God be their first and last love (Matthew 22:37).
- According to I John 5:20, who did Apostle John pictured to us as the true God and eternal life he contrasted with idols in verse twenty-one (21)?
- "All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death" (I John 5:17). According to the law, is the sin of idolatry unto death or not when committed as the sin of murder is unto death? Discuss and support with a bible verse.
- According to I John 5:13, why did Apostle John write these things, which he concluded by telling them to avoid idolatry (to keep themselves from idols) in I John 5:21? Who were his audience according to that verse thirteen (13)? What did he also ask them to continue doing according to that verse thirteen (13)?
CONCLUSION: Apostle John warned his children who were believers, whom he wrote the letter to, to avoid idolatry (to keep themselves from idols), because it is a sin unto death and that all unrighteousness is sin. He charged them to know that they have eternal life of God, who is, The True God and Eternal Life Himself and not in idols, and that they should continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.