Keeping Ourselves From Idols

Sermon Summary

The big idea of this week’s sermon is that Jesus is the one true God, He is the only way to eternal life, and He is the reason that we know. The message began by emphasizing Jesus' divinity and the command for us to guard against idols. It then explored the two responses to sin: either confessing our sins to Jesus as the only source of cleansing or allowing sin to lead us to our death. The sermon concluded by explaining how the person of Christ instills confidence and assurance in our salvation.

Sermon Outline:

1. There Is One True God: As it is explicitly stated in verses 20-21, Jesus is the one true God.

2. There Are Two Ways to Live: Verses 16-17 teach that there are two ways to respond to our sin, and Jesus is the only way for us to cleanse us from all our unrighteousness.

3. There Are Three Things We Know: Verses 18-20 reveal three truths we can know because of the gospel.

Sermon Text: 1 John 5:16-21

¹⁶ If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. ¹⁷ All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.

¹⁸ We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.

¹⁹ We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

²⁰ And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. ²¹ Little children, keep yourselves from idols.