Most people who read the Bible get the gist of it from
using a good translation in their own language and from the context of each
passage. If anyone wants to go deeper, which is possible in this amazing Book,
it is helpful to know a few things about the original languages. For instance,
Hebrew is poetic while Greek has more verb tenses than most languages.
That reality about Greek shows up in this passage and
keeps me from error in interpreting it:
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. We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. 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. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. (1 John 5:18–21)
The idea that Christians stop sinning comes out in English
but in Greek it is more like Christians do not make sin a habit of life. While
it is impossible for the rest of the world to stop sinning, Christians can do
it. God protects them from the power of the evil one who dominates the rest of
the world and keeps His people in Christ and Christ in them. Because of Jesus,
it is possible to have a life that overcomes that sin nature that would
otherwise doom us to destruction.
The other thing about this last passage in 1 John is its
abrupt ending. John doesn’t focus on idols per se, yet he does tell readers not
to love the world. I think that means idolatry. Compare what John says to
Paul’s words to the church at Corinth:
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:15–17)
Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” (1 Corinthians 10:7)
Idolatry is usually associated with carved objects like
the golden calf Paul alludes to in the Old Testament. In that situation, he
says they were messing with sexual sin and grumbling about their lot in life.
They wanted to have fun and they used their idol as an excuse, a god who
allowed them to indulge themselves.
John associates this behavior with ‘loving the world’ as
he warns that the world is under the control of the evil one. Other passages in
the New Testament point out that idols are nothing — the real enemy is the
demonic powers behind the idols. The only way to escape the control of these
evil beings is to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. As John says, “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.” That also means that the power of idolatry has no hold on
those who worship the true God and who have His love in them.
Other NT passages make it clear that Christians are
protected yet we are in a battle. The evil powers of this world want to engage
and defeat us. Jesus Christ has already defeated those dark powers. By always
trusting Him in every way, we are protected. However, if I give in to trusting
anything or anyone else, including myself, I am heading into idolatry, the very
thing that John tells me to stay away from.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Lord Jesus, this is a powerful letter that affirms my safe
position in Christ yet at that same time warns me that in You I am standing in
a place where I am a target. The enemy cannot defeat me yet wants me to think
that he can. If I fall for that lie, I may take a hit, become useless and unfruitful,
even fall backward into sin. Yet there is assurance that You are greater, and
what You have done is the finale, the end of the story. Wow, and what a story
it is. I’m joyful in knowing that You are my Savior and You will bring me
through this battle — because You have already won it!
Today’s thankful list . . .
- God’s assurance that I will win this battle over sin.
- encouragement to keep on resisting the enemy’s lies and the
world’s temptations.
- homemade chicken soup.
- anticipation for small group get together after a month
of delays.
- music and laughter.
No comments:
Post a Comment