Lesson 31: Keep Yourselves from Idols (1 John 5:21)

There are a number of common ways to say, “goodbye” to someone at the conclusion of a letter, but the Apostle John chose a line that is perhaps a bit more out of the ordinary: “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” The command itself isn’t a strange one, but the location seems just a tad out of the ordinary. But as the Holy Spirit directed John’s message, it was what He knew the original readers (and readers today) needed to be left with as a statement of final impact. Pastor Daniel packages this concluding sentence by stating, “diligently guard against all those things that would prevent you from fulfilling your divine purpose of loving and worshiping God.” These idols that need to be put away from the believer must be removed, “passionately, constantly, and ruthlessly.”

Summary by Seth Kempf, Bethany Community Church Staff