Flee from Idolatry

Idolatry is Alive and Well!

• Jesus was tempted to yield to it, Matt. 4:8-10

• We cannot have fellowship with idols and the Lord at the same time, 1 Cor. 10:14-22

• Study the identity, development and some of the elements of idolatry

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Idolatry:More Common than We Think

•Definition: Service to, worship of that which takes the place of the living God in one’s life–Before and rather than God:

Worship and serve, Exo. 20:1-5– Idolater: “A servant,

worshipper...of idols” (Moulton)

– Idolater trusts in his idol, Psa. 115:8

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The Development of Idolatry

•Upper movement?“In an age when the study of religion was practically confined to Judaism and Christianity, idolatry was regarded as a degeneration from an uncorrupt primeval faith, but the comparative and historical investigation of religion has shown it to be rather a stage of an upward movement, and that by no means the earliest.” (1911 Encyclopedia Britannica)

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Romans 1:18-25

The Development of Idolatry

•Downward movement!•Born out of rejection of God’s

truth and His presence, 1:18-20•Unthankful and ignorant elevation

of human wisdom (self), 1:21-23•Feeds on fleshly lusts, 1:24-27•Ends in a depraved mind, 1:28-32

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Romans 1:18-25

The Development of Idolatry

•Begins in the heart, producing the actions of idolatry in life, Isa. 44:18-20–The attitudes of idolatry elevate

self, things and people (while diminishing the true God)

•The sin of idolatry is not confined to giving homage to a graven image, 2 Tim. 3:1-5

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Romans 1:18-25

Test for Idolatry

•Does it have first place in your life?•Does it diminish God? Deut. 6:13-

15; Matt. 4:10; 22:37-38–Self? Lk. 9:23 (2 Tim. 3:2)–Another person? Matt. 10:37–My time? Eph. 5:16–My money? 1 Tim. 6:9-10–My goals? Matt. 6:33

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1 John 5:21Beware!

Elements of Idolatry

•The flesh, Gal. 5:20; 1 Cor. 10:7–Consuming desire to please

fleshly pursuits identifies and defines the (our) false god–Serving various lusts, Titus 3:3–Love of self rather than God

leads to the corruption of the flesh, Rom. 1:22-25

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1 Cor. 10:14

Elements of Idolatry

•Stubbornness, 1 Sam. 15:22-23–Rejects God’s word, 15:3–Unwilling to obey, 15:9–Hardened by rationalization,

15:13-15–Whenever our will becomes

more important than God’s revealed will, we have joined hands with idolaters!

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1 Cor. 10:14

Elements of Idolatry

•Covetousness, Col. 3:5; Eph. 5:5–Greedy desire to have more–Lust to have what is another’s–The object of one’s desire

becomes the thing worshipped and served, Lk. 12:15; 1 Tim. 6:6-10 (Job 1:21)

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1 Cor. 10:14

Elements of Idolatry

•Enslavement, Gal. 4:8-9–Captured by the depraved ideas

one’s idol represents:• Money (power, prestige,

possession)• Pleasure (fleshly lusts)• Self (self-determination that

forgets God)

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1 Cor. 10:14

Elements of Idolatry

• Idolatry among God’s people causes them to become a mockery before unbelievers!•Flee idolatry! 1 Cor. 10:14 •Be on guard and keep

yourselves from idols! 1 Jno. 5:21

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Exodus 32:25