The experience of adoption-24th May 2015Gal 4:1-7

The Carter family

Papyrus 46 – transcript of epistle for circulation, AD 200

Extract from writings of Bishop Polycarp and Hermas on how early Christians circulated the word.

Why we should not follow idols

Gal 4:8-12

The charge

8 Formerly when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you know God - or rather are known by God – how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles?

The Galatian church are still idol worshippers???

• The charge: the Galatians are reverting to worshipping idols.

• The evidence: they are observing Jewish religious calendar festivities.

• The reason: they are following “weak and miserable principles”.

Defining Idolatry

• OT definition: The 2nd commandment- “You shall not make for yourself an idol..(Exodus 20:4)

• NT definition: whatever leads one away from sole reliance on Christ is idolatry. (Paul’s proposition in Gal 4: 8-12)

1. We can be worshipping idols without realizing it. 2. Distorted worship leads to idolatry.3. Idolatry produces bondage, sonship produces

freedom.

Ancient cultures did not worship idols. Their god-statues represent ideal states, when meditated constantly upon, one might aspire to. Thought is real, and the domain of thought is the one place where gods inarguable exist, wielding tremendous power. If Aphrodite were a myth and Love only a concept, then would that negate the crimes and kindness done in Love’s name? If Christ were only ever fiction, would this invalidate the social change inspired by that idea, or human betterment less real, less sacred?

Alan Moore, graphic novelist (source: Wikiquotes)

Glycon, Roman god.

1.We can be worshipping idols without realizing it.

Idols in our hearts.Idols in our church.Idols from good intentions.

What you are searching for and chasing after reveals the God that is winning the war in your heart. Kyle Idleman

Idols in our hearts

The most common idol of the heart in the New Testament.

• You cannot serve both God and money. Matt 6:24.

• For this you can be sure; No immoral, impure or greedy person- such a man is an idolater- has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Eph 5:5

• Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature; sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.

Col 3:5

Pride: the worst idol of all.

Ipod Ipad Iphone Idol

The “I” in idolatry- anything can lead to idolatry so long it centers on self.

Idols in the church

1) Experience.2) Doctrine.3) Self needs.(after Timothy Keller)

Idols in the church

1) Experience- when the need for emotional /psychological/spiritual experiences become more important than listening to the word of God.

Idols in the church

2) Doctrine- when pride in our doctrine is higher than the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

Idols in the church

3) Self needs- when we shop for a church based on our needs first, and honoring God second.

Idols from good intentions.

• Religious duties.• Being charitable.• Loving others.• Great achievements.• Your church ministry.• A noble cause.

Idols tend to be good things that become god things and they then become bad things. Mark Driscoll

Do we recognize our own idols in our lives?

(we can choose to not see our idolatry)

2.Distorted worship leads to idolatry.

• 9b -how is it you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles?

• 3 So also, when you were children, we were in slavery under the basics principles of the world.

Greek word “stoicheia” can mean rudimentary teachings.

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts became darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

Romans 1:21-22

Romans 1:18-32

1) Failure to honor and glorify God(v21).2) Leads to idolatry (v22).

Romans 1:18-32

1) Failure to honor and glorify God(v21).2) Leads to idolatry (v22).3) Leads to sin (v24,26,27).4) Leads to depraved mind (v28).

Exodus 20:3-7, Ten Commandments

1) You shall have no other gods before Me.2) You shall not make for yourself an idol..3) You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain…4) Remember the Sabbath day…5) Honor your father and mother…6) You shall not murder.7) You shall not commit adultery.8) You shall not steal.9) You shall not bear false witness…10)You shall not covet….

“Basic principles” of idolatry.

• When you do not glorify and honor God, you will substitute true worship of Him with distorted worship.

• You will then start to worship your own version of god.• Consequently you will follow your own set of rituals, moral

code and external rules to try to earn your salvation.• In reality you are deciding what is right or wrong in your life

with God not at the center.• You are now practicing idolatry. When things go wrong you

will most likely be bitter with God.

Commit to worshipping God wholeheartedly, or you will end up worshipping idols unknowingly.

3a. Idolatry produces bondage...

• 9b -how is it you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you want to be enslaved by them all over again?

Other translations use the word “spirit” instead of “principles”. Greek word “stoicheia” can also mean stellar spirits, gods, demons and angels.

Greek Zodiac Calendar Jewish Feast Calendar

The Galatian Gentile Christians simply replaced observing their Pagan festivities with observing Jewish Festivities.

Greek Zodiac Calendar Chinese Zodiac Calendar

Idolatry leads to bondage, including to all kinds of fear and superstition.

3. Idolatry produces bondage, sonship produces freedom.

7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you an heir.

8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.

Exodus 20:2-7, Ten Commandments

I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery (v2)

1) You shall have no other gods before Me.2) You shall not make for yourself an idol..3) You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain…4) Remember the Sabbath day…5) Honor your father and mother…6) You shall not murder.7) You shall not commit adultery.8) You shall not steal.9) You shall not bear false witness…10)You shall not covet….

What we often associate the Gospel with

What the Gospel is really about

Idols entice us by giving us identity, but in Christ we are reminded of who we really are- born again as sons of God.

Andrew Chan’s testimony, Kerobokan Prison

• I grew up in a Buddhist family so didn’t know much about Christianity. On the day I was arrested at the Bali Airport on 17th April 2005, I was taken from the plane and after a search and initial interrogation at the airport I was taken to the Police Station. They threw me into a cell on my own and were shouting at me. I thought they were going to kill me. As I didn’t want to be tortured I decided to commit suicide and end my life…

• …The Lord was showing me that all things are possible and that all I had to do was to believe in Him without wavering and that’s what I decided to do. Before the trial I began praying and telling the Lord, “If you get me out of this and set me free I will serve you forever.” Well, when the judge announced the death penalty I was in shock…..I then understood that I was free. I might be in prison, but in my heart I was free. I fond a real salvation through Jesus Christ in prison, and the message of salvation in my life that I share with everyone can never be contained by the walls of the prison.

Identify our idols.Commit to worshipping God.Realize our sonship identity.