Be on Guard Against Idols | 1 John 5:20-21

<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Lord's Day:</strong> August 9<span class="sermon-listing-detail">, 2026&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span class="sermon-listing-detail"><strong>Preacher:</strong>&nbsp;<a class="speaker" href="https://www.thorncrowncovenant.church/sermons/preacher/p/19307/carlos-montijo" rel="p-19307">Carlos Montijo</a>&nbsp; <span class="sermon-series"><strong>Series:</strong> <a id="series-10" class="series" href="https://www.thorncrowncovenant.church/sermons/series/first-john">First John</a></span>&nbsp;<span class="sermon-topic">&nbsp;<strong>Topic:</strong> <a href="https://www.thorncrowncovenant.church/sermons/topic/sin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sin</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span><strong>Scripture: </strong>1 John 5:18&ndash;21; Jeremiah 17:9; Exodus 20:3&ndash;7; Deuteronomy 5:12; Colossians 3:5; Matthew 6:24; 1 Samuel 15:23; Genesis 3:5; Isaiah 14:13&ndash;14; Galatians 4:8&ndash;9; John 1:1; Romans 13:12; Ephesians 6:10&ndash;11; 2 John 9&ndash;11; 1 Timothy 6:20&ndash;21; 1 John 5:11</p> <p>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. This is the true God and eternal life. Little children, guard yourselves from idols. 1 John 5:20-21</p> <ul> <li>Concludes with an exhortation, two commands: to <em>do</em> something and <em>not</em> do something</li> </ul> <h4><strong>I.&nbsp; </strong>Children, guard yourselves from idols.</h4> <ul> <li>John Calvin: The fallen, sinful human heart (inner man) is an &ldquo;idol factory,&rdquo; and the &ldquo;mind begets an idol, and the hand gives it birth."</li> <li><em>Belgic Confession</em>, Article 22: The Righteousness of Faith</li> </ul> <h4><strong>II. What is an idol?</strong></h4> <ul> <li>Idolatry is a fundamental sin, root sin, major sin</li> <li><em>The Baptist Catechism</em>, Q. 51-52</li> </ul> <h4><strong>III. Idolatry is a <em>pervasive</em> sin</strong></h4> <ul> <li><em>Widespread</em> sin, <em>motivates</em> <em>many</em> sins, encompasses <em>several</em> sins</li> <li>See Timothy F. Kauffman, &ldquo;&lsquo;Getting Sanctification Done&rsquo;: The Primacy of Narrative in Tim Keller&rsquo;s Exegetical Method,&rdquo; <em>The Trinity Review</em> (Unicoi, TN), no. 311 (June 2013), <a href="https://www.trinityfoundation.org/journal.php?id=293">https://www.trinityfoundation.org/journal.php?id=293</a>.</li> <li>For criticisms and refutations of Doug Wilson, see: <a href