Lord's Day: August 9, 2026 Preacher: Carlos Montijo Series: First John Topic: Sin Scripture: 1 John 5:18–21; Jeremiah 17:9; Exodus 20:3–7; Deuteronomy 5:12; Colossians 3:5; Matthew 6:24; 1 Samuel 15:23; Genesis 3:5; Isaiah 14:13–14; Galatians 4:8–9; John 1:1; Romans 13:12; Ephesians 6:10–11; 2 John 9–11; 1 Timothy 6:20–21; 1 John 5:11

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

• Concludes with an exhortation, two commands: to do something and not do something

I. Children, guard yourselves from idols.

• John Calvin: The fallen, sinful human heart (inner man) is an “idol factory,” and the “mind begets an idol, and the hand gives it birth."
• Belgic Confession, Article 22: The Righteousness of Faith

II. What is an idol?

• Idolatry is a fundamental sin, root sin, major sin
• The Baptist Catechism, Q. 51-52

III. Idolatry is a pervasive sin

• Widespread sin, motivates many sins, encompasses several sins
• See Timothy F. Kauffman, “‘Getting Sanctification Done’: The Primacy of Narrative in Tim Keller’s Exegetical Method,” The Trinity Review (Unicoi, TN), no. 311 (June 2013), https://www.trinityfoundation.org/journal.php?id=293.
• For criticisms and refutations of Doug Wilson, see: https://thorncrownministries.com/search?q=wilson
• Thomas Manton: “Now self is the great idol of the world.”

IV. How do we protect ourselves from idols?

• One of the most important gifts that God has given us, and to protect ourselves with—is understanding, knowledge, truth
• Jehovah’s Witnesses
• Ephesians 6:10–1, Romans 13:12
• Abstain from false teaching—do not let false teaching/teachers into your home, church (2 John 9-11)
• Six S’s of Spiritual Deliverance & Combat

• Sermon series, Know Your Enemy: The World, the Flesh, the Devil: https://www.thorncrowncovenant.church/sermons/series/know-your-enemy:-the-world-the-flesh-the-devil

Join us on Sundays for worship at 10:00am:

• ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church
  4712 Montana Ave
  El Paso, Texas 79903

Contact us at:

• web: ThornCrownCovenant.Church
  call/text: (915) 843-8088
  email: ThornCrownCovenantBChurch@gmail.com

Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com