Idols: Lesson 5

Overview

The Idol of Religion

Idolatry is not always crude or obvious. One of its most subtle forms is religion itself—when the practice of faith is twisted into a system of self-justification. Religion, in this sense, is the natural inclination of the human heart: the belief that we can make ourselves right before God by being moral, disciplined, or devout. It moves upward, from us to God. The gospel moves in the opposite direction. In the gospel, God descends to humanity in Jesus Christ, bears our sin on the cross, and freely gives us a righteousness we could never earn. For this reason, Christianity should not be classified as a religion at all; it is the announcement that what we could never accomplish, God has done for us in Christ.

The parable in Luke 15:11-32 is often called the parable of the prodigal son, but it might better be titled the parable of the two sons—or the love of the father. Spoken in response to the grumbling Pharisees of Luke 15:1-2, the parable exposes two kinds of lostness. The younger son rebels through immoral living; the older son rebels through moral performance. Both want the father's inheritance; neither truly loves the father. Strikingly, when the younger son returns with a rehearsed three-step plan—confess, disqualify himself, work his way back—the father interrupts him before step three. Re-admittance into the family is entirely by grace, not by labor. At the end of the story, the immoral son is inside the feast and the moral son is outside with the Pharisees. Jesus is the true elder brother, the One who actually pays the way home and brings us to the Father's table.

Paul presses the same point in Galatians 4:1-11. The words ring with grace: heir (something unearned), redeem (bought back because we could not save ourselves), adoption (a status we did not deserve). The Galatians had begun sliding back into the observance of "special days and months and seasons and years," adding works to Christ. That is the slide into the idol of religion—Jesus plus something else.

A few honest questions can help us examine our own hearts: Do you feel uncertain about the status of your relationship with God? Are you often anxious or burdened by self-condemnation? Do you find yourself condemning others over matters Scripture neither commends nor forbids? Do you feel your life has value only when you are rigorously keeping a moral code or completing recommended religious activities? If so, religion may be quietly taking the place of Christ. The good news remains: through Jesus, we are forgiven—even forgiven for turning Christianity itself into an idol. Jesus is more lovely, more beautiful, and more sufficient than any idol the heart can construct.

Transcript

Good morning and welcome to the fifth and concluding class in this series on 1s

idols. Let us pray together please. Gracious Heavenly Father, we give you 8s

thanks now for this time in your word your word is truth. Thank you Father for 13s

this opportunity to study this very very important topic and thank you Lord 20s

for your gracious word of forgiveness through the Lord Jesus Christ. 27s

Bless now we pray this study to your glory in Jesus name. Amen. Just a little 33s

recap of where we were last session we studied about the idol of the family 41s

the idol of the family when love of a child or the family supplants God 48s

position which should be obviously number one in our lives then the child or 57s

the family can become an idol. We talked about that the only way to really love 62s

a child is to love God more than the child when we love God the most that then 70s

forms how it is that we relate in the family how it is that we relate to the 81s

child because then our love for God and what God says forms what we say and 87s

what we do. We talked about how family idolatry and really all idols can come 96s

from two different directions we pulled the old testament text that talked 104s

about the gods of our ancestors we applied that to how sometimes in family 109s

systems parenting from grandparents or parents can be brought into the system poor 117s

parenting and that becomes then part of how that system how that family operates 124s

or the gods of the Amorites how sometimes that which comes from our culture can 132s

influence how a family operates and so family idolatry can result from two 140s

different directions it can result from within it can result from without we 149s

took a look of course at the gracious word that is the forgiving word of God 158s

for us through Jesus Christ if we are convicted of the idol becoming or the 164s

family becoming an idol we hear of God's gracious word to us through the cross 172s

that is a word to cling to that is the word that gives us to light that is that 180s

gracious word that embraces us today I'd like to take a look at the idol of 186s

religion the idol of religion it's important as we come to this topic for us to 195s

define some terms so let me define what we're talking about when we talk about 203s

religion religion is the belief of the world religion is the is the human heart 209s

in its natural state religion is the belief that human beings can make 219s

themselves right before God religion is human beings going to God to affect 228s

this righteousness it's about what we do it's about either being good or bad those are 238s

components of religion how different that is from the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ the good news 250s

that Jesus Christ has born our sin on the cross that the tomb is empty that the world has been 261s

reconciled that we are a forgiven people claimed in the waters of baptism given a wonderful today 267s

and a glorious tomorrow life abundant life eternal it's the good news of the gospel how different 276s

that is how different it is from religion is what are the components of the gospel the components 285s

of the gospel is we can't make ourselves right before God we can't do that 294s

that God descended to humanity see the direction change it's not us trying to affect 303s

our own righteousness before God know it is God descending to us it is God who makes human beings 311s

right it's about not what we do it's about what Jesus did it's the fact that we are born bad 322s

Jesus is good and because of Jesus we have a glorious glorious future so here the 333s

distinction is then between religion and Christianity between religion and the gospel 345s

important point to remember is this Christianity should not be classified as a religion let me 356s

say that again Christianity should not be classified as a religion in fact when Christianity first arose 364s

it was never recognized as a religion it was understood as a non religion so with those terms 372s

then as the backdrop let's explore how religion can become an idol and remember the distinction 388s

between religion and Christianity to explore this let's go to Luke the 15th chapter please Matthew 399s

Mark then Luke Luke the 15th chapter and this is a parable of our Lord remember parables were 409s

earthly stories with heavenly meanings and this is a just an incredibly rich parable perhaps you 420s

are familiar with it it's a little bit on the longer side but I think it's important for us 428s

to take a fresh look at this parable and so we're going to pick up in verse 11 and I'd like to read 433s

through verse 32 so picking up in verse 11 of chapter 15 of the gospel of Luke then Jesus said 441s

there was a man who had two sons the younger of them said to his father father give me the share 451s

of the property that belongs to me so he divided his property between them a few days later the 458s

younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country and there he squandered his 467s

property in disillute living when he had spent everything a severe famine took place throughout 473s

that country and he began to be in need so he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens 482s

of that country who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs he would gladly have filled himself 490s

with the pods that the pigs were eating and no one gave him anything but when he came to himself he 500s

said how many of my father's hired hands have bred enough and to spare but here I am dying of hunger 511s

I will get up and go to my father and I will say to him father I've sinned against heaven and 520s

before you I am no longer worthy to be called your son treat me like one of your hired hands 527s

so he set off and went to his father but while he was still far off his father saw him and was 536s

filled with compassion he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him then the son said to him 546s

father I've sinned against heaven and before you I'm no longer worthy to be called your son but the 556s

father said to his slaves quickly bring out a robe the best one and put it on him put a ring on his 562s

finger and sandals on his feet and get the fatted calf and kill it and let us eat and celebrate 571s

for this son of mine was dead and his alive again he's lost and he's found and they began to celebrate 579s

it now his elder son was in the field and when he came and approached the house he heard music and 590s

dancing he called one of the slaves and asked what was going on he replied your brother has come 602s

out has come and your father has killed the fatted calf because he has got him back safe and sound 611s

then he became angry and refused to go in his father came out and began to plead with him 619s

but he answered his father listen for all these years I have been working like a slave for you 628s

and I've never disobeyed your command yet you've never given me a young goat so that I might 638s

celebrate with my friends but when this son of yours came back who has devoured your property with 645s

prostitutes you killed the fatted calf for him then the father said to him son you're always with me 655s

and all that is mine is yours but we had to celebrate and rejoice because this brother of yours 666s

was dead and has come to life he was lost and has been found this parable is historically understood 675s

as the parable of the prodigal son but notice back in verse 11 it says then Jesus said there was a man 688s

who had two sons I think really a better title for this parable would really be the parable of the 696s

two sons or perhaps the love of the father people will oftentimes define sin as immoral 705s

living they'll they'll define it in that category we're inclined to see the younger son here then 721s

as the only one who's guilty of sin but the older brother who was really highly moral 731s

was really far from a loving relationship with his father jump back into verse 1 of chapter 15 744s

now all the text collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him and the Pharisees and 757s

the scribes were grumbling and saying this fellow welcomes sinners and eat with them so that's 764s

the occasion of this parable the Pharisees were just disgusted at Jesus welcoming sinners Pharisees 771s

were the most moral group around but their hearts were still far far from God Jesus was not seeking 780s

to make the Pharisees more moral now Jesus was seeking repentance by the Pharisees 791s

the older brother was just as far from the father as the younger brother the older brother was 801s

just as far from the father as the younger brother neither neither brother displayed that he actually 812s

loved the father or really cared about the father's happiness 821s

now they were both just using him to get the inheritance right the younger basically approaching it by 827s

saying I wish you were dead and the older was seeking to get the inheritance through being the 836s

upright upright son the one who did everything right but you see he's just trying to get the inheritance 845s

by his good behavior what's interesting is that at the end of the story the younger brother is at 856s

the feast and the older brother is outside with the Pharisees have understood that point 868s

would they have gotten what Jesus was trying to communicate you bet you bet they would 880s

the older brother the older brother had not come to the reality that the inheritance 889s

was by grace by grace look again with me please at verse 18 900s

I'll get up and go to my father and I'll say to him father I've sinned against heaven and before 909s

you I'm no longer worthy to be called your son treat me like one of your hired hands this was a 918s

three-tiered plan then right from the younger a three-tiered plan he's going to go and say I've 925s

sinned against you I'm not worthy to be your son and now he's going to work his way back 933s

into his father's good graces work his way back into his father's life but what does his father do 938s

father cuts him off at the first two go on in to verse 21 then the son said to him father I've 947s

sinned against heaven and before you I'm no longer worthy to be called your son 958s

but the father said to his slaves quickly bring out a robe the best one and put it on him put a 964s

ring on his finger and sandals on his feet get the fat of calf and kill it let us eat and celebrate 970s

for this son of mine was dead and alive he's lost in his fawn and they began to celebrate the 975s

father refused to let the son attempt to work his way back in the read admittance into the family 983s

was absolutely entirely by grace 997s

ponder with me for a moment 1008s

Jesus is the true older brother he's the true older brother 1012s

Jesus finds us he gives us read admittance into the father's family through the cross 1020s

Jesus is the brother who paid our way and who gives us access to the banquet of the father 1030s

grace grace not one one does but grace grace 1048s

let's go to Galatians the fourth chapter Matthew Mark Luke John Acts and Romans first and second 1062s

Corinthians and then Galatians and we'll pick up in chapter four Galatians chapter four 1070s

the Apostle Paul writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit writes this 1080s

my point is this airs as long as they are miners are no better than slaves 1086s

though they are the owners of all the property but they remain under guardians and trustees 1094s

until the date set by the father so thus while we were miners we were enslaved to the elemental 1101s

spirits of the world but when the fullness of time had come gods sent his son born of a woman 1110s

born under the law in order to redeem those who were under the law so that we might receive adoption 1119s

as as children and because you are children god has sent the spirit of his son into our hearts crying 1128s

abba father so you are no longer a slave but a child and if a child then also an air through god 1138s

formally when you did not know god you were enslaved to beings that by nature are not gods 1155s

now however that you have come to know god or rather to be known by god how can you turn back 1163s

again to the weak and beggarly elemental spirits how can you want to be enslaved to them again 1173s

you were observing special days and months and seasons and years I'm afraid that my work for you 1183s

may have been wasted note the words here in this section the words here that highlight that our 1192s

right relationship with god is entirely by grace and not by works remember the distinction again 1202s

between religion and Christianity between religion and the gospel religion is all about works 1213s

Christianity is about god's action to redeem us gods grace look again at verse one notice these 1225s

words here that give us this gracious gracious message my point is this airs as long as 1236s

our minor are no better than slaves you see an air means that something is unearned you are given 1245s

you don't earn it go on to verse five in order to redeem redeem means to to buy back it indicates 1257s

that we can't save ourselves god has to act to save us going on again into verse five the last part 1270s

so that we might receive adoption as children adoption is not something for which a child 1281s

deserves credit air redeemed adopted wonderful wonderful words verse nine now whoever that you've 1291s

come to know god are rather to be known by god how can you return back again to the weakened 1310s

beggarly elemental spirits how can you want to be enslaved to them again you're observing 1315s

special days and months and seasons and years the Galatians had become enslaved by old religious 1321s

customs they had forgotten that they were saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ 1330s

and that is not their own doing it is the gift of god they were assuming you see 1341s

that it was Jesus plus something else it was Jesus plus adhering to religious rights it was Jesus plus 1351s

works you hear it that's a slide that's a slide right into religion the idol of religion 1364s

instead of Christianity so let me ask you a few questions today this can be questions that can 1380s

test for the idol of religion in our lives here's the first do you ever feel uncertain about the 1392s

status of your relationship with god how about this one are you often anxious worried and struggling 1405s

with feelings of personal condemnation this one do you frequently condemn others especially on 1417s

the basis of issues that are neither commended or condemned in scripture or forth do you feel like 1429s

your life only has value when you're faithfully adhering to your religions moral codes and accomplishing 1442s

its recommended activities see those are questions that can get at this whole issue for us 1452s

about whether we are perhaps even in a subtle way sliding into the idolatry of religion 1464s

what's the good news for us the good news is that through Jesus Christ we are forgiven 1479s

that we're forgiven when we try and make Christianity into an idol of religion 1489s

Christianity you see grace religion just a bunch of works but we can be tempted to slide and even 1502s

in the subtlest of ways making Christianity into an idol of religion well as we've studied 1517s

in these five weeks idolatry certainly continues to be an issue today that idolatry just wasn't 1529s

that which occurred in ancient day no idolatry can take various forms we've talked in these weeks 1538s

about how success can become an idol how technology can become an idol how the family can become 1547s

an idol and how religion can become an idol but thanks be to God for the forgiveness through the 1557s

Lord Jesus Christ because Jesus is so much more lovely he's so so much more beautiful than all 1569s

the idols well I pray that this class has been a blessing to you next Sunday I'm going to start a 1587s

new class it's going to take a look at biblical prophecy we're going to take a look at the wealth 1595s

of prophecy in holy scripture and how do you understand it we're going to take a look at 1602s

several different topics we're going to take a look at principles of prophecy we're going to 1607s

take a look at prophecies that were fulfilled before Christ prophecies that were fulfilled by Christ 1614s

prophecies that are being filled today and prophecies that will be fulfilled at Christ's return 1624s

so we'll move into biblical prophecy next Sunday God bless you may you be used by him 1634s

to boldly proclaim the gracious proclamation of Jesus Christ crucified and risen 1643s