Life in God's Son Delivers Us From Idolatry

1 John 5:11-13, 18-21

"And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life(or, the life); he who does not have the Son of God does not have life (or, the life). These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God."

"We know that whoever is born (made again, being made) of God does not sin; but he who has been born (made again, being made) of God keeps himself (or, this guards him), and the wicked one does not touch him. We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an 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, keep yourself (guarded in His making) from idols. Amen."

Idolatry could be defined as the action given to a desire for something, even apparently a good thing or a "God thing" in the perception of the idolater, that supercedes the true and eternal life in Jesus Christ toward God. We recognize this when Jesus' gospel and the New Testament teachings are discussed; and our response to those.

"And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding (knowing what is the hope of His calling) (so) that we may know Him who is true..."  What understanding? There has to be a transfer of what man thinks about, which often sways him to destinations apart from God, to that which guards him and keeps him, untouched by the wicked one.  

"But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also (continuing to believe) count(ing) all things loss (here is the transfer) for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things (things that lead to unfruitful destinations) and COUNT THEM AS RUBBISH, that I may gain Christ, and be found in Him....(Paul speaking in Philippians 3:7-9)