Scripture Prompt
Guard Yourself
Don’t fall prey to false gods
18 We know that those who are God’s children do not continue to sin. The Son of God keeps them safe, and the Evil One cannot touch them. 19 We know that we belong to God, but the Evil One controls the whole world. 20 We also know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we can know the True One. And our lives are in the True One and in his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the true God and the eternal life. 21 So, dear children, keep yourselves away from false gods. (1 John 5:18–21, NCV)
These four verses wrap up the entire book of First John. A book about opposites like good vs evil, Christ vs false prophets, righteousness vs sin, and so on. As well, the author challenged believers to love one another. This final chapter reminds believers that faith in the Son leads to eternal life.
The closing is curious, however. Belief in Jesus, the one true Son of God, ensures eternal life. And then, the writer closes with, “So, dear children, keep yourselves away from false gods.”
Does this seem out of place to you? It did to me even after several readings of the chapter and the review of a few commentaries.
I believe it’s the phrasing, not the warning itself, that made the last line feel somewhat random. The line follows a declaration of who is the one true God. It’s the finale of a book not only about discerning and calling out evil, but knowing personally that one is in a right relationship with God.
We must guard ourselves from all surrounding evil, but also from the temptations that might cause us to fall into continual sin. That closing reminder isn’t so random after all, is it?
