#94 -- Gospel and Spiritual Growth

Valley – August 10, 2003 a.m.

TEN RESPONSES EXPECTED TO THE GODS OF THE WORLD SYSTEM

The world system is designed to bring specific human responses through its religious systems. These are easily illustrated in the admonitions that are found in the Old Testament that warn Israel concerning her response to the gods of the world religious systems. Jehovah clearly says for Israel not to subject herself to the gods of the nations in clearly defined and comprehensible ways. World system religions are designed to take human attention from the God of creation and to place it on other gods of the world system. Natural revelation shows the power of God and that there is an intelligent source of creation described as "Godhood" (Rom. 1:20). The moral religions of the world system either disregard natural revelation by misinterpretation or replace it with its own "revelation." It can also abuse it by worshipping things of creation or of human origin. The whole purpose of world religion is to replace God in the minds of men with other standards and objects. World religion is designed to work through the human soul (feelings or emotions) to manipulate the human spirit and to affect the will. As a result the human will functions independent of the God of creation and is dependent on the tenets of a world system religious perspective. The attached outline lists ten of the many responses revealed in the "other gods" passages and shows what human moral religion is designed to do to human beings. The message actually involved the first point. World religion is designed to make servants or slaves of its adherents. It is designed to do the same thing for Israelites living under Law and for Christians in the Dispensation of the Grace.

I. lists the key passages that warn Israel concerning serving other gods as slaves. This involves submission to a god to do the work of that god. The dictionary definition of a servant is "one who does the will of another." This may be voluntary or it may be forced. Slavery is defined as "a condition of submission to or domination by some influence." Slavery most often controls its slaves in every way possible. The Mosaic Law was itself a slave master and enforced its power on Israel through the consistent application of its penalties. Christ made it clear that a man cannot serve as a slave to two masters. "No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon (Matt. 6:24; Luke 16:13)." Mammon is wealth or riches. The principle stands in relation to religion. One cannot be a slave to God and another god or gods at the same time.

Substantial information is found in the Old Testament concerning slavery. The word "slave" is found 799 times. The verb is found 289 times. The noun "slavery" is found 145 times. [Data is from Even-Shoshan Concordance, pp. 817-824] The Aramaic sections of the Old Testament also have several references. Key prohibitions are a part of the Ten Commandments. The second commandment prohibits serving other gods as slaves. "Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me (Exo. 20:5 cf. Deut. 5:9)." Each of these verses has a causative passive form meaning "you will not be caused by any external person or thing to serve as a slave."

It is interesting how the translators of the Greek Bible handled this Hebrew word in their translations. They used two different Greek words to translate the single Hebrew verb. This gives an idea of how they understood the context. They translated it as religious servitude – latreu,w (latreuo) and as bondslave servitude -- douleu,w (doleuo). The passages are listed in the outline. This illustrates the way the understanding of the translator will affect the translation of a word. The Hebrew word shows no distinction and another Hebrew word would be better translated as religious service.

The Mosaic Law demanded that Israelites who served other gods be put to death (D. – Deut. 13:1-13). It recognized the potential for Israelites to serve other gods – the sun, the moon and the host of the heavens – that were objects of Jehovah's creation (Deut. 17:3). It also recognized that mankind could stoop so low as to worship gods made with human hands of wood or stone (Deut. 28:36). Joshua 24:14-16 describes the ongoing history of Israel as an idolatrous nation from her roots with Abraham in Ur of Chaldea through her idolatry in Egypt and into her presence in the Promised Land.

Jehovah expected Israel to serve Him as slaves. This is grammatically emphasized by specific forms. The verb is found in the perfect marking a completed action. That is to say is was the whole expectation of Jehovah for Israel. This form is found in Ex. 23:25; 1 Sam. 12:14, 20, 24. It is found as an imperative where the action is always expected and the requirement never ends (Josh. 24:14; 2 Chron. 30:8; 35:3; Psa. 2:11; 100:2). The imperfect form of the verb is incomplete action with an ongoing responsibility to its subjects. This is found in Deut. 6:13; 10:20; Josh 24:15; 24:18, 21, 24, 31. When Israel or individual Israelites chose to serve other gods, they could not serve Jehovah. The standards of the two masters are completely contradictory and so the prohibition was necessary.

Jehovah promised enslavement to other nations and their gods as a result of the sins of Israel. They would be placed in a circumstance where they would serve other gods because of their wickedness (Jer. 16:13; 44:3).

God expects Christians to be serving God the Father and Jesus Christ. This is a matter of the believer's choice. It is voluntary servitude for a Christian to set Christ apart as Lord or Master (1 Pe. 3:15 Gk.). The Christian can serve the Lord (Rom. 12:11; Col. 3:24) and serve the true and living God (1 Th. 1:9). "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness (Rom. 6:16)?" In this context, one can serve his or her sin nature as a slave or God as a slave. A Christian cannot be a bondslave of Jesus Christ and serve the gods of human moral religion in the world system. This includes the gods that have been contrived in Christendom. There are many gods in the modern world that subtly attempt to draw a Christian from Jesus Christ the Head of the Body.

In the Father, Christ and Holy Spirit,

TEN RESPONSES EXPECTED TO THE GODS OF THE WORLD SYSTEM

1 John 2:15

Proposition: To demonstrate how the world system is designed to make human beings respond to the religion in specific ways. This message covers ten of the expected responses presented in the Old Testament in relation to Israel.

Introduction

A. The Design of Religion to Bring Specific Human Responses

B. The Direction Toward "Other Gods"

1. The Focus of the Attention of the Person

2. The Disregard for or Abuse of Natural Revelation

C. The Diversion from a Normal Response to the God of the Universe

D. The Domination of the Human Spirit Through the Soul Affecting the Will

E. The Detailing of Ten of the Responses World System Religion Is Designed to Bring from Human Beings

TRANS: World system religion is designed to being a human being and his or her sin nature into servitude to that religion irrespective of other religions. In other words, it is designed to make men serve other gods than the God of the Bible.

I. SERVING OTHER GODS AS SLAVES – SUBMISSION TO DO THE WORK EXPECTED BY ANOTHER – ATTENDANCE TO DUTIES REQUIRED BY THE TENETS OF A RELIGION -- IMPORTANCE OF IGNORING THE GODS OF THE WORLD SYSTEM – Deut. 7:4; 13:6, 13; 17:3; 28:36, 64; 29:26; Josh. 23:16; 24:2, 16, 20; Judg. 10:13; 1 Sa. 8:8; 26:19; 1 Ki. 9:6; 2 Ch. 7:19; Jer. 16:13; 44:3 {db;[' (ahvad)}

A. The Position of a Servant, Slave or Bondman in the Noun – db,[, (eved) [c. 799x in the

OT]

B. The Prohibition of Being Caused to Serve Other Gods – hofal – Ex. 20:5; Deut. 5:9

C. The Perspective of the Greek Translators

1. Religious Servitude – latreu,w (latreuo) [Deut. 7:4; 13:7, 14; 17:3; 28:36; 29:26;

Josh. 23:16; 24:2, 14, 15, 16, 20; 2 Chron. 7:19]

2. Bondslave Servitude -- douleu,w (doleuo) [Deut. 28:64; Judg. 10:13; 1 Sam. 8:8;

26:19; 1 Ki. 9:6; Jer. 16:13]

D. The Provisions for Israelites Who Serve Other Gods – Deut. 13:1-11, 13

E. The Potential for Serving Created Things – Deut. 17:3; 28:36

F. The Problem of Israel's History – Josh. 24:14-16

G. The Punishment of Israel in Forced Servitude to Other Gods – Jer. 16:13; 44:3

H. The Potential for Christians Serving as Bondslaves

1. Verb – Rom; 7:6, 25; 12:11; Col. 3:24; 1 Th. 1:9

2. Noun – Rom. 6:16; 1 Cor. 7:21-23; Eph. 6:6

TRANS: The second influence of other gods on human beings is to cause them to speak in the

name of other gods rather than the God of creation.

II. SPEAKING IN THE NAME OF OTHER GODS – ANNOUNCING OF REVELATION BY THE INSTRUMENTALITY OF OTHER GODS – APPROPRIATION OF THE CHARACTER OF OTHER GODS THAN THE GOD OF THE UNIVERSE – Deut. 18:20 – rb;D' (dahvar)

A. The Authority of Jehovah's Revelation Brings Responsibility – 18:18, 19a

B. The Authority of Other Gods as Sources of Revelation

1. False Revelation

2. False Sources of Revelation

C. The Application of the Death Penalty Under the Law – 18:19b

D. The Acceptance of the Revelation from the God of the Universe

TRANS: The next response that the religion of the world system attempts to get from men is that it brings a worship response. It attempts to cause men to worship or do obeisance to something other than the God of the universe.

III. WORSHIPPING OTHER GODS – ADORATION PAID WITH OR WITHOUT PROSTRATION TO GODS – ACQUIESCENCE TO BEINGS COUNTED TO BE SUPERIOR WHETHER OTHER GODS OR THE GOD OF THE UNIVERSE – Ex. 34:14; Deut. 30:17; Jer. 22:9 – hx'v' (shachah)

A. The Prohibition in the Law – Ex. 34:14

B. The Penalty of the Law – Deut. 30:16-18

C. The Prediction Concerning the Nations and Jerusalem – Jer. 22:9

D. The Object of Israel's Worship – Deut. 26:10; 1 Chron. 16:29; Psa. 29:2; 45:11

E. The Concepts of Worship in the New Testament

1. proskune,w (proskuneo) – 1 Cor. 14:25

2. proseucoma,i (proseuchomai) – 1 Thess. 5:17

TRANS: The religion of the world system attempts to make people turn from the God of the Bible to follow its gods.

IV. TURNING UNTO OTHER GODS – REDIRECTION OF ATTENTION FROM THE GOD OF THE UNIVERSE TO OTHER GODS – ATTENTION MOVED FROM JEHOVAH TO OTHER GODS – DEUT. 31:18, 20; Hos. 3:1 – hn"P' (phanah)

A. The Turning of the Heart – Deut. 30:17

B. The Thrust of Their Turning – Unto Other Gods – 31:18, 20

C. The Trafficking in Love for Gods Instead of Jehovah – Hos. 3;1

D. The Focus of the Scriptures on the god of the Universe

TRANS: The religion of the world systems attempts to get human beings to be firm and strong

in their belief in other gods with total disregard for the god of the Universe.

V. BEING STRONG IN OTHER GODS – DELEGATION TO OTHER GODS FOR RESOURCES FOR LIFE – APPROPRIATION OF OTHER GODS FOR FAITH AND PRACTICE – 1 Kings 9:9; 2 Chron. 7:22

A. The Forsaking of Jehovah God – 1 Ki. 9:9

B. The Seizing of Other Gods – 2 Chron. 7:22

a. Strong for Them

b. Worshipping Them

c. Worshipping Them

C. The Expectation of the Mosaic Law – Deut. 31:6, 7; Psa. 27:14

D. The Source of Power Under Grace – Eph. 6:10

TRANS: The religion of the world system has room for more gods and so it encourages the

making of more gods in addition to the Creator of the universe.

VI. MAKING OTHER GODS – FABRICATION OF OTHER GODS THAN THE GOD OF THE UNIVERSE – ACQUIRING FABRICATED GODS INSTEAD OF JEHOVAH – 1 Ki. 14:9

A. The Representation of Other Gods

B. The Production of Physical Gods

C. The Prohibition of the Law – Ex. 34:17; Lev. 19:4; Deut. 27:15

D. The Problem for Grace Believers – 1 Jn. 5:21

TRANS: The natural response to religion is the reaction of the soul that makes sacrifices and offerings to appease the gods.

VII.MAKING SACRIFICES AND OFFERINGS TO OTHER GODS – PARTICIPATION IN RELIGIOUS RITUAL TO OTHER GODS – ANTICIPATING FAVOR FROM OTHER GODS THROUGH SACRIFICES OFFERED TO THEM – 2 Ki. 5:17

A. The Guidelines of the Law – Ex. 22:20; Num. 25:2, 7, 8

B. The Attitude of Naaman a Proselyte – 2 Ki. 5:17

C. The Appropriateness of Proper Sacrifices

1. Old Testament

2. New Testament – 1 Pe. 2:5; Heb. 13:15, 16

TRANS: A key to the Mosaic Law was that Israel was expected to fear Jehovah and not to fear the gods of the nations in the land.

VIII. FEARING OTHER GODS – TREPIDATION TOWARD OTHER GODS – ACQUIRING RESPECT FOR OTHER GODS THROUGH FEAR – 2 Ki. 17:7, 35, 37, 38, Judg. 6:10 – arey" (yahree)

A. The Core Requirement Concerning Jehovah – Lev. 19:14, 32; Deut. 31:12

[Josh. 24:14; 1 Sam. 12:24; Psa. 34:9]

B. The Respect for Other Gods by Fear

1. The View of the Capabilities of the Gods

2. The Comparison to Jehovah

3. The Denigration of Jehovah

C. The Resulting Progression – 17:35-38

TRANS: The ongoing practice expected of Israel was that of burning incense to Jehovah. There was a very special formula for the temple incense that was a sweet smelling savor to Jehovah. Israel came to burn incense to other gods instead of Jehovah in response to the manipulation of the world system religions.

IX. BURNING INCENSE TO OTHER GODS – GENERATION OF A GOOD ODOR TO OTHER GODS BY ISRAEL – THE APPEASEMENT OF THE GODS BY THE BURNING OF INCENSE – 2 Ki. 22:17; 2 Chron. 28:25; 34:25; Jer. 1:16; 19:4; 44:5, 8, 15 – rj;q' (qahtar)

A. The Proper Person to Which to Burn Incense – Ex. 30:7, 8; Num. 16:40

B. The Forsaking of Jehovah – 2 Ki. 22:17; 2 Chron. 34:25

C. The Burning of Incense – 2 Ki. 22:17; 2 Chron. 34:25

D. The Provoking of Jehovah – 2 Ki. 22:17; 2 Chron. 34:25

E. The Provision of a Sweet Savor by Grace Believers – 2 Cor. 2:15; Eph. 5:2; Phil. 4:18

TRANS: The last of my list of ten involves the pouring out of drink offerings to other gods. These offerings were an important accompanying sacrifice in the sacrificial system of Israel.

X. POURING OUT OF DRINK OFFERINGS TO OTHER GODS – PARTICIPATION IN VOLUNTARY OFFERING OF DRINK OFFERINGS TO APPEASE OTHER GODS – THE ANTICIPATION OF FAVOR FROM OTHER GODS BY POURING OUT DRINK OFFERINGS TO THEM – Jer. 7:18; 19:13; 32:29 – %s;n" (nahsak)

A. The Law of Drink Offerings

1. Accompanied the Continual Burnt Offering – Ex. 29:40, 41

2. Accompanied Sacrifices in Feasts – Lev. 23:13, 18, 37

B. The Misdirection of Drink Offerings to Other Gods – Jer. 7:18; 19:13; 32:29

C. The Provocation of Jehovah

TRANS: This list of ten responses that the religion of the world system is the major part of the responses that are revealed in the negatives of the OT. These responses accomplish Satan's purposes for religion in the world system.

Valley Baptist Church

P. O. Box 99, Gaston, OR 97119