Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.
Summary: Paul points out the distractions caused by false gods. More than just a distraction, such “gods” become our masters.
If you did not know God, how would you know what a “god” is supposed to do?
In ancient times, there was a lot of competition between “gods.” Both the Greeks and the Romans had an impressive collection of “gods” they could choose from.
The problem with these so-called “gods” is that they are not real. Ancient peoples could point to stories about them or statues depicting them, but they could not point to anything they had actually done.
Baal was considered a “god” in Canaan. The Canaanites believed that Baal was in charge of bringing the rain and ensuring good crops. As prophesied by Moses (Deuteronomy 31:29), the people of Israel turned away from the true God and worshiped other “gods” including Baal.
In Elijah’s day, God commanded Elijah to come out of hiding and show himself to Ahab, the king of Israel. Ahab’s wife, Jezebel, was feared by the prophets of God. She had tried to eliminate all of God’s prophets from Israel. Her preference was worshiping Baal and Asherah. Elijah challenged the prophets of “those who by nature are not gods” to a kind of duel. The outcome was dramatic (1 Kings 18). When the real God made himself known, the people cried out, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!” (1 Kings 18:39)
Throughout history, the story remains the same. There is one true God and a host of “those who by nature are not gods.” The true God desires our obedience and love while the false gods demand whatever the people who promote them can imagine.
The irony of a false god is that they exist in the mind. To convince others to go along with an imaginary deity, the one promoting a false god employs a combination of threats and enticements. That is what makes a false god so appealing. There is always a false sense of control in the relationship.
There is also a feeling of power that goes with promoting a false god. If people believe what is being sold to them, they will go along with it. The result is a kind of psychological entrapment. As Paul says, people become “slaves” to their “gods.” The leaders and the followers both end up in the same trap — slaves to something that is not a god.
Application: Trust the True God.
Food for Thought: How do people know whether or not they really believe in a god?
If you are willing to give your life, possessions, time or will to it, then it could be a god. If it is your highest priority, then it could be a god. If you serve it as your master, it could be your god. False gods ask for you to be all in. I think everyone is all in for something – it could be yourself, another person, a hobby, a material item, etc. But if you love it with all your heart and serve it as your master, and worship it by praising it’s worth, it could well be it is a false god – unless it is the one, true God.
Matthew 6: 24: “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.“
Isaiah 44: 12 – 20: The blacksmith takes a tool
and works with it in the coals;
he shapes an idol with hammers,
he forges it with the might of his arm.
He gets hungry and loses his strength;
he drinks no water and grows faint.
13The carpenter measures with a line
and makes an outline with a marker;
he roughs it out with chisels
and marks it with compasses.
He shapes it in human form,
human form in all its glory,
that it may dwell in a shrine.
14He cut down cedars,
or perhaps took a cypress or oak.
He let it grow among the trees of the forest,
or planted a pine, and the rain made it grow.
15It is used as fuel for burning;
some of it he takes and warms himself,
he kindles a fire and bakes bread.
But he also fashions a god and worships it;
he makes an idol and bows down to it.
16Half of the wood he burns in the fire;
over it he prepares his meal,
he roasts his meat and eats his fill.
He also warms himself and says,
“Ah! I am warm; I see the fire.”
17From the rest he makes a god, his idol;
he bows down to it and worships.
He prays to it and says,
“Save me! You are my god!”
18They know nothing, they understand nothing;
their eyes are plastered over so they cannot see,
and their minds closed so they cannot understand.
19No one stops to think,
no one has the knowledge or understanding to say,
“Half of it I used for fuel;
I even baked bread over its coals,
I roasted meat and I ate.
Shall I make a detestable thing from what is left?
Shall I bow down to a block of wood?”
20Such a person feeds on ashes; a deluded heart misleads him;
he cannot save himself, or say,
“Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?”
Rich,
You summarize your thoughts well when you write, “I think everyone is all in for something.” So true!
Well, that is quite a question! I liked Rich’s response.
I mediated a lot that question this morning. It took me to a lot of places, but I landed here: people’s belief in “a god” is rooted in what they want and what they get. Even for those in Christ, who recognize their sin, have faith in His crucifixion and resurrection, they want the life that He promises.
I recently had to explain to my 5 year old that television shows and movies weren’t real. That these were not videos of actual people living their lives. That they were actors, and cartoons were drawings. This caused a chain reaction and he began to question the validity of all stories, including the ones from the Bible.
Happily though, there is one aspect of the stories from the Bible that is separated from other stories in his mind: that God answers prayers. When we pray together at night we don’t just say “Bless so and so, bless so and so” we ask the Lord for specific things for the people we lift up in prayer, and the reason why we are asking. So, even at 5 years old, my son is able to see God working in people’s lives.
So, my point is this: people can say they believe in a god, even devote time and resources toward it, but belief isn’t something that is fixed, it either grows or diminishes over time depending on response. Christ’s answer is always to turn away from sin, and turn towards God. In that answer is His true response: fellowship with the Creator, knowing the love of God.
Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
Chris,
Your five year old must be very smart! 🙂
His question is the one that took me to Elijah and the prophets of Baal. The real God makes himself known.
How do people know whether or not they really believe in a god?
By what guides your decisions.
If a celebrity says x so therefore you must do y, then you might be worshiping the celebrity.
If someone claims z against something you like and you become unreasonably angry or emotional, you might have made an idol of something you liked.
If there is something that you trust without checking the facts, despite any evidence brought to the contrary, then you probably have an idol. This one is interesting, as I’ve heard stories of supposed Christians that were told one thing against Christianity and without doing any checking they leave the faith. They did not have faith in God, they had faith in whatever person, agency, or source that made claims against God, as they trusted without verifying any facts.
If your days are always planned around a show, game, access to an item, etc., then you might have an idol.
Thank you, Angela!
Well said!
“What guides your decisions…?”
That is a very discerning question!
How do people know whether or not they really believe in a god?
Believers receive the Holy Spirit and will live transforming lives as they become more like Jesus over time.
We know by the choices we make as we continue life on this earth. Those who obtain, prayerfully study, and obediently apply the truths recorded in the word of God, will know.
2 John 9-11, Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, 11 for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.
Romans 12:2, Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
John 16:13, When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
2 Timothy 1:7, For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
John 10:27, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:”
Ron,
I love the John 10:27 quote, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”
We do hear God’s “Voice,” don’t we?
Yes We Do!!
Just need to keep our spiritual ears cleaned out.
Ron
🙂