June 16, 2025 - Deuteronomy 12:3 - "Destroying False Worship"

Deuteronomy 12:3

 "And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place."

This Scripture declares God's absolute disdain for false worship, and His holy command to utterly destroy every trace of it from the land, tearing down altars, breaking pillars, burning groves, and cutting down graven images. This is not a charge for us to go and destroy buildings and altars that we believe to be places of false worship. There may be some who are so zealous that they might attempt such a thing, as some have done in crusades in the past.

This is more than an act of physical cleansing; it is a picture of the spiritual work that Christ accomplishes in the hearts of His people. Where Christ is revealed in the heart of a sinner, idols are cast down. As we contemplate the Word of God, we are reminded that the Gospel of Christ does not coexist with error—it triumphs over it. Christ alone is worthy of all worship, and by His sovereign grace, He purges our hearts of every rival, that we might serve Him in truth. The Word reveals the truth concerning the LORD Jesus and His finished work at the cross, which He alone has accomplished on behalf of those whom the Father has chosen and given to Him to save. It is in the message of the Gospel of the LORD Jesus that we see a clear distinction made between grace and works, between the sovereign will of God and the so-called “free will” of man. Whenever we declare that difference, are we not tearing down every false notion? We demolish every one of those altars at which they worship—the altar of “free will” works, and man-centered religion: "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5)

The Gospel message of Christ and Him crucified is the singular means that God has given His ministers today to sift out the chaff from the wheat. A preacher has not done what the LORD has given Him to do if He has not laid out the work of the LORD Jesus from Scripture, line upon "line, precept upon precept "(Isaiah 28:10). When people react against the message that gives the LORD Jesus all of the glory alone, you know that you have made it plain. As a preacher, you get hate mail. People will contest, saying, "Why did you say this? How can you say that? Aren't you excluding a great number by saying this or that?" And yet there can not be any room for compromise. Paul said that if he would be a servant of men, preaching what they want to hear rather than the clear distinct Word of God, then he could not be the servant of God (Galatians 1:10). Obviously, we are not to seek the approval of men, but the glory of God alone in Christ. If our focus is Christ alone, then we are truly the servants of Christ!

We don’t need to worry about offending the LORD’s sheep. Yes, the Gospel is an offense to our flesh and to our desire to share in His glory. Yet in Christ’s sheep, He tenderly draws them to Himself, making them willing, against their will. The Gospel message will indeed offend all of us at some point, but for the goats, there is no convincing them anyway. As goats, left to themselves, they will never come to Christ. The LORD told the religious leaders of His day, "But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you," (John 10:26). Nevertheless, Christ’s sheep must hear the Truth, because this is how God has purposed it. They must hear the truth revealed in the LORD Jesus and His finished work of salvation at the cross alone. In hearing it—though it may not be immediate—the Lord will draw them in His time. Our LORD Jesus Christ will not lose even one of His sheep: "And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day" (John 6:39).

The true Gospel exalts Christ alone and lays waste to every idol of man's heart—whether self-righteousness, religious tradition, or worldly glory. As the light of Christ shines forth, all that is false is exposed and torn down, not by sword or fire, but by the power of God in the Gospel. It is in the preaching of Christ crucified and risen that every refuge of lies is swept away, and sinners are brought to worship the true and living God in spirit and Truth. Thanks be to our great God and Savior for His exclusive glory revealed in the singular message of the LORD Jesus!