SAME OLD STUFF
Rev. 2:15-16 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
As they say, “The more things change the more they stay the same”. I have been studying the book of Revelation recently and specifically taking another look at the seven churches of Asia to whom this book was written. The Lord is dealing with spiritual problems in the churches as well as giving them approval, prophetic insight, and clear correction and instruction. In dealing with the church in Pergamum The Lord is very stern about the error promoted by the Nicolaitans that had become a popular movement in Asia Minor. Bible scholars seem to think that these teachers were similar to the antinomians that Luther struggled with and the modern day teachers promoting a similar doctrine of distorted grace. I would say extreme grace but real biblical grace is extreme.
The heart of the message of the Nicolaitans was focused on their version of grace which basically gave man a pass in regard to the moral law. In other words, God’s grace not only covers my past sins but allows me to continue in a sinful lifestyle, or shall we say, a modern enlightened lifestyle. What a distortion of the truth. God’s grace cleanses the deepest grossest sins from our lives but thankfully grace doesn’t stop there. God’s grace opens our heart to a greater pleasure. God’s grace perceives the greatness of God and enables us to delight ourselves in Him. This enjoyment of God is powerful, it is this enjoyment of heavenly things that delivers us from the snares of sinful pleasures of this life. Here are some comments from the Fire Bible about these false teachers that appear in every age.
“The Nicolaitans had given in to compromise with the pagan (i.e., ungodly) society around them. They taught that spiritual freedom and liberty allowed people to engage in immoral behavior without fear of punishment. They felt that because of God’s grace (i.e., his unearned favor, love and mercy), these behaviors did not affect one’s spiritual salvation or relationship with Christ. The NT clearly contradicts this belief, telling us plainly that such persons will not inherit God’s kingdom (1Co 6:9–10). God hates false and deceptive teaching that claims we can be saved and at the same time live immoral lives. To hate what God hates is a primary characteristic of those who are loyal to Christ (Ps 139:21; Pr 8:13).”
God’s grace not only forgives us it changes us. We lose our attraction to the things of this world. Our nature is changed, we have become a new kind of creature. We need to learn from the mistakes of the past, that is why Revelation is written. It was not just for the first century church but the church of all ages. As a result, we love the preaching of grace, we despise the distortion of this precious doctrine.
6 thoughts on “SAME OLD STUFF”
VERY POWERFUL, HALLELUJAH, THANK YOU LORD, HOLY SPIRIT, MY TRUE HELPER, CLEANSER, GUIDER, CORRECTOR, ALL IN ALL.
WE ARE CHANGED THROUGH HIM, HALLELUJAH, TRULY TAKEN OUT OF THIS WORLDS DESIRES, ALL., THANK YOU LORD. WE ARE ALL IN HIM, BOTH FEET ALL ARMS, THE WHOLE BODY IN OUR KING…. HALLELUJAH, I HAVE BEEN TAKEN OUT OF THIS WORLD AND PLACED (IN) HIM… HE’S IN ME AND I AM IN HIM…AMAZING GRACE. HALLELUJAH, EYES AND ALL (IN JESUS, MY KING) 🙂
GOOD MORNING, PASTOR FRANK, POWERFUL BLOG, WHEW, IRON SHARPENS IRON, HALLELUJAH, I LOVE YOU, THANKS, AND HAVE A GREAT DAY (IN) 🙂 OUR KING… :). PRAISE THE LORD!!!! GLORY, HONOR AND PRAISE.. I’M ABOUT TO GET MY WORSHIP ON:)
FORGOT TO PUT, HALLELUJAH, ALL NEW THINGS (IN) HIM, I LOVE MY NEW COAT!!!! THANK YOU LORD:)
Paul clearly addresses these men in 2 Tim 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. This statement is made after listing a vivid description of wicked activities that one is tempted to understand as “men of the world.” and then verse five shows that they are in fact Nicolaitans. Great word for today.
When Jesus comes, I am enraptured by His Presence. Christ came to fulfill the law. When I see Him, all of a sudden, I am absorbed in His love and grace. And when I am absorbed in Him, His Grace covers me and keeps me from sin. If someone preaches a “cheap” grace, they really don’t know the Father’s “grace,” at all.
Amen. Clean me out more lord!
Once I experienced the grace of God, along with His other attributes sinful behavior became repulsive; even the acts that somehow I rationalized as “not so bad” prior to salvation. To go back to that way of life, no matter the rational, is to enter into that void of darkness and Godless atmosphere from which I was saved and set free.