FALSE TEACHING IN PERGAMUM Revelation 2:12-17
Revelation 2:12 Write to the angel of the church in Pergamum: The One who has the sharp, double-edged sword says:
HEBREWS 4:12-13 12 For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the ideas and thoughts of the heart. 13 No creature is hidden from Him, but all things are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give an account.
QUESTION If Jesus evaluated your life, what would He say? What would He say about your doctrine (what you believe)? What would He say about your behavior (how you live)?
OBSERVATIONS 1. They were praised for their loyalty to Jesus
Revelation 2:13 I know where you live where Satan s throne is! And you are holding on to My name and did not deny your faith in Me, even in the days of Antipas, My faithful witness who was killed among you, where Satan lives.
Key Thought Loyalty to Jesus will require you to suffer in some capacity
Revelation 2:14-15 14 But I have a few things against you. You have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block in front of the Israelites: to eat meat sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality. 15 In the same way, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
OBSERVATIONS 1. They were praised for their loyalty to Jesus 2. The Problem: False teaching had made its way into the church. 3. The accepting of the false teaching was leading to sin
Revelation 2:14 But I have a few things against you. You have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block in front of the Israelites: to eat meat sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality.
Acts 15:19-20 19 Therefore, in my judgment, we should not cause difficulties for those among the Gentiles who turn to God, 20 but instead we should write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from eating anything that has been strangled, and from blood.
This teaching often used 1. Often, together these teachers would argue that it doesn't matter how you live because you will be discarding your body at death your soul will fly safely to God. 2. They also taught that the Christian is protected by God s grace so he could do anything and it didn t matter.
This teaching often used 3. They taught that because we are free from the law in Christ then there are no laws that we need to follow and therefore are entitled to do what we want (Galatians 5:13 condemns this thinking)
Question Why was this being taught? Why was this being accepted?
Answer To reduce the pressure or consequences resulting from being committed to Jesus.
Key Thought When we experience pressure resulting from following Jesus it is easy to run to systems of thinking that allow us to live in ways that greatly reduce or remove that pressure.
OBSERVATIONS 1. They were praised for their loyalty to Jesus 2. The Problem: False teaching had made its way into the church. 3. The accepting of the false teaching was leading to sin 4. God hates false teaching
God hates false teaching 1. It leads to sinning against God 2. It causes us to misrepresent God to our culture 3. It leads people to Hell
How do we guard ourselves? 1. You must read and study the Bible
Acts 17:10-12 10 As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas off to Berea. On arrival, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 The people here were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, since they welcomed the message with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. 12 Consequently, many of them believed, including a number of the prominent Greek women as well as men.
How do we guard ourselves? 1. You must read and study the Bible 2. Surround yourself with others who know and love Jesus
2 Timothy 2:22 Flee from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
Proverbs 13:20 The one who walks with the wise will become wise, but a companion of fools will suffer harm.
How do we guard ourselves? 1. You must read and study the Bible 2. Surround yourself with others who know and love Jesus 3. Repent
Revelation 2:16 Therefore repent! Otherwise, I will come to you quickly and fight against them with the sword of My mouth.