Rev.2:6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.
God has been urging my heart to point out the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes….one He denounced as Satan’s doctrine. The doctrine infiltrated churches of the first century. It continues to be accepted and practiced in many churches today. We are in the last days and false teachings and doctrines of men are everywhere..even in our own Churches. While today it may be called ‘denominational’ doctrine and grows along side True doctrine…it remains Nicolaitan doctrine….or the doctrine of Satan. It contradicts the Word of God and convinces the body that it is truth. Nicolaitanism is practiced under the guise of true Christianity but it allows the continuance of sin under the covering of Grace. It is alive and well in our churches world-wide and has many followers. It claims Christ as Savior but denies holiness and prevents the Lordship of Christ over followers.
Rom 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
Paul warned the Christians at Ephesus concerning ’wolves’ who would enter …’dressed in sheep’s clothing’ for the purpose of destroying the sheep. Many current contemporary so-called ‘christian’ practices closely mimic those of the Nicolaitanes and are contrary to the Word of God. In these final days before the Second Coming of our Lord, we must be sure we are fulfilling God’s purpose within His church…or whether, like the Nicolaitanes….we are serving ourselves. In the following scripture, God declares that if the pastors, priests, or prophets were authentic…the followers would turn from their evil ways.
22But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.
Like many professing Christians today, the Nicolaitanes were a sect of professing Christians who proclaimed they were no longer under the law…but under Grace. The Nicolaitanes made the grace of God a cloak for ‘lasciviousness (Mk 7:22,2 Cor 12:21, Gal 5:19,Eph 4:19,1 Pet 4:3…all show the term synonymous with serving lusts of the flesh).’ They pride themselves on attaining salvation solely through faith and the gift of divine grace….while leaving off the command to bear ‘fruits’ of righteousness.
Ph 1:11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. They reject the the command of Matthew 5:48 to “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect”
“The existence of a sect called Nicolaitanes in the second century is attested by Iranaeus, Tertullian and Clement of Alexander,” says the Commentary for Schools, edited by C.J. Elliot, DD. And John Wesley, too, described their practices. “They allowed the most abominable lewdness, (behaving in obscene manner) and adulteries, as well as sacrificing to idol (John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament on Revelation 2:6) .” The Angus Bible Handbook says, “They practiced ritualism without spirituality, knowledge without practice, and justification by faith without holiness. Jude 1:4 warns the church at Ephesus who were “turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness.” They were willing to acknowledge Jesus as their Savior but not as their Lord and Master.
Luke 6:46 “Why call you me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”
They rejected Christ as Head of the Body and usurped His authority over the church. They did not deny His redemptive act but set themselves up as the spiritual authorities and influenced the masses away from Christ as the only spiritual ‘Head’ of the Body (Church). Jeremiah had quiet a lot to say concerning false ‘heads’, teachers, and leaders within the church. GOD SPOKE THROUGH JEREMIAH TO CHALLENGE THOSE WHO SAY THEY ARE CALLED OF GOD AND ARE NOT!~
Jer. 23:1Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.
11For both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith the LORD.
21I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.
22But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.
Centuries later even the church at Pergamos was brushing aside the significance of the Ten Commandments. They proclaimed to be under Grace…and free from the Law. They insisted that Christ had come to desroy the Law…not to fulfill it. The Nicolaitan practice…known as Antinomianism is hated by God. And in Rev. 2:6..God commends the true Christians of the first century for hating it too.
Old Testament history records the presence of faith even before the incarnation of Christ in the flesh. These faithful men of God ‘believed’ God and practiced ‘obedience.’ Hebrews the eleventh chapter records the faithful obedience of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Joshua, Daniel….and many…many others. “These all obtained a good report through faith (Heb 11:23-29).”
Ellen G. White’s “Signs of the Times, February 25, 1897, explains that the Nicolaitanes insisted they were excluded from being ‘doers of the Words’ because of Grace.
SIN, for Christian and non-Christian alike is DEADLY business……a dangerous game with no winners. Righteousness is required by God for the redeemed. It is through Him and by Him and is freely given when asked for. We are without excuse to continue in sin. The Ten Commandments are still in effect with two more added. The two final Love Commandments are the means through which we keep the first Ten. Only through God, by the gift of His Spirit and Love placed in our hearts…are we whole.
“If you will enter into life, keep the commandments Matthew 19:17.”
“If you love Me,keep My commandments John 14:15.”
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