In a similar way, you have some Nicolaitans among you who follow the same teaching.” Revelation 2:15 NLT
Listen to a comment made by Pastor John MacArthur: "Then there's another thing He has against them. Verse 15, That little phrase "in the same way" is important because the teaching of the Nicolaitans led to the same behavior. Nicolaitans were comparable to those who were following Balaamism. Some think this goes back to Nicholas who once in Acts 6 was appointed as a deacon but later defected and became an apostate, we can't verify that. But apparently this man, whoever he was, Nicholas, like Balaam had advocated a mingled life style. He may have been kind of a pre-Gnostic, someone who believed he had entered in to ascended knowledge. He no doubt was a Libertine who believed that you could conduct yourself any way you wanted it. It advocated an extreme indulgence in sin, uncleanness, immorality and orgies based upon a perverted understanding of God's grace. It was an abuse of freedom." Grace has given us salvation from Christ, but not a license to sin. This is what the King James Version calls licentiousness (degenerate and immoral conduct). Jesus has not given us freedom to sin, rather, freedom from sin. “I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.” Jude 1:4 NLT We have many who attend church, claim Christ as their Savior, but live lives that are contrary to His Holy Name! Jesus should not be used as a "get out of Hell free card". He is Lord!!! His Lordship commands us to righteousness. “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say?” Luke 6:46 NLT We are called to holiness, not a holy mess! What is your life?
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March 2020
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