Uncompromising with
Truth
The Passage: Revelation
2:12-17
Video: Andy
and the Spoiled Kid
The law says not to ride your bike on the
sidewalk!
Was it really such a
bad thing that Arnold rode his bike on the sidewalk?
The church at Pergamum
compromised their faith in Christ by “changing the truth” and becoming like
those around them. As a result, Christ rebuked them.
People don’t always
want to hear the truth, but that doesn’t change the fact that they need to. We
know the truth about Christ and should be careful not to compromise this truth.
The Point: When
it comes to biblical truth about Christ, there is no room for compromise.
Revelation 2:12-13
12 “To the angel of the
church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. 13 I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my
name. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my
faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives.”
What essential truths
about Christ need to be defended in your community?
How did Christ identify
Himself to the church at Pergamos?
The meaning of the double-edged
sword. Symbolizes the power of the Word of God to judge.
My faithful witness: One
Christian in Pergamum named Antipas is
mentioned as a “faithful witness.” Church
tradition says that Antipas was a physician suspected
of secretly propagating Christianity. The Aesculapians (members of the medical
guild) accused Antipas of disloyalty to Caesar.
Upon being condemned to death, Antipas was placed inside a copper bull, which was then heated over a
fire until it was red-hot.
What does a faithful
witness look like today?
Don’t Compromise
Spiritually. (v. 12-13)
The Lord lets the
saints know that He knows where they live. He says, “I know where you
live—where Satan’s throne is.” The saints were living where Satan was ruling,
residing, and ruining lives. But they were not succumbing to Satan. Christ
says, “Yet you are holding on to my name and did not deny your faith in me.”
The saints in Pergamum remained faithful even in the face of death. They were
not compromising spiritually.
This challenges us to
do likewise. In our day, when the devil is seeking to redefine marriage, family,
gender, and human-worth—we must hold on to the name of Christ. In the midst of
racial and political polarization, the church must firmly hold on to the name
of Jesus Christ. Don’t listen to Satan tell you it’s alright to ride your bike
on the sidewalk when you know it’s not. Friend, no matter what it costs
you—don’t compromise spiritually.
Revelation 2:14-15
14 “Nevertheless, I
have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the
Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to
idols and committed sexual immorality. 15
Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching
of the Nicolaitans.”
Don’t Compromise
Doctrinally. (v. 14-15)
After commending them,
the Lord turns around and confronts them. He confronts them about allowing
themselves to be influenced by the false teachings of Balaam and the
Nicolaitans. There were people in the church who were following teachings that were contrary to the teachings of Christ—the
teaching was contrary to the Word of God. This was doctrinal-compromise.
We must steer clear of doctrinal-compromise.
We must believe, teach, and live by what Christ said (Col. 3:16-17). We must
allow what the Bible says to shape how we think, how we feel, and how we live.
This is especially true when it comes to truths about Jesus Christ. We cannot allow
for non-biblical thoughts and teachings about Christ to take root in our
hearts, minds, lives, or churches. Don’t compromise doctrinally.
False teaching:
1.
The teaching of Balaam. During Israel’s
wilderness wanderings, Balak the king of Moab was afraid of the Israelites. The
Israelites had come out of years of bondage in Egypt, and Balak was afraid they
were going to rise up and kill him and his people. Balak sent word for Balaam
to come and place a curse on the Israelites so that his army could destroy
them.
2.
The teaching of the Nicolaitans. Little is
known about this sect, but it appears to have allowed
people to live without rules in self-indulgence. It may have been
closely linked to the teachings of Balaam. This would explain the attraction of
pagan idolatry and sexual
immorality. Like those following Balaam, the Nicolaitans were leading
people to compromise the truth that only comes through Jesus.
When have you seen a
compromise on something biblical lead to harm?
How can we determine
whether a teaching or teacher is false?
What are the
consequences of compromise when it comes to biblical truth?
Revelation 2:16-17
16 “Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you
and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 Whoever has ears,
let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is
victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna.
I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who
receives it.”
Don’t Compromise
Morally. (v. 16-17)
In the previous verses,
Christ made it clear that these false teachers were influencing the people in
the church to engage in idolatry and immorality. As night follows day, moral
compromise always come when there is doctrinal compromise. What you believe
influences how you behave. Some of the saints in Pergamum were living like lost
people—they were sinning like sinner’s sin. They were compromising morally.
The call in the text
and the call upon us today is to repent. Christ said, ‘So repent! Otherwise, I
will come to you quickly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.” If
there is any form of idolatry or immorality in our lives we must repent. We
must not only be uncompromising in our walk with Christ and in the Word of
Christ, but we must also be uncompromising in our morality as we walk with
Christ.
How are we to respond
when people (or our overall culture) reject God’s truth?
What are some ways
people compromise their beliefs as Christ-followers?
When have you seen
someone refuse to compromise on biblical truth?
While this letter was
written to the church at Pergamum, it also could have been written to many of
our churches today. So many churches are turning away from sound doctrine and
the truth of God’s Word. If we compromise our position on biblical truth, then
we also stand in danger of receiving judgment. God honors those with
uncompromising faith, and we would do well to remain uncompromising in our
churches as well as in our individual lives.
What are some ways our church
is like the church at Pergamum?”
The Point: When it
comes to biblical truth about Christ, there is no room for compromise.
Pray. We
live in a culture full of compromise. Pray, asking God to strengthen you to
stand strong in the face of compromise. Pray also for your church to never
compromise in matters of biblical truth.
Evaluate. List
ways people are tempted to compromise their faith or tolerate false teachings.
Do a self-assessment to identify any ways you might have compromised on
biblical teaching. Repent and determine to stand with Christ.
Confront. If
you know someone who is stepping into false teaching or compromise, lovingly
confront that person and urge him or her to come back to the truth of Christ.
Let God use you in the life of another, but it’s important to do so by
“speaking the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15).
Wrap It Up
The more we compromise, the easier it becomes to compromise some more. Let us not deviate from our relationship with Christ, not distort the revelation of Christ, and not disobey the moral requirements of Christ.
Got Questions:
Revelation 2:12-17
continues with the third of seven messages to the churches of Asia Minor
(modern-day Turkey) during the apostle John’s time. Each of these messages
includes a specific word to a specific church, but there are also lessons
applicable to the lives of believers today. This third letter is to the
believers in Pergamum (or Pergamos), which was a beautiful and art-filled city
in the province of Asia built along two tributaries of the Caicus River.
Pergamum was a center for the worship of Dionysus, Zeus, and other pagan gods.
The message to the
Pergamene church was from the Lord Jesus Christ, specifically addressed to the
“angel” (or “messenger”) of the church: “And to the angel of the church in
Pergamum write: ‘These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged
sword’” (Revelation 2:12). This was not John’s message to the believers at
Pergamum; it was a message from Jesus Christ. The depiction of Jesus holding
a sharp, two-edged sword refers to the Lord’s readiness to bring judgment
(cf. Revelation 1:16).
First, Jesus affirms
the church’s positive actions: “I know where you live—where Satan has his
throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me,
even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your
city—where Satan lives” (Revelation 2:13). The Pergamene believers lived in
a difficult place, surrounded by pagan influences, yet they held fast to
Christ’s name and did not deny Him during difficult times.
The church was not
perfect, however, and Jesus took note of their sin: “Nevertheless, I have a few
things against you: You have people there who hold to
the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin
by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the
Nicolaitans” (Revelation 2:14-15). The “teaching of Balaam” is explained
in the context, as Christians were eating food that had been sacrificed to
idols (religious compromise)
and committing sexual immorality (moral compromise).
The original Balaam’s deceitful work is described in Numbers 25:1-3 and Numbers
31:15-16. The Nicolaitans are mentioned only in this letter and in the letter
to the Ephesian church (Revelation 2:6). They were likely a group similar to
those who held the teachings of Balaam, though the exact nature of their
doctrine and practice is unknown.
Jesus then issues a
clarion call to repent of their sin: “Repent therefore!” (Revelation 2:16). Our Lord hates religious and moral compromise. He calls His people to live differently.
Jesus notes the
judgment that would take place if the church of Pergamum did not repent: “I
will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth”
(Revelation 2:16b). The Nicolaitans and those who were teaching Balaam’s error
would be destroyed, along with their followers, from the congregation at
Pergamum. Jesus desires purity among His people, and we
have a responsibility to remove false teachers from the church.
Jesus makes a final
promise to the believers in Pergamum: “To him who overcomes, I will give some
of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only
to him who receives it” (Revelation 2:17). The three blessings are hidden manna, a white stone, and a new name. The
precise explanation of these three items is disputed; however, all three
blessings must concern the believer’s victorious reign with Christ, consistent
with the blessings bestowed on the other six churches of Revelation 2–3. The
“hidden manna” is likely an allusion to the manna hidden in the Ark of the
Covenant, representative of God’s faithful presence and sustenance. The “white
stone” could be a reference to the stones used for entrance into temple events
in ancient times or to one of the stones on the high priest’s breastplate
(Exodus 28:21), although the exact meaning of the stone is uncertain.
Compromise often gets a
bad rap, like you’re selling out. That’s not always the case, and marriage is a
great example. Strong marriages are built on a willingness to compromise for
the sake of the other.
I like smooth peanut
butter; my wife likes crunchy. When we got married, we compromised. We use
crunchy peanut butter.
There’s the way my wife
folds socks, and there’s my way. So, we reached an agreement, and I fold socks
her way.
You may think those are
more examples of giving in, not compromising, but these are matters on which I
am willing to fully compromise and give in. Why? These are battles not worth
fighting. I love my wife more than I love peanut butter.
True compromise is seen
when we eat out. My wife loves Chinese food; I don’t. I love Nashville hot
chicken; she doesn’t. We reserve those preferences for when we’re not together;
no one is forced to go along with the other’s choice. When we eat out together,
we choose places to eat that we both like.
So far, the compromises
I’ve mentioned have to do with preferences, not convictions. Convictions—those
truths and beliefs we firmly believe—should never be compromised. I would not
have married my wife had we not shared the same convictions. Paul wrote, “Do
not be yoked together with those who do not believe” (2 Cor. 6:14). The most
important person in my life is Jesus Christ, so why would I make the second
most important person in my life someone who is not pursuing Christ in the same
way I am?
Yet I am surprised by
how many people compromise or change their convictions “out of love” for
someone. This is seen most overtly in the matter of sexual identity and
preference. People who long held the belief that homosexual behavior is wrong
changed their tune because their son “came out of the closet” or they
discovered a coworker is gay. (He’s such a nice guy!) I’ve read of churches
that changed their stance on homosexuality, and when I dig into the story, I
found that often someone close to the pastor had announced he or she was gay.
The assumption is that
if you truly love someone, you will embrace them in whatever lifestyle they
have chosen. The assumption is that you will change or squelch your convictions
“out of love” for the person.
But is that love?
Love does not
compromise on what matters. A kid can fuss all he wants that he doesn’t want to
go to the doctor, but a parent who loves that kid will still haul him to the
doctor when he’s sick. In fact, not to do so would be considered by most of us
to be a very unloving act. Yet when it comes to sinful behavior—those actions
that the Bible clearly calls out as sin—too many think it is a loving action
not to confront the sin.
Hold on to your
biblical convictions. Truth is truth, and it doesn’t change simply because
someone doesn’t like it.
Speak the truth in
love. Unfortunately, Christians have gotten a bad rap and been labeled
homophobic because some in our ranks address issues related to homosexuality
with every ounce of fire and brimstone they can muster. They hate the sin and
the sinner.
We can separate the sin
from the sinner, and experience has shown me that it is not the church, but the
world that refuses to separate the two. Sadly, the LBGTQ+ crowd ties everything
about themselves to their sexual preference. It’s like their sexuality is their
religion and their god.
As followers of Christ,
we can paint a different picture. We can love the individual as a friend. We
can laugh and cry together. We can be
genuine people around him who talk about sports, movies, or dog grooming. We
can express our love for Jesus.
If we adopt a “let’s
agree to disagree” stance on the subject, we can still have a friendship and
relationship with the individual. And as long as that relationship stays open,
we’re in a position to still influence, witness, and be the presence of Christ
to them. With that stance, we do not compromise our hold to righteousness and
biblical truth, but we communicate our love for God, our love for what is
right, and our love for the individual.
Pray for conviction.
Through all this, let’s never stop praying. Pray that the individual would see
in you the love and grace of Christ. Pray that he would see his sin as God sees
it, and that he would see himself as God sees him: an infinitely loved
individual who needs to turn from sin and run into the arms of a forgiving
Savior.
Let God use your
uncompromising love to bring others to Himself.
HOW DOES JESUS receive
us? I know how He treated me. I was a twenty-year-old troublemaker on a
downhill path. And though I’d made a commitment to Christ a decade earlier, you
wouldn’t have known it by the way I lived. Finally, I came to Jesus, and He
welcomed me back.
Please note: He did not
accept my behavior. But He accepted me, His wayward child. He said, “Come back.
I’ll clean you up.” He was “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Not just
grace, but truth. Not just truth, but grace. Grace and truth.
Grace told the
adulterous woman, “I do not condemn you.” But truth told her, “Go and sin no
more” (John 8:11). Jesus shared truth but graciously, and Jesus offered grace
but truthfully. Grace and truth. Acceptance seeks to offer both. This is how
happiness happens.
Grace + Truth = Love
- Max Lucado Devotions
