Podcast 4-20-18
What Are The Doctrines of the Nicolaitans?
WHAT WERE THEIR DOCTRINES AND DEEDS ?
The Book of Revelation gives commendations and condemnations to the seven churches. One of the major condemnations are the deeds of the 'Nicolaitans'. These condemned doctrines standout in the Bible. We must understand these doctrines and behaviors to fully understand the biblical warnings. Note that the first church mentioned in the Letters, the Ephesians, were commended in this regard.
Rev 2:4 "Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 "Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place--unless you repent. 6 "But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. (NKJV)
These doctrines and issues are especially HATED by Jesus Christ as clearly stated in his letters to the Churches. The Ephesians are given some credit, even regarding their mistake of loss of first love because they also have rejected and hated the Nicolaitans. But the Church at Pergamos has been infiltrated by these hated evil teachers.
Rev 2:14 "But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. 15 "Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. (NKJV)
These doctrines were started by someone called 'Nicolas' probably from Antioch. Post biblical history says the founder of Gnosticism also started Nicolaitanism. The two issues are related. The Gnostics thought that they had secret, special, higher knowledge that others did not possess. The Gnostics taught the irrelevance of physical things. Some became ascetic and believed that the flesh must be treated with contempt. Some took a different, sinful approach. Since they believed that flesh is unimportant, even contemptible, what one does in the flesh is of no consequence to them. Our spiritual life is separate from our physical life. The ascetic extreme could lead to pagan ascetic conduct like forbidding marriage or not eating meat and other neglect of healthy care of bodily activities. The other extreme pagan behavior maybe even worse. It allows for sensual sins being considered irrelevant to our spiritual growth and life. It is one thing to sin because of a momentary weakness but much worse to teach that it is fine with God to sin. It is horrendous to teach that our bad sinful behavior is irrelevant to God. Teaching that God does not care about our sinful physical behavior.
The Nicolaitanism is a belief system and philosophy of doctrines not just sinful behavior. However, Nicolaitanism also results in an increase in ungodly behavior. Jesus hates these teachings vehemently.
Rev 2:16 'Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth. (NKJV)
Jesus is clearly not pleased with those that teach these doctrines and live by them. Some in this church are at risk but not all. These bad teachings are associated with teachings of Balaam. He could not curse the Israelites for money himself, but taught Balak the pagan, to use temple prostitutes strategy to get Israel to curse themselves. They cut themselves off from God because of the influence of the pagan women.
Rev 2:20 "Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 22 "Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. 23 "I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works. 24 "Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden. (NKJV)
FALSE TEACHERS USING WORLDLY PHILOSOPHY WERE AT WORK EARLY IN HISTORY
One of the core doctrinal things true believers must understand is that Jesus came in the flesh but also is really God. Jesus was both. Why is this understanding so crucial. Christ could not pay for all mankind's sins if he were not fully God. A God's life is worth more than all of ours. Yet he could not have felt the pain or died if he were not a real flesh and blood man that could bleed. His sacrifice would be like a game.
2Jo 1:7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an Antichrist. 9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; (NKJV)
In the first century when one of the original Apostles was still teaching John, these new worldly philosophical approaches to the Messiah were already infiltrating the churches.
1Jo 4:2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. (NKJV)
The Apostle John knew that Jesus was fully God. He explained it in the beginning of his epistle on the life of the Messiah. He knew that Jesus was Emmanuel God in the flesh.
Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
John further records that when Jesus was talking to the leadership of the Jewish nation who God blinded for his purposes he told them that Jesus was the God of the Old Testament. They of course did not believe him when he said he as God talked with Abraham.
Joh 8:56 "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad." 57 Then the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?" 58 Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM."
They knew what the name I AM meant and they tried to stone him for saying he was God. Jesus is the God that all the Old Testament men of God dealt with because no one has seen the Father. The Nicolaitans used varying philosophies to undermine the full understanding of the Messiah. They wished to weaken obedience to God's laws.
NICOLAITANISM AND BALAAMISM MEAN COMPROMISE WITH THE TRUE WAY OF LIFE
Nicholas taught that we need to compromise with our surrounding pagan society. Pergamos and Thyatira were some of the most sinister cities with regard to occultism and paganism. The Nicolaitans said it was hard for believers to live separately from all the pagan activities because they were the center of life in these cities. They asserted that it was alright to have one foot in both worlds. Guilds dominated cities like Thyatira. The best jobs were in industries where guild membership was required. The guilds opened all meetings with pledges to pagan gods and the occult. Union feasts, using pagan god's and loose moral practices were normal for these high paying jobs. The Nicolaitans taught that it was a necessary compromise. They also would compromise with God's inconvenient laws. They were in God's eyes therefore anti law. They taught a brand of grace that became a license to sin when you really wanted to get around a law.
Read Romans chapter Six for a clearer understanding of grace. Peter also noticed these compromising trends with paganism and Balaamism.
Pe 2:14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: adulteress} 15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet. (KJV)
Jesus uses two examples of leaders who seduced God's people to paganism and sin in the Book of Revelation. One was political somewhat and the other clerical. Both Jezebel and Balaam represent evil compromises that leads ultimately to abandonment of the true God. God requires total commitment. Compromise is a slippery slope leading to a church losing its spiritual position as a true church of God.
1Jo 5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. (KJV)
Whatever female leader in Thyatira that seduced some of the people to compromise took on the biblical type of Jezebel. Some in that church tolerated and followed those despised doctrines. It is bad to make a mistake and sin but far worse to teach that it is acceptable to God to sin and remain in the Church of God. The Nicolaitans were about worldly compromises instead of obeying God's laws faithfully.
