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Listen "117. Beholding Christ | Studies in Revelation Part 12: Church #3 - Pergamos"
Episode Synopsis
Revelation 2:14-17
The goal was to spend one week per church, but we are taking a week to catch up. Pergamos teaches us that we should not grow comfortable in the world or begin to tolerate ungodliness. The world uses harsh persecution, false teaching, subtle enticement, and many other tactics to draw us away from Christ, but we must allow the truth of God’s Word to cut through the lies of society. If we stay faithful to God, we will be filled and we will find our identity in Him.
Pergamos: the Lax church
I. The Location (literal local church)
The capital of Asia Minor, seat of authority
In the course of the world and of geopolitics
The church was prone to be mixed with the world
Many compromised to join the culture’s welcome (verse)
One of the greatest dangers of the Pergamos mentality is the subtle lie that if you live your life totally devoted to God, it will be a waste
In some ways, persecution is easier to bear because it is direct opposition, whereas the tendency to compromise and give into a welcoming environment can be harder in some cases I really think
II. The Likeness of Christ
God’s Word discerns our hearts
III. The Letter to the church (merits and warnings)
The good, after Christ and good examples
Holding fast the name of Christ
Not denying the faith
Antipas, the faithful martyr - look at him, he was all-in for the Lord and look where it got him, it cost him his life… what a waste… but God praises him and uses his example as a model and a mentor that we should follow. It is good to have godly role models and be 1
The bad, described in doctrine
Doctrine of Balaam - idolatry of the heart
Doctrine of the Nicolaitans - clergy rules the laity
IV. The Lineup in Church History (representative)
Following the persecution, the church became accepted in Rome
This church mirrors the time period from roughly AD 300-600
The church became accepted and adopted elements of the world
V. The Lesson for us (type of church)
Repent of the comfortableness with the world
The Word of God cuts through the error of society
The saved will be filled and will find a new identity in Christ
The goal was to spend one week per church, but we are taking a week to catch up. Pergamos teaches us that we should not grow comfortable in the world or begin to tolerate ungodliness. The world uses harsh persecution, false teaching, subtle enticement, and many other tactics to draw us away from Christ, but we must allow the truth of God’s Word to cut through the lies of society. If we stay faithful to God, we will be filled and we will find our identity in Him.
Pergamos: the Lax church
I. The Location (literal local church)
The capital of Asia Minor, seat of authority
In the course of the world and of geopolitics
The church was prone to be mixed with the world
Many compromised to join the culture’s welcome (verse)
One of the greatest dangers of the Pergamos mentality is the subtle lie that if you live your life totally devoted to God, it will be a waste
In some ways, persecution is easier to bear because it is direct opposition, whereas the tendency to compromise and give into a welcoming environment can be harder in some cases I really think
II. The Likeness of Christ
God’s Word discerns our hearts
III. The Letter to the church (merits and warnings)
The good, after Christ and good examples
Holding fast the name of Christ
Not denying the faith
Antipas, the faithful martyr - look at him, he was all-in for the Lord and look where it got him, it cost him his life… what a waste… but God praises him and uses his example as a model and a mentor that we should follow. It is good to have godly role models and be 1
The bad, described in doctrine
Doctrine of Balaam - idolatry of the heart
Doctrine of the Nicolaitans - clergy rules the laity
IV. The Lineup in Church History (representative)
Following the persecution, the church became accepted in Rome
This church mirrors the time period from roughly AD 300-600
The church became accepted and adopted elements of the world
V. The Lesson for us (type of church)
Repent of the comfortableness with the world
The Word of God cuts through the error of society
The saved will be filled and will find a new identity in Christ
In God we trust