February 13, 2022
“Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.” Revelation 2:16
The letter from Jesus to the church at Pergamos is nearing its close. Whenever there is genuine revival, those who are “quickened” by God’s Spirit are instantly in the uncomfortable position of being oddly different—God calls it peculiar—from those who knew them before. Satan will work through surrounding unregenerate people to discourage those who set out in a new, vital relationship with the Lord. The goal is to make faithfulness to Jesus at the very least awkward through social pressure from within the church. Just as Balaam taught King Balak to seduce the Israelites into sin on the way to the Promised Land, the church members at Pergamum encouraged their fellow Christians to avoid persecution by participating in pagan socio-religious practices (more on this tomorrow).
In our day, churches are quite saturated in unbiblical practices which have the same ungodly, gravitational pull. The only way to fight against such practices is to lift up God’s standard — the sword of [His] mouth! — to reveal the contrast between God’s standard and human standards.
God will never coerce us in any way to bow to His authority. He has proven His love for us since the beginning . . . and confirmed it beyond the shadow of doubt at the cross. He patiently awaits our response. As individuals, we may choose this very minute — and in every day to come — to exercise the gift of freedom of conscience and embrace the authority of our heavenly Father.
Collectively, a lack of acknowledgement of His authority over us as Creator, Redeemer, Savior, Advocate, Judge, King, and Lord will sadly render a church’s message weak; and powerless to regenerate hearts.
A modern slogan rooted in Nicolaitan doctrine: “Once saved, always saved.” Scripture warns against presumption (see Psalm 19:13). Dietrich Bonhoeffer called it “cheap grace.” This attitude begins when people are taught of the Savior’s forgiveness without including a commitment of true discipleship. We each need an essential transformation in order to endure faithfully to the end. The grace provided for our transformation is immeasurably costly. And, while some reject it because of what it will cost them in this world, we must remember often that any cost we encounter for the sake of Christ does not compare with the glory He has for us (see 2 Corinthians 4:17) or the incalculable price He paid for us. Go ahead. Make His day. Be peculiar!
Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus 2:14 (KJV)
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9 (KJV)