The Church At Pergamos

Q: What does the Bible say about the church in Pergamos?

The Church in Pergamos is addressed in Revelation 2:12-17, highlighting both its faithfulness and its errors. In Revelation 2:12-17, the church at Pergamos is commended for holding fast to Christ's name and not denying the faith, even amidst persecution, as symbolized by the martyr Antipas. However, the Lord brings forth specific criticisms against them for allowing false teachings, notably the doctrines of Balaam and the Nicolaitans, which led to compromise with idolatry and immorality. Jesus urges the church to repent or face judgment through His powerful Word, emphasizing the need for spiritual integrity in a corrupt environment.

Q: How do we know God's judgment is real?

God's judgment is affirmed through His Word, which serves as both a means of salvation and destruction. The sharp sword with two edges, as depicted in Revelation, represents the Word of God, which discerns true faith from falsehood. It is both a defense for God's people and a weapon against those who oppose Him. In the sermon, it is emphasized that God's judgment will come against those in the church who embrace false doctrines, including those who deny His faith. The certainty of God's judgment is rooted in His omniscience and holiness, holding individuals accountable for their actions and beliefs.

Q: Why is it important to hold fast to Jesus' name?

Holding fast to Jesus' name indicates genuine faith and allegiance to His character and teachings. In Revelation 2:13, the church at Pergamos is praised for holding fast to Christ’s name, signifying a commitment to His revelation and truth. This act embodies a believer’s response to God’s grace, as those who truly possess faith cannot help but cling to their Savior amid trials. To hold His name is to embrace His character, acknowledging Him as Sovereign, Redeemer, and Preserver. It cuts across complacency and worldly compromise, calling believers to demonstrate their faith through obedience and the confession of Christ even in adverse circumstances.

Q: What does the doctrine of Balaam teach us?

The doctrine of Balaam cautions against compromising faith for worldly gains and warns of false teachings within the church. The doctrine of Balaam represents a troubling blend of truth with unrighteousness, seeking worldly praise and rewards while subtly leading believers away from genuine obedience to God. Balaam's actions, as discussed in the sermon, illustrate how this deceptive teaching can infiltrate the church, promoting a 'feel-good' religion that undermines spiritual integrity. This doctrine encourages believers to justify sin under the guise of grace, a concept vehemently opposed by Scripture. Thus, the warning is clear: vigilance is needed against such false teachings that would dilute the purity of the Gospel and the holiness of God’s people.

Q: How does suffering relate to grace in the Christian life?

Suffering is a means through which God's grace is revealed and His purposes are fulfilled in believers' lives. The connection between suffering and grace is a profound theme within Scripture. In the context of the Pergamos church, suffering is depicted not as a bane, but as a demonstration of God’s keeping power in the lives of His people. Believers endure trials and adversities, manifesting God's grace, which transforms suffering into an occasion for growth and deeper reliance on Christ. The sermon highlights that true believers recognize their suffering as the Lord's chastening hand—demonstrating divine love aimed at spiritual refinement, ultimately enabling them to endure and overcome, being rooted in God's everlasting grace.

Turn with me to the book of Revelation
chapter 2. Revelation chapter 2. If we could but truly perceive
and see what is actually happening this morning, what actually is
taking place. in the fullness of spiritual
blessings in the Lord Jesus Christ, exactly what the Spirit of God
is doing in the heart of His people through the preached Word. All of us, especially starting
right here in this pulpit, there would be a grand sense of urgency,
the importance of actually what happens. As sincerely as I can be, I think
I'm sincere here. I do pray for myself that God
would speak to me. I want to hear something today
and for you. I pray the Lord might be pleased
to bless us today, because I know, Carl, if He doesn't, I know.
I'm aware of that. We're just needy people, and
we need to hear from Him. Not only do we need to hear,
we need for Him to bless that Word to our heart. Revelation chapter 2, beginning in verse It says, And
to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, These things
saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges. I know thy works, and where thou
dwellest, even where Satan's seat is, and thou holdest fast
my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days
wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you
where Satan dwelleth. But I have a few things against
thee, because thou hast them that hold the doctrine of Balaam,
who taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of
Israel, to eat things, sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold
the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which things I hate. Repent,
or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against
them with the sword of my mouth. He that hath an ear, let him
hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. To him that overcometh
will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white
stone, and in the stone a new name written which no man knoweth,
saving he that receiveth it." And the letters to the two previous
churches that we considered, the letter to the church in Pergamos
reveals still more of the church's relationship to the Lord Jesus
Christ while The church walks through this world. Now, we're
actually in this world. The Lord, in praying to the Father,
the high priestly prayer of the Lord Jesus Christ in John 17,
He prayed this. He said, Father, I ask that You not take them
out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil of it. Keep them while they are in it.
We are in this world and we live every day. We are human beings.
We are rational human beings and we are living here. And we
are having to deal with things every day. And the Nicolaitans,
those of Balaam, were in the midst of this church. And the Lord began to speak to
them. about what was actually going
on. Now, this letter to the pastor
is from the one that describes himself like this. He had the
sharp sword with two edges. Now, we realize this, that the
weapon of God's people The weapon of the church, the weapon of
the bride is a weapon of defense and offense. That's the only
way that it can be described because that's the way that the
Lord sets Himself to His people. The Word of God, the Scriptures
of truth, the sword of the Spirit, the quick and the powerful Word
of Almighty God that comes from the heart, the mouth of Christ
Himself that gives sharp reproofs for sin, sincere threatenings
against it, and cutting convictions because of it. It's the Word
of God. You can't compromise with it. There are those that
will get mad at it. There are those that will bow
to it. And those that do bow because of the grace of God.
Some will hear it and they will bow up against it. This sharp
sword has two edges. It is God's means of salvation. and destruction. Paul said, I
am not ashamed of the gospel. It, the preaching of Christ,
the Word of God, is the power of God. It is the means by which
God will call out His people. If a man or a woman hears the
Word of God and bows to it, They do so because Almighty God has
given them a heart to bow. If they don't, it's because God
Almighty has allowed them to do just exactly what they want
to do and has left them to themselves. And when it's all said and done,
this will be the end result. I rebelled because I wanted to
rebel. Almighty God will justly put
a man or a woman in hell because they refused to come to Christ. Now, that's the truth. No one
will say, I didn't come because you didn't let me come. No. We do just exactly what we want
to do on both hands. Either a man comes because God
Almighty has made him willing in the day of His power, he willingly
comes, or he willingly refused. It's the savor of life unto life
to some, and it's the savor of death unto death to others. Some hear it, they hear that,
and they say, That's life right there. I love
it. I embrace it. Why do they do
so? Because God has given them a
heart to do that. And it's by grace. And they'll
say it. The Lord who is omniscient, who
knows all, He knows their works. That's what He says to the church
at Pergamos. These things saith He which hath
a sharp sword, two edges, I know your works. He knows His sheep. He knows everything concerning
His sheep. He knows everything concerning
everybody. He is the author and finisher
of the sheep's faith, which is His work, the work of God Almighty. Therefore, since He has created
them, You are God's workmanship, the
workmanship of God. Therefore, if you're the workmanship
of Almighty God, savingly, He knows your works because He made
you that way. He knows what you are. These
works are preciously revealed in adversity. something in the indescribable
mercy and grace and wisdom of Almighty God about the manifestation of His
people in adversity. Have you ever noticed? This is
an amazing thought. There is not a believer in this
room that has not suffered. They just not. And as I've said
before, I'm aware, not as much as I could be aware or should
be aware, but I'm very aware of some of the sufferings that's
going on. I mean, I've heard just a little
bit. I know. I know. I know. But the comfort
of that is this. whom the Lord loves, He chastens,
causes you, puts you in a situation to where His marvelous grace,
keeping, faithfulness is going to be manifested. I mean, it's
not those that we remember so much and through the frailty
of our flesh that went through life and didn't have as much. It's those that we saw manifest
the grace of God Almighty in adversity. How brightly the grace
of God shines in those that He has allowed the privilege to
suffer. I know thy works. I know where thou dwellest."
He put you there. He placed you there. He put them
there, ordered their steps, and kept them. He said, I know where
you are. I know your works. I know where
you dwelled, even where Satan's seat is. I know. Pergamos was a city that the
Romans had made a capital city. And in the city of Pergamos was
the Greek god Zeus who was worshipped there. What it was was emperor
worship. They worshipped an emperor, Caesar,
Zeus. It was false religion. And the
church at Smyrna, not this church but the church at Smyrna, was
in the midst of the synagogue of Satan in this church was the
very seat of it itself, the capital of it. Now, whatever this seat
actually was, I read different things. They said it was this,
it was this, it was whatever this seat actually was. The false
worship of the church at Rome, I've just been amazed to watch
on the television and just see just how much they can haul a
corpse around and just act as if that dead corpse is something. I even heard that there were
some, my mother told me, I may have said this, that there are
many that are now starting to pray to the Holy Father referring
to that guy that died. the Holy Father to intercede
for them before Almighty God. That is blasphemy. That is the
worship of a man that is nothing. He's nothing. And whoever they
elect, but for the grace of God. He's nothing. He's a rebel against
Almighty God. Now, whatever this seat actually
was, whatever it was, It was false, wicked, cruel, religious
organization of error. They dwelt right there in the
midst, in the seat of where the throne of Satan was thriving. And that seat manifested itself
by this, giving honor and praise and glory and allegiance to any
one other than the Lord Jesus Christ. Mary is not the mother of God. I remember as a child, I was
eight years old when my mother took me out of the Roman church. I can remember to this day the
Hail Mary. And anyone here that has any
one, I was in that. You know, I'm probably getting
too personal. That's fine. I'm going to just tell you the
way it is. This prayer that was prayed, the Hail Mary, it started off and it said, Hail
Mary, full of grace. Hail Mary, the mother of God. Hail Mary, full of grace. The
Lord is with thee. Blessed are you. Mother of God. They were in the seat of Satan,
the very seat of rebellion against Almighty God. And to the praise
of the mercy of God Almighty, to the church at Pergamos, there
was told of the effect of God's power to keep them. Listen, to
Katie Baptist Church, to those that Almighty God has been pleased
to show mercy. This is to the praise of the
glory of His grace, not because of anything that you or I did,
not because of anything Brother Scott who faithfully preached
the gospel here fifty years and is worthy of the respect of a
man that has stood by God's grace to preach But I'm telling you,
it is to the grace of God Almighty that He would say to this church
or to this church or to any other church of His raising up, He
said, I know your works, I know where you dwell, even where Satan's
seat is, that thou holdest fast My name and has not denied My
faith. You haven't denied my name. You
seized my character. When it says, you holdeth fast
my name, you've seized my character. Embraced it by faith. Sovereign God. Electing God. Redeeming God. Quickening God. Preserving God. God who justifies
and sanctifies His people, justifies them before Himself, before His
law, and sanctifies them, creates something in them, imparts something
in them by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and applies that
blood by His Holy Spirit. God who robes believers in the
righteousness of Christ and forms Christ in them. His name, He said, you've held
fast My name. Held it. His name is Wonderful,
Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince
of Peace. That's who His name is. and to hold fast that name, one
by faith calls upon that. In his heart, anybody can say
a word. Anybody can speak. Whosoever,
the Scripture says, shall call on the name of the Lord shall
be saved. But let me ask you this. How
can One call upon the Lord if that person be dead in trespasses
and sins. The answer is, they can't. How can they? Let me show you
something. Turn with me to Psalm 80. I was
reading over this Scripture again this morning, and I thought to
myself, now that Scripture right there, to me, And to many of
you, sets forth this truth right here, that salvation can be only
by God's grace. That a man cannot, cannot call
upon the name of the Lord to be saved. He can't. He can't. Psalm 80, verse 17. Listen to
this. Let thy hand be upon the man
of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou madest strong
for thyself, so will not we go back from thee. Quicken us."
Now, what does that word quicken mean? You know what that means.
It means make us alive, spiritually alive. Quicken us, and we will
call upon thy name. Turn us again, O Lord God of
hosts, Call as I face to shine and we shall be saved." What
did the psalmist say? Lord, if You make me alive, I'll
call. If You quicken me, I'll call. To tell a man, call and the Lord
will make you alive. That's impossible. Why? He's dead. Dead in trespasses
and sins. He said, Back in Revelation 2,
He said, You have held fast My name. You hold fast My name and
you hath not denied My faith. They didn't reject the grace
of faith that was given them, that was imparted to His people. Philippians 1.29 says, For unto
you it is given. in the behalf of Christ, not
only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for Him. What? To suffer that He might manifest
His grace and mercy to you through suffering. It's not that Almighty
God is causing His people to suffer for no reason. He is teaching
them something concerning Himself. Ephesians 2 concerning believing
and faith. It says, for by grace are you
saved through faith. And that, faith, it's not of
yourself. It's the gift of God. Why is
that? Because a man would boast. He'd boast. He'd say this. I know I hadn't done much. But at least I believed. I know
I don't have a lot to be proud of, but at least I was the one
that stepped up. Well, boy, I'll tell you what,
yeah, if that be the case, yeah, you do have a lot to boast in,
because you're the one that has made the difference in life and
death, if that be the case. I know where you are. You've
held fast my name. You've not denied my faith, even
in the time of one that was named Antipas. I don't know exactly
who that was. I tried to find out and I just
couldn't find out who it was. There's not a whole lot written
about him. There were some that tried to break down his name
and make it say that it was this and it was that. I just couldn't
find out a lot about him. But there's a principle that's
set forth here. There was a man who was martyred.
And his name was Antipas. And he's a symbol of all true
believers who, being kept by the power of God, don't forsake
him. Not even in the time of death
will they leave. They won't. I read of the martyrs
that God Almighty allowed to go through the fire and be sawn
asunder and be boiled in oil. crucified. They were martyred. They were martyred. And I came
to this blessed Scripture, and this is what brought this out
before, and the Scripture says that the world wasn't even worthy
of Him. It just amazes me when I read that. The grace of God
that was shown to some who held fast His name, didn't deny the
faith, They are symbols of God's amazing
grace and mercy to a people. Well, in the midst of this church,
there were a few things that were against them. There were
some things that the Lord saw and revealed to those who were
incapable of seeing themselves. Thereby, He was proving His watch
care over them. He told them, He said in verse
14, I have a few things against thee, Because thou hast there
them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast
a stumbling block before the people of Israel, to eat things
sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold
the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate." Now there
were those in the midst of the church that held the doctrine
of Balaam. The doctrine of Balaam, it was
an amazing thing. If you go back and read about
Balaam, the time of Balaam back in the book of Numbers, you're
going to read some things that are going to be very, in a sense, confusing. You go
back and read the chapters concerning Balaam. Balaam was a man that
didn't outwardly deny God's truth. He was a man that appeared as
though what he was saying was right. There were some real amazing
things. was to be hired out, to be a
paid prophet, to curse the people of God. And he wouldn't do it.
He couldn't do it. Everything that he said, it was
an amazing thing. You'd listen to what that man
had to say and you thought, gosh, that sounds right. That sounds like grace to me. That sounds like sovereign grace. But the Scriptures revealed through
two passages. Turn to II Peter 2.15. Two passages
of Scripture. Now, the only way we're going
to know this is that the Spirit of God revealed this through
these two men right here, through Peter and Jude. And they set
forth. what was actually going on. And
I'm going to tell you in just a few words what Balaam did. That the Spirit of God revealed
he was doing. 2 Peter 2.15 says this. Let's just read 2 Peter 2.14. Having eyes full of adultery
that cannot cease from sin, These are talking about some false
preachers, false prophets, beguiling unstable souls, and heart they
have exercised with covetous practices, cursed children, which
have forsaken the right way and are gone astray following the
way of Balaam, the son of Bosar, who loved the wages of unrighteousness. Then look at Jude. verse 11. Just one chapter in Jude. So
it's Jude, verse 11. Woe unto them, for they have
gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error
of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Corey. Now here we see in this setting
forth of this man, Balaam. We see a man that had some head
knowledge of truth. He had some head knowledge of
it. But he hated the things that
he professed. And I'll tell you in a minute
how we know it. Balaam, as I said a moment ago,
was a hired preacher. And he mocked all true service
and faithfulness before God. He sought the wages of unrighteousness
and the praise of men. I think about, and I've related
this to you before, but I think it's a good time to bring it
back up again. The Scripture speaks of men who envy, who preach
Christ of envy. This was not something that Paul
the Apostle said. They're just some churches that
are just preaching and using the name of Jesus Christ. Everybody can use the name of
Jesus Christ. Anybody, they're all over the
signs, and anybody can say that name. What he was saying, these men,
he says, if Christ be preached, what Paul was saying was this.
What they were saying was the right words. They're saying the
right words, Brother Scott. They're saying the right words.
Sovereign grace, election, predestination, sovereignty. Words are coming
out right. Paul was saying they preach Christ
of envy. What does that mean? Whenever
someone sees respect that is given to someone who truly is
preaching Christ, they see that and they desire that respect. They see the respect that is
given to someone because of being a preacher of righteousness.
They want and they desire that praise. They want that. They envy that. So what they
do is they mimic it. I can listen to what somebody
says. I can read a commentary or something
and write out a set of notes. And I can read just exactly what
that says. But does that in itself put the
love of what I'm saying in my heart. No. No. It won't do it. Paul says they
preached Christ, some of envy, strife. They desired that. They preached it of envy. They
envied what they saw others getting respect for. So they preached
it. The Scripture says that Balaam He loved the praise of men. He
loved the money. He was in it for the, what can
I get out of this? What's in this for me? Here we
see Balaam, this preacher, he sought the wages, the Scripture
said, of unrighteousness, the praise of these men, the applause
of those. That's what he wanted. That's
my reward for him. When one plan didn't work in
Balaam's, to his suiting, he tried something else. Something
didn't go just right, I think I'll try this method right here.
Or we'll try this program over here. To the point of attempting
to lead Israel into rebellion against Almighty God, to mock
them in adultery, spiritual. physical, yes, at that time,
but the picture here is that spiritual, the knowledge of the
truth is not the same as obedience
in the heart to truth. The knowledge of truth. I believe
sovereign grace. I'll talk to you. Let's talk
about sovereign grace. We can talk about sovereign grace.
Talking sovereign grace. does not necessarily mean that
there is an obedience in the heart to it. Balaam's error was
to think that God Almighty could be changed. This doctrine of Balaam that
the letter to Pergamos heard about, Balaam attempted to introduce
God's people to the worship of a God named Baal Peor. He was a God whose followers
ate food that was offered to idols and practiced fornication. In other words, this is the bottom
line. How does it relate to me? It
was a feel-good religion. That's the bottom line. That's
what's being said. It was a feel-good religion.
We can use a few words like sovereignty, in the election, we throw it
out there, but really the bottom line is, whatever makes me feel
good, I think God will understand. I can use the right wording,
but there's just something that's not consistent about it. Turn
to 1 Corinthians 10, verse 21. The Scripture says, 1 Corinthians
10, 21, Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of devils. Ye cannot be partakers of the
Lord's table and of the table of devils. Look at 2 Corinthians
chapter 6, verse 14 to 18. 2 Corinthians 6, 14 to 18. Be ye not unequally yoked together
with unbelievers? For what fellowship hath righteousness
with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light
with darkness? And what concord hath Christ
with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth
with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple
of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the
living God, as God hath said, I will dwell in them, will walk
in them, I will be their God, they shall be My people. Wherefore,
come out from among them and be separate, saith the Lord,
and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you." Here's
the bottom line. There is no compromise. No compromise. There's no possible
way. that you're going to be able
to compromise and have fellowship whatsoever. I understand. I'm not talking about having
to work. You've got to go to work. And I hate that there are
so many. You have to work every day in
a world. I understand that. You deal every day with unbelievers.
I understand that. But you don't have any fellowship
with them. You have no light. Light and darkness doesn't mix.
You just don't. Going over and fellowshipping,
you think with unbelievers. This is what Balaam did. He thought,
stupidly, foolishly, that there could be a way in which he could
kind of compromise, like it didn't make any difference. It does
make a difference. You can't have fellowship with
unbelievers. A believer has no fellowship
with an unbeliever. There's just no way. How do I
know that? The Scripture says that. Light
and darkness doesn't mix. Those who hold the doctrine of
Balaam, like those who are the Nicolaitans, or as we looked
at it a week or so ago, the antinomians, those who teach that no restraint
to the grace of God is actually, that's what a Nicolaitan is.
There's no restraint. It doesn't matter. Listen, this is just the way it is. And
I'm telling you, but for the grace of God, it would be that
way for anybody that sits in this congregation this morning.
Many will perish with a Bible in their hand, sitting on a church
pew, singing Amazing Grace. That's just the way it's going
to be. Guard against any motive within
that would tempt you to circumvent the declared will of Almighty
God. The doctrine of Balaam is to
see within Scripture the revealed will of God and then to say, It doesn't matter. I can hedge on that. I can just guard
against it. God help me. God Almighty help
me to guard against. That's the doctrine of Balaam.
To think or to say in my heart, it doesn't matter. It does matter.
It does matter. Seize that, seize that word. I was thinking, this hit home
in my family. I'll tell you this, I'm not talking
about anybody in here. If this fits, then it just fits.
It's just, you know, the old saying, if a shoe fits, wear
it. Well, I'm talking about my family right here, so you can
just, you know. I've had it and had to say it
recently. This is the bottom line. A man
that won't provide for his own family, a man that won't provide
for his own family is worse than an infidel. I thought an infidel,
that's an unbeliever. What's worse than an unbeliever?
I'll tell you what it is. The scripture says a man that
won't provide for his own family is worse than an infidel. He's
worse than an infidel. You know, I can try to circumvent
that all I want to. And you know what? It's not going
to change one bit. It's not going to change in the
least. To try to circumvent the revealed
will of Almighty God is the doctrine of Balaam. Be careful. Guard against it. And then he
says, Those that hold the doctrine of Balaam. Verse 15, those that
hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which I hate. Back in Jude again,
verse 12 and 13. The doctrine of the Nicolaitans.
That is, those that say, I mean, the doctrine of Balaam and the
doctrine of Nicolaitans, I mean, just hand and foot. right there
together. The doctrine of the Nicolaitans,
Jude 12 and 13, there are spots in your Feast of Charity. They
feast with you, or when they feast with you, feeding themselves
without fear. Clouds they are without water,
carried about of winds. Trees whose fruit withereth without
fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots. raging waves of
the sea, foaming out their own shame, wandering stars, to whom
is reserved the blackness of darkness forever." The Nicolaitans,
antinomians, what they said was this, if you believe that being
saved by grace, if you believe in salvation by grace, which
we do, the Nicolaitans said, if you're saved by grace, that
you cannot fall from grace, which you can't. That if that's the
case, and is there any possibility, is there any possibility that
Almighty God will forever, one that He has affectionately put
His love upon, loved everlastingly, Is there any possibility one
that God has saved by grace can be lost? No. That's the answer. Is there any possibility one
that God is truly saved by grace? Can he be forsaken? No. Why? Because God is faithful. He's faithful. Well, then, therefore,
the Nicolaitans say, then it just doesn't matter if I'm saved by grace. then I
can't be lost. If I can't be lost, then what
difference does it make? It doesn't matter what I do. Well, let me just say this then. If that is your thought process,
God's never done anything for you. You're lost. You're lost. You're lost. Because that is not the thinking,
the heart thinking of a believer. He said, I'll write my law on
your heart. A believer loves obedience toward
God and sees inconsistency in himself and hates it. He hates
it. Job said, I loathe myself. I
hate the way I see myself. I hate it. And he longs after
Christ. Why? There's a new nature there
that longs after Christ. And he does not justify his rebellion
against God. If he does, he's lost. Some in this church held fast
his name and didn't deny his faith. And obviously, some did. To deny his faith. is the action of the unregenerate
heart by those who call themselves believers or Christians, and
they are so in name only. A believer acts like a believer
every time. I'm not saying that a believer
cannot make an error. I'm not saying that. That they
cannot make a wrong judgment. I'm not saying that. But I'm
going to tell you something. They don't justify rebellion
in their heart. They just don't. Those who know
Him not, they deny His Godhead in action. That's how they do
it. Maybe not outwardly in their mouth. No one is so foolish. Well, I'm not saying they wouldn't
be. But I'm telling you this, no one as a general rule is so
foolish as to say, I just don't believe that. How do you know
it? They act that way. They deny redemption of His people,
particularly by the blood of Christ. They deny the work of
His Spirit in regeneration, apart from anything other than His
merit in their heart, in their action. Therefore, those that
deny Him and die in denial, He will deny them. That is to say,
He will deny them of salvation. He'll deny them of glory. He'll
deny them of everything else except the wrath of God. They won't be denied that. He
said, you deny me, I'll deny you. It matters what a man says
he believes in creed. It doesn't matter. I'm sorry.
I say it does. It does not matter what a man
says he believes in creed if he denies Christ. by refusing
to confess Him, embrace Him, to embrace a false doctrine,
to live contrary to the Gospel. He's doing it in action. We end
up giving a man enough time and he'll do exactly what he wants
to do. And you'll know it. You'll see it. Let me tell you something. This is very, very convicting
to me. I'm sitting here preaching it,
thinking to myself, Lord, please don't leave me to myself. Don't
let me be fooled. I know of men that have stood
in pulpits and preached. I've listened to their tapes.
Those men that preached years ago that today have no desire
whatsoever to be there and justify it in their mind. I know they
must or they couldn't live with themselves. Lord, don't leave
me to myself. True faith has a direct influence
on faithfulness. You know, in your heart, and
even I can understand it in my heart, where I say, well, you
know, you're preaching salvation by law. No, I'm not. This is
salvation by law is to preach that whatever you do merits salvation
before God. That's preaching the law. I'm
just telling you that a believer acts like a believer. That's
what I'm telling you. I'm telling you this is what
the Scripture says will be the evidence of those Is it that
you never see any consistency in them at all? Now, you know
that's not what I'm saying. I'm saying that believers see
the inconsistencies in themselves, a wrong judgment. But to absolutely
go against the revealed will of God, they just won't do it.
They just don't want to do it. They have no desire to do it.
And the instruction concerning this era is repent. I've got to hurry. I need to
stop right here. Repent, verse 16. Change the
way of thinking, or else I will come unto thee quickly and fight
against them with the sword of my mouth. Repent, either to the
church itself, he says repent, and don't wink, is what he's
saying, in open, filthy practice of unbelief. The actions. Don't
just be silent toward it. I mean, it's hard in a sense. for me to stand and to say certain
things that I know are convicting. I mean, you know, I look at friends.
I see friends out here. And in a sense, it would be easier
for me just to be just, well, I just won't say that, you know,
for fear of hurting somebody's feelings. But as I heard a dear
friend of me say, there's something that's more at stake here than
my feelings or your feelings. It's the glory of this word.
the Kingdom of Almighty God. That's what's to be honored.
That's the honor of it. And if it goes against my flesh
or your flesh, this is just the way we are, y'all. This is just
the way it is. He said, repent, or else I will
come unto thee quickly, fight against them. You notice that? I will fight against them. with the sword of My mouth."
Not against His people, for He doesn't fight against them. He
fights for them. Christ has been bruised that
His people would not be bruised in judgment, in wrath. But He comes against them with
the sword of His mouth and shall be convinced against them by
Scripture. He says, He, verse 17, that hath
an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
To him that overcometh will I give. We've dealt with He that hath
an ear, a spiritual ear. And also, He that overcometh,
last time, I will give of the hidden manna, the hidden manna. Christ is the bread of heaven,
but He is hidden from the world. But He is revealed to believers
in this life, in this life through a glass darkly, but He is revealed. They see Him, but Paul says,
I see Him. We see Him in part, but in glory,
perfectly. He says, He that overcometh. Those that are made to overcome.
Those that are kept by the power of God. I'll give to eat of that
hidden manna." The world knows nothing about the world's religion,
the world's way of thinking that they're going to approach God.
And He says, "...and I will give him a white stone." I will give
him a white stone. "...In the stone a new name written,
which no man knoweth, saying, He that receiveth that stone,
or receiveth it." That stone represents the one that receives
the stone. He says, I will give that one
that overcometh a white stone. Number one, those that receive
it are referred to there as stones. I'll give him a white stone.
This is representative of the person receiving it. 1 Peter
2, verse 5 says, Ye also as lively stones are built up in spiritual
house, holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices. acceptable
to God by Jesus Christ. The color of that stone is white,
which is indicative of those whose character is white. Revelation 19, verse 8 says they
are arrayed in fine linen, clean and white. The fine linen is
the righteousness of the saints. They are white only in the righteousness
of Christ, pure only in Him. And it's a stone and it speaks
of endurance. of their hope in the Lord Jesus
Christ. Let me just read this for 1 Peter
1, verses 3 and 4. Blessed be the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy
hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus
Christ from the dead to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled,
and that fate is not away, reserved in heaven for you. And in that
stone that he gives them, that white stone, there's going to
be a name written in that stone. Isaiah 62 reveals something of
what that means. It says it's going to be Isaiah
62, verse 2, and the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness in
all kings, thy glory, and thy shalt be called by a new name. which the mouth of the Lord shall
name, thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord,
a royal diadem in the hand of thy God. Thou shalt no more be
termed forsaken, neither shall thy land any more be termed desolate,
but thou shalt be called Hepzibah, and thy land Beulah, for the
Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married." Hepzibah,
you may notice in your margin there, My delight is in her."
And Beulah means that it's married. He said, those that overcome.
It's going to be a white stone given to them. It's going to
have a name inscribed on that stone that no man is going to
know except the one that gives it. It doesn't mean that it's
going to be an individual type name, but what it is is this
name that is inscribed is known to those that receive it. It's the same name. Not forsaken
anymore. Not forsaken, but it's going
to be that name that is from the Lord Himself. Here is the
picture of the bride being married, the bride that takes the name
of her husband. That name was a name written
that no man knew or knoweth, saving or except for he that
perceived it. The name is the name of Christ,
His bride. This name is the name that is
revealed to the believer. That's your name. A wife marries
her husband and she takes her husband's name. They marry and
she doesn't just make up a name. I think now my name is going
to be... No, no. It's His name. His character. The name of Christ. Spiritually
discerned. No one knows it. How can a believer,
how can but a believer know the name that's given to them, Neal.
How can He? No one knows it except the one
that receives it. No man knows it except it's written
in that white stone and given to them by the Lord Jesus Christ. So ends the letter to the church
at Pergamos. And next week, Lord willing,
we'll look at the next letter.

The Church At Pergamos

What does the Bible say about the church in Pergamos?

How do we know God's judgment is real?

Why is it important to hold fast to Jesus' name?

What does the doctrine of Balaam teach us?

How does suffering relate to grace in the Christian life?

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The Church At Pergamos

What does the Bible say about the church in Pergamos?

How do we know God's judgment is real?

Why is it important to hold fast to Jesus' name?

What does the doctrine of Balaam teach us?

How does suffering relate to grace in the Christian life?

Sermon Transcript

About Marvin Stalnaker

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