Nicolaitanes philosophy of “systematic distortion” and negation of scripture.
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L
The bit about "principle/procedure, precept/praxis" is dealing with that idea of true righteousness being above the Letter of the Law. As in doing good works on the Sabbath, like pulling an oxen from a pit, or when Jesus healed the man on the Sabbath.
Or like the good Samaritan making himself unclean for the sake of the injured man.
Or like Christ stopping the men from stoning the adulterous woman, even though doing so was commanded by Law.
Or like the Apostles telling people to not get circumcised in the flesh, or sacrifice at the Temple.
The Law is to be spiritually discerned, and spiritually applied. The physical understanding leads to physical application... which is not productive for the Kingdom, but leads to pride of works.
Or like the good Samaritan making himself unclean for the sake of the injured man.
Or like Christ stopping the men from stoning the adulterous woman, even though doing so was commanded by Law.
Or like the Apostles telling people to not get circumcised in the flesh, or sacrifice at the Temple.
The Law is to be spiritually discerned, and spiritually applied. The physical understanding leads to physical application... which is not productive for the Kingdom, but leads to pride of works.
Well said!!!
We cannot earn forgiveness by working hard to obey. Do not stumble over this crucial point. No sinner can gain favor and acceptance with God because he keeps the law. The law was not made for the purpose of saving or justifying. It was made to show us our daily need of cleansing and to point us to the great source of cleansing, Jesus Christ, our Lord. The Bible speaks of the law as a mirror to show us what kind of person we really are. “For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed” (James 1:23-25).
It is obvious that a mirror cannot remove a spot from the face. Looking into the mirror all day, and fervently rubbing the face, will not provide any real spiritual cleansing. Its work is to reveal the spot and to point the dirty one to the sink of living water for actual cleansing. The law, in like manner, can only reveal our sins by giving us the true knowledge of our condition and then pointing us to the cross for true cleansing. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Paul further emphasizes this point in Galatians 2:16: “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ … for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”
Right here we must consider one of the most fallacious propositions ever set forth relating to the law. Countless sincere Christians have accepted the idea that the Old Testament encompasses the dispensation of works and that the New Testament provides for a dispensation of grace. Under this garbled plan people were saved by works in the Old Testament and by grace in the New Testament. This is simply not true.
Some try to dispose of the law of God, the basis being that the “new” commandments of love are what Christ introduced. It is certainly true that Jesus laid down two great laws of love as a summary of all the law, but did He give the idea that these were new in point of time? The fact is that He was quoting directly from the Old Testament when He gave those new commandments.
We cannot earn forgiveness by working hard to obey. Do not stumble over this crucial point. No sinner can gain favor and acceptance with God because he keeps the law. The law was not made for the purpose of saving or justifying. It was made to show us our daily need of cleansing and to point us to the great source of cleansing, Jesus Christ, our Lord. The Bible speaks of the law as a mirror to show us what kind of person we really are. “For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed” (James 1:23-25).
It is obvious that a mirror cannot remove a spot from the face. Looking into the mirror all day, and fervently rubbing the face, will not provide any real spiritual cleansing. Its work is to reveal the spot and to point the dirty one to the sink of living water for actual cleansing. The law, in like manner, can only reveal our sins by giving us the true knowledge of our condition and then pointing us to the cross for true cleansing. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Paul further emphasizes this point in Galatians 2:16: “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ … for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”
Right here we must consider one of the most fallacious propositions ever set forth relating to the law. Countless sincere Christians have accepted the idea that the Old Testament encompasses the dispensation of works and that the New Testament provides for a dispensation of grace. Under this garbled plan people were saved by works in the Old Testament and by grace in the New Testament. This is simply not true.
Some try to dispose of the law of God, the basis being that the “new” commandments of love are what Christ introduced. It is certainly true that Jesus laid down two great laws of love as a summary of all the law, but did He give the idea that these were new in point of time? The fact is that He was quoting directly from the Old Testament when He gave those new commandments.
AMEN!
I have defined the path of the straight and narrow as having two ditches on either side. Both are deep. One is called legalism, and the other liberalism. Neither one is correct. Only placing our feet in the same place as Jesus Christ walked can a person stay on the right road.
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Philippians 2:3-5
I have defined the path of the straight and narrow as having two ditches on either side. Both are deep. One is called legalism, and the other liberalism. Neither one is correct. Only placing our feet in the same place as Jesus Christ walked can a person stay on the right road.
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Philippians 2:3-5
Often we hear this argument in an effort to belittle the law of God: “Well, since we are not under the law but under grace, we do not need to even consider the law of God.” Is this a valid point? The Bible certainly does say that we are not under the law, but does that imply that we are free from the obligation to obey it?
How easily we could prevent confusion if we accepted exactly what the Bible says. Paul gives his own explanation of his statement. After stating that we are not under the law but under grace, he asks, “What then?” (Romans 6:14-15)
If being under grace does not exempt us from keeping the law, then what does Paul mean by saying that Christians are not under the law? He gives that answer in Romans 3:19. “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” Here Paul equates being under the law with “being guilty before God.” Just because we esteem the law, is that actually showing a desire to be under its condemnation? The “duh” moment reveals itself. In other words, those who are under the law are guilty of breaking it and are under the condemnation of it. This is why Christians are not under even while they are observing it. They are not intentionally breaking it by revering it and not guilty and condemned by it. Seems as though those who desire the law to disappear by a New Covenant are afraid of being condemned, and excuse themselves by railing accusations toward those that want to keep it. Therefore, those that are not condemned by the law, as they esteem the law as good for all of God's children, are not under it, but are under the power of grace instead.
How easily we could prevent confusion if we accepted exactly what the Bible says. Paul gives his own explanation of his statement. After stating that we are not under the law but under grace, he asks, “What then?” (Romans 6:14-15)
If being under grace does not exempt us from keeping the law, then what does Paul mean by saying that Christians are not under the law? He gives that answer in Romans 3:19. “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” Here Paul equates being under the law with “being guilty before God.” Just because we esteem the law, is that actually showing a desire to be under its condemnation? The “duh” moment reveals itself. In other words, those who are under the law are guilty of breaking it and are under the condemnation of it. This is why Christians are not under even while they are observing it. They are not intentionally breaking it by revering it and not guilty and condemned by it. Seems as though those who desire the law to disappear by a New Covenant are afraid of being condemned, and excuse themselves by railing accusations toward those that want to keep it. Therefore, those that are not condemned by the law, as they esteem the law as good for all of God's children, are not under it, but are under the power of grace instead.
Every time a people reject God's instructions (the law) for the purpose of proper government, whether in church or a country, corruption will escalate. It's proven history, and it's always th same outcome. You have it right LT
The United States, and the whole world for that matter is in the shape that it's in because of the denial of God's law. Nicolatianes at work. It's a given in every case. Deny the law, and chaos always follows.
The United States, and the whole world for that matter is in the shape that it's in because of the denial of God's law. Nicolatianes at work. It's a given in every case. Deny the law, and chaos always follows.
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Suppose a murderer has been sentenced to death in the electric chair. Waiting for the execution the man would truly be under the law in every sense of the word—under the guilt, under the condemnation, under the sentence of death, etc. Just before the execution date the governor reviews the condemned man’s case and decides to pardon him. In the light of extenuating circumstances the governor exercises his prerogative and sends a full pardon to the prisoner. Now he is no longer under the law but under grace. The law no longer condemns him. He is considered totally justified as far as the charges of the law are concerned. He is free to walk out of the prison and no policeman can lay hands upon him. But now that he is under grace and no longer under the law, can we say that he is free to break the law? Indeed not! In fact, that pardoned man will be doubly obligated to obey the law because he has found grace from the governor.
Law and grace do not work in competition with each other but in perfect cooperation. The law points out sin, and grace saves from sin. The law is the will of God, and grace is the power to do the will of God. We do not obey the law in order to be saved but because we are saved. A beautiful text which combines the two in their true relationship is Revelation 14:12. “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” What a perfect description of faith and works! And the combination is found in those who are “saints.”
Words and profession are not enough. The true evidence is obedience.
Today’s bumper stickers reflect a shallow concept of love. They say, “Smile if you love Jesus,” “Honk if you love Jesus”; but what did the Master Himself say? He said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). And that is exactly what most people don’t want to do. If love makes no demands beyond a smile or wave, then it is welcome; but if the lifestyle must be disturbed, the majority will reject it. Unfortunately, most people today are not looking for truth. They are looking for a smooth, easy, comfortable religion that will allow them to live the way they please and still give assurance of salvation. There is indeed no true religion that can do that for them.
Law and grace do not work in competition with each other but in perfect cooperation. The law points out sin, and grace saves from sin. The law is the will of God, and grace is the power to do the will of God. We do not obey the law in order to be saved but because we are saved. A beautiful text which combines the two in their true relationship is Revelation 14:12. “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” What a perfect description of faith and works! And the combination is found in those who are “saints.”
Words and profession are not enough. The true evidence is obedience.
Today’s bumper stickers reflect a shallow concept of love. They say, “Smile if you love Jesus,” “Honk if you love Jesus”; but what did the Master Himself say? He said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). And that is exactly what most people don’t want to do. If love makes no demands beyond a smile or wave, then it is welcome; but if the lifestyle must be disturbed, the majority will reject it. Unfortunately, most people today are not looking for truth. They are looking for a smooth, easy, comfortable religion that will allow them to live the way they please and still give assurance of salvation. There is indeed no true religion that can do that for them.
L
I do believe that many congregations (the large popular ones especially) have wandered off into liberalism, and use Grace as a licence. Many also wander off to a weird blend of literalism mixed with liberalism. They claim to take the Word literally, and then say which portions are applicable to us today, and which don't apply to us but instead just to physical Israel.
So in this, I agree that obedience is needed to be preached!
However, I also suspect you may be leaning too hard while trying to correct the general trend. Be sure to check for center.
So in this, I agree that obedience is needed to be preached!
However, I also suspect you may be leaning too hard while trying to correct the general trend. Be sure to check for center.
As I said "follow the footsteps" of Jesus Christ. No one knows where the proper path is even though some may think they know.
I grew up with this song
God Leads Us Along
I grew up with this song
God Leads Us Along
As I left off at post #192 here is the next segment of what I found as I studied that thing God says he hates so much – the doctrine of the Nicolaitans. I left off where Constantine I, or Constantine the Great as he was also known, and the Roman Catholic Church are responsible for “Christianity’s” acceptance of Christmas, Easter, Halloween, and a host of other unbiblical practices borrowed from pagans. Here is the rest of it as briefly as I could make it.
There is a nice warm-fuzzy story about Constantine establishing Christianity in the Roman Empire but like most history, if one wants to know the truth one must dig past the first sources that pop up. Most of us know the basic story of how Constantine became a Christian. Briefly, it goes something like this: “In the year 312 there ruled a Roman Emperor named Maxentius who had taken power illegally. He hated Christians and persecuted them. The proper heir to the throne, Constantine, marched on Rome to save the Empire. Before the two forces met in battle, Constantine saw a vision of a cross in the sky and the words “Conquer under this”. Constantine and his army converted to Christianity and painted the cross on their shields. The next day they defeated the pagans and brought Christianity to Rome.” That is the way we are supposed to believe it happened. But it is not the way it really happened. In actuality, it was much more complicated.
It is a pretty well established historical fact that Constantine defeated his rival in 324, declared himself a Christian, and soon after, as the new sole-ruler of the empire, he made new laws against sexual immorality, outlawed pagan sacrifices and confiscated the treasures in their temples to finance the construction of new Christian churches. Gone were the famous gladiators. This fact helped nourish the idea that Constantine made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire (he did not) and caused that fallacy to eventually become accepted as fact. Constantine used Christianity for the sole purpose of organizing the huge empire better. It had again become so big that one Emperor could no longer control it.
Constantine observed that the Church was highly organized at the time and he used this organization to better control his empire. The fact is that Constantine was a pagan and in spite of reports that his mother converted to Christianity, he remained a pagan to his deathbed. The main problem was the reluctance of Roman citizens to give up their pagan religion that allowed for lots of sex, promiscuity, and partying for a religion that taught that all sex outside of marriage is evil. It just wasn’t too appealing to them. So making Jesus’ birth December 25th, the birthday of Mithra, the sun deity (also known as Jupiter, Nimrod, Baal, Apollo, Tammuz, etc.), the god of his pagan religion helped to bring pagans into the Church. It was helpful too, that the Sabbath was changed from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday, to the pagan worship day of Sunday. Merging these pagan symbols with Christianity worked (for a while) and 70 years later Christianity actually became the official state religion.
While it is true that Constantine built many Christian churches and supported Christians with money, he also continued to practice his ‘Sol Inviticus’ pagan religion and supported it at the same time, setting up Christianity as an equal religion with Sun worship. (Constantine murdered one son and a wife, which are certainly not the acts of a true follower of Jesus.)
It is very sad that so many Christians consider the doctrine of the Nicolaitans as merely history and fail to acknowledge that it runs rampant in the biggest and smallest churches, all sizes in between and all so called “Christian” denominations, Catholic and Protestant alike.
This is merely backing up what Robo posted on “Catholic Heresy (for the record)” and how it all got that way.
I saw a thread earlier today where I made the comment that I have been seeing a lot of teachings and such not just here in CC but all over, admonishing and encouraging true Christians to really live the life God teaches us to in His Word. It is one more sign that the time is short – The Lion of Judah will soon return and make things right. And the time is short because the churches of today are so badly corrupted with the Nicolaitan/Balaam doctrine compromising real Christianity with the 'fun' things of the world.
There is a nice warm-fuzzy story about Constantine establishing Christianity in the Roman Empire but like most history, if one wants to know the truth one must dig past the first sources that pop up. Most of us know the basic story of how Constantine became a Christian. Briefly, it goes something like this: “In the year 312 there ruled a Roman Emperor named Maxentius who had taken power illegally. He hated Christians and persecuted them. The proper heir to the throne, Constantine, marched on Rome to save the Empire. Before the two forces met in battle, Constantine saw a vision of a cross in the sky and the words “Conquer under this”. Constantine and his army converted to Christianity and painted the cross on their shields. The next day they defeated the pagans and brought Christianity to Rome.” That is the way we are supposed to believe it happened. But it is not the way it really happened. In actuality, it was much more complicated.
It is a pretty well established historical fact that Constantine defeated his rival in 324, declared himself a Christian, and soon after, as the new sole-ruler of the empire, he made new laws against sexual immorality, outlawed pagan sacrifices and confiscated the treasures in their temples to finance the construction of new Christian churches. Gone were the famous gladiators. This fact helped nourish the idea that Constantine made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire (he did not) and caused that fallacy to eventually become accepted as fact. Constantine used Christianity for the sole purpose of organizing the huge empire better. It had again become so big that one Emperor could no longer control it.
Constantine observed that the Church was highly organized at the time and he used this organization to better control his empire. The fact is that Constantine was a pagan and in spite of reports that his mother converted to Christianity, he remained a pagan to his deathbed. The main problem was the reluctance of Roman citizens to give up their pagan religion that allowed for lots of sex, promiscuity, and partying for a religion that taught that all sex outside of marriage is evil. It just wasn’t too appealing to them. So making Jesus’ birth December 25th, the birthday of Mithra, the sun deity (also known as Jupiter, Nimrod, Baal, Apollo, Tammuz, etc.), the god of his pagan religion helped to bring pagans into the Church. It was helpful too, that the Sabbath was changed from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday, to the pagan worship day of Sunday. Merging these pagan symbols with Christianity worked (for a while) and 70 years later Christianity actually became the official state religion.
While it is true that Constantine built many Christian churches and supported Christians with money, he also continued to practice his ‘Sol Inviticus’ pagan religion and supported it at the same time, setting up Christianity as an equal religion with Sun worship. (Constantine murdered one son and a wife, which are certainly not the acts of a true follower of Jesus.)
It is very sad that so many Christians consider the doctrine of the Nicolaitans as merely history and fail to acknowledge that it runs rampant in the biggest and smallest churches, all sizes in between and all so called “Christian” denominations, Catholic and Protestant alike.
This is merely backing up what Robo posted on “Catholic Heresy (for the record)” and how it all got that way.
I saw a thread earlier today where I made the comment that I have been seeing a lot of teachings and such not just here in CC but all over, admonishing and encouraging true Christians to really live the life God teaches us to in His Word. It is one more sign that the time is short – The Lion of Judah will soon return and make things right. And the time is short because the churches of today are so badly corrupted with the Nicolaitan/Balaam doctrine compromising real Christianity with the 'fun' things of the world.
I thought I would share this excerpt from The Root of the Righteous by A. W. Tozer as it plainly illustrates how the false doctrine discussed on this thread has infiltrated the minds of professing Christians.
"Within the past few years, for instance, Christ has been popularized by some so-called evangelicals as one who, if a proper amount of prayer were made, would help the pious prize fighter to knock another fighter unconscious in the ring. Christ is also said to help the big league pitcher to get the proper hook on his curve. In another instance He assists an athletically - minded parson to win the high jump, and still another not only to come in first in a track meet but to set a new record in the bargain. He is said also to have helped a praying businessman to beat out a competitor in a deal, to underbid a rival and to secure a coveted contract to the discomfiture of someone else who was trying to get it. He is even thought to lend succor to a praying movie actress while she plays a role so lewd as to bring the blood to the face of a professional prostitute.
Thus our Lord becomes the Christ of utility, a kind of Aladdin's lamp to do minor miracles in behalf of anyone who summons Him to do his bidding.
Apparently no one stops to consider that if Christ were to step into a prize ring and use His divine power to help one prize fighter to paralyze another He would be putting one fighter at a cruel disadvantage and violating every common instinct of fair play.
If He were to aid one businessman to the detriment of another He would be practicing favoritism and revealing a character wholly unlike the Bible picture of the real Christ. Furthermore, we would have the grotesque situation of the Lord of glory coming to the aid of an unreconstructed Adam - on Adam's terms.
All this is too horrible to contemplate, and I hope that the proponents of this modern accommodating Christ do not see the implications that lie in their shoddy doctrine. But perhaps they do see, and are willing nevertheless to offer this utilitarian Christ as the Saviour of mankind. If so, then they no longer believe in the deity nor the lordship of Christ in any proper definition of those words. Theirs is a Christ of carnal convenience, not too far removed from the gods of paganism.
The whole purpose of God in redemption is to make us holy and to restore us to the image of God. To accomplish this He disengages us from earthly ambitions and draws us away from the cheap and unworthy prizes that worldly men set their hearts upon. A holy man would not dream of asking God to help him beat an opponent or win over a competitor. He would not wish to succeed if to do so another man must fail. No man in whom the Spirit dwells could bring himself to ask the Lord to help him knock another man unconscious for filthy lucre or the plaudits of the vulgar spectators."
"Within the past few years, for instance, Christ has been popularized by some so-called evangelicals as one who, if a proper amount of prayer were made, would help the pious prize fighter to knock another fighter unconscious in the ring. Christ is also said to help the big league pitcher to get the proper hook on his curve. In another instance He assists an athletically - minded parson to win the high jump, and still another not only to come in first in a track meet but to set a new record in the bargain. He is said also to have helped a praying businessman to beat out a competitor in a deal, to underbid a rival and to secure a coveted contract to the discomfiture of someone else who was trying to get it. He is even thought to lend succor to a praying movie actress while she plays a role so lewd as to bring the blood to the face of a professional prostitute.
Thus our Lord becomes the Christ of utility, a kind of Aladdin's lamp to do minor miracles in behalf of anyone who summons Him to do his bidding.
Apparently no one stops to consider that if Christ were to step into a prize ring and use His divine power to help one prize fighter to paralyze another He would be putting one fighter at a cruel disadvantage and violating every common instinct of fair play.
If He were to aid one businessman to the detriment of another He would be practicing favoritism and revealing a character wholly unlike the Bible picture of the real Christ. Furthermore, we would have the grotesque situation of the Lord of glory coming to the aid of an unreconstructed Adam - on Adam's terms.
All this is too horrible to contemplate, and I hope that the proponents of this modern accommodating Christ do not see the implications that lie in their shoddy doctrine. But perhaps they do see, and are willing nevertheless to offer this utilitarian Christ as the Saviour of mankind. If so, then they no longer believe in the deity nor the lordship of Christ in any proper definition of those words. Theirs is a Christ of carnal convenience, not too far removed from the gods of paganism.
The whole purpose of God in redemption is to make us holy and to restore us to the image of God. To accomplish this He disengages us from earthly ambitions and draws us away from the cheap and unworthy prizes that worldly men set their hearts upon. A holy man would not dream of asking God to help him beat an opponent or win over a competitor. He would not wish to succeed if to do so another man must fail. No man in whom the Spirit dwells could bring himself to ask the Lord to help him knock another man unconscious for filthy lucre or the plaudits of the vulgar spectators."