Pergamos: The Compromising Church
Tony Schachle
Red Letters • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 51:18
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· 7 viewsPergamos is known as the compromising church. This church had done good works, held onto their faith, and declared the name of Jesus. However, Jesus had something against them because they allowed compromise with the world to infiltrate the church. Jesus promised to come and take care of the problem Himself unless they repented. However, He also gave them an amazing promise if they overcame: true manna, a white stone, and a new name.
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OPENING
OPENING
We continue with our sermon series “Red Letters.”
This week we are looking at Pergamos: The Compromising Church.
SCRIPTURE
SCRIPTURE
12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, ‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword:
13 “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
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.
16 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” ’
MESSAGE
MESSAGE
Introduction
Address
Compliment
Rebuke
Command
Exhortation
Promise
Introduction
12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, ‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword:
Here again, Jesus gives a part of the description of Himself that John saw in a vision back in Chapter 1:
16 He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.
The sword is the Word of God:
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
The sword both cuts and heals:
12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
In Revelation, the sword proceeding from the mouth of Jesus has a specific purpose. It represents His impending judgment on the world. He is going to judge the world by His Word.
15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
Here Jesus describes Himself with the two-edged sword of His Word proceeding out of His mouth because, as we are about to see, the church in Pergamos is in danger of facing judgment as a result of their compromise with sin.
Address
12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, ‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword:
Pergamos was the political capital of Asia Minor.
Very religious: Dionysus, Athena, Demeter, Zeus.
There was a grand temple devoted to the worship of Zeus that was one of the seven wonders of the world.
Also involved in Caesar worship (built temple to Augustus Caesar).
Also involved in worship of Asklepios (god of healing)
Temple was filled with snakes.
In hopes of receiving healing, they would lay down on the floor of the Temple at night, in the dark, and allow the snakes to crawl over them. They believed that the god Asklepios was present in the snakes and would transfer healing to them through contact with the snakes.
In the middle of all this wickedness and demonic worship a church was planted in Pergamos.
Compliment
13 “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
They were doing good works even though they were in a place where Satan’s throne is.
They had held fast to the name of Jesus.
They had not denied their faith in the midst of persecution.
Pergamos was a stronghold of satanic power.
Jesus describes Pergamos as a place “where Satan’s throne is.”
This may have been quite literally where the center of satanic operations were headquartered in Asia Minor.
Jesus described some in Smyrna as a synagogue of Satan, but here He described Pergamos as Satan’s throne.
Maybe it was because of the Altar of Zeus that was shaped like a throne.
Maybe it was because of the worship of Asklepios.
Maybe it was because of the Caesar worship.
Maybe it was because Antipas was martyred there (placed inside the belly of a brass bull and set on fire).
Maybe it was a combination of all of these.
What we know for sure is that Pergamos was a place of strong satanic opposition to the advancement of the Kingdom of God, but this church was still able, for the most part, to hold onto their faith and proclaim the name of Jesus and the Gospel message.
Rebuke
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.
Jesus had a rebuke for Ephesus for leaving their first love.
Jesus didn’t really have a rebuke for Smyra except the encouragement to not fear.
But here Jesus has a strong rebuke for the church in Pergamos.
“You have 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.”
Balaam is symbolic of all false teachers who lead the church into the error of compromise with the world.
Then Jesus continues with His rebuke in verse 15:
15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
The Nicolaitans are symbolic of liberal Christianity.
Do what you want and what makes you feel good.
It’s all about you.
Keep sinning because God’s grace is sufficient.
The rebuke was not just against those doing this things, but against the leaders of the church for knowing about it and allowing it to continue.
Command
16 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
“Repent, or else.” Ok Jesus, you have my attention.
Jesus said he would come and “fight against them with the sword of [His] mouth.”
What does the sword represent? The Word of God.
What does it mean that Jesus was going to fight against them with the Word of God? Jesus is going to judge them by His Word.
We will not be judged by denominational doctrines, we will be judged by the Word of God.
Exhortation
17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” ’
Jesus is giving the church today a stern warning against the dangers of compromise with the world.
It is a danger for the false teachers who lead the church into false doctrine and immoral conduct.
But it is also a danger to the leaders and members of the church who know about it and refuse to do anything about it.
Let me give you some exhortations from the Word of God this morning on why we should be willing to confront and eliminate compromise in the church:
We are called to be watchmen on the wall to warn people of error and to turn from their wicked ways:
17 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me:
18 When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand.
19 Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.
20 “Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die; because you did not give him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand.
21 Nevertheless if you warn the righteous man that the righteous should not sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live because he took warning; also you will have delivered your soul.”
The Bible warns us to be on the lookout for compromise in the church in the last days.
1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
Judgment must begin at the house of God.
17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?
One of the ways that judgment begins at the house of God is through biblically-based church discipline.
Church should not be a place where those who are in error feel comfortable.
Some like the part “come as you are,” but they don’t like to hear the part “leave better than you came.”
What some people call “church hurt” is simply their refusal to accept biblically-based church discipline.
The Bible commands us to avoid fellowship with anyone who is a brother or sister in Christ but insists on maintaining a sinful lifestyle.
11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.
12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside?
13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”
There is no room for compromise in the church.
The church is not designed for unbelievers to come and say whatever they want and act anyway they want and be accepted into the body of Christ as they are.
The church is designed for saints of God to uphold the truth of God and for unbelievers to come and hear the truth and be saved.
If we fail to exclude those in error from the fellowship of the body of Christ, we ourselves are in error.
Compromise with the world has no place in the church.
4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?
15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?
Promise
17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” ’
Hidden manna
This represents the true Word of God.
41 The Jews then complained about Him, because He said, “I am the bread which came down from heaven.”
White Stone
Given to victors in the games.
Was the admission ticket to the banquet the following year.
This could mean our admission to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
New Name
Significance of new names in Bible
Jacob (supplanter or heel catcher) = Israel (one who struggles with God).
Abram = Abraham
Sarai = Sarah
Saul = Paul
Speaks of intimate relationship with God.
Assurance of our heavenly destination. Your new name is already there, waiting for you. Your reservation in heaven is made.
CLOSING
CLOSING
But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
ALTAR CALL
ALTAR CALL