Get off the Fence
Notes
Transcript
Either believe the Bible for the whole of what it says, or don't.
Either submit to God as ruler and ultimate authority of your own life, or don't.
Either live as the redeemed children of God, or as the world. Choose THIS DAY who you will serve! Whatever you do, get off the fence!
“And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.
“ ‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’
First the greeting: The words of HIm who has the sharp two-edged sword.
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
Not the only time we see the same truth used in scripture. The power of the word is its ability to help us hold fast to our confession. It did for the church at Pergamum, they were commended for it: Yet you hold fast to my name, and did not deny my faith even when Antipas was martyred.
Diversity in the church at Pergamum:
Jews and Gentiles