“Diagnosis” – “Be True to Christ”
Bible Passage:
Revelation 2:12-17
Pastor:
Pastor Glen
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Sermon Date:
2010-08-21
Today we once again go into the doctor’s office for his diagnosis? The doctor is not an ordinary physician or doctor. He is not looking at our physical heart or ears or mouth or another part of our body. The diagnosis from this doctor comes from Jesus the Son of God our Savior. This morning as we look at the words that Jesus spoken to the pastor and people of Pergamum I want to ask four questions which you will find in your bulletin. The four questions we consider today are: Who is speaking? What does he know? What does he call us to do? What does he promise?Who is speaking?
To answer the first question you can either look at the beginning of the book of Revelation or get a reminder from the first verse of our text. These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. Jesus identifies himself to the church at Pergamum as the one “who has the sharp, double-edged sword.” This is the same picture he used at the beginning of the vision of the seven letters (1:16). The congregation at Pergamum should accept what they are about to hear as the Word of God’s Son. The effectiveness of a sword is its sharpness. Through Isaiah, God said, “My word that goes out from my mouth … will … achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11). The double edge cuts both ways: the law criticizes; the gospel comforts. The church at Pergamum will feel both edges of the sword in this letter from Jesus.
What does he know? The second question begins the diagnosis of our dear doctor Jesus probing into our spiritual lives as we see the probing instruments he uses on the believers at Pergamum. 13 I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives. I know where you live,” Jesus says. Jesus knew how hard it was for them to remain true to him in a city where Satan had his throne, or seat of power. Satan was especially influential in Pergamum. The city once rivaled Ephesus and Smyrna in size. Once was the seat of the Roman provincial government. Hugely pagan—center for cults of Zeus, Athene (the city’s patron goddess), Dionysos, and Asklepios (known as the savior or the serpent-god; a complex built to him was known by some as a wonder of the ancient world). Center of emperor worship in the province of Asia—a temple was built to the divine Augustus in 29 B.C. Therefore, Christians suffered there. The Greeks worshiped Zeus with sacrifices and sexually immoral rites. These pagan pressures had drawn away some members of the congregation. Jesus commends the believers for remaining true to his name. Jesus’ name is his reputation. His name is everything he has commanded us to learn about him and teach others (Matthew 28:20). The Christians at Pergamum had defended Jesus’ good name by holding tightly to his teachings.
The faith of the faithful had been put to the test in Pergamum. One of their members was put to death for holding tightly to the teachings of Jesus. At Pergamum the martyr’s name was Antipas. “Even in the days of Antipas” suggests that this event was especially trying for the congregation. The vicious nature of the attack on him showed that Satan had made Pergamum his base of operations.
Although he must point out sin, the gracious heart of the Savior does not characterize the whole church with the sins of a few. He mentions their strengths first and does not exaggerate their weaknesses. By this, Jesus models the way Christians should deal with one another. The “few things” Jesus had against them included false living and false teaching. Members who were involved in the pagan sacrificial rituals of their society were imitating sins Israel had committed during the days of Moses. Although Balak, the Moabite king, was not able to get the diviner Balaam to curse Israel outright (Numbers 22–24), Balaam “taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality” (verse 14). Balak, who could not defeat Israel with a direct approach, weakened the Israelites by appealing to their lusts.
Similar sins took place at Pergamum. In public the congregation gave a bold witness and defense of the name of Jesus. But some of the members privately caved in to the sins of the pagans. It was an attractive worship formula: win the gods’ favor while indulging your own lusts. Although we know little about the Nicolaitans (see verse 6), their teachings were probably compatible with pagan idolatry and adultery. In Jesus words there is an accusatory tone that considers the whole congregation guilty in these sins to the extent that it tolerates them. Very quickly, then, follows, “Repent therefore!” Repentance is the Savior’s call for a 180-degree turn of heart. The congregation must turn from this sin and the sinful toleration of it and turn back in trust to Jesus’ forgiveness.
What does Jesus know about Eastside? What does he know about you? Madison is not known as the most Christian city in the country, yet many from our church have remained true to Jesus. They have not been “ashamed of the gospel” and even have been willing to suffer personal ridicule for their beliefs. While not an official government persecution, we have had to stand up for Jesus in our own way. What does Jesus know about Eastside? What does he know about you? Sexual sins are not uncommon among us. As pastors, we haven’t been faithful confronting the sexual sins of our members. Many of us have been doing things privately that go against our public confession. We are trying to serve two masters like Balaam did. People rationalize living together or make excuses for sexually immoral media.
What is he calling us to do? “Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.” The Remedy: Repent! Or Jesus will come swinging a sword at you! Don’t tolerate sexual sins in your own life or in our congregation. Love Jesus enough to call sinners to repentance in a compassionate yet firm way. At the beginning of the letter, Jesus introduced himself as the one with a sharp, double-edged sword in his mouth (verse 12). Now he threatens to use this power against the unrepentant. The source of all false living is false teaching. So when the sharp, effective Word from Jesus’ mouth attacks “the teaching of Balaam” and “the teaching of the Nicolaitans,” the practices will be destroyed along with the sinful practitioners. Jesus threatens that this judgment would occur “soon.” If the sword of God’s Word is not heeded, we soon die and fall under its final judgment. Failure to repent will have its consequences. Turn away from your sinful life styles and turn to Jesus for forgiveness. He shed his blood for you.
What does he 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. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it. “He who has an ear” (verse 17) is a pointed way of getting everyone’s attention. It is the Lord’s way of saying, “Every single one of you must listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.” In this congregation plagued by false teaching, Jesus points to divine inspiration. His command to John to write shows that these words are not by a human author. The sword of his mouth is mentioned twice, in verses 12 and 16. Jesus says that his words are “what the Spirit says.” Jesus taught his disciples that the Holy Spirit’s witness coincides with his own: “The Holy Spirit … will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26).
The closing follows the pattern of the letters before and after this one. A believer who remains faithful to Jesus is called the one “who overcomes.” Then a gospel promise, uniquely worded for each church, is added to the urgent appeal to listen to the Spirit. Pergamum receives the promise of hidden manna and a white stone. The manna is Jesus and all he did to win eternal life for us. “For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world” (John 6:33). To eat this manna means to believe the gospel message of Jesus. The gospel announces forgiveness. Those who trust this gospel are justified by faith, that is, they are pronounced innocent. The white stone corresponds to the voting stones that juries in that part of the world used to arrive at their verdict. If they gave the judge a white stone, they indicated acquittal. They returned a guilty verdict by giving him a black stone. In the Bible a new name often signifies a new relationship with God. The white stone and the new name assure each believing heart that it has been declared innocent before God. Be Christ has been faithful and true to you. He has called you to be true to Christ.
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