Authority and the deeds of the Nicolaitanes
When we consider
the nature of authority we need only begin with God and us. All authority
properly flows from God and then delegated to his creation as he so pleases.
Where power is the ability to do, authority is the right
to do. Consider God’s authority is supreme.
Dan.4:34-5 And at
the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine
understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and
honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion,
and his kingdom is from generation to generation: And all the inhabitants of
the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the
army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his
hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
Psalm 115:3 But
our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.
Psalm 135:6
Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas,
and all deep places.
Rev. 19:6
Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
Matthew 20:15 Is
it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own?
Ephes. 1:11 …
according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his
own will: v9 according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Dan.2:21 he
removeth kings, and setteth up kings:
2 Chron. 20:6 And
said, O Lord God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not
thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power
and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?
Psalm 9:7 But the
Lord shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment.
Psalm 47:8 God
reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.
Psalm 89:14
Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go
before thy face.
Psalm 93:2 Thy
throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting.
Psalm 103:19 The
Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
We could begin to mount up our hearts in praise at the supreme authority and power of our God. We will be granted
eternity to explore this wonder, world without end; A-men. But let us consider
that even among the heavens there is delegated authority. We see the arch angel
(Jd.9) and chief Princes (Dan.10:13, 12:1) among the principalities and powers,
authorities, thrones, or dominions (Eph.1:21, Col.1:16).
Rom.13:1-7 Let
every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God:
the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the
power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to
themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the
evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and
thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee
for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the
sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon
him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for
wrath, but also for conscience sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute
also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very
thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due;
custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
Titus 3:1 Put them
in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be
ready to every good work,
1 Tim.2:1-2 I
exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions,
and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are
in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and
honesty.
1 Pt.2:
12-5 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas
they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they
shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. Submit yourselves to every
ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as
supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the
punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so
is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of
foolish men:
We have authority
in the church which is Christ’s body.
1 Cor.12:28 And
God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly
teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments,
diversities of tongues.
Eph.4:11 And he
gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some,
pastors and teachers;
2:20 And are built
upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being
the chief corner stone;
1 Tim.5:17 Let the
elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who
labour in the word and doctrine. V19 Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three
witnesses.
1 Tim.3:2-5 A bishop
then must be blameless, the husband of one wife… One that ruleth well his own house,
having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not
how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) v12-13
Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their
own houses well. For they that have used the office of a deacon well
purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is
in Christ Jesus.
Act.14:23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they
commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.
15:2 When
therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them,
they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up
to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this
question. V4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the
church, and of the apostles and elders, and they
declared all things that God had done with them. v6 And the apostles and elders
came together for to consider of this matter.
1 Pt.5:1-3 The
elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the
sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be
revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight
thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready
mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to
the flock.
Act. 20:28 Take
heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy
Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath
purchased with his own blood.
Heb.13:17 Obey
them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for
your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and
not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
1 Cor.16:15-16 I
beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the
firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry
of the saints,) That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that
helpeth with us, and laboureth.
Mt.18:15-18 Moreover
if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between
thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy
brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two
more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And
if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to
hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
Mt.20:25-8 But
Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles
exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon
them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among
you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let
him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered
unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
We have a
structure of authority in the marriage and the home.
Gen.2:24 Therefore
shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife:
and they shall be one flesh.
1 Cor.11:3 But I would have you know, that the
head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head
of Christ is God.
Eph.5:
22-24 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the
Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head
of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church
is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every
thing.
Eph.6:1-2
Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father
and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;
Col.3:18-20 Wives,
submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the
Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against
them. Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing
unto the Lord
1 Cor.7:36-9 But
if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she
pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he
sinneth not: let them marry. Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his
heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so
decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well. So then he
that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage
doeth better. The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth;
but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will;
only in the Lord.
These are proper delegated authorities-
he “gave authority to his
servants, and to every man his work” (Mk.13:34). But ultimately “We ought to obey God rather than men.”
(Ac.5:29) “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”
(Rom.14:12) “thy soul shall be required of thee”
(Lk.12:20) Our first and foremost obligation is to obey God above all other
authorities. And this is where we will focus our attention now.
The center of authority is the will which is in the heart of
man. 1 Corinthians 7:37 “Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his
heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so
decreed in his heart”. A person has authority over their own will and
heart. Ex. 35:29 The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the
LORD, every man and woman, whose heart
made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the LORD had
commanded to be made by the hand of Moses. 2 Corinthians 9:7 Every man
according as he purposeth in his
heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity:
for God loveth a cheerful giver. 1 Chron. 28:9 …serve him with a perfect heart
and with a willing mind: for
the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the
thoughts: Ezra 7:13…which are minded
of their own freewill to go up
to Jerusalem...
This authority
also pertains unto their property (that
has been rightly acquired- using your skills and time to trade for other’s
goods and services). Mt. 20:25 Is it not lawful for
me to do what I will with mine own? Act.5:4 Whiles it remained, was it not
thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? King Ahab said
unto Jezebel- “I spake unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and said unto him, Give me
thy vineyard for money; or else, if it please thee, I will give thee another
vineyard for it: and he answered, I will not give thee my vineyard.” (1
Ki.21:6) “Neither shalt thou steal… Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour's
wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour's house, his field, or his
manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy
neighbour's.” (Dt.5:19, 21)
This revolutionary truth of the
freedom/authority/rights of the individual became a key debate during the
American Revolution and the Enlightenment era as a product of the 1st Great
Awakening after the Reformation manifested it in early stages. It was the will
of the individual man breaking free from the iron yoke of the Church/State
leviathan. (https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/religion/rel03.html ) Where
the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. (2 Cor.3:17) Ever since Lucifer
magnified his will beyond its delegation from God the usurping of will
(pride/self will) has become the mover of sedition and bondage through the ages.
Isa.14:12-14 How
art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut
down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in
thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars
of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the
north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the
most High.
This is the nature of rebellion- an
encroachment of will. Whether the will of one or the majority moving upon the
rights of the individual, or the powerful upon the weak. It is wickedness. 1
Sam.15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of
witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. When the church of
Jesus Christ, his body and bride, is in particular subjected to the enslavement
and cruel treatment of the rebellious it is particularly hateful unto him.
Enter the Nicolaitanes.
Revelation 2:6
But this thou
hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate. (v15)
So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing
I hate.
Although the context of Revelation 2
does not clearly indicate who these wicked people are neither their hateful
deeds and doctrines, we do understand from the agreement of most teachers of
the Greek language that the name itself holds the Greek meaning of ‘conquer the
people’ roughly. From the combination of two Greek words, nikos and laos. Nikos
means "conqueror" or "destroyer," and laos means
"people."
We will not follow some here who take
an interpretation from historical considerations of accounts of Nicolas and
antinomianism, which seem superfluous and subject to more doubt (and probably a
crafty device from the mother of Harlots). Rather we will simply start from the
meaning of the name itself and compare this with scriptures. This seems to be
consistent with what the Spirit indicates in other places- Jn.1:38, 41-2, 9:7, Rv.9:11, 1:8, Mt.1:23, Ac.4:36, 13:8, Heb.7:2.
If we simply look for people whom
Christ issued the sharpest rebukes threatened with greater damnation (Mt.23:14,Mk.12:40, Lk.20:47) who ruled over the people of God, the Pharisees, scribes
and lawyers are the primary candidates (Mt.23). And we do find quite a bit of
information in the New Testament concerning false apostles (Rev.2:2) and teachers lording
over the flock and having dominion over their faith. We will examine what they
do (deeds) and how they justify such (doctrine).
Since we
understand that there are delegated authorities in the church as listed above,
we can know the proper exercise of the authority God has given to those holding
to the Head even Christ (Col.2:19). We already noted the scriptures show us the
nature of exercising this authority. It is not as the Gentiles exercise
dominion (Mk.10:42, Lk.22:25). How do they exercise dominion? We see in the
Centurion “For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say
to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my
servant, Do this, and he doeth it.” (Mt.8:9) Again we see here- “But which of
you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by,
when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? And will not rather
say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me,
till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?”
(Lk.17:7-8) In other words even when proper authority is being exercised in the
church it is NOT as a prince giving commands to servants. Jesus contrasted the
manner of exercising spiritual authority among his people: “But ye shall not be
so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that
is chief, as he that doth serve.” (Lk.22:26) “Even as the Son of man came not
to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
(Mt.20:28) Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for
his friends. (John 15:13)
And thus love or charity was the
bond of perfectness (Col.3:14, 1 Cor.13). And love was not of necessity it was
freely offered. When Paul wrote to Philemon regarding his fled servant Onesimus
whom Paul had begotten with the gospel (Phl.10) he asserted that he “might be
much bold in Christ” (v8) and retain Onesimus to minister to him (v13). Instead
he declared “Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as
Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.”(v9) How was this love
to be expressed by Philemon? “But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy
benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.”(v14) It was
“obedience” (v21) to be done willingly, freely. Such is the nature of love.
Such is how God calls to us.
“Charity suffereth long, and is kind;
charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth
not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked,
thinketh no evil” (1 Cor.13:4-5).
Rom.14:5 “…Let every man be fully
persuaded in his own mind.” It is interesting to look at the description of
tyranny and usurpation over other men’s conscience that our countries founders
used in trying to separate rights and powers. Consider these in light of church
leadership-
‘to compel a man
to act on opinions which he disbelieves -belief can be directed only by reason
and conviction, not by force or violence- abuses and usurpations, pursuing
invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under despotism -
every man must be left to the conviction and conscience of every man; and it is
the right of every man to exercise it as these may dictate. This right is in
its nature an unalienable right. It is unalienable, because the opinions of
men, depending only on the evidence contemplated by their own minds cannot
follow the dictates of other men’.
The role of the church regarding the
ministry of the word would not be to badger and manipulate people to believe
things they aren’t convinced of in their hearts. Rather to faithfully present
the truths of scripture in order that the Holy Ghost can reveal and persuade
them inwardly. We do not force people to listen although we may force them to
hear the truth (tell them). Whosoever comes to listen to us will be hungry and
thirsty for the Lord as we are charged to “speak as the oracles of God” (1
Pt.4:11). God gives the Holy Spirit to them that obey him (Ac.5:32) and they
are taught by him (1 Jn.2:27) being led by him (Rom.8:14) the Spirit bearing
witness directly to the believer himself (Rom.8:16). They must receive their
understanding from him enlightening their eyes (Eph.1:18, Col.1:9). God
promised regarding his Spirit “A new heart also will I give you, and a new
spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your
flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit
within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.”
(Ezek.36:26-7) God does this by us choosing to believe his words:
Rom 10:9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 1 Samuel 16:7 …the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. Christ will gently lead all his sheep as they hear his voice and follow him. (Jn.10:27) “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.”(Isa.40:11) “And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.” (Heb.8:11)
This is strictly an operation of God persuading the person in their heart. Any attempt of men to interfere forcibly with the conscience and will of others through manipulation, deceit, cruel mocking, coercion, force, threats (not inspired by the Holy Ghost), compelling them without their own assurance of the truth being insisted upon them, is tyrannical. Again this is necessity laid upon them by men and not by God.
There is a biblical 'compelling' which is to 'inspire to act through persuasion' which would involve their will. “And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.” (Lk.14;23) “But his servants, together with the woman, compelled him; and he hearkened unto their voice.” (1 Sam.28:23) “But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:” (Gal.2:3)
There are examples also of compelling people without persuasion of conviction by necessity not willingly. “And if thy brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant:” (Lv.25:39) “And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.” (Mt.27:32) “But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?” (Gal.2:14) This would be the nature of conquering or dominating people without persuading them in their hearts. This was to be avoided by ministers of the Spirit (Gal.3:5)
2 Cor.1:24 Not for that we have dominion over
your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.
1 Pet.5:2-3 Feed the flock of God which is among
you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for
filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage,
but being ensamples to the flock.
Ezk.34:4 The
diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick,
neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again
that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but
with force and with cruelty have ye ruled
them.
Just to maintain a balance again- this
is not to say that the man of God should not “speak, and exhort, and rebuke
with all authority” (Tit.2:15);
but it would be “authority, which the
Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction” (2 Cor.10:8).
But we are speaking of those who cannot discern their own “proud wrath”
(Prv.21:24) causing their “proud waters” (Ps.124:5) to over flow the souls of
the guiltless; from the sharp rebuke of him whose “heart is enlarged” (2
Cor.6:11) who admonishes as a father (v13).
But the proud magnifies himself and is
vainly puffed up in his fleshly mind thinking himself to be the ‘great power of
God’ he will intrude into the ministry that he has not been called into; into
things he hath not seen. Better is the end of a thing than the beginning
thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. (Eccl. 7:8) The impatient cannot
wait upon the Lord and so he will run greedily in his presumption thinking it
faith (Num.14:40-44)- “he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly” (Prv.14:29)
Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth
with his feet sinneth. (Prv. 19:2)
Thus he enters upon the path of the
Pharisee who loved to glory in positions and titles (Mt.23:7), flattering
himself that he is the only true prophet or apostle or mediator; they love to
have the preeminence (3 Jn.9). Preferring their ‘interpretation’ and tradition
over the rightly divided word of God (Mk.7:9, Mt.15:6) and to those that follow
them “they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out
of the mouth of the Lord” (Jer.23:16). They
“have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them
that were entering in ye hindered” (LK.11:52). For they are not being taught
and led by the Spirit of God but their own inflamed spirit.
The Deeds of the
Nicolaitanes
Once these usurpers have ascended above
the place the Lord has called them into they begin to exercise dominion over
the faith of the Lord’s church. They will use good words and fair speeches to
deceive the hearts of the simple (Rom.16:18). They seek to cause divisions and
offences among the churches with unsound doctrines (v17) speaking perverse
things in order that they might draw away disciples after them (Ac.20:30). They
take a yoke they have made for their own lives after years of laboring in vain, establishing their own righteousness (Rom.10:3), and they lay it upon those whom they seek to control by condemning their hearts
for not being as holy as they themselves (Isa.65:5). So they lade men with
burdens grievous to be borne only to show how superior they themselves are to
the weaker; to cause the weak and feebleminded to feel the condescension of
their state while they magnify themselves against them. Since the weaker “who knoweth not the law” (Jn.7:49) as well
as they do, cannot answer them back, they intimidate and dominate them into
silence through shaming them and casting them out of the assembly. ‘They are
cursed (Jn.7:49) if they disagree with us’. Those unpersuaded who dare question
them and search the scriptures whether these things are so (Ac.17:11) will be trodden under foot with scoffing and mockery- “dost thou teach us?
And they cast him out.” (Jn.9:34, 3 Jn.10) While the true minister of God “drew them
with cords of a man, with bands of love” and was to them “as they that take off
the yoke on their jaws”,
and laid meat unto them.” (Hos.11:4)
“We see” say they (Jn.9:41) “we see”,
as though they have the light of God because they can trap the weak and catch
them in their words (Mk.12:13, Lk.20:20) humiliating them that they cannot
answer again, he laughs them to scorn, and mocks them. Knowledge puffeth up (1 Cor.8:1) and when these weak find no answer for
his sophistry he vaunteth himself and continues “to think of himself more
highly than he ought to think” (Rom.12:3). Because they have established their
own righteousness (Rom.10:3) for so many years in great zeal they are able to
place themselves blameless (Phil.3:6) before the weak in faith and boast
themselves “I am strong” making clean and beautiful the outside, garnishing
themselves outwardly appearing righteous unto men (Mt.23:25,27,28). They trust
in themselves that they are righteous, and despise
others (Lk.18:9) setting at naught the brethren and their thoughts and words
(Rom.14:1-4,10). ‘My words are weighty and powerful’ they vaunt; even provoked
to wrath at those who see their wickedness or do not esteem them as highly as
they esteem themselves. They “speak grievous things proudly and
contemptuously against the righteous” (Ps.31:18) ‘prating against them with
malicious words’ (3 Jn.10). To prate is to ‘talk foolishly or tediously about
something at great length’ and so “a fool's voice is known by multitude of
words” (Ecc.5:3) “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin” (Prv.10:19). A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; (Prv.26:28)
Sometimes these fakers will wear their
arrogance in the form of embellished robes or exceedingly humble garments
(Mt.23:5, Mk.12:38) intended to distinguish them from the men of low estate
they exalt themselves over. They love titles and names for themselves
(Mt.23:7-10) and to be recognized by the rich men of the world. God resisteth
the proud and those who justify themselves before men are an abomination unto
him (which thing I hate, Jam.4:6, Lk.16:15). Not content with flattering titles
as ‘father’ and ‘master’ or distinguishing outward appearance they seek to
control men as though they speak from the mouth of God. They compel men to obey
their commands through intimidation. They are the prophet or priest with whom
we have to do (Heb.4:13). They berate men scornfully with the “contempt of the
proud” (Psa.123:4) if they decline honoring them. “
A scorner loveth not one that
reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.” (Prv.15:12) They try to
alienate and divide from the wise and righteous “neither doth he himself
receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of
the church.” (3 Jn.10) “Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in
proud wrath” (Prv.21:24) wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can
render a reason (Prv.26:16). If he is not lording over the flock as thoroughly
as he desires he must meddle and be a busybody in other men's matters (1
Pt.4:15) in other men’s houses. He must establish a network of whisperers (or confessionals) and
tattlers and backbiters (1 Tim.5:13, Rom. 1:29-30, 2 Cor. 12:20- as he rules
his house so he lords over the church-1 Tim.3:5, 1 Pt.5:3) that he can
manipulate and control people with. A froward man soweth strife: and a
whisperer separateth chief friends. (Prov. 16:28) If the house be divided
perhaps he can conquer it more easily (Mk.3:25). He might set a man at variance
against his wife in bitterness (Col.3:19, 1 Pt.3:7) or children against their
mother. “Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:” (Prv.25:9) But he ‘goeth about as a
talebearer revealing secrets’ (Prv.20:19, Lv.19:16) falsely accusing,
slandering, sowing discord among brethren. When he speaketh fair, believe him
not: for there are seven abominations in his heart (Prv.26:25, 6:16)
; divining
revelations and dreams- from his own heart, confirmations to guide his actions
and others (Jer.14:14, Ezk.13:6).
“And they
watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that
they might take hold of his words”. (Lk.20:20) Then he ‘smiteth his neighbor
secretly with the rod of his mouth’ (Dt.27:24, Isa.11:4, Psa.64:2) betraying
the trust of his friends when he needs to conquer them. “Who whet their tongue
like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter
words: That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they
shoot at him, and fear not. They encourage themselves in an evil matter:
they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see
them?”(Psa.64:3-5) While
they flatter themselves that they are wielding the sword of the Lord
faithfully, their ministry consists of breaking the bruised reeds and quenching
the smoking flax. (Mt.12:19-20) They glorify the ministration of condemnation and death, killing with the letter. (2 Cor.3:6-9)
But if ye have bitter
envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the
truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual,
devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every
evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then
peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits,
without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness
is sown in peace of them that make peace. (Jam.3:14-8) Looking diligently lest
any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up
trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; (Heb.12:15)
For such are false
apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of
Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of
light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed
as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
v20 For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a
man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face. (2
Cor.11:13-5)
Beloved, follow not
that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but
he that doeth evil hath not seen God. (3 Jn.11)
The Doctrine of
the Nicolaitanes
If the Nicolaitanes conquer the people
in practice they would also construct doctrines to justify imposing their yoke
of bondage on the flock. We find many such examples of this in the New
Testament usually related to “handwriting of ordinances that was against us,
which was contrary to us” related to our conscience (Touch not; taste not;
handle not- Col.2:14, 21). Of course their doctrines would involve the need to
submit to them as priests and mediators. Interestingly the conscience can be
formed in such a way that it condemns us for something that the Lord does not
consider wrong or may not be revealing to us yet as not expedient.
I know, and am
persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself:
but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
(Rom.14:14)
Howbeit there
is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol
unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience
being weak is defiled. (1 Cor.8:7)
For if any man see
thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which
is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; (v10)
But when ye sin so
against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.
(v12)
The ‘Lord’s freeman’ should seek to exercise himself, to have always a conscience void to offence toward God, and toward men’
(Ac.24:16) ‘our conscience also bearing witness
in the Holy Ghost’ (Rom.9:1). The conscience is created naturally in man bearing
witness to this work of the law written in their hearts, and their thoughts the
mean while accusing or else excusing one another (Rom.2:15). Since the law is
the knowledge of sin (Rom.7:7, 3:20) those who continually burden themselves
with it are continually under condemnation, for we cannot be as righteous as
Christ practically speaking- even though he is our righteousness. (Rom.10:3-4,
Phil.3:9)
When the commandment came, sin revived,
and I died. And the
commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. For sin,
taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. Wherefore
the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. (Rom.7:9-12)
Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. (Rom.5:20) Therefore
by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by
the law is the knowledge of sin. (Rom.3:20) The strength of sin is the law. (1
Cor.15:56)
The Nicolaitanes will exercise
themselves in the ministry of condemnation. (2 Cor.3:9) They will put a yoke on
the neck of the disciples binding their conscience to things the Lord himself
does not. The effect is that it wounds and defiles the weaker brother’s
conscience. We see an instance played out in Acts 15 of this very issue
surfacing in the early church. “And certain men which came down from Judaea
taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of
Moses, ye cannot be saved… Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and
disputation with them” (v1-2) “But there rose up certain of the sect of the
Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and
to command them to keep the law of Moses.”v5 Peter’s answer to this offers us
great peace and joy in the Holy Ghost- “God, which knoweth the hearts, bare
them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put
no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now
therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which
neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through
the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.” (v8-11)
Paul and Barnabas saw this error and
did not give place to it at all to protect the Gentile brethren. The conclusion
of the church meeting together was this- “For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost,
and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary
things; That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and
from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves,
ye shall do well. Fare ye well.” (v28-9) What is interesting is that they
instruct the Gentiles to abstain from meats offered to idols where Paul said
that there was nothing wrong with eating it (1 Cor.8:7-13, Ro.14:14). The Holy
Ghost was concerned about their weak conscience being defiled (Tit.1:15, 1
Cor.8:10, 12). Yoking the conscience with burdens before they know by
revelation and are persuaded by the Lord Jesus and do not have the faith or
power to bear is to magnify oneself injuriously against the weak. “For they
bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders;
but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.” (Mt.23:4)
These doctrines bind the weak conscience to laws which strengthen the power of
sin over their hearts drowning them in condemnation. The heart that condemns is
one that draws back from God (1 Jn.3:20-1). They need love and fellowship.
These doctrines “have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility,
and neglecting of the body” (Col.2:23) but do nothing in saving from the power
of the flesh, rather they drive men into either hypocrisy or hopelessness and
despair. Can you imagine these Pharisees counseling the woman in John 8 who was
newly justified to whom Christ said “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no
more”?(Jn.8:11) They would find fault (Mk.7:2) where the Savior found none (and
all-Jn.8:7-9). Were the Pharisees to ‘disciple’ her (Mt.23:15) they would tell her she
must be subject to ordinances (Col.2:20), wear certain garments, she must not
eat with defiled that is to say unwashen hands (Mk.7:2), she must hold to the
washing of pots and cups (v8), touch not, taste not, handle not (Col.2:21),
worship in this mountain (Jn.4:20), pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin
(Mt.23:23), observe days and months and times and years (Gal.4:10, Col.2:16),
forbidding to marry, commanding to abstain from meats (1 Tim.4:3) don’t drink
coffee or eat sweets, practice bodily exercise and on and on. Abstaining from
fornication and idolatry was not enough; they must control and conquer you with
their doctrines.
“It was but a
little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth: I held
him, and would not let him go” (Song 3:4)
Now this being true it does not
dissolve the responsibility of the elder believers to teach the younger to be
holy. But let the older encourage them to search the scriptures themselves and
learn to be taught of God themselves. ‘To his own master he standeth or
falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand… Let
every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.’ (Rom.14:4-5) But our focus here
is damaging the conscience of the younger believers. Paul himself knew that all
meats were ok to eat whether offered to idols or not (1 Tim.4:4-6, 1 Cor.8:4,
Rom.14:14) and he knew we were not obligated to observe days or feasts
(Gal.4:10, Col.2:16) and yet he would not permit these beliefs to set your
brother at naught or dispute with him or cast him out of the church if he
doesn’t comply. (Rom.14:1, 10) Now if he teaches you must do these things to be
saved (Ac.15:1,5, Gal.1-2) this is another gospel and should be dealt with
accordingly (Tit.3:10). We need room to grow in grace and in communion with the
Holy Ghost (2 Cor.13:14, 2 Pt.1:2-3) and that will not occur under a ministry
of condemnation. There has to be a consideration for the spiritual maturity of
each Christian. We have newborns (1 Pt.2:2), babes (1 Cor.3:3), children, young
men and fathers (1 Jn.2:12-13) each able to bear a greater burden as they grow
in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (2 Pt.3:18).
We cannot expect babes in Christ to be as strong as young men and condemn them
continually for not. If the time comes that they ought to be teachers and we
can’t speak to them as unto spiritual then a rebuke might be appropriate. (1
Cor.3:1-3, Heb.5:11-14). And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be
gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those
that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the
acknowledging of the truth. (2 Tim.2:24-5) But the chastening of the Lord
(Heb.12:5-13) is done by the Father of spirits (v9) and it isn’t our duty to
coerce people into spirituality for coercion would be the opposite of spirituality. (2 Cor.3:17)
Finally brethren, a man must believe
what God impresses upon his heart by the Spirit. With the heart man believeth!
(Rom.10:10) Whosoever believeth in him should
not perish, but have eternal life. (Jn.3:15) He that believeth
on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth
not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (v36)
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that
sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is
passed from death unto life. (Jn.5:24) Through his name whosoever believeth in him shall
receive remission of sins. (Ac.10:43) For I am not ashamed of the gospel of
Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. (Rom.1:16)
We must believe the gospel of Christ to be saved (1 Cor.15:1-3) and God will
judge the secrets of every man by Jesus Christ (Rom.2:16) rendering to every
man according to his deeds (2:6) and there is no respect of persons with God
(2:11). And so your eternal salvation turns and hinges upon your will responding to the will of God; faith cometh by hearing, and
hearing by the word of God. (Rom.10:17) We shall all stand before the judgment
seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee
shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one
of us shall give account of himself to God. (Rom.14:10-12)
The decision is his alone and no man
with him. Their choices
“follow involuntarily the evidence proposed to their minds; that Almighty God
hath created the mind free, and manifested his supreme will that free it shall
remain by making it altogether insusceptible of restraint; that all attempts to
influence it by temporal punishments, or burthens, or by civil incapacitations,
tend only to beget habits of hypocrisy and meanness, and are a departure from
the plan of the holy author of our religion, who being lord both of body and
mind, yet chose not to propagate it by coercions on either, as was in his
Almighty power to do, but to extend it by its influence on reason alone…”
(Thomas Jefferson Draft for a Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom 1779)
This principle is self evident- involuntary coercion begets hypocrisy and
pride. The doctrines and deeds of the Nicolaitanes make men twofold the
children of hell (Mt.23:15); twice dead, plucked up by the roots (Jd.12).
