WHICH THING I HATE “So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.”―Revelation 2:15 Nicolaitanism first cropped up in Ephesus. There it was simply “deeds.” But now it has developed into a doctrine, “a tenet of faith.” This shows how sin and error can grow out of what is but “deeds” today, can easily become doctrine tomorrow, and it usually does, if it is tolerated very long. Even in the secular world we see that this is so prevalent. Instead of enforcing our laws that forbid certain practices, we have tolerated the things until they become common practice―then we change the laws to fit the practices. Legalizing evil makes it no less evil! You ask, “What is the doctrine of the Nicolaitans?” Firstly, it was a “doctrinal error” that was condemned by Jesus! Some scholars believe that Nicolas (Acts 6:5) apostatized and developed, or at least subscribed to a gnostic doctrine of moral licenses, which used the grace of God as an excuse to live loose and wicked lives. Today we call this antinomianism. Whether Nicolas was the author of this devilish doctrine or not is beside the point. Church history makes it crystal clear that Nicolaitanism was antinomianism. The forefathers of the Church all held that Nicolaitanism was licentious living ― evil moral conduct. This “doctrine” was an error that sprang up from a misunderstanding of the meaning of grace. The view was, “since we are saved by grace, kept by grace, and shall get to heaven only by grace, it matters not how we live,” so thought the antinomian Gnostics. To this day the doctrine of Nicolaitanism flourishes in many churches. You hear them preach, “We are saved by grace, plus nothing. We are kept by grace, plus nothing. We will get to heaven by grace, plus nothing.” Thus grace is magnified out of proportion to Bible warrant, and holy conduct is relegated to an unimportant place. No wonder Christ hated this doctrine!
Posted on: Fri, 15 Nov 2013 14:27:06 +0000
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