Truth these days is under fire. Battle between subjective and objective truth as example.
The bible talks about truth as real and objective- The Truths of the Gospel are true whether we believe them or not.
For the Christian Truth is a person.
John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth and the life
Truth Matters! Jesus tells the church in Pergamum to hang on to truth- avoid the slippery slope of compromise- and He says the same to us today!
What was Pergamum all about?
If Ephesus and Smyrna, two rich and important port cities were like New York and Los Angeles, then Pergamum would be like Washington DC.
It was the political capital of the Roman province of Asia and had been the capital city of the region for over 300 years.
v2:13 “I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is”.
As opposed to the “Synagogue of Satan ” that Smyrna had to deal with, Satan’s throne was here in Pergamum.
What was going on in Pergamum?
Despite living in the same town as Satan’s throne, they stood strong in their faith, even as Antipas, the faithful witness was martyred.
They were praised for their steadfastness to the faith, they held fast to the name of Jesus, yet there was one thing that Jesus had against them:
V2:14-15 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.
It’s interesting that Jesus would point something out that only “some” of the people were taking part in. Couldn’t he overlook the failings of the few and just praise the many who were solid in their faith?
Maybe this small fact tells us something about what Jesus is looking to drive home to the church in Pergamum and to the church today, that Truth Matters!
The Moabites couldn’t directly attack God’s people, but they found they could get to them via temptation from the inside out.
Isn’t that the way it usually works for you. You know how to avoid the obviously wrong things, don’t steal, don’t commit adultery, treat people nice, etc. But it is often the seemingly insignificant temptations that pull our attention and lives astray.
Church is to be set apart- Hagios means different or separate.
Jesus’ Answer- repent and war with his sword.
V2:16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.
Recognize and turn
The sword, unlike the Roman saviors, wasn’t a weapon, it was the Word of God.
Ephesians 6:17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
Hebrews 4:12 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
The protection against the slippery slope of compromise is to stick close to the word of God which is for us truth. Truth Matters in how we live our lives and Truth matters even more for the church. We must never change the ancient truths of the bible to conform to a changing society. We must stick to God’s truth revealed in His word!