The Hated Nicolaitan Doctrine

In the messages to the seven churches in Revelation chapters 2 and 3, the doctrine and deeds of the Nicolaitans is twice condemned by Christ as “hated.” Revelation 2:6 “that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans which I also hate,” and verse 15 “them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I also hate.” What were the deeds and doctrine of the Nicolaitans that would cause such a strong adverse reaction from God? First, it was the combining of Gnostic mysteries of spiritualism with Christianity, which, in other words, it was a blending of Greek and Oriental philosophies with Christian beliefs. Simon Magus, or Simon the sorcerer, whose story is told in Acts 8, was partially converted to Christianity, who had a large following, was throughout history pointed to as a precursor of Gnosticism. Second, Christ proclaimed that “all ye are brethren,” with no one person to lord it over another. However, the name “Nicolaitan” is derived from two words “nico,” meaning – to rule over, and “laitan,” meaning – laity; thus a “hierarchy” where priests dictate or rule over laymen. Third, is the teaching that - we are now under grace, and in no need to obey or do the works of the Law of God. Yes, Paul in Romans 2:17 says “the just shall live by faith,” and in Romans 3:28 he says “a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the Law,” and then he proceeds to say in verse 31 “do we then make void the Law through faith? God forbid.” Does this then contradict what James brings forth about the “royal law,” the “law of liberty” [the Ten Commandment Law]? In James 2:20 he says “wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead,” and going on in verse 22 says “by works was faith made perfect.” There is no contradiction between Paul and James. When properly understood, Paul condemned the works of the Law as done in the manner of the Jews, for the outward show was not the natural fruits flowing from the Holy Spirit dwelling within the man. The works James is talking about is the works of the Law being naturally done from God dwelling within the man, a truly converted person. These three things were what Christ said He hated in the Nicolaitan doctrine. Study on at www.AncientBibleStudy.com

Immortality Only Through Christ

Immortality is “only” in and through God; Paul brings this point forward in 1 Timothy 6:15-16 where he says “King of kings, and Lord of lords; who only hath immortality.” Immortality is only available to man, as a gift, by that individual having Christ dwelling mentally within his or her person. We call this conversion or being saved. This is the only way man becomes immortal. This is stressed by Paul as a “must” for the Christian as he said in 1 Corinthians 15:53 “this mortal must put on immortality.” Immortality is not naturally in man’s make-up; as Paul said God “only hath immortality.” This belief separates the true follower of Christ from all pagan creeds. The immortal soul is the base tenet of Hinduism; in ancient Egypt it was written in the “Book of the Dead;” the Greeks held this belief as can be read in the writings of Plato [“Dialogues of Plato” p. 246]. This is one of the chief reasons God separated His people out of Egypt; to get away from false religious precepts. Again, when God brought His people out of the captivity in Babylon, the power on the rise was Greece with one of its main religious tenets being that of the immortal soul; God gave warning of the spiritual warfare by the prophet Zechariah. In Zechariah 9:13 the prophet said “I have bent Judah as my bow, O Zion, over your sons, O Greece, and wield you like a warrior’s sword.” Corrupt beliefs of paganism such as this run rampant through the churches today and so this spiritual warfare goes on. It is only through Christ are we to become immortal. Study on at www.AncientBibleStudy.com.

Character – The Mind Game

When we enter heaven, at Christ’s second coming, all that we take to heaven with us is our character. Character is made up of our personal mental traits. Christ said in John 6:63 – “the flesh profiteth nothing,” and Paul told us emphatically in 1 Corinthians 15:50 “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.” Our character, is mind control; but who is in control? There are only two forces at work, good and evil; the war between Christ and Satan for human minds. It is a spiritual warfare. When we accept Christ as our Savior, we are justified, but this is only the first step, for this is our title to heaven. It is just like a doctor prescribing a cure for your illness, which you quickly accept; but to be saved from the disease you must apply the prescription. So, to be saved spiritually, or sanctified, you must apply God’s Spirit in your life at all times. It is a moment by moment experience. This is defining your true spiritual self. Sanctification is the Holy Spirit imparting to us the righteous life of Christ into our character. Dwelling mentally on Christ becomes our daily life experience. Paul says it perfectly in Romans 12:1-2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Your salvation is bound up in God’s control in your mind game. So, let go, and let God have His wonderful way with your mind. Study more at www.AncientBibleStudy.com.

Once Saved Always Saved?

David King of Israel, chosen by God as the Heavenly-appointed leader of His people, the “man after His own heart” 1 Samuel 13:14, as a true follower of God he was in a saved condition and was justified in the eyes of God. But, once he was in this saved condition did he remain always in this saved condition? No! He let go of God when ease and selfishness set in and yielded to Satan’s snare in his lust for Bathsheba. He broke God’s Law in three commandments, - in committing adultery, - killing her husband Uriah and - bearing false witness when he lied to Nathan the prophet about his sins. One sin inevitably leads to another when we fall out of closeness to God by allowing Satan to take control of our life in any way. Being saved or sanctified is a life-time work in a day by day walk with God, allowing Him to take control of our lives by His Spirit working in and through us. On the road to salvation, the paying for indulgences for sin is nowhere found in the Bible nor is it a part of God’s plan for us. Justification by God happens once, when we accept Him as our Savior, but sanctification is a life long daily walk with God. We are saved through both sanctification and justification, not justification alone. Study more at www.AncientBibleStudy.com.

Satanic Liberalism!

For a Christian to take the stance that it is of no consequence what men believe, especially as to what human nature Jesus assumed [sinless or sinful] when on earth, is a fearfully instigated form of liberalism kindled from the hellish torch of Satan. To fully understand the humanity of Christ, as our living example to emulate, is crucial to the ultimate saving of our souls. This is one the foundation stones of Christian belief. How we view Christ in His humanity affects every other facet of Christian life. Paul, in Romans 8:3-4 tells us “what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit.” This is how the Christian, here on earth, attains righteousness in the eyes of God; by Christ’s Spirit dwelling in us. This is true conversion! It is in the same way for us, as it was for Christ in His humanity, which Paul points out in 2 Corinthians 5:19 and 21 “God was in him … he hath made him to be sin for us [sinful human nature assumed], who new no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” Our righteousness comes by faith in Christ’s Spirit dwelling in us, thus fulfilling God’s Law by living our life through the Holy Spirit working our mind and body, and the fruitage is the good works of the Law attained by this infilling. Finally, Paul again explains Christ’s human nature to us in Hebrews 2:14-17 “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also took part of the same … he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren.” Ask yourself the question, what human nature did Abraham and his seed have? - Sinful or sinless human nature, which one! Also, the text says Christ was like us “in all things,” which includes our human nature. Taking the stand that it is of no consequence what we believe is one of Satan’s greatest liberalistic deceptions. However, also remember, even though Christ in His humanity was fully like us; in His divinity He was also fully God. Study more at www.AncientBibleStudy.com

The Gift of Prophecy

In 2 Peter 1:21 we here the words “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” As we just read, it was the moving of God through His Spirit that brought about the Scriptures, not by the will of man. It was by the prophets of God that He communicated His truth to us and the world. It was the Holy Spirit who qualified or enabled the holy men to write or to speak. God used human agencies for His work of communications. Though the different prophets had different ways of expressing points, they all harmonized with one another revealing the perfect whole of the Scripture through the Holy Spirit. The prophecy spoken of by Peter at this point in time refers to those of the Old Testament writings. But, prophecy is a gift of the Spirit where God reveals truths to man through the use of visions, dreams and divine illuminations His words to be spoken. Also, Revelation 19:10 says, “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” What a marvelous collection of writings that make the whole Word, the Bible. Beware though, for Satan is ever ready to counterfeit the truths of God’s Word. Therefore, Christ warned us about the many false prophets coming to us in these end times, and that we are to pray for discernment so as to avoid and reject presentations from false prophets and teachers. Read on at www.AncientBibleStudy.com.

“I Die Daily”

Justification is an ever-present daily experience for anyone who has “the faith of Jesus,” as Paul declared “I die daily” [1 Corinthians 15:31. True “justification” is an actual event in time. The public sacrifice of Christ, the Lamb of God, on the cross at Calvary is a one time event, never again to be repeated. In Genesis 22:7-8 this was the faith that Abraham had in the future sacrifice of Christ on the cross when he answered his son as to the sacrifice. Isaac asked “Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son God will provide himself a lamb.” When in meditation at the foot of the cross we are faced with the fact that nobody can atone for himself. Abraham knew this fact when he stood on Mt. Moriah with Isaac. Justification is a general provision by Christ’s sacrifice for all to take advantage of, for we all have sinned. Paul puts it this way in Romans 5:18 when he said “as by the offence of one [Adam in Eden] judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one [Christ in His humanity] the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.” Then Paul gives the reason for this “justification” in Roman 3:23-26 where he states “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” This is a daily experience to the follower of Christ, to “die daily.” Your faith in, and of, Jesus justifies you, but only “if we confess our sins,” then “He is faithful and just to forgive our sins.” Thus Christ is able to present us to His Father as holy and righteous. Study on at www.AncientBibleStudy.com.

Importance of the Word “Still”

The word “still” in definition as an adverb or adjective according to Webster means to be without motion of any kind, in a fixed state of being. So, when we read the declaration of Christ in Revelation given to us from heaven just prior to His return to earth, the word “still” has a huge significance. In Revelation 22:11 Christ declares “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.” We only have two basic groups of people here presented, not four; - the unjust and filthy, - the righteous and holy. One group is in harmony with God, the other group is totally out of harmony with God. The word “still” teaches a great principle, in that both groups come to a point in time when no change in character is further possible. As the word “still” indicates a fixed state, where no more intercession of Christ will be made for anyone; our fate is then sealed. And this time is prior to the second coming of Christ. There is no other question, research or study in the Bible that should take precedence over this event and how to be prepared for it. Does the word “perfection” come to mind? We, as true followers of Christ, are to fully reflect the image of God prior to translation. Some take the phase “changed in the twinkling of an eye” to mean that an impure person is to be changed to pure at Christ’s return, but our text above says “No” to this thought. What is changed here is changing from mortal to immortal. We are to be “righteous” and “holy” here and now, and this is accomplished only by “Christ in you,” your only hope of attaining glory in heaven. That little word “still” is so important. Study on at www.AncientBibleStudy.com

Can Dry Bones Live Again?

The vision of the valley of dry bones is presented to us in Ezekiel 37. Here Ezekiel saw in verse 1 “the valley which was full of bones,” and in verse 3 God asked him “can these bones live?” Verse 4 he is told by God to “prophecy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.” Then, in verse 5 God says to the dry bones “I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live,” and going down to verse 14 God says He “shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live.” The breath of life and the Spirit are one from God, the same as at Creation God breathed into man the “breath of life,” His Spirit. Therefore, at death it is “the breath” only that returns to God. But who are these bones representing? Verse 11 says “these bones are the whole house of Israel,” and this takes in the entire body of the church, even today. Verse 10 points out that with the breath of life returning to the dry bones they revived and “stood up upon their feet.” What separated this body of people from God was the trespassing of His Law resulting in worldliness and indifference. The bones needed the reviving influence of the Holy Spirit. There are many today whose names are recorded on the church books and who are active in many church duties, but are without the active zeal of “the first love;” these souls are not recorded in the “Lamb’s book of life.” It is what we are warned of in Revelation 2:4 “I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.” The zeal of the “first love” of God left no room for compromises of His Word. John 1 says Christ is “the Word,” and “the Word” is the Bible in whom is our life and light unto the revival of our dry bones readying us for the soon-coming everlasting salvation. Study on at www.AncientBibleStudy.com