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Episode 62: Revelation 2 – Smyrna and Pergamum

This week on Tell the Truth, we dove deep into a critical issue that plagued the early church and continues to challenge believers today: the misunderstanding of grace as a license to sin.

The Nicolaitan Heresy

We explored how the Apostle Paul addressed a dangerous teaching that twisted the concept of grace. Some were saying, “Let us sin more so that grace may abound” – essentially the core belief of the Nicolaitans. This heresy suggested that because we’re saved by grace, we can do whatever we want. But as we discussed, this completely misses the heart of Jesus’s message.

Jesus’s Consistent Command

One of the most striking patterns we examined was how Jesus consistently told those He forgave: “Go and sin no more”. Every single time Jesus forgave someone, healed them, or directly interacted with them, this command followed. It wasn’t just a casual suggestion – it was central to His teaching.

What’s remarkable is how quickly even the early church began to forget this. We talked about how believers – barely a century removed from Christ – were already saying, “Well, we have this grace thing. We’re not under the law anymore”. They were dropping the ball on Jesus’s clear directive almost immediately.

Eternal Perspective

We also reflected on the sobering reality of the “second death” mentioned in Revelation – the lake of fire at the great white throne judgment. As D.L. Moody wisely said, “He who is born once will die twice; he who is born twice will die once”. This reminder challenges us to consider: we know death is coming, so what are we doing while we’re waiting?

Grace is amazing, transformative, and free – but it’s never a license to continue in sin. Join us as we continue exploring what it means to live faithfully in light of God’s truth while studying Revelation Chapter 2 in the letters to the leaders in Smyrna and Pergamum.