Doctrine of the Nicolaitans “ONLY
BELIEVE” Being Taught on a Popular SDA Internet Group
Rev 2:6 But this thou hast,
that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
Rev 2:15 So hast thou also them
that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
What follows is a stark teaching of the
Doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which God especially hates, on a popular SDA
internet group. This is an example of the attitude prevalent among a growing
number of professing Seventh-day Adventists, who pose polar concepts on the
issues involved with salvation and then ask the question: “Which do you prefer”
rather than what is the truth. The internet item is further down, but first I
will define the doctrine of the Nicolaitans.
The
Doctrine of the Nicolaitans
Doctrine of the Nicolaitans.--The doctrine is now
largely taught that the gospel of Christ has made the law of God of no effect
that by 'believing' we are released from the
necessity of being doers of the Word. But this is the doctrine of the
Nicolaitans, which Christ so unsparingly condemned." E.G. White, The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 7, p. 957.
"(Jude 4).--The Sin of the Nicolaitans.--Is it
[our sin] the sin of the Nicolaitans, turning the grace of God into
lasciviousness." E.G. White, SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, 957.
Gnostic
Gnosticism
"The earliest extra-Biblical Christian writer
to mention this party is Irenaeus (c. A.D. 185), who identifies the Nicolaitans
as a Gnostic sect...
There is evidence also of a Gnostic sect in the 3d
cent. A.D. bearing the name 'Nicolaitans.'
"...The doctrine of the Nicolaitans appears to
have been a form of antinomianism (see SDACom 7:957).
Nicolaitans of the 2d cent. seem
to have continued and extended the views of the 1st-cent. adherents,
holding to the freedom of the flesh, and teaching that the deeds of the flesh
had no effect upon the health of the soul and consequently no relation to
salvation." SDA Bible Dictionary, Vol. 8 pp. 770, 771.
"Thorns sprung up.--The thorns made it
impossible for the wheat to mature (see Luke 8:14). In the same way
secular interests prevent the fruits of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22, 23) from reaching
maturity. Religion is relegated to the subordinate position of being only one
interest among many. For lack of cultivation it withers and eventually dies.
That which the thorny-ground hearers lack is a moral transformation [E.G.
White, Christ's Object Lessons, p. 50] To them, justification is the
sum and substance of religion, and they fail to realize that the Christian life
consists essentially in the process known as sanctification--the process by
which evil traits and tendencies are replaced by the perfect life-pattern of
Jesus Christ."
Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 5, 405.
When reading the following presentation of
classical Nicolaitanism, note that the position the
author of the piece prefers makes no mention of sanctification whatsoever. Paul
teaches sanctification. He also teaches that another factor involving grace is
that grace is also POWER given for obedience and apostleship.
Rom 1:5 By whom we
have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations,
for his name:
What
Did Paul Mean When he Said we are Saved by Grace Through
Faith and not of Works?
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye
saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph
2:9 Not of works, lest any man should
boast.
1Co 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus,
who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and
redemption:
1Th 4:3 For this is
the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from
fornication:
1Th 4:4 That every
one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;
2Th 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because
God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of
the Spirit and belief of the truth:
1Pe 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge
of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and
sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
Paul taught
obedience (works) of sanctification. So it we interpret Paul correctly so that
nothing contradicts, we must conclude that when he said we are saved by grace,
not of works, he meant that we are not saved by works of our own because all
power (grace) to obey comes from Christ--LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BOAST. Thus, cheap
grace is interpreting grace as pardon only, without the power for obedience and
apostleship elements.
The internet
group the item (below) was published to, won’t admit
me because I am not a member of the church. But if one is a member, he/she can
apparently post just about any heresy, even the Doctrine of the Nicolaitans.
The author of the piece chooses the simplicity of the same “gospel” Billy
Graham teaches--only believe and go to church and you are saved.
Here is the item of concern. I cut and pasted
the item, so the misspelling of the word judgment is the authors error. All highlighting
is mine. rb
----- Original Message -----
From: EJ
Sent:
Monday, January 26, 2015 10:49 PM
Subject:
Two Stories of Salvation
I have been studying the story of salvation for many years. I
have studied Ellen White's version of salvation and loads of other sources as
well. What has come as a real surprise is that Ellen White's view is rather
unique. What I have done here is to tell the Ellen White Story of Salvation and then straight after I have recounted what I can
see as a rather more simple version of Salvation and one that I would rather
subscribe to rather than the Ellen White Story.
I would like to know which of these two
stories members of this net would subscribe to, or rather what else can be said
about these two stories recounted below. What do you think? Ellen's story or
the simple story of salvation displayed here? What is your response? Which would you prefer?
Ellen G White's Story of Salvation
The fall
Man failed his probationary period in the garden of
Eden, causing him to fall into sin.
Calvary
Jesus’ death on the cross granted mankind another probation, another trial.
Jesus returned to heaven to intercede on behalf of man, to complete the work he
began on the cross. For 1800 years Christ interceded with men by applying the
merits of his blood on behalf of penitent men. Then, in 1844, Jesus entered the
Most Holy Place to begin judging professed believers.
What is evaluated in the judgement?
Every man’s work passes in review before God and is registered for faithfulness
or unfaithfulness. Opposite each name in the books of heaven is entered with
terrible exactness every wrong word, every selfish act, every unfulfilled duty,
and every secret sin, with every artful dissembling. Heaven-sent warnings or
reproofs neglected, wasted
moments, unimproved opportunities, the influence exerted for good or for evil,
with its far-reaching results, all are chronicled by the recording angel.
When any have sins remaining upon the books of record, unrepentant of and
unforgiven, their names will be blotted out of the book of life. All who have
truly repented of sin, and by faith claimed the blood of Christ as their
atoning sacrifice, have had pardon entered against their names in the books of
heaven; as they have become partakers of the righteousness of Christ, and their
characters are found to be in harmony with the law of God, their sins will be
blotted out, and they themselves will be accounted worthy of eternal life.
In the judgement the use made of every talent will be
scrutinised. How have we employed the capital lent us
of Heaven? Will the Lord at His coming receive His own with usury? Have we
improved the powers entrusted us, in hand and heart and brain, to the glory of
God and the blessing of the world? How have we used our time, our pen, our
voice, our money, our influence? What have we done for Christ, in the person of
the poor, the afflicted, the orphan, or the widow? God has made us the
depositories of His holy word; what have we done with the light and truth given
us to make men wise unto salvation?
Outcomes of the judgement
When someone passes the judgement,
their sins are blotted out and visited on the initial
instigator, Satan. When someone fails the judgement,
their sins are visited back to them.
Eternal life
At the Second Coming, all those whose names have passed the judgement
enter into eternal life. Finally, when all sin is done away with, Satan and
death destroyed, and the
New Earth created, Christ’s prophetic words, “It is finished” will be realised.
References
An EGW Sermon, 1886
Patriarchs and Prophets, p 60
Great Controversy, p 480–489
Patriarchs and Prophets, p 68, 69
Desire of Ages, p 763, 764
The simple gospel version
The fall
Man, who was created one with God, rebelled against God and spiritually died.
Calvary
Jesus died for the sins of the world, and was raised so that man may have life.
Eternal life
All who believe on Jesus Christ pass from death to life. (The
spiritual death mankind
experienced in Eden is reversed.) God dwells with them as their God and King;
and they
dwell with him doing His will on earth. Their life is secure in Jesus, and are awaiting for
glorification at Christ’s return.
References
Genesis 2:17
1 John 2:2
Romans 6:4
John 5:24
John 3:15; 3:36; 5:24; 6:47; 1 John 5:13
John 14:18, 23; Ephesians 3:17
Matthew 6:10; John 17:20–23
John 10:14
Romans 8:23
Which story?