공동체와 양육

Jesus Knows... (Rev. 2:12~17)

2015.04.26Mike Lee

Jesus knows both the faithfulness and the failures of his church in Pergamum. He calls us to repent and fight, and he promises to provide for us and give us a new identity in him.

Jesus knows that we have been faithful (vv. 13)

Jesus knows everything about his church, including whether it has been faithful. He sees every detail of our lives out of love for the church he gave himself up for, as Ephesians 5:25 tells us. In Pergamum, a city filled with idols and pagan worship, believers held fast to his name and did not deny his faith. Even when Antipas, his faithful witness, was killed there, they remained faithful. Jesus knows what we endure and acknowledges our faith in the middle of pressure.

Jesus rebukes the failures of the church (vv. 14-15)

Jesus does not stop with encouragement. He rebukes the church for tolerating the teaching of Balaam and the Nicolaitans, which led to idol feasts and sexual immorality. Difficult circumstances do not excuse rebellion against God, and a church cannot accept sin simply because the culture accepts it. Believing that behavior does not matter once we are saved is false teaching. Faith must be lived out in daily obedience, not picked and chosen to suit our convenience.

Repentance is the first step in the fight (vv. 16)

Jesus calls the church to fight, and the first command is to repent. Repentance begins with a change of mind, turning from sin and rebellion toward trust in God. It takes humility to admit we are wrong, but it is also a grace from God that lets us stop walking away from Christ and start walking with him. If we do not repent, Jesus will wage war with the sword of his mouth, the word of God. That Word is the weapon that brings us spiritual victory over temptation and sin.

God provides and gives us a new name (vv. 17)

Jesus promises hidden manna to those who conquer, just as God fed Israel in the wilderness. Where God leads, God provides, even when we fear losing our jobs, possessions, or friends. The white stone with a new name signals a new identity. In ancient courts, a white stone meant innocence, and the blood of Christ covers us so that we are forgiven and made new. Our identity is no longer defined by what we have done, but by what Jesus has done for us.

Apply to Life

  • Let us trust that Jesus knows every detail of our lives and remain faithful to his name.
  • Let us examine our lives and repent of any sin we have tolerated.
  • Let us refuse to compromise our faith under pressure from our work, relationships, and culture.
  • Let us fight temptation with the Word of God every day.
  • Let us live as new people who trust God to provide for us.

This summary was made automatically from the sermon's captions and may differ from the sermon.

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