Revelation 2:18-29 — Do not tolerate the leaven of unsound teaching!
The Son of God had some very good things to say about the church at Thyatira. I would be so happy and blessed and thrilled and joyful and satisfied to have this said of my home congregation: “I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first” (Revelation 2:19).
But the church in Thyatira was too tolerant of some unsound teachers and their unsound teaching. Though quite a few in the church did not embrace that unsound doctrine, they still tolerated its presence and presentation in their midst.
The Son of God declared judgment on the unfaithful and called on the faithful to hold fast to truth. Do not let go of sound doctrine! And do not coexist with unsound teaching.
If the shoe fits, my friend, wear it. Or as the Son of God said repeatedly, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches” (Revelation 2:29 and elsewhere).
Error, Repentance, Faithfulness — taking care of the leaven of unsound doctrine
What error am I willing to tolerate?
Will I grant Person X space to repent?
When is it my responsibility to confront error?
“I will give unto every one of you according to your works” — what will I get?
What Biblical guidelines do we have for confronting error?
What do I have that I should hold fast?
“He that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end” — what must I do to do that?
Excerpted from an earlier lesson on the leaven of unsound doctrine and unfaithful teaching
What Is the Undoing of Many? Coexisting with the leaven of unsound teaching!
Many Christians are undone because they chose to let error go unchallenged. They figured it wasn’t their business, or it wouldn’t affect them, or it wasn’t that important anyway, or they couldn’t make a difference after all. But they didn’t realize that yielding truth and righteousness always drags down. Being willing to live with error, they lived to see themselves engulfed by it.
My friend, do not excuse, justify, tolerate or condone any error. Do not look away from any manifestation of rebellion or disobedience. In God’s eyes there is no jot or tittle of His Word that is so minor that it can be discarded without major consequence! Remember verse 20 of today’s lesson! And remember James 2:10 — “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”
Excerpted from The Church at Thyatira
Do not tolerate the leaven of unsound teaching! Repent and be faithful. Confront error, giving the errant room to repent. Hang on to the truth you have and do not let it go! Be true to Jesus, your First Love.
Additional Reading about The Leaven of Unsound Teaching
- Lord, Find Us Faithful!
- Faithfulness: Definition, Measure, Reward (Ready for Our Lord s Return)
- Facing Apostasy
- Standing Against Apostasy
- Continue in His Word
- Perils of the Endtime
