Now in John's day, are there similar stumbling blocks in Pergamum? There are! Immorality and Idolatry have infiltrated the congregation. Those Christians have not heeded God's warning given through the apostle Paul. (1 Corinthians 10:6-11) Since they have endured persecution, perhaps they feel that Jehovah will overlook their sexual transgressions. So Jesus makes it plain that they must shun such wickedness.
Similarly, today, Christians must guard against "turning the undeserved kindness of our God into an excuse for loose conduct." (Jude 4) We are obliged to hate what is bad and to 'pummel our bodies' in order to pursue a course of Christian virtue. (1 Corinthians 9:27; Psalm 97:10; Romans 8:6) We should never think that zeal in God's service and integrity under persecution give us a license to get involved in sexual misconduct. Over the years, offenders disfellowshipped from the worldwide Christian congregation, mostly on grounds of sexual immorality, have numbered into the tens of thousands. In some years there have been even more than fell in ancient Israel because of the Baal of Peor. May we keep up our guard so that we never fall into that company! - ROMANS 11:20; 1 CORINTHIANS 10:12.
Next time: Chapter Nine/Holding Fast to Jesus' Name- Corrupting Influences - Conclusion
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