Sanctified Stubbornness by David Jeremiah

Thursday, February 22 Sanctified Stubbornness    Nevertheless I have a few things against you. Revelation 2:20    During the Reformation, Martin Luther was pressured to compromise key points involving the doctrine of justification by grace through faith. Critics said he should be more flexible with his beliefs for the sake of unity. Luther responded, “Our stubbornness on this issue is pious and holy; for by it we are striving to preserve the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to keep the truth of the Gospel. If we lose this, we lose God, Christ, all the promises, faith, righteousness, and eternal life.”

Recommended Reading: Galatians 1:8-10

Some of the seven churches in Revelation had suffered theological erosion. The church in Thyatira, for example, had allowed “that woman to teach and seduce” the church in heretical ways. The Lord held that against them.    Revelation is a solemn and sacred reminder to remain committed to the Gospel and stubborn in our beliefs. When culture tells us to compromise our core doctrine, we must say: “Our stubbornness on this issue is pious and holy; for by it we are striving to preserve the freedom we have in Christ!”    The issue before us is grave and vital; it involves the death of the Son of God, who, by the will and command of the Father, became flesh, was crucified, and died for the sins of the world. Martin Luther