THE NICOLAITANS. Part 2

In the Book of Revelation the Nicolatians are mentioned twice, and they were known in the cities of Ephesus and Pergamum. The more we know about  the places mentioned in the Scripture, the more we will be able to understand, accurately and precisely, the meaning that the narrative was meant to be, as the account of experiences by real people in real places.
Ephesus is one of the most important cities in early Christianity. It attracted many influential Christian leaders, including Paul, John, and Timothy. The remains of the city lies on the Western edge of modern Turkey, just about 5 miles inland from the Aegean Coast. It was once a major port city which went right up to the water but sediments from the Cayster River eventually filled the harbor. The steep hills guarded the ancient city from enemy attacks because it was placed in a Valley between two hills which sloped toward the sea.
The apostle Paul lived in Ephesus for 2 years during his 3rd missionary journey to Asia Minor, Macedonia, and Greece. The Letter of Paul to the Ephesians follows his Letter to the Galatians and precedes his Letter to the Philippians in the New Testament. The Letter to the Ephesians  is most noted for its description OF CHRIST and the Church. Paul speaks OF GOD's Plan for Salvation (1:3-6); calls for the Unity of the Church IN CHRIST (1:15-2:22); the Church as BODY OF CHRIST (1:22-23); and the UNITY of the BODY OF CHRIST in ONE BODY, ONE SPIRIT, ONE HOPE, ONE LORD, ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTISM, and ONE GOD and FATHER OF ALL. (4:4-6)
Paul outlines the 5-Fold Ministry -Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers - and its purpose, (4:11-13) and the exemplary living of its members through ONE's DAILY CONDUCT (4:1-5:5), living as CHILDREN OF LIGHT (5:8-5:20). Paul compares the RELATIONSHIP of CHRIST and the CHURCH to the MARRIAGE relationship of HUSBAND and WIFE.  (5:21-33)
The Nicolatians did not care how they were living their lives and believed that the Faith they professed was enough to put them right to GOD. They excused certain forms of impurity and made the Grace of GOD a cloak for lasciviousness, teaching that GOD did not required obedience to any new covenant and salvation was attained solely through Faith and deeds with no need of repentance or sanctification.
They practiced ritualism without spirituality, knowledge without practice and justification by Faith without holiness.
This dangerous reasoning was taught in the Church of Ephesus in the 1st century. In the Book of Jude, a warning is placed about these ungodly reasoning of men. They used the Grace of GOD as an excuse for the violation of GOD's Law - the Moral Law, falling themselves into profound immorality. They denied the moral example of our Lord JESUS which they willingly acknowledged Him as their Saviour but not as their LORD and MASTER.
It was this teaching and reasoning of the Nicolatians in the 1st century that was corrupting the Church of Pergamos. They sought hidden spiritual knowledge through mystical experiences and believed that this knowledge alone was perfectly sufficient for salvation. They also believed that  man's spiritual and physical nature were two completely and separated entities, implying that the freedom to commit immoralities and overindulge themselves in any and every way of it was part of the physical entity but not spiritual and hence GOD's Grace override them. They said that the precepts of the Commandments, Ordinances and Statutes bared not with the Christian life because JESUS CHRIST had come to destroy it and not to fulfill it.
The Grace of GOD covers all time and spans all history in the Scripture. The young Gentile Titus who, by Faith, became a Christian believer, a fellow worker, and an assistant to Paul in his missionary work, received a Letter addressed to him from Paul, when he was helping with the GOD's Work in Crete. His job was to supervise the work of the believers inside the Church. First, Titus is reminded of the kind of character that church leaders should have, especially in view of the bad attitude of many Cretans had towards the sanctification of the body in Christ. Next, Titus is advised How to Teach the various groups in the Church, the older men, the older women who in turn had to teach the younger women, the young men, and the slaves. Finally, Paul gives Titus advice regarding Christian conduct, especially the need to be peaceful, and friendly, and to avoid hatred, argument, and division in the Church.
Paul says to Titus in chapter 2: "You must teach what agrees with 'sound doctrine' (according to the Word of GOD). Instruct the older men to be sober, sensible, and self-controlled (from the things of the flesh); to be sound in their Faith, Love, and Endurance. In the same way instruct the older women to behave as women should who live a Holy life. They must not be slanderers or slaves to wine (overindulge in the things of the flesh). They must teach what is good, in order to train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, and to be good housewives who submit themselves to their husbands, so that no one will speak evil of the Message that Comes From GOD." (1-5)
"In the same way urge the young men to be self-controlled. In all things you yourself must be an example of good behavior. Be sincere and serious in your teaching. Use SOUND WORDS (GOD's WORDS) that cannot be criticized, so that your enemies may be put to shame by not having anything bad to say about us." (6-8)
"Slaves are to submit themselves to their masters and please them in all things (examples are placed in the Scripture since the beginning of time). They must not talk back to their masters or steal from them. Instead, slaves must show that they are always good and faithful, so as to BRING CREDIT TO the TEACHINGS ABOUT GOD IUR SAVIOR in all they do. For GOD HAS REVEALED HIS GRACE FOR the SALVATION OF ALL PEOPLE." (9-11)