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We’ve started looking at that lukewarm church of Laodicea, Rev 3:14-22. Jesus, The Faithful and The True, declares Himself the benchmark against which all people are measured. They thought they were cool, had it all together – “In need of nothing,” they said. Wrong!
“LUKEWARM,” says Jesus. Yucch! Jesus prefers them hot or cold. To be cold refers to the Law of the Old Covenant. The Law, if genuinely attempted, will kill you, cause you to despair of life, for a holy god demands perfection – and nothing less. As Galatians and Romans tell us, this drives us to Jesus Christ, where we are justified FREELY by His grace. Ro 3:24.
Hot means walking in the love of God. Receiving His love, mercies, and grace. Being hot is not about OUR ZEAL, our efforts, but EVERYTHING to do with the burning heart of God. We receive His love, and it’s a passionate fire!
The Laodiceans had never opened their hearts to the love of the Lord Jesus. They were mixing the law with grace and receiving the benefits of neither. That’s no way to live! So Jesus calls them lukewarm.
Some evidence for this is that there was no church persecution in that city, and that implies they were living under Jewish law, and stuck between the 2 covenants. YOU might be doing the same if you believe that God gives us grace to keep His commandments. Think about it!
Jesus says He will spit them out of His mouth. Are they going to lose their salvation if they do not perform to His satisfaction? Not at all, for the one who comes to Jesus will not be cast out. John 6:37. They needed to come to Jesus in the first place. But they were proud, denying their need for Jesus. Self-righteous hypocrites. Unbelievers. He is not talking about us believers. He’s talking about people who say, “I don’t need a thing from you Jesus. You died for nothing.” Ouch!
Sin does not make Jesus want to vomit. Jesus is the friend of sinners. He died for sinners. He hung out with sinners. He ate with them. And sinners became saints. But the self righteousness refuse God’s grace.
Today, my believing friend, rejoice that your future is secure in Christ Jesus, who died that we might live. His grace is greater than our sin. Help others to see this truth, come to Jesus, and COME ALIVE!
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