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Laodicea does not mean “lukewarm” but “a people judged.” We are living in the time of the judgment and as the Lord looks at His church, He finds that the majority are lukewarm, and He wants them to understand their true condition. The following diagram illustrates the three kinds of people mentioned in the message to Laodicea.  “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” Rev. 3:17 “How plainly is pictured the position of those who think they have all the truth, who take pride in their knowledge of the word of God, while its sanctifying power has not been felt in their lives.” 1SM 357 “If the inner life of many who profess the truth were presented before them, they would not claim to be Christians.” 5T 161 “They may be crying, ‘The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord are we,’ while . . . the courts of the soul temple may be the haunt of envy, pride, passion, evil surmising, bitterness, and hollow formalism. Christ looks mournfully upon His professed people who feel rich and increased in the knowledge of the truth, and who are yet destitute of the truth in life and character.” OHC 349 “The internal work of grace is wanting in their hearts. ” 4T 88 “What greater deception can come upon human minds than a confidence that they are right when they are all wrong! The message of the True Witness finds the people of God in a sad deception, yet honest in that deception.” 3T 252, 253 I was honest in my deception also. I thought lukewarmness meant we were not working hard enough for God, but that is not the meaning. I was busy working for God, but did not know that I was wretched, poor, blind and naked. When I realized my condition, Jesus had the remedy. “I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.” Rev. 3:18 “The gold tried in the fire is faith that works by love. Only this can bring us into harmony with God.” COL 158 “For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.” Gal. 5:6 “Man needs a power out of and above himself to restore him to the likeness of God; but because he needs divine aid, it does not make human activity unessential. Faith on the part of man is required; for faith works by love and purifies the soul.” 1SM 375 “The white raiment is the righteousness of Christ that may be wrought into the character. Purity of heart, purity of motive, will characterize every one who is washing his robe, and making it white in the blood of the Lamb.” 7BC 965 “It is in this life that we are to put on the robe of Christ’s righteousness. This is our only opportunity to form characters for the home which Christ has made ready for those who obey His commandments.” COL 319 “The eye is the sensitive conscience, the inner light, of the mind. Upon its correct view of things the spiritual healthfulness of the whole soul and being depends. The ‘eyesalve, ‘ the word of God, makes the conscience smart under its application; for it convicts of sin. But the smarting is necessary that the healing may follow, and the eye be single to the glory of God.” 7BC 965 “If one sin is cherished in the soul, or one wrong practice retained in the life, the whole being is contaminated. The man becomes an instrument of unrighteousness.” DA 313 Article above written by Margret Davis author of the book “What Must I Do To be Saved” What are the characteristics of today’s Christianity that would prove a person Luke-warm: Here are just 5… 1. Willingness to transfer the stewardship of their soul to their pastor or church. Most people when managing their money will not just do what their financial planner or broker advises without thinking for themselves. But people are willing to just believe what their so-called spiritual superiors advise them without studying for themselves. This carelessness (caring less than they should) reveals a lack of love for Christ. 2. Worldliness The unwillingness to leave the things of this world, and experience a sacrifice. 3. Rejection of the authority of scripture and following a thus saith man instead of a thus saith the Lord. These are people who will not take the whole bible as a unit to prove doctrine. They will deny truths such as God’s 10 Commandments are still binding, and there is no salvation without surrender and obedience. 4. “Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof”, their lives deny the tremendous power God has provided to “go and sin no more”, and just as Christ spoke to the woman caught in adultery, “neither do I condemn thee, go and sin no more”. He commands all today to live a life without practicing sin, and every command Jesus gives will always be supplied with power to fulfill it. Christ does not possess the spirit of the Indian-giver, but possess a spirit that is Holy, and a lover of giving bountifully. 5. False Doctrine which will destory their soul will be prevalent, and alive in their churches, along with every deception. Weymouth New Testament For a time is coming when they will not tolerate wholesome instruction, but, wanting to have their ears tickled, they will find a multitude of teachers to satisfy their own fancies; 2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; King James Version |