Peter, our fourth son, emailed me. He shares a house with five other guys and they all love Jesus. Peter asked: Dad, me and one of my house mates were having a discussion revolving a lot around Revelation where it talks about lukewarm Christians. He says they will go to hell but that doesn't sit right with me. It clashes with faith not works and also in the Bible it talks of being saved as a specific point as in you are not saved, something happens, you are saved. I know you believe if you get saved you're forever saved. I just need to hear evidence and also your thoughts. Much love, Peter. PS: We are now staying in this house till February 24 :) Here is my reply:
(Revelation 3:14-17) "To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: 'These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, "I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing". But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked'".
Commentary
(Darby (E-Sword - an older commentary))
Jesus is looking for faithfulness to God within and without the person, according to what is revealed, and is faithful to make good all He has declared - outward church associations or pretensions will not do.
My Notes
Peter, there is so very much to say on this subject because the answer is not clear. I believe that Jesus is giving a stern warning and that this is similar to His warnings in His parable of the talents (Matthew 25) where some are "cast into outer darkness", and in the parable of the sower (Matthew 13) where some plants wither because they struggle in stony places, and some become entangled with weeds so they do not flourish.
There are techniques we can use to ensure a good understanding of Scripture, particularly those "difficult" passages, which tend to generate the most demanding questions:
A. Read the verses in the
light of all Scripture. Thus, we read them knowing that "God is love" (1 John
4:8), God is immutable, eternal, (always) Father, Son and Spirit, and much,
much more!
B. Seek to learn the
context of the passage: ask "to whom were these words written?" and "what would
the original readers of these words have concluded from them?"
C. Find an accurate
translation of the original Hebrew or Greek texts, (not all Bible translations
are always true to the best ancient manuscripts).
D. Discern "what does the
text actually say"; commentaries can be very helpful.
E. Look at other Bible
passages which seem to cover the same ground.
F. Remember that Christians
are in the New Covenant and not under law (Romans 3:21).
G. Recognise that Scripture
is the living Word of God (John 16:7), that is, that Jesus is ultimately the
content and the object of all Scripture (John 1:1-5), and that Scripture is not
confined to one historical era (Ephesians 6:10-18).
My Questions Are:
Q1.
What does "lukewarm" mean? What does "vomit out of my mouth" mean?
Q2.
Were (and are) Jesus' words addressed only to Christians?
Q3.
Can a Christian lose his or her salvation? (What is salvation?)
Q4.
How should I live?
QUESTION 1. What Does "Lukewarm" Mean?
lukewarm: the water for Laodicea came from the distant hills via aqueducts, it was full of minerals and sediment, and was warm and unpalatable when it arrived. It did not look good, smell good, or taste good. It did not bring healing like the medicinal hot of the waters of Hieropolis (nearby to Laodicea), nor refreshing like the cold, pure waters of Colossae (also well known to Laodicean people); thus not healing nor refreshing, but was disgusting. This is a picture for Jesus' moral nausea from their tepid lives. Jesus later gives opportunity for the Laodiceans to repent and grow their zeal (Revelation 3:19)
(Rogers, Cleon Jr and Cleon Rogers III. 1998. The New Linguistic and Exegetical Key to the Greek NT. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan)(Also NIV study Bible).
What Does "VOMIT OUT OF MY MOUTH" Mean?
"I am about to" from the Greek mellow - that this action is possible or likely.
vomit: a very strong word, from the Greek emeow "to vomit or reject with disgust"; beyond "spit" as used in NIV (Rogers and Rogers).
QUESTION 2: Were Jesus' Words Addressed Only To Christians?
Jesus was dictating a letter for John to write to the church at Laodicea. We know from Revelation that the early Christian church was not perfect. Churches are full of people; not all are Christian. For this reason, I believe that there is no single answer to your question. Jesus' words may have more than one meaning, depending on the hearer.
Visible And Invisible Church
Only God knows who is a Christian. Simply put, the "visible" church is that which people can see with their eyes. Usually this involves a structure or hierarchy of people, office bearers and people with work or ministries, a congregation, and possibly a building. Some of these people may not be Christian even though they act out a "church" lifestyle and may even believe that they are. This is not a popular topic for discussion.
Most who comprise the "invisible" church are also part of the "visible" church. What distinguishes the two kinds of people is vitally important. The difference is in the person’s heart. God always looks at the heart of a person (1 Samuel 16:7; Luke 6:45):
·
Christians
belong to Jesus (1 Corinthians 6:20)
·
Christians
are new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17)
·
Christians
are children of Father God (Romans 8:16)
·
Christians
are betrothed to Jesus and expect to marry Him (Revelation 21:2)
·
Christians
rule and reign in the heavenly places with Jesus now and eternally (Revelation
22:5), they can neither rule nor reign without Jesus (John 15:5)
·
Christians
have authority over Satan and all the powers of darkness, and over sin,
illnesses, brokenness and addictions (Matthew 10:1)
·
Christians
are filled (baptised) with the Holy Spirit and with power (Ephesians 3:16,
Colossians 1:11) to do great (and greater) things on the earth (John 1:50)
·
Christians
are fully part of the inheritance Jesus won on the Cross (1 Peter 1:3-5)
·
Christians
have full acceptance in, and assurance of, the New Covenant (2 Corinthians
3:6).
Perhaps some pastors or other leaders are not Christian, or even whole congregations . . John Baptist spoke of Jesus separating the precious wheat from the chaff (Matthew 3:11-12); Jesus spoke of separating the wheat and the tares (weeds) (Matthew 13:24-30), and the sheep from the goats (Matthew 25:32-25). Many of us have known someone who has seemed to be sold out for Jesus, fully committed to God, able to teach and share, even able to minister, and then they have fallen away; only Jesus knows about these ones, it is not for us to judge.
Perhaps the person never fully came to a saving knowledge of Jesus and an intimate relationship with Him. Some may simply live a "Christian" style of life by "doing" what they think is good for Christians to do; this is called religion (Colossians 2:16).
What May Be Missing?
Often the "prayer of faith" which new believers are asked to pray is simplistic and does not fully draw the person to Jesus (Luke 8:12).
Often there is little or no follow-up; the person is simply drawn into "church life" where there may be no actual discipleship (Luke 8:13). The person may never develop a loving and intimate relationship with Jesus. Perhaps Jesus never comes and dwells in them, and they never come to dwell in Him. "Christian" means "of Christ", or "belonging to Christ"; relationship with Jesus is vital. (The phrase "in Christ" appears 91 times in the New Testament, and "of Christ" appears 90 times, clearly this is a key truth). In many church meetings people cry out for God’s presence, for God to "come" and be with them; these cries seem desperate, even forlorn. Jesus committed to never leave nor forsake any who belong to Him (Hebrews 13:5), He is always present with us (Mathew 28:20).
Many church people seem to have difficulty finding pastoral care where they can be healed and set free from the damages and traumas of life (Luke 8:14). Generally church leaders are called "Pastor" but many have little time for pastoral work. People can belong to a congregation for years without ever meeting the "Senior Pastor", let alone receiving pastoral care from him or her.
In many Western churches today very little preaching is focused on Jesus, but rather is to do with ethics, giving, participating in the church "vision" and programs, emotional healing, personal motivation and the strengthening of one's faith. These things grow good citizens; only Jesus grows Christians (Luke 8:13).
Paul explained that the Corinthians were getting by on milk; that is, on Bible teaching of the Word (1 Corinthians 3:2). Jesus declared that His food, ("meat" in the KJV), (the grown-up requirement beyond milk), is to do the will of our Father (John 4:34); to my mind this is the work and life we see in so many places in the NT, particularly in Ephesians Chapter 4, and in 1 Corinthians Chapters 12 and 14. This Christian "work" is not much in evidence in today's church. People need discipling to become workers.
QUESTION 3. Can A Christian Lose His/her Salvation? (What Is Salvation?)
No, once a person is saved, they are saved! The changes which occur when we are saved can never be undone. God does not change. (Isaiah 49:15-16) "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands".
What is salvation?
Salvation means that we are freed from our former sinful nature and saved from eternal damnation, and from hell. This is an eternal promise (Jude 1:21). We become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), and a child of the God of all the universe (Romans 8:16-17, Galatians 4:6, 1 John 3:1). We join Jesus in his inheritance (1 Peter 1:3-5) and in His work. Jesus comes to live and work in each Christian, and each Christian lives and works in Him (John 10:38; 14:20; 15:4; 17:21; 17:23-26).
A miracle occurs, we get new DNA, our parentage changes! (Galatians 3:26; 4:5; 4:6) "You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, and receive the full rights of sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, 'Abba, Father'". See also Romans 8:16, Romans 8:21, 2 Corinthians 5:17. The use of the word "son/s" here is from those times, it means that the person is fully included in the inheritance as a son would be, it includes daughters in Christianity because they are in the inheritance (Galatians 3:28).
A word study of "saved" and "salvation" gives many verses which all speak of salvation as being the beginning of something ongoing where the Father loves us, and Holy Spirit comforts us, counsels us and works with us. Jesus inspires and sustains us while we actively participate in His life on the earth, and in loving service to our brothers and sisters in Christ and all humankind (Ephesians 4). We also join with Jesus in His endless praise of Father God: (Matthew 10:22; Mark 16:15-18; Luke 7:50, 18:26-30; John 10:9; Romans 10:10,13; 2 Timothy 1:12, 3:15; Revelation 2:26). At the moment of our salvation we are fully and eternally justified (Romans 3:21-25).
QUESTION 4. How Should I Live?
Jesus said: "follow me"; (Matthew 8:22, 9:9, 16:24, 19:21; John 10:27, 21:19, 21:22). This is often very hard work. It is absolutely what He expects of His people.
Jesus personally guides each one into the life and path He has planned for us. Seek and find. Knock, go through the door (Matthew 7:7). Follow where-ever Jesus leads. We are to "go out" and share Jesus' Gospel and deliver people from Satan, and heal (Mark 16:15-18).
My Testimony
I started going to church because my wife, (then my fiancée), went regularly. Not long after we married she was born again and became Christian. I believed in God and liked the church lifestyle, (particularly the singing), but was aware that I was missing what-ever it was that made my Christian friends "different".
Some years later I met Jesus; I date my Christian walk from this life changing event. It was even more years later that I finally and totally knew that Jesus death, burial and resurrection was for me; I finally knew, in my spirit, soul and body, that Jesus died for me. This is when I was born again. This is the moment I had been searching for, that I had battled towards, that I knew was missing from my life, that marked the beginning of my sonship, I now had certainty that God is my Father, and amazingly, Jesus is my brother and I am eternally His.
Since then my Christian walk has been filled with wonder, growth, increasing awareness of my authority in Jesus, and the power of God in my life and work. This has required a vast amount of perseverance (Colossians 1:9-14), but I have persevered willingly because it is for Jesus, my beloved (Song of Songs 2:1-6).
A Walk With God
Revelation 3:16 appears to be a severe Scripture, like many others in the Bible. The Christian walk is a walk with God, in a fallen world. Not walking towards God. Not trying to approach God, but with Him, abiding in Him, in His life and work; it is spiritual, and requires all of us, spirit, soul and body.
God is love, He does not reject anyone. Let us always remember that grace is at work towards every person. Nothing is wasted. "All those who earnestly seek the Lord will surely find Him" (Proverbs 8:17; Jeremiah 29:13; Matthew 5:6).
Bless you Peter
I love you very much
Dad
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Amen.
