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Pastor Scott L. Harris
Grace Bible Church, NY
April 6, 2025
◘ Laodicea: The Lukewarm Church
Revelation 3:14-22
Introduction
This morning we come to the last of the seven letters from Jesus through the apostle John to the seven different messengers and their respective churches located in the Roman province of Asia. Though each letter deals with the specific issues, both good and bad, in that specific church in each of the cities listed, each letter ends with a general command that applies the principles given in the letter to everyone in everyplace throughout the church age. ◘Each letter is well worth the time to examine, consider and apply by every Christian and church as an encouragement to what you may doing right and as a correction to or prevention of doing anything similar you are doing wrong.
◘ Ephesus was a church strongly commended for their deeds, doctrine and moral discernment, but corrected for leaving their first love. They were commanded to remember, repent and redo what they had done when they first came to know Christ. (See: Ephesus – Orthodox but Lacking Love)
◘ Smyrna was a church severely oppressed by the pagan society around them so that they were impoverished in the things of this world but rich in the things of God. They were encouraged to continue to remain faithful in the testing still come. (See: Smyrna – The Persecuted Church)
◘ Pergamum was a church commended for holding fast to Christ’s name though severely oppressed with Antipas already martyred for his faithfulness. However they were condemned for their toleration of some that were following false syncretic doctrines that allowed for participation in pagan religious practices. They were warned to repent or Jesus would make war against them. (See: Pergamum – The Compromised Church).
◘ Thyatira was a church commended for the increase in their love, faith, service and perseverance, but severely warned about their toleration of a false teacher and false syncretic doctrine that encouraged participation in pagan religious practices. They were commanded to repent or risk pestilence and even death. (See: Thyatira: The Church that Tolerated Sin)
◘ Sardis was a proud church lacking discernment to recognize they were spiritually dead. The few cells barely alive in the corpse were commanded to become alert, strengthen what was about to die by remembering the truths previously taught them, keep it and repent lest Christ comes as a thief against them. The few that had not become polluted were promised they would walk with Christ in holiness. (See: Sardis; The Zombie Church)
◘ Philadelphia was commended without any condemnation. They were encouraged by Jesus’ promises that the door to them would remain open, the Jews that had been oppressing them would be humbled before them, and they would be exempt from the hour of testing that was coming upon the whole world to test “those that dwell on the earth,” a reference to those in rebellion against God. (See: Philadelphia, The Faithful Church)
This morning we turn our attention to the letter to the church in Laodicea which in many ways was in even worse shape than the zombie church in Sardis. Follow along as I read Revelation 3:14-22 and then we will come back to examine the letter in detail.
◘The Letter to the Church in Laodicea
Revelation 3:14–22, 14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this: 15 ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 ‘So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. 17 ‘Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, 18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. 19 ‘Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. 20 ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. 21 ‘He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 22 ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ”
◘The Address – Revelation 3:14
The Recipient – Revelation 3:14a
As in the previous letters it begins with an identification of who is to receive it, 14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write:” ◘Once again this is a human messenger who is both representing the church at Laodicea and is taking the physical letter to them. This is not a supernatural being from God.
◘ The City of Laodicea. As with the previous letters it is very helpful to know something about the city in which this church is located since much of the letter will use references to characteristics of the city and what occurs there to reinforce the point being made.
◘ Laodicea was located on the southwest side of the Lycus valley near the major trade road that came from the central plateau to either Ephesus about 100 miles nearly due west or to the northwest to Philadelphia about 40 miles away and then past Sardis to either Smyrna to the west or Thyatira to the north. Its sister cities in the Lycus valley were Colossae about 10 miles to the east and Hierapolis about six miles to the north. ◘The location was nearly impregnable due to the surrounding mountains, but the population soon outgrew its limited water supply which then had to be imported via aqueducts. That made it vulnerable to siege because its water supply could be cut off. It also had the effect of making its water tepid which was a contrast to the springs of cold water available in Colossae which was at a higher elevation. It was also a contrast to the water at Hierapolis which was known for the hot springs located there.
◘ The city was founded sometime during the earlier half of the reign of Antiochus II (261-246 B.C.) and named after his wife whom he divorced in 253 B.C. As a Seleucid outpost the original population was probably Syrians along with some Macedonian colonists who were loyal to Antiochus. ◘When Pergamenian king Eumenes gave the region of Phrygia to Rome in 189 B.C. and additional population from other areas settled there. Josephus records that Antiochus III (223-187 B.C.) settled 2,000 Jewish families in the regions of Lydia and Phrygia so it is most likely some of these settled in Laodicea. It is estimated that there were at least 7,500 adult Jewish freemen there in A.D. 62 when the Roman governor of Asia seized their contributions meant for Jerusalem. The Talmud suggests that the Jews of Laodicea lived at the apex of ease and laxity. The result of all of this was a mix of people, cultures and religions. A prominent temple was that of the Phrygian god Men Karou equated with Zeus by the Greeks and Aseis by the Laodiceans.
◘ Laodicea was the judicial seat of the district and an important commercial, financial and manufacturing center which blossomed with the coming of Pax Romana, Roman peace. A very important product of the area was the cloth and clothing made from a particular soft and glossy black wool from the sheep in the area. ◘Another very important product from the area were compounded heterogeneous medications produced by the Laodicean physicians who followed the teachings of Hierophilos (350-250 B.C.). Of particular importance was a medication applied to the eyes to cure eye diseases that was exported around the Graeco-Roman world.
◘The gospel was introduced to Colossae by Epaphras (Col. 1:6-7) during the time Paul was in Ephesus, so it is probable that he or someone associated with him also did the same in Laodicea. ◘Paul wrote his letter to the Colossians in AD 61 or 62 and states in Col. 2:1 that he had not yet been to Laodicea, yet he was well aware of them and spiritually struggled on their behalf desiring to encourage their hearts with a full understanding and knowledge of Christ. His effort was to help keep them from being deluded by persuasive arguments from false teachers. Paul’s statement in Colossians 4:16 is that those in Laodicea were to read the letter he wrote to the Colossians and those in Colossea were to read the letter he had sent that would be coming from Laodicea. This is either the circular letter that first went to Ephesus or it is an additional letter which was lost in the first century. ◘Either way, it is reasonable to assume the problems that Paul sought to correct by his letters to the Ephesians and to the Colossians would have also been issues in Laodicea. More than three decades later Jesus’ letter to Laodicea is the evidence that false teaching had taken a severe toll on that church.
◘The Author – Revelation 3:14b
Jesus identifies himself with a three-fold description in the second half of verse 14 as, “The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this:”
◘ The first title given is “the Amen.” This is the only time this is used as a personal name for Christ. Amen is a transliteration of the Hebrew word meaning fixed, true, unchangeable and so it implies certainty, verity. Jesus is the personification of credibility. All that he says is true and will be accomplished. That encompasses Him being is both truthful and sovereign to fulfill all that He says.
◘ The second descriptive title is that He is “the witness, the faithful and true one .” This is emphatic making His title of being The Amen more specific. The word witness, mavrtuV / martys, can be used in a legal, historical or ethical sense and all three apply to Jesus with the adjectives faith and true backing up the claim. ◘Legal standing refers to having the right to be involved in a court case because it affects you directly. Our court systems often seem quite arbitrary in this at times in the effort to avoid political troubles that could arise from a case going forward. Jesus has legal standing in everything for as Colossians 1:16 states “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.” Any earthly court that wants to block Jesus from having legal standing loses when the case goes up the heavenly court. ◘Jesus is eternal and omniscient so He is the faithful and true historical witness knowing all things from before time began to after it will end. ◘Jesus’ character as the Amen and being faithful and true means He is also the perfect ethical witness for His testimony is always full and true without even the slightest hint of deception. All of this makes what He will say about the Laodiceans very serious and they will need to take His warnings to heart.
◘ The third descriptive title is that He is “the Beginning of the creation of God.” This parallels the correction Paul gave in Colossians 3 in combating a heresy that sought to diminish the Person of Christ by a claim that He is not so exceptional. Heretical groups throughout the centuries have sought to do this by denying Jesus’ deity. They will even use this phrase or the one in Colossians 1:15 that He is “firstborn of all creation” to claim Jesus is only the first created being. This allows for the practical denial of Jesus’ authority to give commands, expect faithfulness from them, and keep His promises of judgment. They ignore the plain meaning of the words in the context and the many other Scriptures that clearly proclaim Jesus to be eternal and God. The term beginning here, ajrchv / arche, is in the active sense of “beginner,” “originator,” “initiator,” and not the passive sense of “one begun.” ◘Jesus is the “living one” (Rev. 1:8) who is the “I am” being one with the Father (John 8:58; 10:30) and the “the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end” (Rev. 22:13). In the beginning He was face to face with God and was God and was with God with all things coming into being through Him and apart from Him nothing coming into being that has come into being (John 1:1-3). Jesus is the source of all creation and not a result of it.
◘ These titles and descriptions parallel corrections to false doctrine warned about in Ephesians and Colossians. They begin the strong warning for the Laodiceans to pay attention to the corrections that will be made.
◘The Assessment – Revelation 3:15
As with all the other letters Jesus begins His assessment of them with the declaration, “I know,” which is a statement of His having full knowledge of their past and present for He is omniscient. The specific of what He declares to know about the Laodiceans is the same as for the churches in Ephesus, Thyatira, Sardis and Philadelphia, “I know your deeds.” ◘Deeds or works (e[rga / erga) is a general term referring to the things they actively did and by direct implication means He also knows the things they did not do.
◘ Jesus’ assessment of their deeds resulted in His conclusion, 15 “that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot.” There is no commendation in this verse or anywhere else in the passage. Jesus uses a physical characteristic with which they were well acquainted and applies it to their spiritual condition. ◘ I mentioned earlier that Colossae was well known for having water that was abundant, fresh, cold and therefore refreshing. ◘It was also known that the thermal springs near Heiroplis were hot. Since Laodicea was at a lower elevation and imported their water through aqueducts the water that arrived there was neither hot or cold. It was lukewarm, tepid. ◘Jesus’ wish is that they were either cold or hot. The grammar here implies that this is an unattainable wish and so has the sense of “this is unfortunately not so.” The extremes of cold or hot were better than being lukewarm.
Jesus exposes their spiritual condition as not being at either end of the possibilities. ◘They are not spiritually hot such as Apollos who is described in Acts 18:25-26 as “being fervent (hot) in spirit” so that he was bold to speak out in the synagogue. The same verb form of the word is used in Romans 12:11 which includes being “fervent in spirit” among the many characteristics listed in the passage that should be true of all Christians. In the context of that passage that is the normal way Christians are to live as they strive to be living and holy sacrifices to the Lord with lives transformed by the renewing of their minds and demonstrating God’s good, acceptable and perfect will instead of being conformed to the world.
◘ Being spiritually cold would be the opposite of that. Instead of being fervent in spirit it is someone that is cold towards the things of the spirit. That would be an unbeliever who rejects the gospel and does not want to hear about it any further. In saying that the condition of being cold would be preferable is a strong indictment against being lukewarm. ◘There is more hope for a declared non-Christian to be convicted of sin, repent and believe than for someone who professes to be a Christian but is lukewarm and so does not recognize the seriousness of their condition and repent to demonstrate genuine faith. The description given in the verses that follow give the specific indictments against them which also use allusions to important characteristics of the city to expose their spiritual condition.
◘The Actions Promised – Revelation 3:16-17
16 “So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. 17 ‘Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.”
That is a very strong statement of rejection followed by the explanation of the reasons they were so blind to their actual condition. ◘This is the only place in the Bible that this term, cliarovV / chliaros, translated as lukewarm appears. The reaction to trying to drink such water expresses how repulsive it is. The NASB tones this down translating it as “I will spit you out of my mouth.” Young’s Literal Translation brings out the full descriptive meaning, “I am about to vomit thee out of my mouth.” This is a warning of an imminent visceral reaction to their repugnant, sickening condition, ◘yet, in the fact that it is “about to happen” and was not already taking place is an opportunity for the repentance commanded in verse 19. Such is the longsuffering nature of God who would have been just and right to have already judged, condemned and rejected them to instead warn and give an opportunity to repent. Praise the Lord for His patient longsuffering otherwise no human would be left alive.
◘ Their condition has been brought on by their blindness to reality. They considered themselves to be like their city, rich, wealthy and lacking any need, and Laodicea was very wealthy. When it was destroyed by an earthquake in A.D. 60 it turned down the help offered by the emperor and not only rebuilt itself but also helped some other cities also affected by the earthquake to rebuild. They were the opposite of the Church in Smyrna which was impoverished in the things of this world but rich in the things of God. The Laodiceans were wealthy in the things of the world and impoverished in the things of God.
The rest of the indictment details the contrast between their claim of wealth and their real spiritual condition – “wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.” ◘Wretched describes a deplorably bad state. Paul uses this word in Romans 7:24 to describe the state of wanting to do good but having the principle of evil in the members of his body which waged war against the law of his mind to make him a prisoner of the law of sin which was in his members. The only hope is that Jesus Christ does not condemn those who are in Him and will set us free from this body of death. ◘Miserable is being in a condition that is to be pitied. Paul uses this word in 1 Corinthians 15:19 to describe the condition of those whose hope turned out to be based in a lie and so wasted their lives in a foolish quest. ◘The word “poor” here refers to being destitute such as the poor man described in James 2:2 who only has ragged clothing. All three of these conditions are the opposite of being wealthy.
◘To be blind is be without the ability to see. They lived in a city famous for eye medications to cure eye diseases but they were without spiritual sight. ◘They lived in a city famous for its wool and the clothing produced from it, but they were naked, without clothes. They were spiritually the opposite of their self evaluation because man looks at the outside while God looks at the heart. They saw their material wealth as a sign of God’s blessing, but it actually was a curse on them blinding them to spiritual reality (Matt. 19:24; 1 Tim. 6:9).
◘ This description of the lukewarm makes it clear that these are people in the church who profess to be Christians but whose hearts are not set on Christ to believe and walk with Him. They may have the trappings of Christianity but they do not recognize that Jesus is outside of their lives and their profession of being Christians is false. The fact that there is no mention of any kind of persecution they are suffering is another indicator these are not true Christians for there is not enough of the reality of Christ in them to cause the pagans and non-believing Jews to react against them.
◘The Advice – Revelation 3:18
Jesus next gives advice to them on what they need to do to change their condition while giving further exposure to what was wrong with them using further analogies related to the characteristics of the city. 18 “I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.”
Note first that Jesus is giving advice here, an invitation that leads and draws instead of demands. This is given as irony of a church that thinks of itself as self-sufficient due to its wealth and yet needs counsel on some basic matters. Jesus invites them to purchase from Him three things which would solve their problems: refined gold, white garments and eye salve with each representing something of high spiritual value. ◘None of these can actually be purchased with material wealth, but holding on to material wealth will keep you from being able to acquire them because as Jesus pointed out in Matthew 6:24, you cannot serve two masters. You cannot serve both God and wealth. The invitation to purchase from Him what cannot actually be bought with material wealth reflects the invitation in Isaiah 55:1–3 (LSB), 1 “Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost. 2 “Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And delight your soul in richness. 3 “Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that your soul may live; And I will cut an everlasting covenant with you, According to the faithful lovingkindnesses of David.”
◘ Refined gold is made pure by the fire purging it of all its impurities. The gold referred to here is the new and pure heart that comes by true faith in Christ who supplies all our needs. Jesus points out in Luke 12:21 that the “man who stores up treasure for himself is not rich toward God.” It is those who are rich in faith that inherit the kingdom of God even if they are the poor of this world. The testing of faith produces maturity (James 1:3-4) and such faith is more precious than gold (1 Peter 1:7). ◘True faith would remove their problem of being spiritually wretched, miserable and poor.
◘ White garments are consistently related to purity, and in Revelation signify the purity of the righteousness of the saints which is imputed by Christ on the basis of faith and is then practically expressed in lives lived in increasing righteousness. The white garments here are set as a contrast to the black wool garments for which the city was famous and part of their self-sufficiency. ◘To really believe and walk in faith with Jesus solves their problem of being spiritually naked.
◘ The eye salve is in direct contrast to the eye medications for which the city was famous and another aspect of their self-sufficiency. They thought they could solve their own vision problems. Jesus invites them to receive from Him the cure to their spiritual blindness which is the anointing of Holy Spirit (1 John 2:20) to enlighten and quicken them to receive the gospel message of salvation by God’s grace through faith in the person and work of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:1-6).
◘The Command – Revelation 3:19
In the next verse Jesus states His action and reason for it along with His command to them on how they were to respond. 19 “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.” ◘This is an abrupt change from the previous warning that because they were lukewarm He was about to vomit them out of His mouth. This is a statement revealing God’s character that gives hope even to those in the most difficult position of being lukewarm. While there may have been some genuine Christians in Laodicea just as there were still a few cells alive in the spiritually dead corpse of the church in Sardis, this is addressed to the whole church as verse 20 indicates and not just that remnant.
◘Note that the word for love here is filevw / phileo, the love of personal affection and not ajgapavw / agapaō as used in vs 9 for the church in Philadelphia. This is a surprising word choice for it conveys a more emotional element extended to the church in the most precarious position of being lukewarm and therefore the most resistant to God due to their self-sufficient indifference toward Him. Even when we lose hope for others hope still remains because of this aspect of God’s amazing character.
◘ It is out of this love that God acts to reprove and discipline. Both are corrective measures with the difference being that reproof is verbal and discipline is action. The Lord seeks to correct by words first, but then brings actions to bear as needed. Discipline has a primary meaning of instruct and train but also takes on the meaning of chasten when used as a corrective measure. The usage here does not carry the special paternal character as in Proverbs 3:12 and Hebrews 12:6. ◘This is in keeping with the Holy Spirit’s work in convicting (reproving) the world concerning sin, righteousness and judgment (John 16:8) and the correction of those in opposition (2 Timothy 2:25) and teaching them not to sin (1 Timothy 1:20).
◘The commanded response to this loving reproof and discipline is to be zealous and repent. Zealous is related to the word for hot and repent it to change the mind and attitude resulting in a change of manner of life. Instead of being lukewarm they were to become hot by a change in belief resulting in living a life of faith in Christ. That is the only way they would be able to avoid being vomited out by Him.
◘The Plea & Promise – Revelation 3:20
The actions of Christ’s affection for them even in their current state continues in verse 20. 20 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.” This is beautiful illustration describing the common practice of that time that you both knock on a door and call out verbally identifying yourself in the effort to get the person inside to open the door to you. ◘Jesus calls attention to His actions, “behold,” which are all in the present tense. He was currently standing, knocking and calling out to them to open the door. The tragic part is that He is outside the church in Laodicea having to do this instead of already being inside. ◘The promise to dine with the one who opens the door and he with Him refers to the usual occasion for hospitality and fellowship in Biblical times. The same is true today. Eating together is the normal way for people to share in a close relationship with each other.
◘As in the other letters there is both an immediate and eschatological element in the commands and promises. These are commands that are to be obeyed right now and these are promises that have an element which will be kept right now. There is an eschatological element of a future time when the promises will be kept in their fullness. The next verse points directly to that future time.
◘The Overcomer – Revelation 3:21
21 “He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” The overcomer is the true Christian who overcomes sin to receive eternal life by faith in Christ. ◘The promise here is similar to the one given to the overcomer in Thyatira in 2:26-27 to rule with Christ in His coming kingdom. That is when Jesus will sit on David’s throne as prophesied in the Davidic covenant (2 Samuel 7) and will be fulfilled when Jesus comes in His glory (Matthew 25:30). Jesus overcame by His sacrifice on the cross for the sins of man after which He rose from the dead and then ascended to be seated at the right hand of the right hand of God (Eph 1:20; Hebrew 1:3; 10:12; 12:2).
◘The Call to All – Revelation 3:22
The letter ends as do all the previous ones, 22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” This applies the principles given in this letter to every Christian and every church in every place and throughout time.
◘Conclusions
Every one of these seven letters has continued to be relevant to Christians and churches in all places throughout the church age because there always has been and will continue to be until Jesus returns Christians and churches that will be of similar characteristics and in similar situations. The principles in the letters are to be carefully considered and applied. ◘There is much encouragement to be found in the commendations given about what was good and being done right. There is much correction and warning to take to heart in the condemnations and commands about what was bad and being done wrong. There is much hope in the promises given to those who repent. ◘There is much joy in the promises given to the overcomer all of which are related to what will happen in the future in preparation for, during and after Jesus’ millennial reign. There will be the marriage supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:7-9, cf. Rev. 2:17; 3:20), reigning with Christ during the Millennium (Rev. 20:4, cf. Rev. 2:26-28; 3:21), your name in the Lamb’s book of life and escape from the second death (Rev. 20:6. 15, cf. Rev. 2:11; 3:5), a place in the New Jerusalem coming down from heaven, being in fellowship with God and worshiping Him (Rev. 21, cf. Rev. 3:12), and eating of the tree of life in the garden of God where there is no longer any curse (Rev. 22:1-3, Rev. 2:7). If you are an overcomer, rejoice in God’s promises to you. ◘If you are not, you can become one by turning from your sin and self to belief and trust the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Sermon Notes – April 6, 2025
Laodicea: The Lukewarm Church – Revelation 3:14-22
Introduction
Ephesus: Commended for deeds, doctrine & moral judgment, but left first love: Remember, _______, Redo
Smyrna: Severely oppressed by Pagan society so impoverished, but rich in things of God: ________faithful
Pergamum: Severely oppressed including martyrdom, but tolerated false doctrine: ____________
Thyatira: Increased love, faith, service & perseverance, but tolerated false teacher & doctrine: __________
Sardis: Spiritually dead: The few cells alive to strengthen, be alert, remember, keep, __________
Philadelphia: Commended without any correction. Promises of provision and ____________.
The Letter to the Church at Laodicea – Revelation 3:14-22
The Address – Revelation 3:14a
The Recipient: The angel – a ___________ messenger – to the church in Laodicea
The City of Laodicea:
Located in Lycus valley ~100 east of Ephesus, ~40 miles southeast of Philadelphia, on major _________
Defensible location except for need to import __________ via aqueduct – it arrived tepid
Founded < 253 B.C. by Antiochus II & named after his wife. A ____of populations / cultures / religions
Judicial seat; very _______commercial, financial and manufacturing center: Black wool, medicines (eye)
Probably founded by Epaphras ~c. 53-57. Paul was aware & ________ to them, but had not been there
The Author – Revelation 3:14b
The Amen – used as a title / personal name for Jesus. It means fixed, true, unchangeable implies _________
The faithful & true Witness – Legal: Jesus has legal ________in all things for all created through & for Him
Historical: Being eternal & omniscient He is the true witness for_________before, throughout and after time
Ethical: Jesus’ witness is always _________________without any deception
The Beginning of the creation of God – not a created being but the “____________” of all creation
These titles & descriptions parallel corrections to false doctrine _________about in Ephesians & Colossians
The Assessment & Promises – Revelation 3:15
Jesus’ Knowledge: Jesus has full knowledge of their past and present for He is ______________
Jesus knows _____the deeds they did – and what they did not do. Assessment: they were neither cold nor hot
Jesus’ wish is that they were either cold or hot for the _____________were better than being lukewarm
Hot refers to being __________in spirit like Apollos (Acts 18:25-26) or Christians are to be (Romans 12:11)
Cold is the opposite of having ___________ the gospel and not wanting to hear any more
Being lukewarm is a very serious condition for there is greater hope for those who are ________
The Actions Promised – Revelation 3:16-17
Jesus warns the visceral reaction to what is lukewarm is to _____it out – which was about to happen to them
There is hope given for that had not yet happened due to God’s ___________________ nature
Their great wealth blinded them to their need – they were the opposite of the church in ____________
Wretched: ___________bad state – Romans 7:24. Miserable: a condition to be _________- 1 Cor. 15:9
Poor: ________as in James 2:2 wearing ragged clothes. Blind: without the ability to see. Naked: No clothes
The lukewarm are professing Christians whose _________are not set on Christ to believe or walk with Him
The Advice – Revelation 3:18
Jesus advises them to buy what cannot be purchased with ___________ wealth – see Isaiah 55:1-3
Fire purifies gold. ______, which is more precious, is the gold here (1 Pt 1:7) & is refined by trial (Jm 1:3-4)
________________would remove their problem of being spiritually wretched, miserable and poor
White garments relates to _____& in Revelation is righteousness imputed to the Saints who live accordingly
To really believe and walk in __________with Jesus solves their problem of being spiritually naked
The eye salve here is the Holy Spirit removing spiritual blindness enabling ___________in the gospel
The Command – Revelation 3:19
An abrupt change from the previous warning revealing God’s ________________love even to the lukewarm
Out of love God reproves (correcting by __________) & disciplines (correct by __________- chasten)
The Holy Spirit convicts (______) the world (Jn 16:8). Those in opposition / sin are chastened (2 Tim 2:25)
They were to be zealous (become ______) to repent (change belief resulting in living a life of faith in Christ)
The Plea & Promise – Revelation 3:20
A beautiful illustration of Jesus standing, knocking & calling for the door to be opened – but He is _______!
The promise to dine is one of close, personal ______________
The Overcomer – Revelation 3:21
The overcomer, the true Christian, will ________________Christ in His millennial kingdom
The Call to All – Revelation 3:22. The principles in the letter apply to ___Christians / churches throughout time
Conclusions
Be encouraged by the commendations, take to heart the condemnations & warnings, _______in the promises
Overcomers __________in the promises to be fulfilled in preparation for, during & after the Millennium
You can become an overcomer by turning from your sin & self to _________& trust the Savior, Jesus Christ
KIDS KORNER – Parents, you are responsible to apply God’s Word to your children’s lives. Here is some help. Young Children – draw a picture about something you hear during the sermon. Explain your picture(s) to your parents at lunch. Older Children – Do one or more of the following:1) Count how many times a reference is made to Laodicea. 2) Talk with your parents about the differences between true & false professions of faith.
THINK ABOUT IT – Questions to consider in understanding the sermon and its application. What have you learned from the previous six letters? Describe the characteristics of Laodicea: Geography, history, culture, commerce, religion, founding of the church. What is the significance of each of the descriptions Jesus gives of Himself (vs. 14)? Why is Jesus’ assessment that they were neither hot nor cold so condemning? What would Jesus prefer they were cold? What is His reaction to being lukewarm? What hope is given in the action being imminent but had not yet happened? How does the description of their lukewarmness – wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked – demonstrate these are people with false professions of faith? How would following Jesus’ advice resolve the problems in His assessment? Why would Jesus still love the lukewarm and how is that demonstrated? How would obedience to Jesus’ commands change them from being lukewarm? Why is Revelation 3:20 both very encouraging and very tragic? What is promised to those that open the door? What is promised to the overcomer? List all the promises to the overcomer in these letters? Are you an overcomer?
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