The Lukewarm Church

To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:

The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Origin of the creation of God, says this:

“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have no need of anything,” and you do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked, 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 the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to apply to your eyes so that you may see. Those whom I love, I rebuke and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. 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. The one who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat with My Father on His throne. The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Rev 3:14-22 NASB)

This letter is making its final stop of its route in Laodicea.

Christ identifies himself to the Laodiceans as, “The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Origin of the creation of God”.  The word “Amen” means “truly”.  The word was derived from the word meaning to stand firm, to be certain.  In Isaiah 65:16, it is translated as “God of truth”.  Here, Jesus declares Himself to be the God of truth.  As the God of truth, He guarantees the promises of God.  You can have faith in everything He says.

Just like the church in Sardis, Christ has no commendation for this church.  How terrible it must be for Jesus to have nothing good to say about you!

Jesus gives a strong rebuke to this church.  He first tells them that they are neither hot nor cold.  Prior to accepting Christ, they were cold (spiritually).  After salvation, they became hot, or zealous for Christ.  But, since then, they have been drifting away and are lukewarm.  Stanley Horton writes:

No longer hot enough to respond to the Spirit’s moving, not yet cold enough to realize their need, they were neither accomplishing anything for God nor responding to calls for repentance.  Jesus wishes they were either cold or hot, for then He could do something with them.

This condition makes Jesus sick, to the degree that He will vomit them out of His mouth.  Basically, He is promising to reject this church.

Laodicea was known as a city of commerce.  This city was built as a hub of the trade routes.  As such, the people of Laodicea had become wealthy.  Their concerns for the things of the world had replaced their zeal for God.  They are the embodiment of the seed sown among the thorns (Matt. 13:22).  They thought they did not need anything.  However, Jesus says that they don’t even realize that they have become “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked”.  This description is interesting.  They think they are rich, yet Christ says they are poor.  Jesus says they are blind, yet they are known for selling “Phrygian powder”, an eye salve.

Even after this sharp rebuke, Jesus offers them hope, a chance for redemption.  He tells them to come and buy from Him.  Isaiah describes coming to the Lord to purchase the things they need, “without money” (see Is. 55:1-2).  The things that Jesus offers to sell them:

• Gold.  Instead of seeking the world’s wealth, they could buy from Him treasures in Heaven (see Matt. 6:19-20).
• White garments. Throughout Revelation, the “white clothes” represents clothing of righteousness (see 19:8).
• Eye salve. This city already had an abundant supply of eye salve, but Christ offers them a spiritual salve.  This would open their eyes so that they could see the spiritual state in which they have become.

Jesus’ rebuke of the Laodiceans is harsh.  When they read it in this letter, they might be taken aback, or think that they have lost the love of God.  But Christ makes a point to tell them that’s not the case:

Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. (Rev. 3:19-20 ESV)

For a people who have lost their zeal for God, Christ tells them to be zealous and repent.  Instead of swift judgment on this church, He disciplines them.  The point of discipline is to correct.  The goal of that correction – for His people to repent and come back to Him.  Yet He says that He is seeking them out and knocking on the door of their hearts.  Still, it is up to them to open it to Him.  Then, He will enter and have fellowship with them.

His promise to the overcomers: “I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.” (Rev 3:21 ESV).  To sit on His throne with Him means that they will share the kingdom reign with Christ.

Each of the seven messages, one to each church, is specific to that church, yet is universal in nature for everyone throughout time.  At the end of each message, Jesus includes, “Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.” (HCSB)

John Stott wrote concerning the church at Laodicea:

Perhaps none of the seven letters is more appropriate to the 20th century church than this.  It describes vividly the respectable, sentimental, nominal, skin-deep religiosity which is so widespread today.  Our Christianity is flabby and anemic.  We appear to have taken a lukewarm bath of religion.  Zeal, heat, fire, passion – these are the qualities we lack today and desperately need.

He wrote those words 65 years ago.  We can probably substitute 21st for 20th and it still makes sense today.

Do you still serve Jesus with the zeal you once had?  Is your fire still burning bright, or are you left with smoldering ashes that get cooler by the minute?  If you find that you have become lukewarm, Christ is waiting for you.  He stands at the door and knocks.  Will you open and let Him in?