The Context Of Lukewarm Christian
In the first few chapters of Revelation John records a message from God to seven churches. These are real churches that existed in Johns day, however, the messages are not exclusive to these churches. They stand as representations of all churches.
In Revelation 3:14-22 it is the church of Laodicea thats being addressed. In other words, these verses are addressed to followers of Jesus. Often we picture this passage written to the unbeliever as a warning. But thats not who this is addressed to.
A few verses after Revelation 3:16 is the famous image of Jesus knocking on the door in Revelation 3:20. Both of these verses are addressed to the church. Its not a warning to unbelievers, rather its the result of Christians wandering way for God.
This passage is about how we as believers can become lukewarm and feel we are self-sufficient. In doing so we push Jesus out and leave Him standing on the outside of the door. Thats the picture this verse is painting, Jesus standing outside a Christians heart asking to come in.
If you want to read more about Revelation 3:20 I wrote a post about it here: What Revelation 3:20 Really Means
Before we can dive into the implications of this verse and how it applies to us today we need to look alike deeper into the original audience.
Are Lukewarm Christians Saved
Salvation is a beautiful gift. Although God did His part to make it available to everyone, scripture makes it very clear that there will be people who miss out on it.
In Matthew chapter 7 Jesus is talking to His disciples about the Kingdom of Heaven and He says to them,
Enter by the narrow gate for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life and there are few who find it. Matthew 7:13-14
Shortly after that Jesus warns again,
Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven. Matthew 7:21
A lukewarm church is a church that believe a polluted gospel, one that leads them away from doing the will of God and away from a relationship with Jesus.
If a relationship with Jesus and commitment to walking with Gods are two essentials for salvation then lukewarm church has a big problem!
I believe thats why God had this message writing to the church of Laodicea and preserved through the Bible.
He wanted to warn them that complacency and compromise could cost them more than they could imagine. This is why in the next portions of Revelation chapter 3 He offers the people both correction but hope.
Bible Verses About Being Lukewarm
Bible verses related to Being Lukewarm from the King James Version by Relevance
Revelation 3:15-16 – I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 2 Timothy 3:5 – Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.James 4:4 – Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.Matthew 7:21 – Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.James 1:22 – But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
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Search the King James Version for more references about Being Lukewarm…
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Christs Solution To Being Lukewarm
Readers can find a practical and important solution interwoven throughout the nine verses in this description of the Laodicean church in Revelations 3:14-22. This passage also contains one of the most familiar verses in all the Bible,
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me .
The context of these verses makes it clear that this is not an appeal to unbelievers. The Lord here is not asking those who have not put their faith and trust in Christ to open the door of their hearts to accept Him as their own personal Savior.
These people were already church members who were already a part of Gods family. Their problem here was not that they werent saved, it was that they were lukewarm Christians and were just going through the motions of their halfhearted faith.
Christ is asking His people to open the door of their hearts to a genuine and consistent walk with Him. He wants His followers to willingly enjoy a deep fellowship with Him that can be both fervent and refreshing.
He wants believers to listen to Him and to follow His lead. He wants His people to willingly and enthusiastically serve Him with sincere hearts.
This passage contains an impassioned plea from the Savior to the lukewarm people of Laodicea, be zealous and repent, He writes in verse 19. The word zealous means to be deeply committed to something and the word repent means to turn around or to go back.
Sign #6 To Know If Youre A Lukewarm Christian: Lukewarm Christians Love Others Who Love Them Back
One of the other signs of a lukewarm Christian is that they have a limited capacity for love. Their love for others is usually focused on those who will love them in return. They might be able to love others who dont love them back a little. But they definitely do not have any room in their hearts to love those who have intentionally hurt them. Lukewarm Christians love others conditionally and are highly selective with whom they share their love with.
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You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Matthew 5:43-47
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Are You A Lukewarm Christian
Heres How You Can Know.
What does it mean to be a lukewarm Christian?
As we dive into this question I want you to know, I have nothing but love for those of you reading this. The topic of being a lukewarm Christian can be a hard one to work through because it means confronting a lot of behaviors that have become normal for many of us.
I say us because admittedly, Ive been there too.
This article is a combination of what Ive learned through my own experience and through personal Bible study.
A few things we need to know about lukewarm Christianity lets start with the lukewarm Christian definition.
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Lukewarm means neither hot nor cold. In the context of faith, the lukewarm meaning in the Bible describes someone who hasnt blatantly denied Jesus but isnt blatantly living for Him either. They have lukewarm faith faith in name, but not in action.
You can find what the Bible has to say about being hot or cold in Revelation chapter 5:14-22. Well be examining those verses more in this article as well.
To sum it up in a simple sentence: lukewarm faith is faith that doesnt affect the way you live.
Its interesting that the term lukewarm Christian even exists, because what makes Christian a Christian is their belief in Jesus, their love for Him. and their commitment to the will of God.
You become a lukewarm Christian when you allow your love of God to fade.
S Of What A Lukewarm Christian Means
This passage is full of images that would have struck a chord with the Laodicean Christians. When we read this we focus heavily on the lukewarm part. As we look at what this verse means for us I want to flip this focus. Rather than focus on the negatives of being lukewarm, I want to focus on the ideal, what we should be striving for.
Since this an image-driven passage I want to give you three images of what followers of Jesus should be like.
A Cold Drink On A Hot Day
Is there anything more refreshing than a cold drink on a hot day? A cold drink tastes so much better when youve been in the sun on a hot day.
Compare that to a water bottle that sat in the sun while you were working the yard. When you take a swig of that its out of necessity, not enjoyment. Theres no refreshment.
A cold drink on a hot day is the perfect refreshment. You instantly feel it. As it makes its way through your overheated body it refreshes and restores you. It brings you back to life.
Thats the picture of what followers of Jesus should be like to those around them. We should be refreshing, restoring, life-giving. The world is looking for refreshment, but often all they can find is a lukewarm bottle of water that been sitting in the sun all day. We should be a refreshing drink on a hot day.
Hot Tea On A Sore Throat
Theres just something about the heat of the liquid as it slides down your throat that provides comfort in the midst of your pain.
We Are Mere Beggars
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Value The Wisdom And Counsel Of The Lord
We live in a society that teaches us to find wisdom in people. Unfortunately, people fail. Our wisdom fails. Thats why its important for us to value Gods wisdom the counsel of the Bible and Holy Spirit above any other voice.
In Proverbs 1:7 were advised, The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Wisdom starts and ends with the counsel of the Lord.
A lukewarm Christian will lean on the unstable guidance philosophers, thought leaders, and world figures. A genuine Christian will lean on Gods wisdom even when it requires them to go against the grain.
For the Lord gives wisdom from His mouth come knowledge and understanding He stores up sound wisdom for the upright He is a shield to those who walk uprightly.Proverbs 2:6-7
Bible Verses Warning Against Being A ‘lukewarm’ Christian
Jesus made some very harsh warnings about being a lukewarm Christian. That is, a Christian who is not fully committed to following Christ in every area of their life. Christianity really is ‘all or nothing’ said Jesus, so we should take these 8 Bible verses, provided by Alannah Francis at Christian Today, very seriously when it comes to assessing whether we are completely devoted to our savior.
1. 1 John 2:15-16“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the worldthe lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of lifecomes not from the Father but from the world.”
2. Titus 1:16“They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.”
3. Matthew 7:21-23“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'”
4. Luke 6:46“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”
5. Revelation 3:15-16“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarmneither hot nor coldI am about to spit you out of my mouth”
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Where I Didnt Glance: The Bible
When I was lukewarm, Gods book was collecting dust in my room, unopened.
Then God led me to his word and saved me. God met a miserable, 65 hobbit in his cold, dank, dorm room, making him alive through his Spirit and his word. The lukewarm churchianity was consumed by living faith in the consuming God of the Bible.
There I read that you must be born again to enter the kingdom . There I read that loving Jesus above all others father, mother, son, daughter, spouse wasnt just for super Christians but for all who would follow Jesus . There I read that God was disgusted with me for drawing near with my mouth before meals and on Sunday morning, while my heart remained far from him . There I read that I could search the Scriptures in a thousand Bible studies and yet refuse to truly go to Jesus and have life .
There I read that I couldnt be good enough to put God in my debt . That in no way could I please him while I lived in the flesh . There I read that I was rightfully cursed for not loving Jesus and that the punishment would be everlasting torment .
There I read that God wasnt a socially awkward kid in the lunchroom desperate for anyone to sit with him. There I read that his very name is King of kings and Lord of lords to whom every single knee in creation will bow . There I read that he did not need me that if I refused to worship him, rocks would . There I read that I was created for his glory, not he for mine .
Sign #2 To Know If Youre A Lukewarm Christian: Lukewarm Christians Are Easily Inspired By Stories Of Radical Christians
Another one of the signs of a lukewarm Christian is that they often love hearing stories about other Christians who did all these radical things for Jesus Christ, yet they do not act. They are easily inspired and will give praised to their friends who may be doing radical things with a I think that is so awesome!or I wish I was more like you, but they do nothing about it. They naturally assume that such boldness and radicalness is for the super intense or extreme Christians and not just the typical, everyday Christians. Lukewarm people call radical what Jesus had expected from every single one of His followers.
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If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesnt do it, it is sin for them. James 4:17
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Acknowledge Your Need For Jesus
We all need Jesus. There isnt one person in this world who can be saved for eternity without Him. In Romans 3:23 Paul teaches, For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
A few chapters later in Romans 6:23 Paul states, For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Salvation for eternity can only be found in Jesus. We are not sufficient on our own.
Overcoming spiritual lukewarmness requires us to confess our need for Jesus. Next on the agenda is building a relationship with Him. Learn more about building a relationship with Jesus in this article.
If you confess with your mouth that the Lord Jesus and believe in your hearts the God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9
Correction And Hope For The Lukewarm Christian Church
I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your wickedness may not be revealed and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Revelation 3:18-19
God is not willing to embrace a lukewarm church. He is however willing to embrace a repentant church!
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Delight In Sound Biblical Counsel
There are a lot of voices that fight for space in our minds. Some of them are intentionally deceptive, some of them have good intentions but are misleading, others are ignorant and then theres the Bible, the counsel of the Lord.
Find joy in obtaining wisdom that comes from God.
In Psalm 1:1-3 David says, Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful, But his delight is in the law of the Lord and in His law, he meditates day and night.
One way to not be a lukewarm Christian is to find joy in studying the Bible and spending time with God.
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