Luke Warm Believers, Follow Up

Q

My question is in reference to the question “how can a believer be lukewarm?” Could you reconcile where the Bible tells us that Jesus wishes we are either hot or cold, but because we are lukewarm, He will spew us out of his mouth?

Unfortunately, I feel that I am probably a lukewarm Christian, continuing to fall into a particular sin. I know my sin is wrong, I really want to stop, but I am having hard times brother.

A

You’re thinking about the letter to the Church in Laodicea, Rev. 3:14-22, with the reference to “lukewarm” being v.16. Luke warm doesn’t have to do with our actions but our beliefs. We know this because of the Lord’s promise in John 6:37 that whoever comes to Him, He will never drive away.

When you read the letter to Laodicea notice that these are people who believe they’re rich and don’t need anything, and that the Lord is standing outside the door trying to get in. He’s obviously talking to a group that thinks of itself as a church but really isn’t one. It views itself as wealthy and self-sufficient, when the Lord views it as wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.

In the order in which they’re listed the churches of Rev. 2-3 represent stages in the Church age. Laodicea comes last, after the Church of Philadelphia, whom the Lord promised to keep from the hour of trial coming upon the World. If Philadelphia is the Raptured Church, then Laodicea is the church that’s left behind.

The fact that you realize you’re a sinner who knows that your behavior can never please the Lord means you can’t be luke warm in the context of the Lord’s definition. Keep coming to Him for forgiveness. None of your sins surprise Him because He knew about and died for all of them (Col. 2:13-15), and He will never drive you away.