Lately, I’ve been struggling with this concept of believing that we have been made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. If this is the case and God sees us that way, why would Jesus “judge” the works of the Laodicean Church in Revelation chapter 3? We are saved by grace not works, but it seems these guys’ works (or lack of them) was going to determine if Jesus cut them off or not.
The fact that our righteousness is imputed to us by faith because of what we believe is stated in Romans 3:21-24. It has made us a new creation in God’s sight (2 Cor. 5:17) having the righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:21). But the Laodicean Church didn’t believe that. They thought they were spiritually rich and didn’t need anything, not realizing they lacked the only thing that could save them. Without the Lord, they were spiritually destitute (Rev. 3:17). As evidence of this, look where the Lord is. He’s outside knocking on the door asking to be invited in (Rev. 3:20).
The church in Laodicea was filled with believers in name only, and is a model of the end times apostate church. Not having the righteousness imputed to them by faith, they can only be judged according to their works. And no works, no matter how plentiful, can substitute for this. That’s why He’s about to spit them out of His mouth.