#47 – The Lukewarm Church

(Revelation 3:15-17)…..¹⁵ “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. ¹⁶ So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.  ¹⁷ Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked…..

(Colossians 2:1-10)…..For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, ² that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, ³ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. ⁴ Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. ⁵ For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. ⁶ As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, ⁷ rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. ⁸ Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. ⁹ For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; ¹⁰ and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

The lukewarm state of the Laodicean’s may be due to the lack of wisdom and knowledge to counteract their culture, both being only found in the Father and the Christ. Paul in his epistle to the Colossians, lays out steps to spiritual maturity, in which it was to be applied to those in Laodicea also.

1. Rooted – Christ must be the FOUNDATION and SOURCE OF NUTRITION in our lives (like tree depends upon its roots) (John 15:1-8) (Ephesians 3:17)
2. Built up in Him, growing into the building He would have us to be (Jude 1:20) (Ephesians 2:20-22)
3. Established in the faith, well grounded in the teachings of Christ , and living by them (1 Corinthians 15:8) (2 Peter 3:17-18)
4. Bounding in it with thanksgiving, overflowing with an attitude of gratitude – (Colossians 1:12-13) (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
5. Beware lest anyone cheat you, beware of dangers which would hinder your spiritual growth through philosophy and empty deceit

Philosophies such as, Atheism – Evolution – Humanism – Traditions of Men – things that lack the wisdom of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ - can lead one away from the pure and simple doctrine of Jesus Christ Ephesians 5:6) (Hebrews 13:9) (2 John 8-11) (1 Timothy 6:20)

• Is it possible that those in Laodicea were not – rooted – built up in Him – established in the faith – bounding in it with thanksgiving – and this was contributing to there lukewarmness

So beware - when anyone suggests that you need the philosophies or traditions of men in addition to or instead of Jesus Christ

1. In the Father and Jesus Christ are found ALL the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (2:3)
2. In Jesus Christ is to be found the FULLNESS of the Godhead bodily (2:9)
3. In Jesus Christ we (the believer in Christ) are COMPLETE (2:10)

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