The letter to the church in Laodicea

Believers, believe right. See Christ's message to the church in Laodicea, which still exists today in the form of beliefs held by some Christians.

Revelation 3: 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—"

Notice Christ said "I could wish you were cold or hot." Most of my life, I was taught that "hot" here means doing your best to be right with God obeying the Ten Commandments and doing good things. But the “hot” here is definitely not doing our best at keeping the Law in order to gain right-standing with God while still calling on Jesus, as many teach and believe. The law is not of faith. Trying to obey the law to get right with God is being faithless. It is also the way to get cut off from Christ and fall from grace. See Galatians 5:4-

"For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace."

The Law demands perfect obedience from those who try to keep it, but no one can be made righteous in the sight of God by law-keeping. See Romans 3:20- "For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands..."

Romans 5:9 says of our heavenly Father in Christ: "And there is still much more to say of His unfailing love for us! For through the blood of Jesus we have heard the powerful declaration, “You are now righteous in My sight.” And because of the sacrifice of Jesus, you will never experience the wrath of God."

But thanks to the preaching of something else that is not the gospel of Christ, many Christians are still trying to get right with God through works of the Law, after Christ died and rose to put us right with God. Such make Christ's death meaningless in their lives; Galatians 2:21 says: "I refuse to reject the grace of God. But if a person is put right with God through the Law, it means that Christ died for nothing!"

Believers, our right-standing with God has nothing to do with what we do/did or how well we keep the Law. It's got all to do with what Christ has done, because God loved us so. It's a gift without which one cannot be free from the grip of sin. Romans 5:19 tells us:

"By one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous."

2 Corinthians 5:21 tells us "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

Back to Christ's word in Revelation 3: "I could wish you were cold or hot."

The interpretation of being "hot" as Christians doing their best to keep the Law in order to be right with God would mean that “cold” is having a total disregard for God's law and living a hedonistic life. Christ said “I could wish you were cold or hot.” Why would Christ wish for us to have a total disregard for the law and just live recklessly? He came to fulfill the very same Law for us! That is how holy and upright the Law is. It takes the blood of the Son of God- our Saviour Jesus Christ- to save us from the consequences of disobedience to the Law: death, preceded by its symptoms of curses, sickness, lack, anxiety, oppression, stress, etc. Our works, no matter how many, cannot.

Believers, the lukewarm church is the church that is neither under fully under Law nor fully under Grace; neither cold nor hot. One leg on Mount Sinai and the other on Mount Zion. Calling Christ "Saviour" but not believing that He accomplished all that He did for us on the cross; refusing to believe Romans 5:9-

"And there is still much more to say of His unfailing love for us! For through the blood of Jesus we have heard the powerful declaration, “You are now righteous in My sight.” And because of the sacrifice of Jesus, you will never experience the wrath of God."

This is the crux of the gospel of Christ: Righteousness by faith in Christ. But due to false teaching, many are trying to attain righteousness before God by obeying the law and by implication do not believe that Christ's shed blood has made them right with God.

Think of our salvation in Christ as the whole world writing an exam for which the price of failure is death: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23. (Notice eternal life is a gift.)

• Failing just one question means our score is zero: "For whosoever shall keep the whole law yet stumble at one point, he is guilty of all." James 2:10.

• For us to pass this exam (be saved from eternal damnation, the curse, sins and addictions, oppression, sickness, etc) we need a 100% score, no more, no less: “But if you refuse to listen to the Lord your God and do not obey all the commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come and overwhelm you:" Deuteronomy 28:15. Emphasis on "obey ALL the commands." This verse is followed by a host of curses.

• But everyone has already failed at least one question: "For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard." Romans 3:23.

• Nobody has it all together concerning the issue of sin; no one is righteous: "As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous—not even one." Romans 3:10.

• All of the law-keeping and good things we do to make God like us or to position ourselves for His blessings and eternal life are like a menstrual rag in His sight: "We are all like one who is unclean, all our so-called righteous acts are like a menstrual rag in Your sight." Isaiah 64:6.

• Doing these things (trying to obey the law or doing anything in order to make God have a good opinion of one) can NEVER make anyone righteous in the sight of God: "For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are." Romans 3:20.

• All who think that their ability to obey the Ten Commandments, tithe payment, seeds, fasts and other works of the law is what makes them right with God or Rapture-worthy are under the curse of the law they are trying so hard to obey in order to be godly: "But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law.”" Galatians 3:10.

We were all doomed for destruction. From the best of us to the worst, nothing we did/do by human effort towards getting right with God matters.

God saw how hopeless our case was and sent His own Son to die for our sins and make us right in His sight, because He loved us so: "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Corinthians 5:21.

Christ had/has no sins of His own. He became sin not by doing sin. Our sins were imputed to Him and punished in His body. He suffered and died to the imputation and judgment of our sin. Likewise, we who did no righteousness become righteous by God imputing in us. His gift of righteousness to us in Christ.

Christ died the death that we all should have died and righteously offered all of us the requisite 100% score (His Righteousness, see Romans 5:19) that gives life. This is the only brand of righteousness that cuts it with God. All of our own righteousnesses from doing good things and obeying the law to get right with God are like "a menstrual rag" in God's sight according to Isaiah 64:6-

"We are all like one who is unclean, all our so-called righteous acts are like a menstrual rag in Your sight."

But many people hang on to their 99% or less righteousness score that comes from self-effort at keeping the law and doing good works (aka self-righteousness) which is as good as zero righteousness because of their 1% or more stain (break one law and you're guilty of all Says James 2:10.) Some might see this as unfair, until we consider why some people are committing particular sins and some are not:

The reason why you and I are not committing particular sins is because we have not been tempted beyond what we can bear in those areas. If a big enough trial came our way, the best of us would fall woefully. No matter how hard a weightlifter trains or his experience and dedication, he cannot carry a weight that is designed to crush him 100 times over. Bear in mind that we are not all of the same size emotionally so what is crushing for you might be nothing to another. Also, life does not consider your weight, stature, resources or level of preparedness before throwing weights at anybody. The potential to commit heinous crimes is in everybody. God sees this potential and how favourable circumstances can make some people think that some sins are beneath them and that they are "better than that." Peter too thought he was "better than that" until his circumstances changed and a trial that was beyond him came his way...he denied Jesus three times after his boast.

Believer, this is why you and I in Christ are able to overcome tests, trials and temptations: 1 Corinthians 10:13-

"We all experience times of testing, which is normal for every human being. But God will be faithful to you. He will screen and filter the severity, nature, and timing of every test or trial you face so that you can bear it. And each test is an opportunity to trust Him more, for along with every trial God has provided for you a way of escape that will bring you out of it victoriously."

We too would fail woefully if God was not filtering and screening...When He opens our eyes to this truth, it becomes difficult for us to threaten people who are struggling in sin and addictions with God's wrath. Instead, we point such to Christ of whom it is said in Titus 2:14-

"He gave His life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us His very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds."

No sin is too big for Him to save the sinner who believes from.

Others attempt to take some marks from Grace (Christ’s freely given 100%) to "complete" their own score (righteousnesses from works of the Law!) Believing that these "a menstrual rag" righteous works should count for something with God, such say: “I know I am not perfect but God will see that I’ve tried my best.” One leg on Mount Zion and the other on Mount Sinai. These ones here are not totally under Law and not totally under Grace. Neither hot nor cold! This is an abomination to the Lord. See Christ's words to this lukewarm church:

Revelation 3:"16 So because you are lukewarm (spiritually useless), and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of My mouth [rejecting you with disgust].17 Because you say, “I am rich, and have prospered and grown wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked [without hope and in great need],"

These ones feel that they have some good in them, that they are still "okay.,” e.g. "I pay my tithes so I am good with God." But this is just ONE of the many laws that those under law must keep in order to escape judgment and get the blessing. Don't forget that under law, if you break one law you are guilty of all (James 2:10.) Such do not know that they need white garments (Christ's righteousness). They strive to keep the Law to get some righteousness and think “Jesus will understand, see how hard I tried and do the rest.”

Remember Isaiah 64:6- "We are all like one who is unclean, all our so-called righteous acts are like a menstrual rag in Your sight."

Even we would balk at the thought of drinking a cool glass of seemingly cold water that has just a tiny speck of the offerer's menstrual rag in it! But many offer concentrated menstrual rags to God and think this is the way to heaven. Because such reject God's gift of righteousness and hold on to their own filthy rags righteousnesses that proceed from self (self-righteousness,) they are cut off from Christ. See Galatians 5:4.

Believers, let's not be found with this belief. Our best can never cut it with the Most High God. It takes only the blood of Jesus (no additives) to escape the wrath of God, overcome sinful acts and live right. It takes Grace. We are "accepted in the Beloved," not in our good works.

Christ said "I could wish you were cold or hot." Better to be totally under Law where you see that you can never pass by your own efforts and be driven to Grace; or totally under grace, where you get to enjoy the full benefits of our Lord's goodness that leads to repentance. Only this way can we overcome sin.

See our Saviour's words in Revelation 3:

"I counsel you to buy from Me gold that has been heated red hot and refined by fire so that you may become truly rich; and white clothes [representing righteousness] to clothe yourself so that the shame of your nakedness will not be seen; and healing salve to put on your eyes so that you may see. 19 Those whom I [dearly and tenderly] love, I rebuke and discipline [showing them their faults and instructing them]; so be enthusiastic and repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, your sinful behavior—seek God’s will].20 Behold, I stand at the door [of the church] and continually knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him (restore him), and he with Me."

Believers, let's forsake our own filthy (menstrual) rag righteousnesss from works of the Law and rest in Christ's perfect gift of righteousness to us. With His gift of righteousness comes no condemnation for all who are in Christ Jesus. It's His "Neither do I condemn you"that makes us "Go and sin no more." You will not continue to sin. This is the logic of heaven.

Consider Revelation 3:20: "Behold, I stand at the door [of the church] and continually knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him (restore him), and he with Me."

This message was written to a CHURCH. Did you notice that Christ is knocking on the door of the church in verse 20 and not a brothel or a club for sinners? We tend to think that this verse refers to people who have no heart for God and are just sinning anyhow but these ones are not even in the church! The message is for people in the church who are professing Christ yet rejecting His gift of righteousness and depending on their own righteousnesses from works of the Law and their good deeds to get right with God and enjoy His freely given (Romans 8:32) blessings in Christ.

Believers, the spirit of the antichrist is not Anti-God. It is a spirit that rejects the finished work of Christ in making the sinner righteous and depends on human effort to make one godly (be like God.) Same strategy was used to deceive Eve into believing that she would "be like God" if she ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Like the law which also which gives the knowledge of good and evil, the result is death. The letter kills...

Believers, by His grace, let's not be found here. Let Christ be to you Saviour to the uttermost. See Romans 5:17-

"17 For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and His gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one Man, Jesus Christ."

The Holy Spirit will teach you all things.

Believe Right and you will Live Right.