The Church of the Laodiceans

Are you Part and Parcel of it? Will the Lord Spew you out?

Revelation 3:14–17 “And unto the Angel of the Church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the Creation of God; I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot: I would you were cold or hot. So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth. Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” 

Jesus sent a Message to each of the seven Churches of Asia; of these, Laodicea was the last. This particular Church constitutes the conclusion of the Church Age, and represents the time in which we now live. In other words, the modern Church is the Laodicean Church, and the Laodicean Church is the modern Church. Unfortunately, the Message given by Christ is not very positive.

The Laodicean Church is actually an apostatized Church, which means that it has departed from the Truth. It is neither “cold” nor “hot,” but rather “lukewarm.” As a result, Jesus said, “I will vomit you out of My mouth.” And thus is the modern Church!

The Seventeenth Verse, sadly and regrettably, describes the modern Church to the proverbial “T”. In not only the United States, but also over the balance of the entire world, the modern Church has never been richer, at least regarding material things. It is “increased with goods,” which again speaks of material things, but definitely not spiritual things. In the modern Church, “faith” has been reduced to “things,” instead of what the correct object ought to be, which is the Cross of Christ. The modern Church basically claims that “it has need of nothing.” It is lukewarm, rich, increased with goods, and sees no need for anything else.

But what did Jesus say with respect to the answer of the Laodicean Church?

He described this Church, first of all, as “wretched.” The word in the Greek refers to a test that has been given, and the one taking the test has failed.

Second, Christ called this Church “miserable.” It means “to be pitied.”

Third, He referred to it as “poor,” meaning that it literally was, at least in His eyes, a spiritual beggar.

Fourth, He called it “blind.” The word, as used here, actually means “to be lifted up in pride.”

Fifth, and last of all, He described it as “naked.” It refers to being spiritually naked.

So, as is obvious, Jesus’ summation of the Laodicean Church was not very positive. Considering that this Church characterizes the modern Church, i.e., refers to what the Church is presently, the situation is dire indeed!

At the beginning of John’s Vision, Christ is pictured as standing in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, which represent, as stated, the Church. Now, He is no longer in the midst of the Churches, but rather is standing outside, knocking at the door, and saying, “If any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20).

The essence of that particular invitation shows that the Lord is no longer dealing with the institutionalized Church as a whole, but rather is dealing with individuals. While He has always dealt with individuals, now He is dealing only with individuals. This shows that the Church has completely apostatized, except for the Remnant who truly love the Lord (Romans 9:27). Source

Are you just a Pew Sitter? What does it mean to have a form of godliness?

In 2nd Timothy 3:5, the apostle Paul describes the nature of people in the last days. In his description, he warns of people who are characterized as “having a form of godliness but denying its power” (verse 5). Paul then issues this command: “Have nothing to do with such people.”

Paul often uses contrast to emphasize an attribute he wishes to highlight. In 2nd Timothy 3:1-4, he gives Timothy a long list of sinful behaviors and attitudes that are contrary to God’s will. In verse 5 he tells Timothy to avoid those who state they are Christians with their mouths—they have a “form” of godliness—but who act as unbelievers—they deny the power of godliness.

Those who have a form of godliness are those who make an outward display of religion. They present themselves as godly, but it is all for show. There is no power behind their religion, as evidenced in the fact that their lives are unchanged. They speak of God and live in sin, and they are fine with that arrangement. As commentator Charles Ellicott wrote, “These, by claiming the title of Christians, wearing before men the uniform of Christ, but by their lives dishonouring His name, did the gravest injury to the holy Christian cause” (Ellicott’s Bible Commentary for English Readers, entry for 2nd Timothy 3:5).

These false Christians are destructive. Paul warns that they will “creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts” and that they are “always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2nd Timothy 3:6-7. He compares them to the wicked magicians who opposed Moses and warns that their folly and corrupt minds will be revealed to all eventually (verses 8–9).

The power of God, which should accompany the form of godliness, is shown through the Holy Spirit and results in the transformation of our lives. The Holy Spirit indwells the believer (1st Corinthians 6:19) and enables him to bear certain fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). These are the attributes of a true Christian, as opposed to Paul’s list of sins in 2nd Timothy 3:1-4.

Paul’s exhortation to Timothy falls in line with James’ explanation how to identify a true faith (James 2:14-26). True faith will be evidenced by good works, which will occur naturally. If a person says he is a Christian but shows no evidence in his life by bearing the fruit of the Spirit, we have to make a judgment about him and avoid that person. He may have a form of godliness, but he is denying God’s power by not letting himself be controlled by the Spirit. In fact, if his faith is not genuine, he cannot be controlled by God’s power, because the Holy Spirit does not dwell in him.

“The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned” (1st Corinthians 2:14). The natural person may have a form of godliness, but he denies God’s power in the way he lives. Only faith in Jesus Christ can bring justification and the transformation he so desperately needs (Colossians 1:21-22; Romans 5:1-2). Source Got Questions

Reader, is Jesus on the outside knocking at the door of your heart? Open that door and invite Him in. Don’t know how or you think he will not accept you? HE WILL!

Salvation