1600-5 Church

REVELATION 3:14-22
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the
voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live” (Jn.5:25).
“I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (Jn.10:10).
“But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord
Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him” (1 Cor.8:6).
“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisi-
ble, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by
him, and for him” (Col.1:16).
“And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power” (Col.2:10).
“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the
prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all
things, by whom also he made the worlds” (Heb.1:1-2).

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(3:15) Church—Lukewarm—Complacency—Indifference: there is the complaint. The complaint is shocking, for it
unquestionably describes most church members. What is the complaint? Lukewarmness. Note exactly what Christ says:
the church and its members were “neither cold nor hot.” This means...
• they were only lukewarm, only half-committed, only half-hearted.
• they were complacent, lethargic, self-satisfied.
• they were indifferent and neutral.
As stated, note how this so clearly describes so many church members. This is serious, even critical, for the judgment that
Christ pronounces upon the lukewarm church and believer is terrible. This will be seen in the next note. For now, we need to
think about how lukewarmness affects the church and its members.
g159 A lukewarm church is only half-committed to Christ. In addition to stressing Christ, it stresses ritual,
ceremony, and programs as a way to become acceptable and to please God.

“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take
up his cross daily, and follow me” (Lk.9:23).
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a
living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not con-
formed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may
prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Ro.12:1-2).

g159 A lukewarm church is only half-committed to proclaiming that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

“Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth
the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: [but] he
that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also” (1 Jn.2:22-23).
“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because
many false prophets are gone out into the world. hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every
spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: and every spirit that
confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of
antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the
world” (1 Jn.4:1-3).

g159 A lukewarm church is only half-committed to teaching the Word of God.

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,
for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Tim.3:16).
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all
longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doc-
trine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables”
(2 Tim.4:2-4).

g159 A lukewarm church is only half-committed to evangelism and missions.

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of
the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (Mt.28:19-20).
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every crea-
ture” (Mk.16:15).
“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be
witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the ut-
termost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

g159 A lukewarm church is only half-committed to stressing holy and pure living for Christ.

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