REVELATION 3:14-22
“But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light
that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Mt.6:23).
“In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest
the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them”
(2 Cor.4:4).
“Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the
ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart” (Eph.4:18).

e. The church was spiritually “naked” (gumnos). They failed to see their need for the righteousness of Jesus
Christ, for the clothing of Christ’s righteousness. They believed they could be good enough and do enough
good to become acceptable to God on their own. They felt their religious works and gifts to the church
would secure God’s approval. They did little thinking about their need for the righteousness of Christ and
about the death of Jesus Christ for their sins.

“And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a
wedding garment: and he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a
wedding garment [of Christ’s righteousness]? And he was speechless. Then said the king to
the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness;
there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Mt.22:11-13).
“If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked [without the righteousness of
Christ]” (2 Cor.5:3).
“Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he
walk naked, and they see his shame” (Rev.16:15).


Thought 1. Note that many lukewarm and half-committed persons never witness for Christ. They say that they do
not witness for Christ...
• because they want to be kind and not offend people.
• because they are too meek and shy.
• because there is a place for professing Christ (the church) and a place for the affairs of this world.
But note: a lukewarm commitment to Christ is nauseating to Him. He will reject all of the lukewarm and half-
committed.

5
(3:18-20) Repentance: there is the counsel. Christ advises the church to do three things.

1. Christ counsels them to buy spiritual gold, spiritual clothing, and spiritual eye salve. What do each of these mean?
Note what each says.
a. The church needed to buy spiritual gold that is purified in the fire. Remember the city of Laodicea was a
banking center and a manufacturing center, extremely wealty. Christ is teaching the church this: their
wealth is not true wealth. What they need is spiritual gold, spiritual wealth. Why? So they can be truly rich.
Gold represents spiritual riches—all the richness and inheritance offered by Christ—all the spiritual things
that make life rich and overflowing: love, joy, peace, goodness, faith, assurance, confidence, security, hope.
It is possessing all the abundance of life. Note that material possessions and wealth cannot give these things.
Earthly riches cannot buy love, joy, peace, or happiness. Riches cannot keep a person healthy nor keep him
alive nor erase emptiness and loneliness. This should tell man something, but so many are so blinded by
worldly wealth and possessions that they ignore it: man’s great need is for spiritual gold. Above all else, we
need the riches of the Spirit. Spiritual gold is the only thing that can satisfy our souls. Note where spiritual
treasures are found: in Christ. If we are to be spiritually wealthy, we have to come to Christ and secure the
wealth He has.

“But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth cor-
rupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal” (Mt.6:20).
“Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his
fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit” (Mt.12:33).
“Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the
poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me” (Mt.19:21).
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” (Gal.5:22-23).
“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of
Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but
dung, that I may win Christ” (Ph.3:8).
“Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they
may lay hold on eternal life” (1 Tim.6:19).
“[Moses] esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt:
for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward” (Heb.11:26).

b. The church needed to buy white clothing. Remember the city was a clothing center, a large textile and
manufacturing center. Christ is telling them this: no matter how much clothing they manufacture, they lack
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