Sermon #1219[1]
Title: Christ’s Letter to the Church at Laodicea
Text: Revelation 3:14-22
Reading: Song of Solomon 5:2-16
Subject: Lukewarm Religion - Gradual Apostasy
Date: Sunday Morning - February 4, 1996
Tape # S-19
Introduction:
Laodicea was a famous city of great
wealth in Asia Minor. It was the commercial, financial center of the region.
Laodicea was the home of millionaires. It had three marble theaters, a great
stadium, and a huge gymnasium equipped with baths. There was a famous school of
medicine at Laodicea, which, among other things, claimed to have produced a
remedy for weak eyes. The city was also well known for its hot-springs, which
emitted lukewarm water continually.
The people of Laodicea were rich. They
were the envy of the world. And they knew it. They were proud of themselves.
Really, they were unbearable snobs! This arrogant “we are it” attitude was also
found in the church at Laodicea. Perhaps they thought that their wealth was a
sign of God’s favor. But, in general, the church at Laodicea had gradually
become a lukewarm, apostate, useless assembly of religionists, without life
before God. It was in danger of being entirely rejected by Christ.
Apparently, this church was at one
time a healthy, strong, spiritually vibrant congregation, a pillar of truth,
and a lighthouse in the midst of great darkness. Paul, at least once, wrote a
letter to this Laodicean church. He talked about it with warmth, and never
mentioned anything amiss concerning it (Col. 2:1-2; 4:13-16). Since the apostle
Paul held this church in such high esteem, it is safe for us to assume that, at
least during his ministry, it was a strong, vibrant congregation.
But something went wrong. In the
process of time this great church, once on fire for God, degenerated into a
sickening state of lukewarmness. It became careless, lax, and indifferent.
Perhaps the earlier generation had died out. Perhaps its wealth had seduced
this assembly into worldliness. Perhaps its freedom from persecution had
produced in the people a sense of carnal ease. Whatever the cause, the church
was now in a state that was nauseating to the Son of God. It was neither cold
nor hot, but lukewarm.
Nothing can be done with lukewarm
people. There is hope for cold, hardened rebels. And it is a great joy to work
with men and women whose hearts glow with love and zeal for Christ. But
lukewarm religionists are sickening, nauseating, disgusting! Even Christ
himself cannot stand them. He says, “because
thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.”
May God the Holy Spirit now be our Teacher. May he graciously and effectually
apply this portion of Holy Scripture to our hearts, lest we gradually
degenerate into this state of lukewarmness.
Proposition: Lukewarmness,
or indifference, to Christ is the apostasy of the heart from Christ.
Divisions: As we
look at our Lord’s letter to this Laodicean church, I want to call your
attention to three things in it:
1.
The Charge of
Lukewarmness (vv. 14-17)
2.
The Counsel of
Love (vv. 18-19)
3.
The Call to
Life (vv. 20-22)
I. The Charge of Lukewarmness
(vv. 14-17)
In verses 14-17 the Lord Jesus Christ
lays this solemn charge against the church at Laodicea. It is a charge that
would most assuredly be followed by judgment, if they did not repent. The
charge was lukewarmness, apathy, indifference, and carelessness. Let us be
warned. Lukewarmness is gradual apostasy, lingering death, and the forerunner
of judgment. Stephen Charnock was
exactly right when he wrote, “If once we become listless, we shall quickly
become lifeless.” Complacency is a
spiritual sickness that usually ends in spiritual death. May God save us from
this plague which seems to have swept through the church of the twentieth
century.
A. This, like the other six,
letter was addressed to the angel, the pastor, of the church at Laodicea.
It appears that there were some in the church whose hearts
were true. But generally the whole congregation was insensitive to Christ, the
gospel of his grace, and the glory of his name. There was no fire in the pulpit
and no warmth in the pew.
B. This message of stern reproof
came from Christ himself, the righteous Judge.
He calls himself “the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation
of God.”
1. Christ is “The Amen.” - He is steady, unchangeable, immutable in all things. His
purpose will stand. His promises are sure. His word is true.
·
Malachi 3:6
·
Hebrews 13:8
·
II Corinthians
1:20
2.
Our Lord Jesus is “The Faithful and True
Witness.” - He who is our Judge is faithful and true in his judgment.
What he says is true; and what he does is just. Because he is both faithful and
true...
·
Christ’s
testimony of God to men is to be received and believed.
·
And his
testimony to God about men will be received.
Those
whose names Christ confesses to the Father will be accepted. And those
lukewarm, carnal ones who merely profess faith in his name, whom Christ shall
deny before his Father, shall be rejected.
3.
Then, our Savior calls himself “The
Beginning of the Creation of God.”
Do not let that language confuse you.
This is just another way of saying that he is himself God. He who is the
parent, producer, and first cause of all things is himself God.
·
John 1:1-3
·
Hebrews 1:1-3
Jesus
Christ, our Savior, the Son of God is the One who began everything that is, has
been, or shall hereafter be. He is the beginning of the old creation. He
created all things out of nothing. And he is the head and beginning of the new
creation, the church and kingdom of God. Jesus Christ is “the everlasting Father” (Isa. 9:6) from whom all things have life.
“The Lord reveals himself here as the
One whose eyes not only see exactly what is going on in the hearts of these
people of Laodicea but whose lips also declare the exact truth of what is
seen.” (William
Hendriksen)
As he describes himself here, Christ is saying to the
Laodiceans, You are dead. You need life.
You need a new heart. Look to me. Turn to me. I can make you new creatures!
C. Then, in verses 15-17, the Son
of God draws up a solemn indictment against this church at Laodicea.
He says to the church as a whole, to the pastor, to the
elders, to the deacons, to the teachers, and to the people in general, “Thou art lukewarm.” They had been so
secure. They thought they were healthy and strong. But Christ knew their
hearts. He said, “Thou art lukewarm.”
1.
Christ, who is our Life, charges this congregation of professed believers with
spiritual death (v. 15).
The Laodiceans were not hypocrites.
They were deceived. They were blind men who thought they had perfect vision.
They were dead men who thought they were alive. They were lost people who were
very sure they were saved.
Lukewarmness,
or indifference, regarding the Lord Jesus Christ is the very worst condition in
the world a person can be in. If Jesus Christ is real, then he is the
unspeakable gift of God. We should earnestly seek him, lovingly embrace him,
and zealously serve him. If he is an impostor, then he is the most vile
impostor the world has ever known, and we should earnestly oppose him. If Jesus
Christ is worth anything, he is worth everything! “Why halt ye between two opinions?” If Jesus Christ is God our
Savior, faithful and true, devote yourselves to him totally. If he is not, set
yourselves against him totally! Concerning the Son of God and the gospel of his
grace there is no room for neutrality! Matthew
Henry wrote, “Christ expects that men should declare themselves in earnest,
either for him or against him.” With Joshua, I hope we can everyone declare, “As for me and my house, we will serve the
Lord.”
Indifference is an intolerable evil.
Our Lord says, “I would thou wert cold or
hot.” It is better to be utterly ignorant of the gospel than to be a vain,
carnal, indifferent, lukewarm professor of faith. These Laodiceans...
·
Professed
faith in Christ, but had no interest in promoting it.
·
Professed love
for Christ, but had no real, heart attachment to him.
·
Professed
allegiance to the gospel, but had no zeal for the gospel. They were lukewarm!
2.
This lukewarmness, this indifference, is nauseating to the Lord Jesus Christ
(V. 16).
He threatens, “I will spew thee out of my mouth.” As lukewarm water turns the
stomach and induces vomiting, so lukewarm religion turns the stomach of the Son
of God and sickens him! Those are not my words, but his. Lukewarm religion
turns his stomach and sickens him! Men excuse their apathy, calling it moderation, charity, and meekness. But
Christ looks upon it as effeminacy. Quite literally, the Lord is saying, “I am gagging on you. I am about to vomit
you out of my mouth!”
This is Christ’s warning to all compromising
fence-straddlers, who try to serve God and mammon. They shall be rejected,
completely rejected, and forever rejected!
3.
One great cause of this Laodicean lukewarmness was there foolish pride (v. 17).
Their pride deceived their hearts.
These men and women had a very high opinion of themselves. Therefore they had a
very low opinion of Christ. They flattered themselves with the delusion that
all was well, when in fact nothing was well. They were doctrinally sound and
morally pure; but they were spiritually dead. They had a great name to uphold,
a sound creed to defend, and religious ceremonies to maintain. All they lacked
was life!
a.
Look at the high opinion they had of themselves. - “Thou sayest, I am rich and increased with goods, and have need of
nothing.”
Without a doubt, this congregation was materially wealthy,
rich and getting richer every day. They had no earthly needs. But riches seldom
do any good for churches or for men who seek to serve Christ. The problem was
that these rich men and women presumed that they were rich toward God, that
their souls were rich in spiritual things.
·
They knew the
way of life. So they presumed that they were in the Way.
·
They had the
doctrines of Christ. So they presumed that they had the life of Christ.
·
They had the
gifts of the Spirit. So they presumed that they had the grace of the Spirit.
·
They kept the
ordinances of God. So they presumed that they had the power of God.
How careful, how careful we must be
that we do not deceive our own souls. There are multitudes in hell today who
once thought they were heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ!
·
Psalm
139:23-24
Be warned, my
friend, there is nothing more dangerous, more deadly, or more damning to your
soul than self-complacency, self-satisfaction, and self-conceit. Complacency,
satisfaction with yourself, is your soul’s most deadly enemy.
b. Now, look at the opinion Christ had of
these proud, secure Laodiceans (v. 17).
Though they
knew it not, Christ knew that they were “wretched,
and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.”
·
They were poor spiritually. Their souls were starving, though they lived in affluence.
·
They were blind spiritually. Yet, they thought they had perfect vision. The light that
was in them was darkness. They could not see their own condition. And they
could not see the things of God (John 3:3; I Cor. 2:14).
·
They were naked.
Their righteousnesses were filthy rags. They had nothing but their rags of
righteousness to cover them. And those rags were filthy. Not only were they
naked, but their filthy rags of self-righteousness increased their defilement.
·
Though they
were very religious and moral, the Laodiceans were sinners, dead before God in
trespasses and sins; and as such they
were both wretched and miserable.
They were “wretched,”
deserving of the wrath of God, under the just sentence of death, and in danger
of hell. And there was nothing they could do to change their condition. They
were “miserable,” or pitiable. Who is more to be pitied than
a person who imagines he is a true believer and an object of Christ’s favor,
while in reality he is utterly disgusting and revolting to the Son of God?
Application: Do not be so
foolish as to read this charge of lukewarmness as a mere historical narrative
about a church that once existed in Laodicea. This is a message from Christ to
you and me. Will you honestly examine yourself? Will I? Let us ask of God that
he will show us our true condition before him.
1.
Lukewarmness
is indifference, apathy, and complacency regarding the things of God.
2.
Lukewarmness
is caused by self-satisfaction and carnal security.
3.
Lukewarmness
will result in reprobation. Apostasy is always followed by reprobation.
·
Christ does
reject men and women who reject his counsel (Hos. 4:17).
·
Our Lord does
stamp Ichabod upon the doors of churches where once his glory was revealed and
known (Jer. 7:12-16).
·
Very often, if
not always, those whom God has rejected are so far from knowing that judgment
has fallen upon them, that they vainly imagine that God is greatly blessing
them.
Illustration: The Nation of Israel
BS - KC -
JW
II. The Counsel of Love (vv.
18-19)
What a tender, compassionate Savior
Christ is! He stoops to counsel and reason with sinful men (Isa. 1:18). He
counsels sinners to buy salvation from him (Isa. 55:1-7), though we often cast
his counsel behind our backs! There is hope for sinners so long as Christ, the
sinners’ Friend speaks graciously by the gospel. “Today, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts!” (Heb.
3:7-8).
Here is the counsel of love which the
Son of God gives to wretched, miserable, poor, blind, naked sinners, even to
proud, self-righteous sinners.
A. Our Lord counsels the poor to
buy of him gold tried in the fire.
The exceeding riches of God’s grace in
Christ is like gold. But, as gold is refined by fire, so the grace of God comes
to sinners only through the blood of the crucified Substitute, who endured the
fire of God’s wrath for us. Grace is gold that was refined in the oven of God’s
infinite wrath and justice at Calvary. Like gold, the grace of God in Christ
makes poor sinners rich before God.
·
II Corinthians
8:9
B. Christ
counsels the naked to buy of him white raiment.
This, of
course, refers to his perfect righteousness. It is white because it is pure. It
is called raiment because like a garment it warms, beautifies, and adorns us,
making us perfect, holy, and blameless before the Lord God himself!
·
Song of
Solomon 4:1, 7, 9-11
C. The Lord Jesus counsels the
blind to anoint their eyes with eyesalve, that they might see.
The eyesalve in this text is the
gospel of the grace of God. When applied to our hearts by the grace and power
of God the Holy Spirit, it illuminates our souls and brings us out of darkness
into God’s marvelous light. This blessed eyesalve gives us “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus
Christ” (II Cor. 4:6).
1.
Only in the
gospel of substitutionary redemption can we see the glory of God revealed in
saving sinners (Rom. 3:24-26).
2.
God’s glory is
his grace and righteousness in Christ (Ex. 33:18 - 34:7).
3.
Though this
eyesalve can only be effectually applied to sinners by the irresistible grace
and power of God the Holy Spirit, we must each personally apply it to
ourselves.
·
By Hearing It
(Rom. 10:17).
·
By Believing
It (Acts 6:31).
·
By Seeking to
Understand It (Ps. 86:11; 119:26-27).
This is the wise and gracious counsel
of the Son of God, the Wonderful Counselor. If we follow his counsel, he is
honor-bound to make it effectual. Will you obey his voice?
D. The Son of God graciously
rebukes and chastens the people he loves, tenderly, but effectually, causing
them to repent and come to him (v. 19).
·
Psalm 65:4
·
Hosea 2:6-20
Christ will not lose the soul he
loves. Every blood bought child shall be brought by his grace to repentance. He
may lead you through great difficulties and terrifying troubles to cause you to
come to him, but if you are his, he will get your attention and fetch you to
himself. If he has to set your barley field on fire, he will set your barley
field on fire. If he has to send a swarm of bees, he will send a swarm of bees.
If he has to kill your child, he will kill your child. But he will make you
willing to come to him.
·
Psalm 107:1-43
Illustration:
Jennifer Wells
1.
He rebukes by
his own gospel.
2.
He chastens by
the terrors of his law and his providence.
3.
And he calls
to repentance by the almighty, irresistible power of his Spirit.
NOTE: The chastening of the Lord, both that which brings us to
Christ in the beginning and that which brings us to him day by day, is proof
positive of his eternal love for us.
·
Hebrews
12:5-11
III. The Call
to Life (vv. 20-22)
In verses
20-22 our Lord tenderly calls the dead to life. Picture him, if you can,
leaning, as it were, upon the door of this church, a door that had been bolted
against him by complacency and self-sufficiency. But, thanks be unto God, he is
not willing to be turned away! He knocks by the word of the gospel. He speaks
by the voice of his Spirit. And he calls to all who hear his voice, saying,
“Open the door.”
·
Song of
Solomon 5:2-6
Our Lord
sovereignly opens the door and lets himself into the hearts of his people. Yet,
he only comes in where he is wanted. He opens the door in regeneration, pouring
in his grace. We open the door in conversion, earnestly desiring and seeking
him. We must not confuse the two.
·
John 3:3-8
·
Acts 16:14
A. If you will open your heart to
receive the Lord Jesus Christ, he will graciously come in to abide with you
forever (v.20).
·
John 14:23
I fully
realize that dead men have no ability in themselves to do anything. Yet, I know
that if you will awake and rise from the dead, Christ will give you light (Eph.
5:14). And the fact that you do so will be the evidence that he awakened you
and raised you from the dead. (Lazarus could not come out of the tomb; but he
did! John 11:43-44) If you open to him and receive him into your heart by
faith, it is because he has already entered your heart in life-giving power.
Yet, you must open to him. Otherwise, you will forever perish without him. Open
now your heart to the Son of God!
B. That
fellowship and communion which begins on earth in conversion will continue in
heaven in everlasting glorification (v. 21).
All who
overcome the terrible temptations and natural tendencies of the heart to
lukewarmness, worldly indifference, and proud complacency, will sit with Christ
in his throne forever. And this is the victory by which we overcome the world -
faith in Christ!
·
I John 5:4
Application: “He
that hat an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches” (v. 22).
1. These seven letters
are written to us. The seven churches of Asia Minor simply represent the
whole church of God throughout this gospel age. The danger we face is the
temptation to deny Christ and become engulfed in this world. Throughout the age
the temptation will come from three basic sources:
·
Persecution
·
False Religion
·
Our Own
Worldly Lusts
2. If the Son of God has spoken
to you by his Spirit today, open to him, believe on him, come to him. He will
save you.
3. If you are a believer, but one
who has become somewhat indifferent to Christ, flee away to him now, cast
yourself down at his feet, open to him. He will come in again unto to you. He
will forgive you.
4. Children of God, fear carnal
presumption like you would fear the plague. The
thought of lukewarmness and
indifference terrifies me. Yet, it is ever with me. Only Christ can keep me in
life and grace. Let us ever beware of our danger and hold fast to our dear
Savior, trusting his grace alone to sustain us, preserve us, and bring us to
glory.
·
Jude 24-25