One of the indications of an intimate relationship between two persons is that they know things about one another which most others do not. In Christ’s letter to the church in Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22) when addressing their sin, He refers to three primary aspects (3:17-18) of life in the city of Laodicea that the congregation can personally relate to because they are familiar to anyone of that church who is from the city of Laodicea.
The city of Laodicea was a very wealthy city, primarily because of the production of black wool cloth. When an earthquake destroyed Laodicea in A.D. 60, just a few years before the letter in Revelation was written, it is recorded in Roman annals that the people of the city refused any financial relief from the Roman government and were able to rebuild and fully recover without any outside help. Why is this fact significant?
When we carefully study the letters to the seven churches in Revelation, it can be easily seen that many sinful characteristics of the city where the church was located often had a negative influence on the spiritual life and character of the church of that city.
As we had studied in a previous article about the characteristics of self-reliance or being self-reliant, we saw the negative influence of self-reliance affecting the Laodicean congregation, of which Christ points out in His letter, “I know your deeds… Revelation 3:15.
Reading Jesus’ letter to the Laodicean congregation we can ask the following questions about their self-reliance. What is self-reliance? The confidence and reliance on one’s own capabilities, judgment, and resources. This is clearly identified in Revelation 3:17, “I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing”.
Why was the Laodicean’s self-reliance a sin? Self-reliance is having pride about yourself and what you have. Pride causes a Christian to be blinded to their lack of dependence and intimate relationship of Christ in their life. If the Laodicean’s self-reliance was not a sin, then why did Jesus tell them? “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.” Revelation 3:19.
What was the result of the Laodicean’s prideful self-reliance? Jesus was being left out of their lives and the life of the congregation. The Laodicean’s self-reliance caused them to be blinded to their own spiritual depravity, “But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.”, Revelation 3:17.
“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.” Revelation 3:14. In this first verse of the letter Christ introduces Himself to the congregation describing Himself three different ways.
3:14a “Amen” or “so be it”, refers to Christ’s sovereignty and the certainty of the fulfillment of His promises. When Christ speaks it is the final word, and His will is always achieved.
2) 3:14b, These are the words of… “the faithful and true witness.” Christ is referring to who He is and because of who He is, He does. Christ is, “the witness who is trustworthy and dependable” – Wuest
3) 3:14c, These are the words of… “the ruler (beginning or beginner) of God’s creation.” Christ is a reminding the Laodicean congregation that He is the first and only of God’s creation needed for life. In other words, Jesus alone is the source of all that a Christian needs for life. The apostle Paul understood this when writing the Philippian congregation.
Philippians 4:12-13
12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:19
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
In verses 15 and 16, Jesus immediately begins with words of rebuke because there were no praiseworthy characteristics about the believers of that church. Jesus always sees us as we truly are.
“15a, I know your deeds” As Christians, what we do or do not do and how we do it and even what we say is a display about our character, which is who Christ is in us or who He is not. From Christ’s words of rebuke it is clearly understood what the individuals of this congregation did and did not do, their “deeds” gave evidence to the lack of Christ in their lives and absence of their love for Him.
15b, “that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!” Why is Jesus referring to their “deeds” as “neither cold nor hot”? Jesus is referring to the three possible spiritual states of the life of a Christian, comparing their deeds and commitment to the temperature of something liquid. “cold” – Loosing passion in one’s relationship and commitment with Christ. “hot” – Those Christians who show a genuine spiritual passion and love for Jesus which is displayed in their relationship with and commitment for Christ, towards others Christians and for a lost the world.
15c, “I wish you were either one or the other!”
16a, So, because you are lukewarm — neither hot nor cold — “lukewarm” Jesus is acknowledging the third spiritual state of a Christian and also a congregation as being lukewarm. They may be professing Christians who attend church, but have fallen far short of a true testimony for Christ, and whose attitude and actions raise questions concerning the authenticity of their spiritual life. They have been touched by the gospel, they are redeemed children of God, but it is clear that they are not living in a passionate relationship with their Savior and Lord, Christ Jesus.
16b, “I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” The spiritual state of the Christians of the Laodicean church being “lukewarm” in their relationship with Christ was intolerable and would be rejected by Jesus, so much so, that He compares His rejection of them as to how He will do it, He will “spit“ them out of His mouth. In the Greek, the meaning is literally vomit.
16c, “I am about”, displays Jesus’ grace and patience to allow those Christians whom He has purchased with His blood, an opportunity to repent and be restored to a “hot” state in their relationship and commitment with Him. The process of restoration which only comes after their repentance is clearly given to them in verses 18 and 19.
17a, “You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’” Jesus continuing with His rebuke, is directly quoting the Laodicean’s self-reliant attitude, which is the cause of them being spiritually “lukewarm”. The mindset of the congregation’s self-reliance is a direct reflection and influence of the secular cultural characteristics of that city.
As earlier stated, Jesus refers to three primary aspects (3:17-18) that Laodicea was known for, and which the individuals of the congregation could personally relate to. a) The City of Laodicea was wealthy b) because of the production of black wool cloth. c) They were also recognized for producing a medicinal eye salve.
In 17b, Jesus continuing His rebuke, is now pointing out the Laodicean’s mistaken and sinful way of seeing themselves. He refers to three familiar cultural characteristics that they so pridefully relied on and identified themselves with. 17b, But you do not realize that you are a) wretched, pitiful, poor, b) blind and c) naked.
a) Jesus describes the Laodicean church spiritual state or depravity as; “wretched” or worthless, “pitiful” meaning disgraceful or pathetic, “poor” which is deprived or in need. This spiritual state was caused by what Jesus mentions next.
b) As to the Laodicean church’s self-perception, they were spiritually “blind”. They could not see themselves and their sin as Christ did. They were blind to the things about themselves that could only be seen by spiritual insight or discernment that comes from an intimate relationship with Christ. They could not see how they adapted to the sinful mindset of the city in which they lived, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’
A Christian who is spiritually blinded to their own spiritual state because of self-reliance, will never see or understand their spiritual depravity as Christ truly sees it.
c) As to their spiritual character, the Laodiceans were “naked”, they were not clothed with the character of Christ. “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ” Romans 13:14. They had not “…put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.” Colossians 3:10. They had not clothed themselves with the characteristics of christians who have an intimate relationship with Christ. “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Colossians 3:12
18a, “I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire”. Christ could have easily command them to change, but out of His love for them He advises or recommends them, giving them the opportunity to decide. Jesus in this verse also is presenting the believers of Laodicea the remedy for their self-reliance. What Christ offers them to buy can be only offered by Him alone. The remedy that Christ is offering is valuable, is pure and not contaminated. What Christ is offering will cost the believers of this church; it will cost them whatever is necessary to renounce and repent of their self-reliance and the reliance and confidence of the things or riches that this world offers.
Jesus in this part of verse 18 is telling the Laodicean believers about the spiritual benefits of receiving His remedy for their self-centeredness. He is referring to the three aspects their prideful self-centeredness that was based on and which the city was recognized for. 18b, a) so you can become rich; c) and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; b) and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Three of the four points that Christ refers to for the solution of the Laodicean church’s spiritual depravity directly relates to the three points noted in verse 17.
19a, Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. It is very important to Jesus that they knew He still loves them even though He just reprimanded and warned He would vomit them out of his mouth.
Jesus’ part in the restoration process was what He offered in verse 18a, the Laodicean’s part was to, 19b, …be earnest, and repent. Jesus will always be ready to receive those who are “earnest”, serious or sincere about wrongfulness of their sin, and He will always forgive those who “repent” of their sin.
With the influence of today’s culture, some Christians believe it is not a sin for a Christian to be self-reliant, if this is true, then why does Jesus tells the Laodicean church to “repent”?
20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
This is the second demonstration of Jesus’ love and concern for the Laodiceans. Jesus is coming to them making an appeal for them to renew the lacking intimate fellowship and a dependence of Him in their lives. All they had to do was to recognize who was knocking and calling for them at the door and let Him come in. The result would be, not only to be in the presence of Jesus but also have intimate fellowship with Him as one would have eating a meal with a close friend.
When we need to be forgiven and restored from our sin, as did the Laodiceans, on many occasions it is Christ who initiates the intimate reunion of fellowshipping with Him again by coming to where we are. He will never barge in or intrude; Jesus only enters when we open the door for Him to enter. We have the responsibility to heed His prompting and let Him through the door of our hearts and lives that sin had closed to shut Him out. When we open the door, intimate fellowship is reestablished, we will once again enjoy His presence, we will once again feed in and on Christ’s presence, that door of sin had excluded us from experiencing.
Pastor John
