Revelation 3:15-16; Cause for Lukewarmness

Revelation 3:15-16 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

Recall in the book of Colossians, Paul’s prison epistle written in A.D. 66-68 and the writing of Revelation in A.D. 90 is a lapse of 20-25 years. 

Paul wrote to the church in Colossae and to Laodicea concerning false teachers threatening the Colossian Christians who claimed to possess secret wisdom and transcendent knowledge available only to the spiritual elite. Paul said that all spiritual richness is found in Jesus Christ. Colossians 2:1-3 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and foras many as have not seen my face in the flesh; 2That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;3In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge…Colossians 2:8-9 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

And so, we see that this slighting of the gospel attacking the Deity of Christ could possibly have affected also the church in Laodicea for Paul addressed the Laodicean Christians specifically also in his letter. It is the Greek philosophy that teaches that matter is evil, spirit is good. And so it is unthinkable that God would ever take on a human body. Paul refutes this false teaching by emphasizing the reality of Christ’s incarnation. Jesus is not only fully God, but fully man as well. There was no doctrinal dispute mentioned by Christ. It seemed that the church might have been exposed to this false gospel for a prolonged period, leading to Jesus’ present indictment on this church. Without the true gospel, the people still lost in their sins. A frightening prospect.

May the gospel be preached in all its purity. Amen.