Tonight we have a great study on a straitforward biblical passage.

Rev 3:14-18

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. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

What is the situation in this passage, who is he writing to and why?

Three types of people are mentioned here:

• Cold
  What does it mean to be "cold" towards Christ?
  What would such a person look like?
  How would they react to the message of Christ?

• Hot
  What does it mean to be "hot" towards Christ?
  What would such a person look like -- what kinds of things would characterize his/her life?
  Can you tell when someone is really going for it all -- totally sold out for Christ? ( If you know God's word, you can! )

• Lukewarm
  Describe someone who is lukewarm. (half-hearted)
  What are some reasons for being lukewarm? Are these acceptable?
  Have you ever had a lukewarm boyfriend/girlfriend? ...Someone who must check their schedule before deciding to spend time with you? What's wrong with this picture?
  RSV version: 'I will spew you out of my mouth.' i.e., make God sick!
  Why does lukewarmness make God sick? (Why would a lukewarm boyfriend/girlfriend make you sick?)
  

For those of you here tonight that have already come face-to-face with this command, what kinds of changes had to take place in your life in order for you to become 'hot' for Christ?

Jesus teaches that a personal relationship with God must be whole-hearted!

Matt 22:36-40

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Jesus teaches that anyone who wants to be saved must make a total committment to Him!

Luke 14:25-27; 33

Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
...In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.

There is nothing half-hearted about that! And the people who responded to Jesus' challenge by becoming Christians took His challenge and His message to heart.

Acts 2:36-47

"...Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call." With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

What is repentance?
What are some things that characterized the lives of the first Christians?
Does God expect that same type of committment from us?

Heb 3:12-14

See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.

As with the first Christians, we are also commanded to "encourage one another daily". We are to be totally committed to one another, to sharing His love and good deeds. This takes a total committment!

Rom 12:1-2

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

It is easy to fall into the trap of comparing ourselves to other people when assessing our spiritual condition. "I'm not as good as X, but I'm a much better person than Y, so I must be OK!"

As Christians, we are to live lives of sacrifice. This is what repentance is all about -- a new way of living, and a new way of thinking. It's not a matter finding out what the "minimum requirements" are and conforming to them -- that is not repentance! That is "lukewarm Christianity!"

II Tim 3:1-5

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God-- having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

It is easy to fall into the trap of including just enough religion in our lives in order to make us feel good about ourselves, or look good for our family and friends, or feel (falsly) secure about our salvation. But the bible says that this kind of lukewarm committment makes God sick! He would rather us not go to church at all if He has no place in our lives the rest of the week. This "form of godliness" is worthless in God's site!

As you examine your own life, if you find that you are stuck in the "form of godliness" I am calling "lukewarm Christianity", I encourage you to take some time to do some serious repenting!

If any of us here can be of help to anyone -- either by praying for you, or listening, or sharing more about Jesus from the scriptures, please don't hesitate to let us know.

Close with prayer.