Have you ever read about the lukewarm believers in the church of Laodicea (Revelation 3:15-16)? I am sure you have. Many people wonder about these lukewarm believers and what Revelation 3 teaches about their eternal destiny.
Here is a question that a reader recently submitted:
What does the Bible mean when it refers to Lukewarm believers? Will they be able to enter the Kingdom of Heaven?
Lukewarm Believers in Laodicea
Almost any Bible commentary will provide some decent background about this imagery of the lukewarm believers in Revelation 3:15-16. These books will probably tell you that the city of Laodicea had water piped in from Hieropolis, which is a few miles to the north. By the time the water reached Laodicea, it was lukewarm water.
Have you ever drunk lukewarm water? It’s not so good. You either want it hot or cold, but unless you are really thirsty, almost nobody drinks lukewarm water. You might even spit such water out, just as John writes in Revelation 3:16.
Though I hear that Europeans sometimes drink soft drinks and beer at room temperature (any Europeans want to confirm or deny this?), I think most people prefer their drinks to be either hot or cold, but not lukewarm. This is even true for Europeans with some drinks (like tea or coffee). I like iced tea and iced coffee (even if neither is sweetened), and I like hot tea and hot coffee, but I will rarely drink lukewarm tea or coffee. Blech!
So this is the imagery that John is using in Revelation 3:15-16 when writing about lukewarm believers in Laodiciea. Through John, Jesus is telling the believers to be either hot or cold, but not lukewarm.
Some pastors like to say that God only wants “on fire” Christians, that a “cold” Christian is not desired. Then they quote this verse to prove it. Well, you cannot use this verse to make that point. Jesus says, “I could wish you were cold or hot.” Don’t read too much into the imagery. There are different ways to follow Jesus, and Jesus isn’t too concerned about how you follow Him; only that you do.
There is not a whole lot in the context which helps us determine who is a lukewarm believer and who isn’t. These lukewarm believers claimed to be rich and wealthy, without needing anything (Revelation 3:17), but in reality, they were wretched and poor. Jesus challenges them to be zealous and to repent, and to let Him enter into fellowship with them (Revelation 3:19-20).
We could probably say that lukewarm believers are those who are self-sufficient and think that they don’t really need anything from God to get through life, and who don’t really think they need to repent of anything, and who don’t think that their life will be much better if they spend time with Jesus.
A Christian who is refreshing to be around and a Christian who is fired up is a follower of Jesus know knows they don’t have it all together, who knows that they aren’t perfect, and who knows that there is nothing better than hanging out with Jesus as He leads us into the world.
So that answers the first part of this question about the lukewarm believers. What about the second part of the question …
Will Lukewarm Believers Enter the Kingdom of Heaven?
Well … there are two answers here. There is the answer to the question that was asked and then there is the answer to the question that I think the person might have been trying to ask (though I could be wrong).
So first let me answer the question that I think the person was trying to ask. I think they were trying to ask, “Will lukewarm believers enter heaven?” or “Will lukewarm believers go to heaven when they die?” or maybe even “Can lukewarm believers still have eternal life?” I think that this is what the person was asking.
And the answer to these questions is an unqualified YES.
Eternal life is a free gift of God to everyone and anyone who simply and only believes in Jesus for it (John 3:16; 5:24; 6:47, etc.). Good works play absolutely no role whatsoever in earning, keeping, or proving eternal life (Eph 2:8-9; Rom 4:5; etc.)
So if a person believes in Jesus for eternal life, they are given eternal life by God. Even if they become a lukewarm believer, they continue to have eternal life. Yes, Jesus says He will “vomit” them out of His mouth (Revelation 3:16), but this has nothing to do with losing eternal life. Jesus is just continuing the imagery of the hot and cold water.
Furthermore, for those who overcome, that is, for those who remain either cold or hot, Jesus does not say, “You get to go to heaven when you die,” but rather, “You get to sit with Me on my throne” (Revelation 3:21). So you see? Being hot or cold does not earn eternal life. Instead, it earns the reward of co-ruling and co-reigning with Jesus Christ in His Kingdom.
And this brings us back around to the question that was actually asked. The person who sent in this question wanted to know if lukewarm believers will be able to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The answer? No. At least, not as long as they remain lukewarm believers.
You see, the Kingdom of Heaven is not the same thing as “heaven.” The Kingdom is not the same thing as “eternal life.” The Kingdom of Heaven is the rule and reign of heaven, just like the Kingdom of God is the rule and reign of God. Believers who live according to the values and principles of the Kingdom of Heaven can begin to experience the rule and reign of heaven in their life right now! But if believers refuse to live according to the values of the Kingdom of heaven, then obviously, they cannot enter into the experience of the Kingdom of Heaven.
An Illustration
Let’s say someone gives you a million dollars and along with it you get a free membership to a Millionaire’s Club. Wonderful! But let us also say that the only condition to enter the club and enjoy all that it has to offer is that men have to wear a tux and women have to wear a nice evening gown. On the first night you wear jeans and a t-shirt. The guard up front says, “I am sorry. You cannot enter.”
“But I am a millionaire!” you say.
“I am sorry,” he responds. “You cannot enter the club without proper attire.”
This is somewhat how it is with the Kingdom of Heaven. As a believer, you have everything you need for entrance. But if you don’t adopt the principles and values of the Kingdom, this doesn’t mean you don’t belong … it just means you cannot experience it.
What sort of values are needed to experience the Kingdom of Heaven? Well, the sort of values which will make you either hot or cold to Jesus … values such as kindness, generosity, humility, patience, love, self-control, and other such Christlike attitudes.
So just to sum up … lukewarm believers are those who simply do not follow Jesus and don’t really seem to want to. Yes, they are still believers who have eternal life and will go to heaven when they die, but they are missing out on most of what the Christian life has to offer and due to being lukewarm believers, cannot experience the Kingdom of Heaven in all its joy.
I love the pushback to distinguish the kingdom from heaven/eternal life. That one really seems to trip people up.
Yes, some have trouble with that. But it helps with so many tricky texts.
Well done. I’ve heard more moralistic, shaming sermons on lukewarmness than just about any other subject. Good work, Jeremy
Thanks again, Ed. Looking forward to the next time you are in Oregon.
I agree with most of your posts, but I think the second part of this. It seems you are saying our values get us into the Kingdom – which is like saying the way we behave – os our good works. When in fact the tuxedo you mention is the thing that actually gets us in, not the way we act, but the way Jesus acted on our behalf, on the cross. Our tux is the robe of righteousness He has dressed us in. If we believe in Christ He has draped us in a robe of His righteousness. Our good works can never get us in, or give us victory, or help us reign. He has all the glory. He did it all. We have His righteousness, His beauty and His majesty because He lives in us and through us. Without Him we can do nothing. I like what you said about being luke warm is relying on our selves and our own good works, (rather than trusting and having in faith in Christ and His finished work.) His grace is our sufficiency. My two penneth. Thanks for your thoughts, as always.
I maybe could have stated it more clearly. I am thinking a lot about this concept recently, and need to clarify my thoughts and ideas some on it. Thanks for weighing in.
Jeremy, this is SO important. It took me half a lifetime to realize “salvation” does not equal “kingdom.” Interpreting Jesus’ teachings in that way leaves us totally blind to his message. Salvation removes the threat of death & punishment which hangs over the heads of people oppressed by religion. “Kingdom” is a state of mind, the ability to see & live in a completely different dimension, follow its precepts & see the results in our lives & society. I’m better at this at some things than in others.
Don’t stop tring to find a way to say it. I’m working on that too. However, it’s like speaking another language. We assign different meanings to the same words, so what we say & what people hear are not the same. Lord, open our mouths to speak clearly, and the ears of listeners to hear truth!
Thanks, Robyn.
Such an understanding really helps make sense of Scripture, does it not?
Another distinction that has helped make sense of Scripture for me is the word “salvation.” It does not always (in fact, quite rarely) refer to receiving eternal life. Most often, it refers to some sort of deliverance from a temporal calamity, such as sickness, disease, physical death, enemies, etc.
So are you saying there are 3 differ groups of Christians? Cold, hot and lukewarm that make up the body?
So maybe I missed it in your article . What are cold Christians? Are those the ones not doing for the kingdom ? I just don’t get how Father measures the tempts of our lives?
“Cold” has strange connotations in Christian terminology, but if you think of “drinks” as the imagery suggests, then there is nothing wrong with a cold drink. Sometimes you want a cold drink and sometimes you want a hot one. Rarely do you want a lukewarm beverage.
Cold and Warm Christians: I have never heard or read a more believable explanation than Pillai’s. The letter to Laodicea also mentions eye ointment. According to him Laodicea was well known for an eye ointment produced there. Two critical ingredients in the process was hot and ice cold water. Therefore canals were made from the hot water spring and from the snow capped mountain tops (the remnants of which can still be seen I have read). Problem is that both the hot water and the melted snow were lukewarm when it reached Laodicea – thus not fit as the required ingredients for the recipe.
The modern parallel? If you are called to be an evangelist , for example, but of your own or an institution’s decision insist to be an shepherd, you are neither hot nor cold for what the Lord wants to do in and through you. I have sat in a church when the pastor said: “I am not a shepherd. I don’t want to be one and I will never be one!” He was right, because he was an evangelist at heart, and a very good one when given the change from time to time. But the institutional system insisted he was a pastor. When he took over that congregation they had two morning services to accommodate all, and one full house Sunday evenings. Six or seven years later the congregation closed down for only a handful of people remained.
Thanks for the further insight on Laodicea. That story about the evangelist is important as well. People need to know what their gifting is, and stick to it.
Jeremy , as I have been rightly dividing the truth of Gods word I am beginning to understand this passage in Revelation. This is not talking about losing your salvation , as many teach, or relationship with husband and wife. Lukewarm , cold, or hot , seems to be referring to thoughts of a mans soul,(mind), . Since thoughts of a mans mind find verbal utterance by his mouth the heart or soul and the mouth are distinguished . Because in the next verse , it reads thou say…. The word naked use later, I think refers to the , The soul , whose garment is the body, without the body, leaves it naked.
Keep reading and studying! Such study is an act of worship to God.
I don’t know if the imagery can be pushed that far. But maybe so. Some Christians are refreshing (cold). Some are on fire (hot). And some are just there (lukewarm).
The kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven are the same thing. Jesus used both terms the same way. Check Matthew 19:13,23,24. Beware of false teachers. Just because it’s easy to comprehend doesn’t mean it’s accurate my friend.
I agree Steve, it’s not by works. I’m glad I don’t have to decide who gets in, I’m sure your glad to. Clive
I would say this is in general ill defined and generally without merit.
It begs questions such as:
What is a lukewarm Christian?
Does a simple ‘sinner’s prayer’ guarantee salvation?
Consider:
James 4:4 (NIV)
4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
or
1 Corinthians 6:9
9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men
or:
Math 25
44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Did these “believe”? yes, they called Jesus Lord. They did not believe enough to abide in the spirit and bring forth good works by walking “with” Jesus. They were friends with the world.
Dave,
I have never claimed that people get eternal life for saying a sinner’s prayer. Who claims that? Nobody I know.
Nor have I ever said that calling Jesus “Lord” is the same as believing in Him. Again, who claims that? Nobody I know.
You set up straw men just so you can beat them down.
Then you should clearly define what “believing” means. I “believe” i can fly yet I land on my head and die if I leap off a building.
I “believe” Jesus died for me and my sins, therefore when he says “Go and sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee”, I should take heed. He has warned me.
You said:
“lukewarm believers are those who simply do not follow Jesus and don’t really seem to want to. Yes, they are still believers who have eternal life and will go to heaven when they die, ”
How can they possible be believers if they don’t follow Jesus? If they are therefore not believers, they will not end up with Jesus, having made the decision to follow satan.
Jesus:
“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
Someone not committed to following(obeying) Jesus can only end up in satan’s camp.
“For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.”
Repented not. get it? They did not turn away from their sin to follow Jesus. Believe is a verb. It requires action. It is not a noun.
be·lieve [bih-leev] Show IPA
verb (used without object), be·lieved, be·liev·ing.
1.
to have confidence in the truth, the existence, or the reliability of something, although without absolute proof that one is right in doing so: Only if one believes in something can one act purposefully.
verb (used with object), be·lieved, be·liev·ing.
2.
to have confidence or faith in the truth of (a positive assertion, story, etc.); give credence to.
3.
to have confidence in the assertions of (a person).
4.
to have a conviction that (a person or thing) is, has been, or will be engaged in a given action or involved in a given situation: The fugitive is believed to be headed for the Mexican border.
5.
to suppose or assume; understand (usually followed by a noun clause): I believe that he has left town.
Dave,
Obviously not everything can be written in one blog post. That’s why I have over 2000 articles on this blog. I think I have defined belief elsewhere as a conviction or confidence that something is true. My definition comes from exegetical word studies from Scripture, and not by copy-pasting from dictionary.reference.com/browse/believe
As to your other questions, they also have been answered elsewhere on this blog. Please, before you throw out any more accusations, try learning about the actual beliefs of the person you accuse.
Jeremy Myers,
To be honest I was very confused by your article. It may just be that I dont know, it will have to be very new to me because I’m a student of Gods word. Do you agree in Matthew 7:21-23 “I never knew you” Jesus is referring to lukewarm christian? I strongly believe He is refereeing to them because a Lukewarm christian does not do the will of God, surrounding your life fully to God. Thanks to Dave’s comment I feel more relief I’m not the only one that does not seem comfortable with you article. Im still looking in Gods word and look at context carefully. Im also confused about “Heaven” and “The Kingdom of heaven” being different. Do you have more scripture on this?
“There are different ways to follow Jesus, and Jesus isn’t too concerned about how you follow Him; only that you do.”
I would like to see you back up this statement with at least one passage of scripture. It stands as diametrically opposed to the entire 7 churches passage in Revelations.
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“We could probably say that lukewarm believers are those who are self-sufficient and think that they don’t really need anything from God to get through life, and who don’t really think they need to repent of anything, and who don’t think that their life will be much better if they spend time with Jesus.”
How do you arrive at this conclusion? If this is what you believe, how could you possible think a person in the above state of mind could be saved? Unrepentant, don’t need the blood of Jesus, friend of the world, etc.
======
“lukewarm believers are those who simply do not follow Jesus and don’t really seem to want to. Yes, they are still believers who have eternal life and will go to heaven when they die, but they are missing out on most of what the Christian life has to offer and due to being lukewarm believers, cannot experience the Kingdom of Heaven in all its joy.”
So a person says a sinner’s prayer, walks with satan, gets to heaven, lives with Jesus and the saints and is only partial joy? What are they teaching in seminary these days?
This is the very person Jesus is warning when he says:
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
He clearly states the lukewarm believer is blind and naked(without the righteous garment Jesus’ blood provides.
Dave,
I know you love to demand answers from me and quote lots of Bible verses. I strongly recommend that if you are truly interested in learning what I think, then take some time to do a little reading from the blog posts on this blog. Your questions seem to imply that I have never read the Bible or don’t know about certain texts. I do know about them, and have read them (hundreds of times), and have studied most of them (in great detail), and have even taught and written on many of them.
You have in your mind some crazy ideas about what I believe, but I don’t know where you picked up those ideas, because they certainly were not from anything I have ever written. Before you quote any more verses on my blog or demand answers to your questions, please take some time to look through the blog archives or do some searches with the search button on the right.
IOW, you are a licensed minister, but can’t state from scripture what your beliefs are based on.
I think if you don’t “repent” from telling folks they don’t have to follow Jesus, just have a nebulous, undefined “belief”, that you will find yourself with the goats.
Dave, to the best of my ability, my beliefs are based on Scripture. Once again, before throwing out accusations, do a little research on the beliefs of the person you are accusing. Your comments prove that you know nothing about me or my beliefs.
Jeremy,
Dave’s comments are proof that he understands Scripture and is calling you out on your false teachings, based on your non scriptural beliefs. You have made up some type of Heavenly purgatory and give no scriptural support to back your belief. Also it is silly of you to expect anyone to be studied up on your previous blogs in order to be qualified to challenge you on this current blog post. I find this blog to be very telling of who you are and your beliefs. Dave has very valid biblical/scriptual criticism and Dave directly quoted you as we’ll, and you seem to just want to arrogantly blow him off.
Chris,
Dave certainly as an understanding of Scripture. All I am saying is that his understanding (and yours) is different than mine. It is arrogant of Dave and you to say that I don’t understand the Bible simply because you disagree with my understanding of Scripture.
I am well acquainted with Dave’s view (as I used to hold it myself), but my study of Scripture led me out of those views and into what I currently believe. If he wants to refute me, he is going to have to learn what I believe, rather than just quote verses, call names, and make (incorrect) assumptions about my beliefs. Since he doesn’t understand what I believe, my responses to him amount to little more than trying to correct his incorrect beliefs about what I believe. That’s why I invite him (and you) to understand my views before you try to correct my views. Otherwise, you are simply erecting straw men so you can beat them down.
Dave and Chris, you know not whereof you speak. I know Jeremy personally, and you are both way off base. Just because you think you do not agree with Jeremy is not by any means an adequate reason to accuse and name call and suggest he’ll end up “with the goats” (i.e. in hell).
If you want to know more info about what he believes, click on the “Archives” button at the top of the page and find numerous posts that address these issues. If you’re not willing to do that, maybe you should consider getting off your computers and learning to love your neighbors.
Jeremy is being very gracious in allowing your comments to remain posted. If this were my blog, the comments would already have been deleted and any future comments of similar nature would get you permanently blocked. Many non believers I know have read similar comments on “Christian” blogs and want nothing to do with Christianity because of this sort of thing. It looks nothing like Jesus. But how would they know that when this is what they are seeing and reading?
Sam,
Thanks for weighing in on this. I might need to post a comment policy or something on the blog. Thanks for your help and friendship.
Wow Jeremy, looks like the Pharisees are circling you, and getting their judgmental rocks ready for an old fashioned stoning!
Chris and Dave…it is God who judges the heart of individual believers, not man. I suppose you two would have sneered at the widow who gave all that she had, a mite, and wondered why she wasn’t giving more. God looked at the widow as faithful, man looks at the outward appearance and sees a woman giving the smallest denomination possible.
Those who are full of self-righteousness find it easy to judge and label others as something less than what God desires. God looks at a persons development, and not necessary just their life at any one fixed point in time. The person you judge as lukewarm, may in fact have come a long way in their walk with the Lord.
Guys, if you want to attract people for the kingdom of God, it may be better to emulate the good Samaritan who came along side the Jewish man who had been robbed and beaten, and helped him up…rather than those who took up stones to kill the prostitute.
Hey, are you equating me with the prostitute? Ha!
Either way, I accept it. If Jesus was the friend of tax collectors, sinners, and prostitutes, and I am a prostitute, then Jesus is my friend.
@Dave
When push comes to shove, the majority of clergy can’t explain why the verses they cite, when they are able to cite them, support the theology that they claim it supports.
Hot Christian/Warm Christian/Cold Christian has some interesting implications in what Jeremy wrote in his _When Go Pled Guilty_ series.
No one is good enough to go to heaven except Jesus. I truly believe that it is not His sacrifice we must believe in but that we must believe Jesus. Everything He is, everything He said, Everything. Then our works which we were created to walk in before the foundation of the earth will be the proof that we are grafted into the vine. We shall be known by our fruit. Love, peace, gentleness, goodness, etc. We have a new heart with new desires. Our life is no longer our own. We know the Father and more importantly He knows us. Are sins have been forgiven for His name’s sake. We love Him because He first loved us. He saves from the penalty and power of sin. We are sanctified and conformed into His image from one glory to the next. All of us. There are no first and second class Christians. We are all accepted in the beloved and God effectually works in us both to will and to do His good pleasure. He who is in you is greater than He who is in the world. All are taught of God. All know Him from the least to the greatest. We all have an anointing. It isn’t the works it’s the new heart. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit. I believe the lukewarm are the professing Christians of Matthew 7. Eternal life is a present possession. The life starts now. No perfect Christians just set apart and devoted ones.
Great topic here and I am considering all that you saying here. I am a bit confused though by some of the terminology. It may be a bit off topic though. When someone dies, they go to the grave and not to heaven. At the resurrection, many things will take place. I also believe that the Kingdom is now if we live in Jesus. I think it can be confusing for many if we state that we go to heaven when we die since scripture talks about a new heaven and earth at the renewal of all things. Isn’t this the place where all believers will go to after the resurrection?
Good reminders Tony!
We often seem to fall into using such traditional terms (and most often confusing… for babes of all ages).
Thanks,
M.
It does get confusing. Though there are different views, I believe that when we die, we go spiritually to be with God in heaven. At the resurrection, we will receive our new, glorified bodies, and it is with these that we will live in the New Heavens and New Earth.
Thanks for your reply Jeremy.Yes! I do agree that there are different positions on this topic. It would be great if we could discuss the different positions at some point in the future with out some becoming disagreeable with each other. If we look at the semantics of what you are stating, are you lumping together the soul and the spirit? I am coming at this from the tripatate model of man, with a body, soul and spirit. If we look at the spirit as being a life breath from God, then that life breath returns to God as scripture states. If this is true, then the soul stays with the body until it is resurrected. Doesn’ it?
Hi Tony, I was a firm believer in the tripartite model – teaching it and applying it in seminars. Then I discovered it was based on 0.37% of references to the soul/spirit in the Bible. It took me on an extensive study, including the ancient Hebraic views of the matter which changed my understanding. One can begin with Gen. 2:7 that states the human became a living soul and not received a living soul. Three words are translated ‘soul’ in the Bible – the Hebrew nephesh, ruach and neshamah. All of them basically mean breath, with several other nuances. The Greek equivalents are psuche, pneuma and pnoe. Within the ancient Hebraic description nephesh was the lowest part of the total soul, with neshamah being described as the highest and closest to God.
What the tripartite teaching refers to as the (separate entity of) the spirit, is the neshamah. This is the word used in Proverbs 20:27. Some translations have it as ‘spirit’, some as ‘breath’, but mostJewish works (not all) I have worked through translate it ‘soul’. Thus, these state that the soul of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching the innermost being.
If you study the variety of views in the tripartite fold, you will find many contradictions. One author, for example, wrote that God had to create the protective womb of the ‘spirit’ for the Holy Spirit to dwell in as the ‘soul’ was open to demonic attack. Wow! But let me end here.
Another comment that I’d like to make about the once saved always saved position. Though many can find scriptures to support this position, I’m still struggling with other scriptures that appear to be not as clear in this regard. I continue to leave both positions on the shelf until I’m totally convinced other wise. In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus gives parables in chapters 24:42 through 25:46, Jesus points to his servants that go to a place where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. We are to advised to keep watch over our servanthood.
Thanks. I have written elsewhere about those texts. Part of the difficulty with the “Once saved always saved” teaching is that people don’t understand how the word “saved” is used in the Bible. It rarely refers to eternal life. I believe that eternal life is eternal.
Jeremy, some of the posts have simply confirmed what I was reading half an hour earlier in a book by a well-known Christian historian: “It is true, unfortunately, that the church is often the worst witness to Jesus and the early Christian movement”.
Keep up the good work, for the truth needs to be spoken, however it be taken. I also feel to underline here what the late Dr. Walter Martin said about controversy – that controversy for the sake of controversy is sin. But controversy for the sake of the truth is a divine command.
Thanks, Gerrie.
Yes. What was it Ghandi said when asked why he wasn’t a Christian? “I love Jesus; it’s your Christians I can’t stand.”
Yes, Ghandi certainly gave us (I include myself!) something to think over.
Yep! We mustn’t discredit what he said simply because he wasn’t “Christian.”
Hi Jeremy,
Long time reader first time poster haha. I must say your blog is a breath of fresh air in how you’ve understood the human condition and have treasured love to all while honestly searching for truth.
I’ve been really interested looking into the context of the Kingdom of God/Kingdom of Heaven as you’ve presented. I was curious as to what you thought of certain examples like when Jesus is talking to Nicodemus and says that you must be born again to see/enter the Kingdom of God. I was always of the belief that being born again is what was necessary for entrance to Heaven and escape from Hell.
Do you think Kingdom of God/Heaven could be similar to the word “saved” and have different meanings based on the context, with this case meaning actual entrance into Heaven rather than rule and reign?
Looking forward to hearing back from you.
Good question about the word “saved”? I personally find it extremely helpful to substitute “rule and reign of God” into the text whenever I see the phrase “Kingdom of Heaven” or “Kingdom of God.”
When we do this, we see that it can have various applications in various contexts, but ultimately, it is about helping the values and goals of God take root in our personal lives so that we live and act in way toward others which helps them come to experience God’s values and goals in their life as well.
Jeremy,
The questions concerning who goes to Heaven or Hell have been around since ancient days but the answer is very easy because the Bible make is plain.
Everyone has questions Heaven and Hell but there is only one place to find the True Answers to our questions, The Holy Bible.
Is Hell real? The Bible says yes; in fact Bible makes reference to Hell more times than Heaven. Hell is a place of eternal pain, suffering, torment and where there is no rest nor peace day or night from the horrors.
Where is Hell? The Bible says that Hell is in the center or heart of the Earth.
Is Heaven real? The Bible says yes and the only way to get there is to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.
Where is Heaven? The Bible says that Heaven is an Eternal place where the Most High God dwells and there is no pain, no sorrow, no hunger, no thirst and no death.
Everyone has an opinion but there is only one Truth and that is Jesus Christ, the Word of God. Jesus said “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31 & 32
I found a video on http://www.nowsthetime.org that will be a great blessing to you and it will help you to find the Truth that you seek.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oybi-QLX6Hc
Hi,
I’m French so please excuse my English. I don’t really agree with your interpretation of being cold in Faith. I think Jesus meant that he prefers someone who made up his mind (hot or cold) but not someone in between. He didn’t say that being cold is desirable (as a cold drink can be good and preferable to a lukewarm one) not at all. For instance, If you meet a new person and if this person if cold toward you, you won’t have a warm and meningful relationship, you will stay away from this person because she seems indifferent or even rude. Same thing with Jesus, being cold is NOT desirable, only being hot is acceptable in His eyes.
Mary
Someone hasn’t been reading the Bible in correct context. This is the “once saved, always saved” scenario that you are using, it does not qualify. Note in Rev. 3:20, after Jesus says He will spew them out of His body (they are no longer IN the Body, but outside), and it says He stands at the door and knock. Some use this as a witness, but this is a message given to the lukewarm Laodicean church. Why did He ask them to repent? They are not in the Bible, they do not know Jesus, they are not going to heaven unless they repent, buy refined gold, wear white raiment, and use eye salve (they do not see their depraved condition). We are called to work out our salvation in fear and trembling (Phil 2:12), so it is NEVER a given.
Someone hasn’t been reading the Bible in correct context. Note in Revelation 3:19-21, the issue is God chastening those He loves, Jesus coming in for table fellowship, and overcoming so that believers can rule with Jesus Christ. Gaining, keeping, or proving eternal life is nowhere mentioned.
We are called to work out our salvation (Php 2:12), but NEVER for it.
Keep Rev. 3 in letter to the Laodiceans in full context. If Jesus is outside, then they are OUTSIDE the body. Sounds to me salvation is no longer theirs unless they repent. Salvation isn’t always a given as we think, even Jesus warned in Matthew 7:21-23. Salvation may be a gift, but this can be given away.
Matthew 7 says nothing about giving salvation away. As for Rev 3, I am not sure what you are talking about. Outside the body? There is no body language here. I think you are importing theology into this text, which is not the same as reading it in context.
I firmly believe you can never life for God worrying about where you will spend eternity.
You live for God because of your thankfulness and because there is a lost world out there that you need to be a light to.
You can live like a Christian and not be a Christian, you can say your saved because that is what your Christian peers expect you to say, you can live the Christian life due to peer pressure, and have so much fear of Judgement, and die and go to hell, because you didn’t believe in your heart because Jesus died for your sins and because of that you are saved. We can say the rights things, do the rights things and still go to hell, it’s all about belief.
We have become way too much eyeball people as Christians assume that those who don’t live according to the way they do they are unsaved, we have created this judgemental relationship which hurts peoples fellowship with God, there are no litmus tests for people that believe in Jesus, which is why we are called to not judge others, and people use James 2:14, and 1 John’s verse of those who practices righteousness are righteous even though I think it’s talking about earthly righteousness toward people that we as Christians should show because there is a lost world out there that needs are help and these doctrines of guilt, condemnation, anger, and judgement aren’t helping in fact they are doing the opposite, just like how in James it’s justification towards man.
To sum this up, there are no litmus tests to prove someone is going to heaven you can pray to God, and ask him to save someone if you are not sure, but ultimately it is whether they believe that because Jesus died for their sins they are going to heaven, but what can effect how well they live their life on earth is how in tune with the Holy Spirit which only happens when you read his word, and listen to GOOD preachers, thankfulness for your salvation which is not mandatory to have it in the first place will bring the passion to live for him out.
Wow, there obviously is SO MUCH confusion, misinformation, fear and confusion regarding this issue among Christians. Just as there are so many different “Christian” denominations in the Body of Christ so goes each person’s opinions and interpretations of scripture. Comparing each denomination’s theology and doctrine is not for the faint of heart. Everyone wants to be right and think they have the inside track to God. My mind is spinning just from reading over one page of these posts. I’m wondering what a non believer thinks when reading through these? God PLEASE grant us Your Wisdom…
Hi Jeremy,
I know your intent, and your viewpoints are something you hold true to yourself, but let me ask you this:
You speak of lukewarm Christians, right?
So, let’s say, a ‘lukewarm’ Christian goes to Church every Sunday, appearing to be ‘good’ in the eyes of others. But in secret, this ‘lukewarm Christian’ continues to steal clothing from the retail department stores.
Is this Christian really saved if they don’t stop stealing? No.
The Bible makes it clear that yes, Jesus Christ is the one who saves us, but, if we choose to live the broad way, that leads to eternal destruction, then we are fooling ourselves.
Jesus said “repent yee, or yee likewise shall perish”. What Jesus Christ meant, is that if we don’t repent, meaning, turn away from our sins, then we will enter hell.
Remember when Jesus talked about bearing good fruit? A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.
Like-wise, good works doesn’t save us, but a CHANGED CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE is evidence of our salavtion through Jesus Christ.
Repenetance is neccessary for salavtion. If you are a murderer, are you really a Christian?
You’re either a Christian or you’re not a Christian.
Lukewarm Christian is just a label to say: “Hey, I want eternal life, but I don’t want to please God and I want to live my own sinful way, that way, I’m still Christian and I don’t have to worry about the consequences.”
I’m not saying Christians are sinless, to say sin doesn’t lie within me, would be a lie.
The difference is that when Christians sin, they feel regret, and try their best to TURN away from that sin.
Whereas, lukewarm Christians would not feel convicted from their sins, and think that grace will cover it all, and that they’re going to heaven, but in reality, that’s not the case.
You cannot mock God. Yes, God does know our hearts, but he also knows when we are trying to intentionally sin.
I pray that you know that Jesus Christ + repentance is necessary for salvation. And that good works are a PRODUCT of being saved. We do good works not because they save us, but because we want to do the will of God and please our Father in Heaven.
God bless you 🙂
I don’t think you understand what was said here, and not good works aren’t a product of repentance + salvation.
Good works are a product of being thankful for the salvation you have received.
Repentance in the context of Salvation is believing you need a savior, not that you want to give your sins, you give up your sins, because they will hurt you, why do you think shall we sin so that grace may abound is in the Bible, and Paul retorted with no you shouldn’t, he didn’t say it’s impossible.
Someone can believe that because Jesus Christ died for their sins, they are saved, and lead a very secular life, it’s not because they didn’t repent as repentance is believing you need a savior in the first place, it’s realizing that because of the sins you have commited now, and the sins of your future, you are going to hell, you can’t save yourself, and no one but Jesus is going to save you, so you go to Jesus for salvation because you are going to hell, you simply believe in your heart that because Jesus Christ died for your sins he is the Lord, and your Savior, you don’t need to live for him or live a good life to go to heaven the THIEF on the cross made that incredibly clear, he simply believed in Jesus, and it was credited to him as righteousness.
Your fellowship with him is what determines whether you live your life good or not, and even then that’s not an indicator, because you can’t have fellowship with God and believe that because you do good works they are going to heaven, it is their ticket into heaven and I believe Matthew makes it very clear they are going to hell because they don’t believe that because Jesus died for their sins they are going to heaven, yet someone could be very secular on the outside, but is praying everyday, reading their bibles, and thinking deeply about matters that some people barely think about like the extent of which the Church and State should be separate, homosexuality and whatnot you just don’t see it, but it’s because they believe that because Jesus died for their sins, their record in clean, they are going to heaven it’s Jesus not them.
If a Christian steals it’s the sin nature within him or her that does it, and we don’t know why, it could be because of a mental illness, or because of whatever the person is still saved because he or she believes that because Jesus Christ died for their sins they are saved, they have repented because repentance is a change of mind not a change in action, in the context of salvation repentance is the change of mind on whether or not you need a savior, not wanting to give up your sins, you give up your sins because you are thankful, and not everyone is thankful because they believe the word, but the seed of the fruit is choked up, by their lives.
On a final note, good works aren’t an indicator of a persons salvation, a person can blend it to appear Christian with their good works, they appear righteous, and claim yeah God saved me, but they may in their heart believe that if I don’t continue to live the Christian life, then I won’t go to heaven, where as on the flipside if a Thief believes that Jesus Christ died for their sins, they are saved because Jesus died for them, and they believe and accept it, it’s not changing their lives because well like those that don’t believe in physical healing, may not believe in phystical changes within their lives, not saying that it’s right, but your faith is as far you know and believe, because if you interpret scripture wrongly it could fill you with something that can rob you of your whole good filled with genuine good works in Christ.
Will lukewarm believers go to heaven? The answer is no.
“So, because you are lukewarm–neither hot nor cold–I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:16)
The implication here is that a lukewarm heart is ultimately destined for destruction. A lukewarm person is NOT born again of the Spirit, and this is THE key!!
Jesus said, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
What does being born again look like? Basically the Holy Spirit shines on your very being: “Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them.” ACTS 2
Now, Judas is the prime example of what happens to a lukewarm disciple: Judas walked with Jesus, loved Jesus, believed in Jesus, yet his heart was not fully with Him, i.e. he was enamored with the world so much so that he ultimately betrayed Jesus for it. His lukewarm heart ultimately lead to destruction, not eternal life.
This is why Jesus spoke to the church in Laodicia; He loved them and saw the road of destruction they were heading down, and urged them to return unto Him.
What does it mean to be a believer? Does Satan believe in Jesus? You bet he does…he loved God, was one of the mightiest of angels, and we all know how he will go down.
So in summary, no…lukewarm believers will not go to heaven.
Jeremy i agree with your article the luke warm christians are still saved but not living the reality of a true christian walk that means not experiencing the fruit of the spirit nor the power to break sin in there lives.There lives are not being transformed.Its an empty life not a place christians should be itsa false christian walk based on self.I see the reference to Jesus spewing them out of his mouth the same as the example LUKE 14;26 that we should hate our fathers mothers children in comparison to our love for God.The people had all they needed were self sufficient that reeks of pride and self effort there was no room for God in there lives.That is why he spoke the way he did to shock them out of there complacency. brentnz
Lee i dont think Judas was a good example of a luke warm believer in regard to Jeremys article it describes the people as affluent and independent self reliant and because of that they were more interested in what they could do rather than what Jesus could do for them.That is why he described them as pitiful poor blind wretched and naked.There confidence was in themselves and not God.brentnz
All believers go to heaven. Period. Judas was a disciple of Jesus, but he wasn’t saved because Jesus had not yet died on the cross so… therefore … Judas’ sins hadn’t ben forgiven … he wasn’t baptized into the body of Christ … he wasn’t indwelt and sealed by the Holy Spirit unto the day of redemption. Acts 2 is describing the event of the Holy Spirit descending on the disciples on the day of Pentecost; not what a believer looks like. Jesus is talking to a church in Revelation 3, not individual believers.
Before Jesus had yet died on the cross, Jesus told a paralysed man ” your sins are forgiven “, I presume that Jesus knew what He was talking about, meant what He said and it was in fact true. Jesus proved it was true by healing the man’s paralysis.
It was the Pharisees who decided that God could only play by the rules according to them. Jesus is the judge, He knows what is the right thing, he doesn’t need us to explain it to Him.
Jesus said, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
The seal of the Holy Spirit, through faith in Jesus Christ, is the requirement for salvation/entrance into heaven.
We have to ask ourselves, and search the scriptures for a few things:
1) When someone has the Holy Spirit, what does it look like?
2) A lukewarm heart is one that is torn between a love for the world & a love for Christ…not really good for anything. Does such a heart truly represent a person that has the Holy Spirit?
2) Is there a biblical example of a body of disciples who had not yet received the Holy Spirit immediately upon becoming Christians?
To answer the first question, the apostles are our best examples of what a person looks like upon receiving the Spirit.
In the book of Acts, when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and john to Samaria to pray for the new believers that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized (via) water int he name of the Lord Jesus Christ. (ACTS 8:14-23)
In this same chapter, Simon (the sorcerer) believed and followed Phillip and was baptized by water…yet he was rebuked by Peter, in much the same way that Jesus rebukes the church in Laodicia, for thinking he could buy the gifts of the Spirit with money. Peter said of Simon, a believer…”I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”
Now, the bible clearly describes Simon as a believer….”Simon himself believed and was baptized…” (Acts 8:13)
Yet, Peter describes him as being captive to sin and full of bitterness…aka LUKEWARM.
Simon, like the lukewarm believers in Laodicia, would not enter heaven with the lukewarm heart.
HOWEVER!!! THE GOOD NEWS!!! -> Though the journey of the Christian be rough and full of bitterness, Jesus Christ GUARANTEES our entrance into Heaven if we trust Him. And given our faith, He will do all the work necessary to get us through the narrow gate. If we start wandering into darkness, He will rebuke us and pull us back on the right track. He will forgive us over and over and make sure that we receive the Spirit in this life. THIS is the sanctification process…and THIS is what He was doing for the believers in the church of Laodicia, who He clearly loved, “because the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastens everyone He accepts as his son.” (Heb. 12:6)
In summary….No, a lukewarm believer is not welcome in Heaven. But as believers, aka those who profess with their hearts that Jesus is Lord, God, and Savior….Jesus will not allow us to maintain lukewarm hearts. He will make sure that our hearts are fully His before He calls us home. This is the promise.
Thank God 🙂
But that was before the cross. His sins up to that point were forgiven. It wasn’t until after the cross that all of a person’s sins are forgiven (past, present, future) because after Jesus’ finished work on the cross a person is placed into the body of Christ and indwelt and sealed by the Holy Spirit which didn’t occur before the cross.
Dear jeremy
This is indeed a thought provoking article and consistent with my belief in the free grace position about salvation. Could you also answer the question as to whether lukewarm believers and those believers who “have lost their first love” be caught up in the rapture along with the rest of the church? Thanks.
Regards
Jonathan
Perhaps another example (apart from the millionaire’s club) of the difference between being ‘saved’ and entering ‘the kingdom’ might be summed up by Puddleglum in C. S. Lewis’ “The Silver Chair” when he counters the green witches’ claim that only the dim, lifeless, petty Underworld of her slaves is ‘reality’ with “even if there is no Narnia — even if there is no Aslan — I’m going to live like a Narnian.” In other words, only those who have already sought and found, in some sense anyway, a world where what Christ is like, is the ‘norm’ — enjoy it. As you point out — salvation is being rescued from something bad while the kingdom is participating in something impossibly glorious. They’re not the same thing. But I know also that there is something in me that could almost be satisfied with an ‘underground’ slave existence — so long as it was safe. i think this was in part the situation the liberated Israelites experienced in the desert under Moses. They both wanted “the promised land” and also the security they had ‘enjoyed’ in the misery they’d been released from.
All believes will sit with Lord on his thorn i.e reign with Christ forever as Eph 2 or Eph 4 that God promises as long as your name in book of life.
But, not in 1000 year, only overcomer of revelation 2, 3.
Here is the biggest question that could ever be asked. What is it to simply believe in Jesus?
Let me break this down, Jesus is the Word of God john 1:1-5, Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost. Saved from the original language means completely and entirely delivered the power and influence of evil and sin from within and that which has been transformed by the Word of God into the image and likeness of God.
Concerning lukewarmness, Jesus said in the same chapter and letter to Laodecia, He would rather have them hot or cold but to those who are lukewarm I will spew you out of my mouth. In essence that is the Lord’s way of saying that is an abomination to him.
Nice Post Jeremy. Simply put and very helpful and explanatory. Excellent. x
I’m still a little confused when you say lukewarm believers have what they need for eternal life, but they can’t experience it. I mean wouldn’t you be experiencing heaven if you have eternal life?
The confusion of many who are determined to broaden the “narrow” way is truly amazing. So, you would have those who are lukewarm, cold, and hot, all going to God’s heaven. Well, . . . there are countless “ministries” in this day which are spreading confusion, so you certainly are not alone in that regard. Jesus is clearly teaching, in Revelation 3: 15, 16 that He prefers extreme zeal, or extreme indifference, because lukewarm is the worst condition of all, and is the way of deception; . . . not only self–deception, but deception for those who have long been “cold,” when they finally decide to seek Christ, are deceived into thinking that the lukewarm religionists are ones who have already found Him. It would be good for you to study Matthew 13: 18–30 and see the truth about “tares.” Then read 1 John 2: 3, 4, and be real, be obedient, and be saved, . . . or go cold; . . . as Jesus clearly prefers cold indifference to those who . . . honor him with their lips, while their heart is far from him (Matt. 15: 8, 9); . . . such ones as are “teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” . . . “But in vain do they worship me” . . . saith The Lord.
Hey Jeremy,
I came across your article because I have been trying to grow in my knowledge of the Lord as is my mentor and many other that I’m walking in my spiritual walk with. I recently came across some near-death experience testimonies about people who have gone to both heaven and hell and one of the testimonies about hell really scared me. It’s not so much with the person in the testimony said but he worded it in such a way that made it sound like when “he saw Christians and pastors down there, people who are robbing him of the tithe, people who were living in unforgiveness “ etc and stuff like that, he made it sound like these people had lost their salvation. I’ve always grown up to believe that our salvation alone is based in Christ. And your belief on Christ. Although I (humbly) consider myself on fire for God now, there was a good period of my 20s and early 30s where I was growing but I was still in sin, and now after hearing that testimony, it hasn’t stirred fear in me and makes me look around at all of my other fellow believers that could be possibly described as lukewarm and has made me fearful for them in addition to all of the other constant people out there that are either announcing their faith or starting to walk away from God. My heart goes out to them as well. So this article really did help put things in perspective. It really shows how God has mercy on people even when they can’t fully continue to be as “on fire” for God as they should be. What is your opinion of those near death experience testimonies? Do you think those people are hearing from God and have helpful things to offer us? Do those people and their testimonies have the same weight as pastors and things in scripture? Thanks so much for your input!
The Bible says in Matthew 7: 21 that not everyone that calls on the Lord will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. So if people are lukewarm Christians they won’t enter the Kingdom of Heaven because they don’t do the will of God because they still act like the world. Lukewarm Christians aren’t real Christians because they are still serving Satan by living sinfully. It’s as simple as that.
Then what will they do in heaven with eternal life? Be stuck in a corner somewhere unable to experience heaven? Just float around aimlessly with nothing to do? If they miss out on Paradise and then what are they actually getting in heaven? I think what you are saying doesn’t make any sense and I think the Bible says exactly what it says they will be spewed out.
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”
Yes! There are “lukewarm” believers and that is so scary to KNOW better but still chose to straddle the fence, thus being “lukewarm.” Unfortunately for these “lukewarm” believers, according to scripture, you cannot serve two Masters. You will love one and hate the other. The Bible says, if you love me, you’ll keep my commandments NOT “if you love me, you’ll do some of them or enough of them.” Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
We all fall short of God means that we are all sinners and when you sin you fall short of Gods glory (perfection) so basically we are not perfect because we all sin and when we sin we are not perfect like god is BUT you have to make sure that when you fall, that you are reconciled back! Don’t stay down there (in the world) and surely don’t accept or be complacent with being lukewarm! That’s not what we are called to be! Jesus wants all of nothing! Hot! On fire! Completely sold out for Christ!
I don’t want to leave this world without being 100% sure that Im gonna make it to Heaven. This new levels to Heaven is just that.. new! I was totally unaware that heaven had a VIP section! People… just do ALL that you absolutely can to be able to see his face, to be able to fall to his feet and thank Him in person! I pray that any and everyone reading this can make it there! In Jesus name I pray. Amen!
If you don’t read this entirely or take it seriously like Alot of Bible verses that I have struggled with one could be thought to believe a true Christian can lose his/her salvation.
As a brit no we dont like lukewarm drinks.