Associated with the temple was a medical school. The word cold is the Greek word (psuchros) and means cool, fresh, or cold.14 It should be obvious that being cold must be a good thing, or Christ would not have recommended it. Lets remember the overall lesson from Christs message to Laodicea. Laodicea was known for it's black wool. The residents of Laodicea would have also traveled up to Hierapolis to sit in the hot mineral baths. Revelation 3:20. They had somehow taken off the white clothing they received during salvation and stood naked before God. You would have thought that this was the ultimate act of humility. All things are through Him, and we exist through Him. Colossians 1:16 (HSCB) says, For everything was created by Him, in heaven, and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things have been created through Him and for Him. Hebrews 1:2 (HSCB) says, In these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son. To be a cold Christian is to take care of needs, provide moral support, and genuinely care about people. We now come back to the question of how to purchase white garments from Christ, but before we do that, there a couple of terms that I need to define. Colossae had been a major trade center on the trade route from Sardis to Konya and was famous for the dark red wool cloth that carried that its name, colossinum (also derived from the madder root). Previously I mentioned that if were doing something hoping that it will bring ourselves glory or accolades or pats on the back, then were not doing it for God. The word amen is used thirty times in the Old Testament. Near the temple of the special god associated with healing there was a market for trading all sorts of goods. To purchase something requires an exchange. This act concealed the shame of his nakedness. 1. He took the skins of the sacrifices and clothed him. Then we must take active, practical steps to avoid falling into sin. 3 Ways to Avoid Becoming a Lukewarm Church. Natural fire burns away natural impurities. Because you say, I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothingand do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and nakedI counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. (16) So because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. God advises them to obtain spiritual riches produced through trials, which the self-sufficient Laodicean avoids by compromising. It costs our life. The Laodicean church is not cold. Youre going to have to spend time reading the Word, studying the Word, memorizing the Word, meditating on the Word, and obeying the Word. So what does it cost to purchase eye salve from Christ? Following the pattern of the other letters, this one was also to the angel of the church. Laodicea was a church that had not overcome sin but rather been overcome by sin. A third lesson is that we need to vigilantly maintain our spiritual eyesightour ability to see things from a spiritual perspective. Suffer in the flesh, cease from sin. Laodicea had a famous school of medicine; and a special ointment known as Phrygian powder, famous for its cure of eye defects, was either manufactured or distributed there, as were ear ointments also. But this can only happen when we are in the right relationship with him. The Greek word amen () was transliterated from the Hebrew word for amen (). Laodicea was so conscious of its medical skill in the care of the eyes that it never realized that it was spiritually blind. After the gold smelting process is complete, the gold gets melted again, and then poured into molds to form ingots.17. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15 NASB. They may have been well off economically, but they were poor in their relationship with God. We have been warned and cautioned to be ready for His arrival. Physical money cannot purchase the merchandise Christ has for sale; it takes something else. Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 1 Peter 4:1-2. The word for love used in this verse is not agape but phileo. 14a To the angel of the church in Laodicea. The fertile valley contained pastures with large flocks of sheep. Therefore be zealous and repent. Uniquely situated on a large flat-topped hill, the town was protected from the flooding in the spring when the snow melted off the nearby mountains. Jesus used scripture as a weapon. By knowing and obeying the Word of God, you will be trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. We now come back to the question of how do you buy from Jesus' refined gold? (15) I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. Hydrotherapy for the sick became accompanied by religious practices in the local temples. Repentance is more than a feeling. (21) He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. God has appointed Him heir of all things and made the universe through Him. Also, read Proverbs chapter eight. There are several thoughts on who they are: (1) actual angels, (2) a human representative of them, i.e., the bishop of the church, (3) they are a personification of the church. It costs our will. The positive aspect is that if someone does hear his voice, and does open the door, Jesus will come in. The Bible is the weapon God has given us; words to use against Satan's deceit like Jesus did, words that show us what to do, words of comfort. 14bthe Amen. You, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. What does it mean to be cold? When we say that God imputes Christ's righteousness to us, it means that God thinks of Christ's righteousness as belonging to us, or regards it as belonging to us. Jesus loves this church, or he would not have rebuked them. In terms of healing, the hot Christian will be bringing souls to Christ, healing them of their sinful condition. 3. The name is derived from two words: laos, meaning people and dike, meaning decision (Strongs Concordance). Dinner was a time for everyone to catch up on the daily activities of the rest of the family, and whatever friends were in attendance. hippie fest 2022 michigan; family picture poses for 5 adults; unforgettable who killed rachel; pacific northwest college of art notable alumni; adler sense of belonging family constellation; Tunics manufactured in Laodicea, called trimata, were so well-known that the city had the nickname of Trimataria.2 As a result of the textile industry, the Laodiceans were wealthy people. The Greek word for deeds ( - ergon) means means denotes comprehensively what a man is and how he acts.13 Typically translated as works or deeds, these words do not accurately convey the richness of the Greek word. Gold mined from rock always has impurities. Isaiah 1:18, Acts 3:19, and Revelation 7:17 state that the blood of Jesus washes our sin-stained garments that they would become white as snow. The hot Christian should also be like hot wine; the pleasant taste and aroma of a Christ-like life should cause people to want Christs salvation as well. Making an everlasting covenant with God (salvation is only the starting point). What did Christ mean when He said He would spit them out of His mouth if they did not change? For us to purchase something from Christ, something is required. Jesus also told the Laodiceans to "anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see" (Revelation 3:18). If it were a common practice to refer to the chief person in the church as a messenger, this would be evident in the other letters contained in the New Testament, especially in Paul's. 14cthe Beginning of the creation of God. The Bible speaks of eye-salve. Copyright 2004 -, Transliteration of Amen From Hebrew to Greek to English. Christ told the church at Laodicea to buy____from Him to become truly rich. Both churches were in a downward spiral of carnality. A change of heart will follow honest confession. Another salve supposedly healed ear problems. The stone and salve were later imported throughout the Greek and Roman world but their first known use and preparation was in Laodicea. and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. But we have to invite Him inside. The letter starts as if being written to an angel, but there is no doubt that it is the congregation itself who is the focus of the letter. The essential element in real repentance is that we must come to God in humbleness to request his forgiveness. Hebrew writing has no vowels, so the Greek leter for "e" was added by the translaters to make the word easier to read and speak. Many portions of the city remained unusable afterward. Never miss a post! Only a few are willing; the rest have ears, but they do not have ears to hear (Matthew 7:1314, 2427). In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:5-9 NASB). Nevertheless, the sin nature, also known as the natural man, is the impurity that interferes with a souls faith coming forth as pure gold just as impurities in nature prevent pure gold from being found. In short, to be a cold, Christian is to serve as Jesus served. Laodicea was a city located in what is today the nation of Turkey, then called Asia Minor, in a section of the Roman Empire called "Phrygia" (Acts 18:23). Its like lukewarm coffee. Youre going to have to give him your time. So, as a faithful shepherd, He commands the church to repent immediately. We must pray and cry out to God, and our lust for sin has to feel the pain of being denied. It is the foundation of wisdom. What exactly is forgiveness? The focus of this verse is on deed or works. If you have, you can probably imagine what Jesus is experiencing. The phrase ears to hear is used throughout the Bible, starting with Deuteronomy 29:4. The second theory is that the Greek word is a human messenger, instead of an angel. The stones were ground up to powder which was mixed with oil producing a well-known eye balm that was distributed throughout the Greek and Roman world. Along with Colosse and Hierapolis, it was one of the cities in the fertile Lyous [sic.] There are a couple of points that I need to make here that you might not have seen before. Laodicea boasted of one of the most renowned medical schools in the world, and with it came all of its associated industries like pharmaceuticals. Just in case you're beginning to get the point that the person referred to here is truthful, honest, believable, and worthy of credit (trustworthy); that is exactly the idea that John is pointing out. For example, lets say that I issued instructions for you to sit either on the left or the right side of the room but not in the center. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches (Revelation 3:14-22). Serving wine lukewarm would be considered an insult. In this case, the angel represents the church. While we may never be free from temptation and sin in this lifetime, we can still be victorious and overcome. The fertile valley contained pastures with large flocks of sheep. (19) Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. Youre going to have to spend time in the reading the Bible to learn the truth and by meditating on the Word, reinforce the truth. Let us, therefore, come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16. To hear is to obey. God the Father sanctifies (1 Corinthians 1:30) by the Spirit (2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2) and in the name of Christ (1 Corinthians 6:11). There is also a problem with assigning the pastor or bishop to the role of the messenger because they are not referred to as messengers anywhere in the New Testament. In Gods eyes, anything not done for Him, has no value, no use, no purpose. Phileo is the Greek word for friend or friendship. Hierapolis had a hot spring that was considered to be medicinal. 1 Peter 1:7 states that spiritual gold is your faith in Christ, and every true believers faith in Jesus will go through a fiery trial during which all that is dross is to be done away with (burned away) to bring forth a finished product of pure, refined gold. 5. The promise in this verse is that the church will reign with Christ if they overcome. 19btherefore be zealous and repent. You would probably spit it out at the first sip. Concluding with encouragement, Jesus reminds them that if they overcome, they will rule with Him (verse 21). His entire life was a fulfillment of God's Word, and thereby, Gods will. He was very careful about whom he called friend. Jesus never referred to anyone who was not his disciple as a friend. Once again, Jesus Christ begins this message by identifying Himself as the One giving the message. Even though Jesus spent time with sinners, he never called them friends. 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