Jesus is reminding us that he is God, and as such, cannot lie. 18cand eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. We are to present ourselves as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1). Keep in mind as you read about the Laodiceans that they are a church filled with Christians. If we are humble and willing to obey, He will give us the strength and resolve we need to endure in the battle. Are they so focused and preoccupied with prosperity that they cannot hear Christ's voice or hear his knock? (Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12) It is the absolute truth and a powerful weapon against temptation and sin. 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. Actions, behaviors, motives, and the heart are all intertwined; they cannot be separated. Following the pattern of the other letters, this one was also to the angel of the church. The ancient Greeks thought that only a barbarian would drink undiluted wine. It almost always represents purity, righteousness, or wisdom. If I go to the store to purchase something, I exchange my money for the goods I wish to purchase. It has everything to do with imparted righteousness. Both of these cities were known for the pure waters that flowed through them. What is the time of need? He was very careful about whom he called friend. Jesus never referred to anyone who was not his disciple as a friend. God's discipline may be gentle persuasion to return to right behavior, or he may use punitive action if persuasion fails. Jesus lived a life of humility. So how did Jesus overcome? A lustrous black wool was produced there which was woven into much-desired clothing. Are so busy doing "things" for Christ that they're too busy to open the door? When they heard this letter for the first time, what did they hear? The fact that he does call them friends shows that he expects them to get the spiritual priorities straightened out, and back on the right path. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. Is that type of failure even possible for an angel? The culture of the city had infiltrated the church, and the members didnt know how spiritually wretched and weak they were. Its critical to keep in mind that Laodicea, who Jesus speaks to, is a church, a congregation of believers in Jesus Christ (Christians). A third lesson is that we need to vigilantly maintain our spiritual eyesightour ability to see things from a spiritual perspective. Rather this is the Creator of the Universe, adjuring those He loves to recognize and admit their spiritual emptiness and turn to Him for complete healing and righteousness. The second theory is that the Greek word is a human messenger, instead of an angel. Modern Laodicea: Four Characteristics Similar to its ancient type, 21st-century Laodicea suffers from a number of specific ailments including: (1) pride in financial wealth and abundance of goods, (2) lukewarm temperature, (3) blindness, and (4) nakedness. 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. It was a central banking center and traded well in black wool and an innovative eye salve used for medicinal purposes. One of these is what the Bible calls the deceitfulness of riches (Matthew 13:22; Mark 4:19). You, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. But it's written that it was as a man that He humbled Himself, and was obedient. Laodicea built an aqueduct that ran from the mountains above Colossae to the city center. (16) So because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. (18) I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. Jesus desires to come in, sit down at the table, and enjoy the food and company. Both Laodicea and Philadelphia served as gateways to the eastern region of Phrygia and as ambassadors for Greek culture. The depressing part of this verse if the word if. Gold mined from rock always has impurities. That would not be logical since the church at Laodicea has already accepted Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. Time. The Laodiceans needed to turn away from putting their trust in their earthly gold and instead put their trust in Jesus Christ, and that would involve repentance. And because Jesus was the Creator, He has the rule over it. The word beginning (arch) could be translated as that by which anything begins to be, the origin, active cause.12 The New Testament scriptures are very clear about Christ's role in creation. Gratitude Vision Optometry offers premier primary eye care, specialty contact lenses & more. A 1,000-year-old Anglo-Saxon 'eye salve' made from onion, garlic, wine and part of a cow's stomach has been shown to wipe out 90 percent of antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, otherwise known as MRSA. Jesus wants you to be hot. Production of the famous "Phrygian powder" was also performed in Laodicea. 1. The black wool of Laodicea produced some stunning dark-colored garments. valley. 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. Giving time to Christ is what Christians must do to develop spiritual discernment. And it works better than modern antibiotics in both lab and mouse models. Time. Chemicals such as cyanide solution or mercury are introduced to the gold to separate the gold from other metals. They were a prominent banking center for the entire region. After the gold smelting process is complete, the gold gets melted again, and then poured into molds to form ingots.17. After such strong correction, it is especially poignant to note that God wants sinners to repent and will quickly forgive their sins if they do. Repentance is more than a feeling. What exactly is forgiveness? All rights reserved. You dont expect (or want) to have lukewarm coffee served to you. The Lord rebukes the wealthy Christians, not because of their wealth, but rather because their money has substituted God. Confession by itself is not repentance. Serving wine lukewarm would be considered an insult. David Treybig is a husband, father and grandfather. People came from all over the empire to purchase this medicine. The focus of this verse is on deed or works. Six miles to the north, the town of Hierapolis sat on the top of the cliffs overlooking the valley. It was the location of a temple dedicated to Asklepios. The Greek used here, emesai, means to vomit. Only a few are willing; the rest have ears, but they do not have ears to hear (Matthew 7:1314, 2427). ""To the angel of the church in Laodicea write the following: "This is the solemn pronouncement of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the originator of God's creation: 'I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. You would have thought that this was the ultimate act of humility. We must ask God for forgiveness and for strength to avoid sinning. Youre going to have to give him your time. His entire life was a fulfillment of God's Word, and thereby, Gods will. Have you ever been locked out of your own house? Jesus starts by calling himself the Amen, a term reserved for God himself in the Old Testament. Verse three follows with, Incline your ear and come unto Me. Suffer in the flesh, cease from sin. (15) I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. Sanctification is a progressive work of God and man that makes us more and more free from sin and like Christ in our actual lives.19 Imparted righteousness is applied imputed righteousness, or to put in simpler terms; sanctification is applied justification. Why you are doing something is just as important, if not more so, than the works or deeds. He humbled Himself so that He could achieve His purpose in God's plan by putting God's will before His own. The residents would go there daily to fill their jars with the cold refreshing water from Colossae. Instead of looking to God to supply their every need, they look to their wealth instead. They were doing a lot of things (works and deeds). Having gotten their attention, Jesus then explains why He described their spiritual condition as lukewarm. 3. What does it mean to purchase something? Theologians have struggled for two thousand years, trying to determine who exactly they are. To answer these questions, we need to look at Laodicea from the eyes of the Laodiceans. 20band will dine with him, and he with Me. I wish you were either cold or hot! Industry The red dye was added to white wool and then spun into a brilliant red colored yarn. Youre going to have to spend time reading the Word, studying the Word, memorizing the Word, meditating on the Word, and obeying the Word. Ho! 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. Before considering the significance of this term and the rest of the message from Christ, lets note a few things about Laodiceas history. They probably think they are just like any other church. Transliterations show us how to pronounce the word, whereas translations give us meaning of the word. One of the famous Laodicean remedies was a "Phrygian eye-salve" which was supposed to cure inflammation. Christ calls out to us, letting us know that because He overcame, we can also overcome. -- Revelation 3: 14 (ESV) . Laodicea Located in the Lycus Valley in SW Phygia Two important trade routes met here Hierapolis was 6 miles to the north across the Lycus River (mentioned in Col. 4:13) Colossae was ten miles away Laodicea was the wealthiest city in Phrygia. via phone at (626) 851-7001. As for rebuilding the city after an earthquake, history records that the Laodiceans did this again a few decades later. The keys, according to this passage, are becoming skilled in the Word of God (by which we define righteousness) and practice (through which we gain experience). The city of Laodicea, currently located in modern Turkey, was situated in the Lycus valley, about 45 miles southeast of Philadelphia and about 100 miles east of Ephesus. So what does it cost to purchase eye salve from Christ? The city of Laodicea was located between the cities of Hierapolis and Colossae. When Jesus speaks, the church needs to listen. "11 (According to dictionary.com, the word "aver" means to declare positively, or state something as a fact.) The word for love used in this verse is not agape but phileo. Setting wine flasks in hot water allowed the wine to heat to the desired temperature. In Matthew 4:1-11, during Jesus' temptations, His reply always started with, it is written. But Jesus didnt only quote the Word; He had authority when He used Gods Word because He also lived by it. What they were doing wasnt being done for the glory of God. One of the most common errors associated with this verse is the notion that the door is the door to a sinners heart. Jesus loves this church, or he would not have rebuked them. There are multiple lessons that we can learn from Christs message to Laodicea. I could wish you were cold or hot. So, as a faithful shepherd, He commands the church to repent immediately. 15byou are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. Both churches were in a downward spiral of carnality. Since Christ is referring to spitting something out of his mouth, the image of lukewarm wine comes to mind. This messageas well as all of the othersis still important for Christians today. It costs our will. In the New Testament, eyes tend to represent spiritual discernment (Matthew 13:10-17, 1 John 2:11). If we pray for help as Jesus did, with humility and desperation to gain victory, then we will get help. The problem seems to be in their motives. Among them nothing from before the Roman period has appeared. Their wealth has become their savior who supplies their every need. While Colossae was neither as prominent or wealthy as Hierapolis or Laodicea, its location at the end of the valley made it easy to defend from enemies. Whatever were doing, or however were serving, we need to examine our hearts and our motives and see if were doing it for the right reason. What he was telling his listeners was that what they were about to hear from him was faithful, reliable, true, and believable. This theory deems the letter addressed to a human messenger rather than an angelic one. He is the one who addressed the church at Laodicea. The mineral water was used to clean the wool and set, or lock, the color of the dyes (this ensures the wool holds its color when washed). Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money come, buy and eat. 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. Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money come, buy and eat. In Gods eyes, anything not done for Him, has no value, no use, no purpose. 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