Following Jesus 115

Following Jesus: What kind of church are we? 

“And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation.

“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’” (Revelation 3:14-22 ESV)

The Lukewarm Church Needs Jesus Christ. Vs. 14. Jesus directs the Apostle John to write to the pastor of the church in Laodicea. Jesus identifies himself a final time to the final church listed in this section of Revelation. He calls Himself by three specific titles. 

The first word is Amen. Amen means a strong affirmation of what is declared. Essentially, Jesus is saying that He is by nature truth. Jesus is the God of truth. He is by His very nature. At this point, Jesus is not speaking of what He does, but rather who He is: true and truth. 

Therefore, in light of the fact that Jesus is true, He can truly be identified as the faithful and true witness. Faithful means trustworthy, dependable, committed and worthy of worship and honor. The word “true” refers to what is genuine and reliable. 

These two adjectives, faithful and true, modify the noun witness. A witness is one who tells the truth and lives by the truth of the object of His trust, dependence, commitment and worship. The object of Jesus’ witness is God the Father. A witness is one who is willing to lay down their life so fervent is His trust, commitment, dependence and worship of God the Father. 

Finally, Jesus identifies Himself as the beginning of God’s creation. This does not mean Jesus is a created being, but rather that He is the supernatural ruler, authority and originator of creation. The New Testament clearly agrees with Jesus’ testimony and witness as faithful and true. 

John 1:1-3. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. (John 1:1-3 ESV)

Colossians 1:15- 16. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. (Colossians 1:15-16 ESV)

Hebrews 1:1-3. Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, (Hebrews 1:1-3 ESV)

What does the lukewarm need from He is called the Amen, the faithful and true witness and the Creator? 

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