That would not be logical since the church at Laodicea has already accepted Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. 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. People traveled from around the world to obtain these supposed healing elixirs. 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. The town was built, perhaps unwisely, on a geological fault from which noxious vapors and hot mineral water escaped. Get the latest blog posts from Life, Hope & Truth straight to yourinbox. The Laodiceans were rich and self-sufficient, with no need for God to supply their needs. I wish you were either cold or hot! The city of Laodicea (Greek Laodikeia) on the Lycus (Laodicea ad Lycum), situated one mile south of the Lycus River in the Lycus Valley west of Colossae and south of Hierapolis, was established and fortified about 261 BC by the Seleucids under Antiochus II Theos. The name is derived from two words: laos, meaning people and dike, meaning decision (Strongs Concordance). The time you give Christ to purchase this eye salve, the more results you will see. Here we see Christ speaking as a merchant, advising the church to buy his merchandise. Production of the famous "Phrygian powder" was also performed in Laodicea. The reward here seems to be one of sharing royal honor, victory, and authority with Christ in His future kingdom. How do you buy gold when youre poor? God's discipline may be gentle persuasion to return to right behavior, or he may use punitive action if persuasion fails. The fertile fields below the city were excellent for growing crops, and the foothills had good pastureland. Setting wine flasks in hot water allowed the wine to heat to the desired temperature. No, it does not; just dont sit in the center. Laodicea also produced a special eye salve that was made by powdering a special Phrygian stone. The Lord rebukes the wealthy Christians, not because of their wealth, but rather because their money has substituted God. Gods perspective of their condition was a stark contrast as to how they saw themselves. Gods Word is a sword. Hot water is only effective while it is hot. 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. The Corinthian believers were engaged in some seriously messed up things. Concluding with encouragement, Jesus reminds them that if they overcome, they will rule with Him (verse 21). Lets remember the overall lesson from Christs message to Laodicea. God has appointed Him heir of all things and made the universe through Him. Also, read Proverbs chapter eight. Confession by itself is not repentance. Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. 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. The city was at the crossroads of north-south traffic between Sardis and Perga and east-west from the Euphrates to Ephesus. We can get so busy doing things for God that at some point, we stop doing them Him and begin doing them for ourselves. "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. "11 (According to dictionary.com, the word "aver" means to declare positively, or state something as a fact.) We are to present ourselves as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1). Laodicea SHARE History The leading city in the valley during the first century, Laodicea was destroyed by an earthquake in AD 60. The wine was almost always served either hot or warm, as the ancient Greeks had no efficient way to chill the wine. Are they so focused and preoccupied with prosperity that they cannot hear Christ's voice or hear his knock? It is interesting to note that verse 15 starts with Jesus telling the church that he knows their deeds. Jesus loves this church, or he would not have rebuked them. It was the perfect water for drinking, cooking, or even bathing. On the cross daily, they suffer and die. But it's written that it was as a man that He humbled Himself, and was obedient. Near the temple of the special god associated with healing there was a market for trading all sorts of goods. Moses was rebuking the rebellious Israelites by saying, But to this day, the LORD has not given you a heart to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear. He was not referring to physical hearing, but to those who may hear the commands of the Lord but who lacked comprehension and desire to act upon those words (Jeremiah 5:21; Ezekiel 12:2). Call (626) 587-0033! He had to take up a battle against the sin, and carry out His pledge: Not My will, but Yours, be done! There should be no hesitation in rushing to the door and flinging it open. The phrase ears to hear is used throughout the Bible, starting with Deuteronomy 29:4. When they heard this letter for the first time, what did they hear? Therefore God exalted Him and gave Him his own thrown (Philippians 2:5-11). Pay close attention! Theres no time to waste. Once again, Jesus Christ begins this message by identifying Himself as the One giving the message. 20band will dine with him, and he with Me. The positive aspect is that if someone does hear his voice, and does open the door, Jesus will come in. It costs our life. We need to look at this verse in context with the entire passage. It is through our relationship and identification with Christ and His work, and our faithfulness in the conflict with sin as we draw upon Christ, that we get to share in His reign as a reward for faithful service. 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). 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. Although it had earlier been called Diospolis and then Rhoas, Antiochus II of Syria named it for his wife Laodike and populated it with Syrians and with Jews who were transplanted from Babylonia to the cities of Phrygia and Lydia (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, 1939, Laodicea). Associated with the temple was a medical school. Having gotten their attention, Jesus then explains why He described their spiritual condition as lukewarm. In the Old Testament, the sacrifice could not be slain until it had been presented to the priest. It applied to the water of the city, and it was part of the message from Jesus Christ to the Church of God that was located there (Revelation 3:16). 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. 1 Peter 1:5-9 compares faith with refined gold. 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. Yet this wealth had blinded them from seeing their true spiritual condition. Thank you! When the messages to the churches of Revelation 2-3 are viewed as a chronological development of the Church, this passage also indicates that the return of Christ is near. Time. 1. Before He left the earth, Jesus promised His disciples that He would send them the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, who would guide them to the truth (John 14:16-17, 26; John 15:26). He humbled Himself to the Father's will. To hear is to obey. Colossae quickly decreased in importance. Of course, Gods love extends to all humanity. What did Christ mean when He said He would spit them out of His mouth if they did not change? 2. Although the Bible does not reveal how the Church of God began in Laodicea, a faithful minister named Epaphras served this congregation as well as members in Colosse and Hierapolis sometime during the first few decades after Christs death. 3. (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. All things are from Him, and we exist for Him. The first part of this process is accomplished by pulverizing or crushing the gold ore and then placing it in a furnace. As a man, Jesus also had this self-will and was tempted, but His firm resolve from the very start was, Not My will, but Yours! For us to overcome as He overcame, we need to make that same decision and faithfully stick to it, no matter what happens or how we feel. 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. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth (Luke 21:34-35). Six miles to the north, the town of Hierapolis sat on the top of the cliffs overlooking the valley. Our eternal perspective affects our earthly priorities. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door. What did Christ mean? EYESALVE i'-sav (kollourion; collyrium; Revelation 3:18 ): A Phrygian powder mentioned by Galen, for which the medical school of Laodicea seems to have been famous (see Ramsay, The Letters to the Seven Churches of Asia), but the figurative reference is to the restoring of spiritual vision. Instead of being victorious over temptation, temptation had been victorious over them. 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. The sin in His nature had received its death sentence when He said, Your will be done, God. As disciples who follow Jesus, we must learn to hate the sin in our own life, deny ourselves, and take up our cross. What does it mean to be hot? The black wool of Laodicea produced some stunning dark-colored garments. The focus of sanctification is the healing of the dysfunctionality of sin (it is imparted). For us to purchase something from Christ, something is required. Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and delight yourself in abundance. Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and delight yourself in abundance. He wants to be a friend with whom we enjoy spending time. They are not getting people saved or healing the sick, or leading lives that are a pleasant taste and aroma to Christ. -- Revelation 3: 14 (ESV) . Gods problem with this church was not that it was an inactive body of believers. These rivers provided the water the crops and flocks needed in the Lycos valley. ointment made from spice nard and an eye salve made from Phrygian stones. Two of the doctors from Laodicea were so famous that their names appear on the coins of the city (Zeuxis and Alexander Philalethes). What did they think it meant to be cold? Jesus just informed the wealthy Laodiceans that they were quite poor, and now hes telling them to purchase gold from him. God advises them to obtain spiritual riches produced through trials, which the self-sufficient Laodicean avoids by compromising. 21bI 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. Another salve supposedly healed ear problems. To be a hot Christian could have several different meanings (or a combination of them) to the Laodiceans. They are not visiting the shut-ins, the hospitalized prisoners, or serving as Jesus served. 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. What did Christ tell the Laodiceans to buy to cover their nakedness? 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be . And because Jesus was the Creator, He has the rule over it. Jesus was in heaven with God, but voluntarily became a man for our sakes. 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. He has given us Gods Word as a guide, help, and a weapon. 2019 by Steven P. Wickstrom, all rights reserved. While this is not impossible, as John could have summoned a messenger from each of the churches to receive the appropriate correspondence, it is not probable. Keep in mind as you read about the Laodiceans that they are a church filled with Christians. 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. In ancient Greek culture, the evening meal was a social event. But hot water also had another use. Eye salve in Laodicea The city of Laodicea was known for its extraordinary eye salve, as well as a medical school. This theory deems the letter addressed to a human messenger rather than an angelic one. 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. Repentance comes from the heart and involves confessing from the heart. Christs threefold prescription to cure their condition paralleled the physical circumstances that had apparently deceived them. The discipline of Christ stated in Hebrews 12:5-11, explains that God's discipline proceeds from his love and seeks to develop righteousness in his people. The whole point of this verse is that lukewarm has no use. Similar to how some people likely spewed the citys unpleasant drinking water out of their mouths, Jesus said He would do the same, yet more violently. The city's reputation was for its money transactions and the good quality of raven-black wool grown in the area.1 The black wool, spun into dark yarn, was added to yarn dyed in other colors and made some very intricately patterned colored clothing, which sold for a high price in Rome. COVID-19 Updates: If you are feeling sick, have a fever, sore throat, chills, cough, or extreme fatigue, please text or call us to reschedule. The Greek word for faithful, ( - pistos) means true, sure, trustworthy, believable, worthy of credit.9 The Greek for true, ( - alethinos) means loving truth, veracious and hence worthy of credit.10 (According to dictionary.com, the word "veracious" means habitually speaking the truth; truthful; honest.) The eye salve must be purchased, and it is expensive. More than likely, the members of the church in Laodicea were carnal Christians. About Laodicea (See Colossians 2:1; 4:13-16) . Phileo is the Greek word for friend or friendship. 14bthe Amen. The word amen is used thirty times in the Old Testament. These Christians believe they are rich by believing in Christ and have abundance by their good works. Why you are doing something is just as important, if not more so, than the works or deeds. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 5. The ancient Greeks thought that only a barbarian would drink undiluted wine. If anyone in the church hears Christ's voice and opens the door, he will come and dine with them. The verse is not talking about salvation; it is talking about usefulness or purpose. 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. According to Roman writer Tacticus, Rome offered to pay for the city to be rebuilt, but the people declined, saying that they were wealthy enough to restore their own city. Its critical to keep in mind that Laodicea, who Jesus speaks to, is a church, a congregation of believers in Jesus Christ (Christians). Even Aristotle spoke of the medicines from Laodicea that supposedly helped with eyesight and hearing. Jesus desires to come in, sit down at the table, and enjoy the food and company. It was about 100 miles east of the port city of Ephesus. The problem lies in that it seems improbable that Christ would use a human to write a physical letter to an angel, rebuking it for falling short in its duties as a Christ-follower.4 If the angel is an actual angelic representative of the local church, and answerable for its failure, then the seven angels in chapters 1 through 3 failed miserably. Water is an important necessity for any metropolis, and the ancient city of Laodicea accommodated this need. To fully understand what amen means, you must turn to the Old Testament. 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). It was about 100 miles east of the port city of Ephesus. Those terms are imputed righteousness and imparted righteousness. Instead, this namethe Beginning of the creation of Godmeans that Jesus was the Creator of the universe. Actions, behaviors, motives, and the heart are all intertwined; they cannot be separated. Jesus' friendship with this church is so deep that he is willing to point out their problems. If we are humble and willing to obey, He will give us the strength and resolve we need to endure in the battle. Christ calls out to us, letting us know that because He overcame, we can also overcome. Since Scripture tells us that the Word (Jesus) was in the beginning with God and that all things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made (John 1:1-3), we know that Jesus was not a created Being. In Gods eyes, the Laodiceans are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. into Greek letters, and then into English letters. Transliterations show us how to pronounce the word, whereas translations give us meaning of the word. The Bible speaks of eye-salve. 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. Justification by its very nature does not have a progressive character. Youre going to have to spend time reading the Word, studying the Word, memorizing the Word, meditating on the Word, and obeying the Word. Amen is not an actual Greek word. Jesus doesnt just look at the actions we perform; he focuses on the heart. So, as a faithful shepherd, He commands the church to repent immediately. If you are living a self-reliant, self-sufficient life; relying on your strength rather than Christs, then you are lukewarm. laodicea means human rightsNitro Acoustic. The focus of justification is the removal of the guilt of sin. If were doing something for recognition, then were not doing it for God. In short, to be a cold, Christian is to serve as Jesus served. As a testament to its wealth, Laodicea had two theaters, a gymnasium, and a large stadium. 17 Because you say, I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing, and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. According to Romans 12:3, God has given everyone a measure of faith (gold) with which we receive salvation and use our varying gifts. The Holy Spirit will come and show us the way out. Behold I stand at the door and knock: if any man here my voice, and open the . In John 14:14, Jesus said: You are my friends if you do what I command you. Had this church been filled with non-Christians, Jesus would not have called them friends. In the context of Revelation 3, then, Christ was standing at the door of the Laodicean church, eager to re-enter the congregation through the genuine repentance of its members. Only a few are willing; the rest have ears, but they do not have ears to hear (Matthew 7:1314, 2427). Fertile ground of the valley was good grazing for sheep. Many portions of the city remained unusable afterward. Imparted righteousness is the righteousness of sanctification, wherein God causes the Christian to become more and more Christlike. Ho! Dont become lukewarm about Gods way of life! According to Expositors Bible Commentary, A six-mile-long aqueduct brought Laodicea its supply of water from the south. Some have wondered if the last name mentionedthe Beginning of the creation of Godindicates that Jesus was a created Being. A furnace and preoccupied with prosperity that they can not be logical since the at. 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