Lukewarm Christians - what happens to them?

[sk8brdkd]

Also, going w/ the lukewarm subject and my sister again

my sister text msg me a little while ago and in it she seemed concerned which i thought was good. This is what she shared w/ me, "My co-workers r telling me I'm goin 2 hell cuz i don't go 2 church n i'm not baptized." She then asked me if that was true.

Tell me if i gave her the correct response. I told her she'd only be going to hell if she was not saved - as in, she didnt accept christ into her heart - I told her baptism is only a public symbol that she has been saved but, that it is not necessary to get into heaven. And though going to church would help her, its not 100% required (bc my sister has pure hatred against ALL churches right now). Then I asked her where her heart was at."

Her response then was, "My co-worker says ur smart n what ur sayin is true."

And that was it- the sub was dropped after that. Should I have said or done something differently?

Once in awhile I invite her to church yet as usual, she says no.

Unbelievably though, 4 yrs ago I was taking a class in college - it was either Personal Spiritual Formation or, Divine Healing - not sure which one but anyways, i invited my sister to come to 1 of the classes and she actually came - i was shocked - i don't remember the sub matter covered but after the class, my sister spoke w/ my prof and told him that what he spoke about was meaningful to her and that it was really good - i just wish i could remember what he spoke about that night so i could pray about it more for her. But, it was still awesome that she came. That was the 1st time she ever agreed to come to my college (christian college) and sit in on this powerful course i was taking at the time - i was amazed!!

 

[wayfaring man]

And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou were cold or hot.
So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Because thou says, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knows not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou may be rich; and white raiment, that thou may be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou may see.
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. <-----> Revelation 3:14-19

John Baptist said of Jesus -

...He that comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: <-----> Matthew 3:11

The Apostle Paul wrote -

Quench not the Spirit. <-----> 1st Thessalonians 5:19

Spirit means wind or blast of air . Fire correlates with fervent zeal .

Being cold represents having not yet been baptized with The Holy Spirit and with fire .

Being hot describes those who have , and are yet " on fire " having not quenched The Spirit .

Being lukewarm indicates having been baptized with Spirit and fire , but due to a quenching of the fire / fervent zeal , of God's Spirit , a cooling off has occurred .

Hence The Lord's corrective instruction is - be zealous therefore, and repent

How does one stir fervent zeal ?

But by directing our attention towards The Testimony of Jesus , and staying upon Him .

Who is among you that fears the LORD, that obeys the voice of his servant, that walks in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God. <-----> Isaiah 50:10


stay -

H8172
&#1513;&#1473;&#1506;&#1503;
sha&#770;&#8219;an
shaw-an'
A primitive root; to support one&#8217;s self: - lean, lie, rely, rest (on, self), stay.

The way the Laodiceans quenched The Spirit , was through leaning / relying / resting on something other than The Lord Jesus , and apparently that something was affluence -

Because thou says, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing... <---> Revelation 3:17

Now many of us might not think of ourselves as being rich materially , because within our own culture we have modest finances ... but God is a God of the whole earth , so we should also take into account our economic status in contrast to those in much poorer nations than our own . On a global standard , having one's own computer / in a residence with electricity and running water makes us rather wealthy . In a historic context most of us are far richer materially , and in more ways , than folks a few hundred years ago could possibly imagine .

Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy; <-----> 1st Timothy 6:17

Beware of the seduction of relying upon affluence , which leads to a quenching of The Spirit , and becoming thereby lukewarm .

And it would be better to take " being spued out " as a warning of that which once done is without remedy , and find out there is a " second chance " ; then to believe it is only a temporary displacement , and find out it is permanent instead .

Also in this matter the word "spue" is equated with vomit , not spit . And the following verse suggests that , once something is vomited , it ought not be eaten again .

spue -

G1692
&#949;&#787;&#956;&#949;&#769;&#969;
emeo&#772;
em-eh'-o
Of uncertain affinity; to vomit: - (will) spue.

As a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool returns to his folly. <-----> Proverbs 26:11

May The Lord Graciously Inspire us to " be zealous therefore , and repent " . For The Glory of His Holy Name .

wm

 

[salida]

Would u let a person who is indifferent to u in your house??

 

[Peripatetic]

I believe a key passage can be found in 1 Corinthians 3:

fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

There appears to be a decontamination process in or prior to Heaven that purges what is left of our sinful nature. A person who does evil all of his life and is saved on his death bed may have lived a life that God would want to spew out too. He will probably experience this fire more severely and suffer more "loss" of who he was. Conversely, someone who has gone a long way with their sanctification (via the Holy Spirit) will have less worldly ways to burn off, and more of who they are will go right into Heaven.

So, our lukewarm Christian does have a problem. They did not produce as much fruit or go as far with their sanctification. Some of their works (or lack of works) won't stand up as well to the testing fire. God will "spew out" their lukewarm behavior, but that person will still be saved if they've accepted God's grace.

 

[sk8brdkd]

I believe a key passage can be found in 1 Corinthians 3:



There appears to be a decontamination process in or prior to Heaven that purges what is left of our sinful nature. A person who does evil all of his life and is saved on his death bed may have lived a life that God would want to spew out too. He will probably experience this fire more severely and suffer more "loss" of who he was. Conversely, someone who has gone a long way with their sanctification (via the Holy Spirit) will have less worldly ways to burn off, and more of who they are will go right into Heaven.

So, our lukewarm Christian does have a problem. They did not produce as much fruit or go as far with their sanctification. Some of their works (or lack of works) won't stand up as well to the testing fire. God will "spew out" their lukewarm behavior, but that person will still be saved if they've accepted God's grace.

Vertigo, Thank You for this - this is the answer I was wondering about/looking for and you explained it excellently. Thank You very much for this explanation!