Length: 5 minutes

Have you ever heard of a “lukewarm Christian“? It’s the term we use for Christians that lack commitment in living their life for Christ, but that was never God’s intention when using that word — not even close.

Most people take terms from the Bible and define them with little to no biblical evidence. It’s not as if the term “lukewarm“ is defined anywhere in the Bible as “lacking commitment” or “not living for Jesus.” But since Pastor So-And-So told us that’s what it means, we have taken his word for it.

Revelation 3:15-17 (NKJV) I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked…

A lot of the foundation that would allow us to interpret this verse is included in our other teachings, but we’ll try to bring you through it briefly. There’s a few things that Pastor So-And-So left out when he told you that “lukewarm“ means “not living for Jesus fully.”

1) When Jesus says, “I know your works,“ He is speaking about their beliefs, not their life because the new covenant work is belief in Jesus (John 6:29, Colossians 1:21). You’ll have to listen to our “Obedience Of Faith” teaching for that, but even in the previous chapter of Revelation (Revelation 2:19-24), Jesus again says, “I know your works” but those works are again referring to beliefs. That’s why, in Revelation 2:23, He says that He searches their hearts to give to them according to their works (because the works He’s speaking about are being done in their heart). And He finishes the thought up in verse 24, by referring to their deeds as “this doctrine” that they had. All in all, the works He’s referring to in Revelation, that these churches were not doing, is referring to their beliefs regarding His doctrine. This is not referring to how they were living, but again, you’ll have to listen to our “Obedience Of Faith” teaching for that. 

2) The church, or assembly, that Jesus is referring to here is not even saved. There’s no Christian that Jesus has or ever will, call “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.” This is referring to a group of people that know the Lord but are not saved yet. Which is probably why they’re called lukewarm because they’re in the middle. If you didn’t know, it’s possible to believe in Jesus but not be saved yet. It takes a full assurance of understanding to save a person and there is a growth period before that happens (Luke 8:15 and Colossians 2:2, 6-7). This is where this church was (as with other churches Jesus speaks to in the book of Revelation). You can believe in Jesus, with an immature faith, and not be one of His disciples yet (John 8:31). 

This church is not in complete unbelief, but they will not grow to the full assurance to be saved. They are like the two middle types of ground in the parable of the sower (Luke 8:13-14). They’ve heard the gospel, but they don’t continue in it. This concept is proven in our “Continuance” teaching, but the fact that He calls them “lukewarm,” neither hot nor cold, is good evidence that they are neither in full belief or unbelief. Although calling them “wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked” is the nail in the coffin to the thought that these people are saved. 

All in all, the point is, this “lukewarm“ church’s problem was not that they weren’t living for Jesus fully. In the new covenant, Jesus does not ask you to live for Him, of yourself, at all, let alone fully. 

Galatians 2:20 (NKJV) I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith…

In the new covenant, the Holy Spirit serves through us as we believe (Romans 7:6). God gave the Old Testament law to prove that no person can live for God of themselves (Acts 7:53). Therefore, you accepted Jesus, because you admitted you couldn’t live righteously of yourself. But now that we received the Spirit, what makes us think that we can live for God of ourselves now? 

The term “lukewarm” is not referring to their lack of commitment to live for God. With all the commitment in the world, no one can live for God. The law proved that.  That’s why we needed the Spirit! Otherwise, why does He even stick around? He wants to bear the fruit (Galatians 5:22), but if we are in charge of bearing the fruit, what is He for? The Holy Spirit lives through us and bears the fruit, as we believe. 

Being lukewarm is not lack of commitment for God. The works He’s referring to, that were lacking, are not referring to their actions. Not to mention, this “lukewarm state,” that He is referring to, is not even a state that a believer can be in, because He is referring to people who are in the middle, not in full believe or disbelief, having not continued to a full assurance of faith.

Here’s the point: there is no such thing as a lukewarm Christian. There are unsaved people who don’t continue in the gospel. They hear it, they know it, and they don’t continue to the full assurance, but these are not saved individuals. 

So, we can lose that terminology now. Lukewarm is not a word for a passionless Christian who doesn’t want to live for Jesus. God Himself doesn’t want you, yourself, to live for Him at all. God is looking for people who will stop working and start believing His Son. That way, the Holy Spirit can serve Him through you, while you know the truth. It’s called serving in Spirit and in truth. 

John 4:23 (NKJV) But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers [servants] will worship [serve] the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.

2 Thessalonians 2:13 (NKJV) …God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth [the Holy Spirit does the sanctifying, you just believe the truth]…