Where is Christians mentioned in that verse?Revelation says that God despises lukewarm Christians, and that they will not make it into the Kingdom. However, how does one know that (s)he is a lukewarm Christian, and what can we do to ensure that we are not?
Yes we need to inbed ourselves in the good soil.How do you tell if a baby bottle is cold, warm or hot? You test it out on your arm. (Perhaps that is showing my age...)
Test out your faith. Are you passionate about your relationship with Jesus Christ? If so, you are not lukewarm.
Are you a Sunday morning church-goer, and a citizen of the world the other 23 and 23/24 days of the week? If so you are, at best, lukewarm.
If you have any doubt about your relationship with the Lord - get to work on it!
Blessings.
Where is Christians mentioned in that verse?
It is not fair to apply this passage to a salvation message. God can figuratively spew you out of his mouth but that does not mean in itself that you then head toward eternal punishment.Revelation says that God despises lukewarm Christians, and that they will not make it into the Kingdom. However, how does one know that (s)he is a lukewarm Christian, and what can we do to ensure that we are not?
It is not fair to apply this passage to a salvation message. God can figuratively spew you out of his mouth but that does not mean in itself that you then head toward eternal punishment.
It is important to first realize what salvation is based on. Salvation, or the forgiveness of sins, is certain and absolute and utterly without question. What did the apostle John write: "These things I have written in order that you might KNOW that you HAVE BEEN saved."
In order for you to even have an awareness of your sin the Holy Spirit must first quicken you to it. Therefore, anyone asking God for forgiveness WILL BE FORGIVEN utterly, completely, and to the utter most degree past, present, and future. Salvation is not up for debate. You confessed your sin to God trusting Christ as Lord, received forgiveness, was therfore reconciled to God and positioned in the Kingdom of God. Still, in the weakness of the flesh, you continued to sin maybe being merely luke warm in your walk with the Lord. What does the apostle John say about that: "We have an advocate before the Father who continually prays for us."
Now, please don't think that I am promoting a don't-care attitute in the matter. The Holy Spirit may be convicting you of being luke warm and you may then need to respond. Willfully continuing in a luke warm state may lead to worse things that will cause you harm. If you were openly saying you don't care it would be another matter but you need not worry about... "not being good enough."
It is important to first realize what salvation is based on. Salvation, or the forgiveness of sins, is certain and absolute and utterly without question. What did the apostle John write: "These things I have written in order that you might KNOW that you HAVE BEEN saved."
In order for you to even have an awareness of your sin the Holy Spirit must first quicken you to it. Therefore, anyone asking God for forgiveness WILL BE FORGIVEN utterly, completely, and to the utter most degree past, present, and future. Salvation is not up for debate. You confessed your sin to God trusting Christ as Lord, received forgiveness, was therfore reconciled to God and positioned in the Kingdom of God. Still, in the weakness of the flesh, you continued to sin maybe being merely luke warm in your walk with the Lord. What does the apostle John say about that: "We have an advocate before the Father who continually prays for us."
Now, please don't think that I am promoting a don't-care attitute in the matter. The Holy Spirit may be convicting you of being luke warm and you may then need to respond. Willfully continuing in a luke warm state may lead to worse things that will cause you harm. If you were openly saying you don't care it would be another matter but you need not worry about... "not being good enough."
I'm not going to repost scriptures on this specific post that I have posted else where on the subject, but I just want to warn that the "once saved always saved" idea can be very dangerous (from my understanding). I don't want to beat a "dead horse" here but if someone wants to know why I think this, ask me & I'll be happy to repeat it (using scripture) on this post or another one if it is ok according to the forum site rules & with the moderators.
Hi Jaerod,...but I just want to warn that the "once saved always saved" idea can be very dangerous (from my understanding).
I was not addressing eternal security or a "once saved always saved" theology.