If you have, you can probably imagine what Jesus is experiencing. Please understand that Christ is not referring to saving faith in this passage. It is the foundation of wisdom. The Laodiceans were rich and self-sufficient, with no need for God to supply their needs. There are a couple of points that I need to make here that you might not have seen before. He has given us Gods Word as a guide, help, and a weapon. Hydrotherapy for the sick became accompanied by religious practices in the local temples. They may have lost their focus and strayed in their Christianity, but they are still a body of believers that Christ wanted to straighten out. While Colossae was neither as prominent or wealthy as Hierapolis or Laodicea, its location at the end of the valley made it easy to defend from enemies. Jesus is standing at the door, expecting his servants to open it. 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. 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. (21) He who overcomes, I 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. As a testament to its wealth, Laodicea had two theaters, a gymnasium, and a large stadium. The town was built, perhaps unwisely, on a geological fault from which noxious vapors and hot mineral water escaped. Another salve supposedly healed ear problems. Other sources suggest that the water came from a hot spring with mineralized water containing sulfur, giving it an unpleasant taste and smell. NPI number for Mrs Salve Aldea Pineda is 1669536868 and her . But in this verse, Jesus is telling the church that they are naked and in need of white garments that only he can provide. In addition, its wealth came from the production of a fine quality of famous glossy black woolwhether dyed or natural in color is not known. Mrs Salve Aldea Pineda, RPH is a Pharmacist based in Baldwin Park, California. It is possible that faith was the refined gold that Christians were told to purchase from Jesus. They stood on an important junction of trades routes running more or less north to south and west to west. The words of Jesus Christ arise directly from the prosperity and the skill in which Laodicea took so much pride and which had in the minds of its citizens, and even of its Church, eliminated . The word zealous is the Greek word (zeleue) and means to be eager, earnest.23 The church is commanded to be earnest or zealous, which means a passionate eagerness to do God's will. It is important to understand that Jesus does not call just anyone his friend. The eye salve must be purchased, and it is expensive. Their money has become their idol, and they worship it rather than worshiping God. The word hot is the Greek word (zestos) and means hot or boil.15 Quite possibly, the Laodiceans may have associated the word hot with the hot waters of Hierapolis. Pay close attention! The word discipline is the Greek word (paideu) and means to correct, to chastise.22 The basic idea behind this word is correction or guidance. Jesus is the power and authority that God utilized in creating the universe. Your time in the Word should be, at a minimum, four times a week.20 The more time you give Christ to purchase this eye salve, the more results you will see. They think they have need of nothing because they are saved and on their way to heaven. John did not use the appropriate word if he was addressing an elder, deacon, or pastor. What did Christ mean when He said He would spit them out of His mouth if they did not change? Jesus doesnt just look at the actions we perform; he focuses on the heart. Revelation 3:14-22 Listen that you may live, and I will make an everlasting covenant with you. Buying gold tried in the fire from God requires several things from us: Let us, therefore, come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16. Incline your ear and come to Me. Both of these cities were known for the pure waters that flowed through them. 5. 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. (1 Peter 1:5-9 NASB). (16) So because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. Yet this wealth had blinded them from seeing their true spiritual condition. If we pray for help as Jesus did, with humility and desperation to gain victory, then we will get help. But just as any purchase requires something for something, Christ is expecting something from the Christian. 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. Near the temple of the special god associated with healing there was a market for trading all sorts of goods. It is an often-used phrase that Jesus utilized when speaking in parables. Giving time to Christ is what Christians must do to develop spiritual discernment. That would not be logical since the church at Laodicea has already accepted Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. Hebrew writing has no vowels, so the Greek leter for "e" was added by the translaters to make the word easier to read and speak. There is a difference between transliteration and translation. Praying for the sick should also be the norm for a hot Christian. It was the perfect water for drinking, cooking, or even bathing. Here we see Christ speaking as a merchant, advising the church to buy his merchandise. The fertile fields below the city were excellent for growing crops, and the foothills had good pastureland. 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. It takes a true friend to point out negative things in your life, and then be willing to be part of the solution. The second theory is that the Greek word is a human messenger, instead of an angel. Greek 2854. kollourion -- eye salve. All of their success and self-righteousness was nakedness in Gods sight. The lack of white clothing does not mean they removed their salvation; it simply means the clothing that symbolized their purity and righteousness was gone. The Lord rebukes the wealthy Christians, not because of their wealth, but rather because their money has substituted God. Both churches needed a severe rebuke. Youre going to have to spend time reading the Word, studying the Word, memorizing the Word, meditating on the Word, and obeying the Word. Behold I stand at the door and knock: if any man here my voice, and open the . The letter starts as if being written to an angel, but there is no doubt that it is the congregation itself who is the focus of the letter. Its as if he was served something to drink that was inadequate, subpar, or even bad tasting. The church is being called on to pay close attention and seek Gods wisdom concerning the written Word. He often started a statement with Amen, amen, I say to you. (Many verses in the Gospels such as John 5:24 translate amen as truly, or verily.) Dinner was a time for everyone to catch up on the daily activities of the rest of the family, and whatever friends were in attendance. To be a cold Christian is to take care of needs, provide moral support, and genuinely care about people. They have a lot in common with the church in Corinth. He had to take up a battle against the sin, and carry out His pledge: Not My will, but Yours, be done! The ancient Greeks liked to drink hot water. The eye salve must be purchased, and it is expensive. The Greek used here, emesai, means to vomit. Never miss a post! Additionally, it was the home of a medical school known for the treatment of eye problems, where it produced a famous eye salve. Actions, behaviors, motives, and the heart are all intertwined; they cannot be separated. Throughout the ages Satan has blinded the minds of most people (. Both churches were in a downward spiral of carnality. 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. The only way to be in a right relationship with God is through forgiveness. Christ told the church at Laodicea to buy___from Him so they could see. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Jesus knows what it is like to be human. People who are going to be faithful to God must not allow material things to lull them into a false sense of spiritual security. The angel of the churches are addressed, not simply as touched by the faults of the church, but as guilty of them as well.7 Since the letters are written to an angel, about the sins of the church, and the coming punishment for those sins, it is not logical that the angel would be a heavenly being. Tunics manufactured in Laodicea, called trimata, were so well-known that the city had the nickname of Trimataria.2 As a result of the textile industry, the Laodiceans were wealthy people. Thank you! Theater of popular music. In this situation, you are not standing for Christ; you are standing for yourself. How is your hearing? Rather this is the Creator of the Universe, adjuring those He loves to recognize and admit their spiritual emptiness and turn to Him for complete healing and righteousness. It is possible the word meant the messenger or the actual person who delivered the letter, but that would require seven different messengers, one from each of the churches to have traveled to Patmos to get the letter to deliver it. 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). 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. Theres no time to waste. Local resources of zinc and alum became the basis for the production of eye ointments, known as kollyria, also sold by merchants from Laodicea.3 The powder would be mixed with water to give it a paste-like consistency and then applied to the eyes. 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). The second thing we need to look at is what it means to be hot. In the New Testament, a believer dies with Christ to live a new holy life in the power of Christ's resurrection and identification with Christ's suffering (Romans 6:1-11, Galatians 2:20; Philippians 3:8-10). Jesus lived a life of humility. With so much wealth pouring into Laodicea, one of the most noted banks in the Greek and Roman world was located there. Your time in the Word should be at a minimum, four times a week. Coffee, for example, can be served either hot or iced (cold). Laodicea was a city full of merchants. Gods perspective of their condition was a stark contrast as to how they saw themselves. Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and delight yourself in abundance. Repentance comes from the heart and involves confessing from the heart. Another lesson from the message to Laodicea is that we must be doers of Gods Word. In Gods eyes, the Laodiceans are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. So how did Jesus overcome? Isaiah 55:1-3 (NASB). The ancient Greeks liked their wine hot or cold. What happens if the church does not hear his voice and does not open the door? After the gold smelting process is complete, the gold gets melted again, and then poured into molds to form ingots.17. Associated with the temple was a medical school. 3. One of these is what the Bible calls the deceitfulness of riches (Matthew 13:22; Mark 4:19). To fully understand what amen means, you must turn to the Old Testament. Physical money cannot purchase the merchandise Christ has for sale; it takes something else. While the original name of the city came from Antiochus IIs wife, the name also has an interesting meaning in Greek. Are they so focused and preoccupied with prosperity that they cannot hear Christ's voice or hear his knock? More than likely, the members of the church in Laodicea were carnal Christians. Laodicea was a town in the Lycus River valley in present-day Turkey. Concluding with encouragement, Jesus reminds them that if they overcome, they will rule with Him (verse 21). God expects His people to maintain zeal for His way of life. Imparted righteousness is the righteousness of sanctification, wherein God causes the Christian to become more and more Christlike. First of all, it begins with recognizing with a heart-rending awareness that we have defied God when we sin. You, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. The residents of Laodicea would have also traveled up to Hierapolis to sit in the hot mineral baths. Although Laodicea produced the best eye-salve in the ancient world, the Laodicean Christians were blind when looking at their spiritual state. Christs words showed them that He knew that the citizens of their city were wealthythey had at least twice declined the governments help to rebuild their city after an earthquake and had rebuilt it with their own funds. Laodicea on the Lycus, located at the crossroads of important trade routes, was once a prosperous city, famous for its black wool, banking services, and medical achievements. What was it the Laodiceans were supposed to be victorious over? What does it mean to purchase something? "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. You see Laodicea was a very wealthy city. His obedience was because, as a man, He had self-will that was in agreement with the Father's. If I go to the store to purchase something, I exchange my money for the goods I wish to purchase. ointment made from spice nard and an eye salve made from Phrygian stones. As for rebuilding the city after an earthquake, history records that the Laodiceans did this again a few decades later. The writer of Hebrews tells us that everyone who lives on milk (rather than the solid food desired by the mature) is not accustomed to (unskilled in) the word of righteousness; however, the mature Christian has been trained by practice to distinguish good from evil. We must ask God for forgiveness and for strength to avoid sinning. The Greek word amen () was transliterated from the Hebrew word for amen (). For a faster response, please call us directly at 888-666-8135. What, or rather, who, are these angels? Some have wondered if the last name mentionedthe Beginning of the creation of Godindicates that Jesus was a created Being. The essential element in real repentance is that we must come to God in humbleness to request his forgiveness. The Bible speaks of eye-salve. Chemicals such as cyanide solution or mercury are introduced to the gold to separate the gold from other metals. There was still hope for the church at Laodicea. Making an everlasting covenant with God (salvation is only the starting point). And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. 3. Jesus leaves no doubt that what is about to follow is true and should be taken very seriously because they are his words. The Bible is the weapon God has given us; words to use against Satan's deceit like Jesus did, words that show us what to do, words of comfort. Jesus just informed the wealthy Laodiceans that they were quite poor, and now hes telling them to purchase gold from him. 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