JACQUES GAUVIN, RELIGION
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Lukewarm

What concerns me today is this verse:

So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. Revelation 3:16 (NASB)

Is Jesus going to do this personally when He returns or through His ministers or through the church? I have met some who seem to be eager to spew others out now. They are full of subdued anger, ready to pounce. This goes contrary to the teachings of the Bible as I understand it.

Are we ready to judge rightly? Do we know what hot means or what cold means? Is hot knowing the truth? Is cold being ignorant? Is hot wanting to learn? Is cold being stubborn? Is hot teaching at every opportunity? Is cold being secretive? Is hot doing what is right? Is cold doing what is wrong? Is Lukewarm being indiferent, not caring one way or the other? I have met some who seem to have no doubt as to the meaning of hot, cold and lukewarm. They are much smarter than I. I know this that I am not prepared to spew anyone out at this stage of my life.

Some are quick to point the finger at other Churches but see no flaws in their own behavior. I tend to think that the warnings to the Churches apply to everyone individually.

The following verses I have a better understanding of.

Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. Romans 14:19 (KJV)

All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify. 24 Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor. 1 Corinthians 10:23 (NASB)

Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you also are doing. 12 But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, 13 and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another. 14 And we urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all men. 15 See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all men. 16 Rejoice always; 17 pray without ceasing; 18 in everything give thanks; for this is God^s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not quench the Spirit; 20 do not despise prophetic utterances. 21 But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; 22 abstain from every form of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 to 22 (NASB)

17 Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17 (NASB)

25:1 Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. 5 Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. 6 But at midnight there was a shout, Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him. 7 Then all those virgins rose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the prudent, Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out. 9 But the prudent answered, saying, No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves. 10 And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. 11 And later the other virgins also came, saying, Lord, lord, open up for us. 12 But he answered and said, Truly I say to you, I do not know you. 13 Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour. Matthew 25:1 to 13 (NASB)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self~control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Galatians 5:22 to 24

8 Let us therefore celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 1 Corinthians 5:8 (NASB)

31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tender~hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:31 (NASB)

5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. 6 For it is on account of these things that the wrath of God will come, 7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, 10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him 11 a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all. Colossians 3:5 to 11

Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, 2 to malign no one, to be uncontentious, gentle, showing every consideration for all men. 3 For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. Titus 3:1 to 3

Therefore, putting aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, 2 like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, 3 if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. 1 Peter 2:1 to 3

2007 Jacques Gauvin

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