Hi there,
So yes, there is a simple calculation you can make on the basis of the choice the Lord gives the Lukewarm Church (Revelation 2). It goes like this:
1) Are you hot or cold?
If yes, then you know you have a greater definition than the Lukewarm Church
If no, then the question is
2) Are you Lukewarm or false?
If neither, you are false.
If you are lukewarm only, then see 1).
This process is simple because Churches are only ever going to be hotter or colder, on the basis of the word of Revelation 2. If they don't acknowledge this sooner or later their faith will die. I'm not saying they will be condemned for dying, that's the whole point: Jesus cares. If He puts distance between you and Him, it is for your benefit. Remember Jesus has the capacity to say "I never knew you", if lukewarmness is your only choice, you are lying to yourself and this will be found out. So God fully understands the pieces He is using in His Game of Salvation, and how they will be tested. There is no sitting on the fence, no reinventing the wheel, no dousing the fire.
What is tricky is that the false Church, does not immediately become hot/cold/lukewarm, it struggles with Hell and Death. This being the case, it may not be anything but false its entire life. There are radical conversions, it is not a science, who has faith and who does not, but the longer the false church goes on being false, the more likely it will only ever be lukewarm at best. No one joins a false church because it has a great future (in principle). The whole issue here, is that there is no way for the Devil to pass himself off as hot or cold, he just doesn't know how. The Devil can pass himself off as lukewarm, but not when he hears what the Lord has to say about it! So ultimately the Devil will be put out of the Church!
What you can learn from this, is to make up your mind now, what manner of Church you belong to: hot or cold. AND THEN work with the Church to serve God. You don't need to sign up for anything, make yourself like others, ask others to give up their faith for you. The Devil has his hand in all these things, but ultimately as I said he will be put out. The Devil even lacks faith in the false church, that's how bad it is. The promise is that when you make this decision as to whether you will be hot or cold, you will get gold, refined gold, clear sight and new clothing - the other Churches (besides the false one) get all these things and serve the Lord in them - it is for that common bond that you should be working. The joy is, once you reach a point where you don't doubt that you are hot or cold, you will see the Devil coming, that he has nothing but his own resources, that he will be rejected at the Great Wedding Banquet for being dressed improperly (should no one reach him before hand, ask him where he is going and warn him not to forget to dress properly). In great part this is why we keep the Law, even when we have been saved from it, because it can drive a wedge between us and the Devil - the Devil who does not know how to respect the Law, can only be more condemned by it, more even than the sinner - if you can believe it!).
All this is the cold hard truth, that evil is not meant for the Church, if She keeps Her Faith the Bridegroom will reward Her.
I hope this has been of some encouragement.
God bless.
So yes, there is a simple calculation you can make on the basis of the choice the Lord gives the Lukewarm Church (Revelation 2). It goes like this:
1) Are you hot or cold?
If yes, then you know you have a greater definition than the Lukewarm Church
If no, then the question is
2) Are you Lukewarm or false?
If neither, you are false.
If you are lukewarm only, then see 1).
This process is simple because Churches are only ever going to be hotter or colder, on the basis of the word of Revelation 2. If they don't acknowledge this sooner or later their faith will die. I'm not saying they will be condemned for dying, that's the whole point: Jesus cares. If He puts distance between you and Him, it is for your benefit. Remember Jesus has the capacity to say "I never knew you", if lukewarmness is your only choice, you are lying to yourself and this will be found out. So God fully understands the pieces He is using in His Game of Salvation, and how they will be tested. There is no sitting on the fence, no reinventing the wheel, no dousing the fire.
What is tricky is that the false Church, does not immediately become hot/cold/lukewarm, it struggles with Hell and Death. This being the case, it may not be anything but false its entire life. There are radical conversions, it is not a science, who has faith and who does not, but the longer the false church goes on being false, the more likely it will only ever be lukewarm at best. No one joins a false church because it has a great future (in principle). The whole issue here, is that there is no way for the Devil to pass himself off as hot or cold, he just doesn't know how. The Devil can pass himself off as lukewarm, but not when he hears what the Lord has to say about it! So ultimately the Devil will be put out of the Church!
What you can learn from this, is to make up your mind now, what manner of Church you belong to: hot or cold. AND THEN work with the Church to serve God. You don't need to sign up for anything, make yourself like others, ask others to give up their faith for you. The Devil has his hand in all these things, but ultimately as I said he will be put out. The Devil even lacks faith in the false church, that's how bad it is. The promise is that when you make this decision as to whether you will be hot or cold, you will get gold, refined gold, clear sight and new clothing - the other Churches (besides the false one) get all these things and serve the Lord in them - it is for that common bond that you should be working. The joy is, once you reach a point where you don't doubt that you are hot or cold, you will see the Devil coming, that he has nothing but his own resources, that he will be rejected at the Great Wedding Banquet for being dressed improperly (should no one reach him before hand, ask him where he is going and warn him not to forget to dress properly). In great part this is why we keep the Law, even when we have been saved from it, because it can drive a wedge between us and the Devil - the Devil who does not know how to respect the Law, can only be more condemned by it, more even than the sinner - if you can believe it!).
All this is the cold hard truth, that evil is not meant for the Church, if She keeps Her Faith the Bridegroom will reward Her.
I hope this has been of some encouragement.
God bless.
