The term “being lukewarm” scares a lot of people. Let’s clear it up:
Revelation 3:15-21 — ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 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— 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
When Jesus talks about the Laodicians being lukewarm, He says they’re neither cold nor hot. They are a mixture of cold and hot, making them lukewarm. Cold = All faith. Hot = All works. Mixing the two is what makes you lukewarm: faith + works for salvation (which doesn’t save) instead of faith alone for salvation (which is reauired). In Revelation 3:17, Jesus shows that the Laodicians are trusting in their works: they think they’re good by their works. Verse 18 tells them to get their valuable things (their righteousness) from Christ – not by providing their own righteousness through law keeping. In verse 19, Christ tells them to repent – to change their mind about being righteous by their own works and turn to faith in Christ alone for their righteousness. In verse 21, Jesus tells them that the overcomers will be with Him. 1 John 5:5 tells us who the overcomers are: those with faith in Christ alone (not those who turn from their sins) — “Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” Revelation 12:11 also tells us that we overcome by the blood of the Lamb, not by turning from our sins: “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” Isaiah 64:6 tells us that even our best attempts at righteousness is but “filthy menstrual rags” in the sight of God. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that it’s impossible to please God without faith – not without faith and works: “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him [by faith]”. Yes, it’s good to uphold the law, as we’re asked, urged, begged, pleaded with and exhorted to abstain from sin, but never required to for salvation or to go in the rapture. Yes, we try to uphold the law because we agree that it is good, but when we fail to (not if – but when), we are not condemned or judged by the law (Romans 8:1-2) because we have died to the law and are no longer under the law (Galatians 2:19), as we are now under grace (Romans 6:14) – God’s kindness and mercy we don’t deserve, His unmerited favor. Ephesians 1:13-14 tells us that the moment we believe the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-4 — that Christ died to pay for all our sins (past, present and future), was buried and rose again the third day), we are sealed with the Holy Spirit which is the guarantee of our eternal life, and we are sealed with Him till the day of the rapture: “you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance [eternal life] until the redemption of the purchased possession [at the rapture]”. We cannot lose the Holy Spirit, and God will never leave us nor forsake us for any reason (Hebrews 13:5). Hope this clears up the gospel for some.