The Seven Churches
Laodicea, part 3
In this last part, we will conclude our study on the message to the church of Laodicea. In our last lesson, we discovered that along with knowing the signs of the times, Laodiceans need to see their true condition and standing before God. This lesson will focus on Revelation 3:18-21.
1. Read Revelation 3:18. What does God counsel lukewarm Laodiceans to buy from Him?
2. What does the gold represent? 1 Peter 1:7; James 2:5
3. What does the white raiment represent? Revelation 19:8; Zechariah 3:1-4
4. What does the eyesalve represent? John 9:6, 11; Acts 10:38; 1 Corinthians 2:13, 14
Testimonies for the Church Vol. 5, 233: Again and again has the voice from heaven addressed you. Will you obey this voice? Will you heed the counsel of the True Witness to seek the gold tried in the fire, the white raiment, and the eyesalve? The gold is faith and love, the white raiment is the righteousness of Christ, the eyesalve is that spiritual discernment which will enable you to see the wiles of Satan and shun them, to detect sin and abhor it, to see truth and obey it. {5T 233.2}
5. Why does God show Laodiceans their true condition? Revelation 3:19; Hebrews 12:6; Proverbs 3:11, 12
Note: The account of the Pharisee and the Publican in Luke 18 clearly shows us the two responses that people will have to the Laodicean message.
6. Read Luke 18:9-11. What did the Pharisee think of himself, and how did he view other people? See verses 9 &11.
7. Though the Pharisee saw other men’s sins as greater than his, what sin was he harboring which is grievous in God’s sight? Proverbs 6:16, 17; 16:18
Steps to Christ 30: God does not regard all sins as of equal magnitude; there are degrees of guilt in His estimation, as well as in that of man; but however trifling this or that wrong act may seem in the eyes of men, no sin is small in the sight of God. Man’s judgment is partial, imperfect; but God estimates all things as they really are. The drunkard is despised and is told that his sin will exclude him from heaven; while pride, selfishness, and covetousness too often go unrebuked. But these are sins that are especially offensive to God; for they are contrary to the benevolence of His character, to that unselfish love which is the very atmosphere of the unfallen universe. He who falls into some of the grosser sins may feel a sense of his shame and poverty and his need of the grace of Christ; but pride feels no need, and so it closes the heart against Christ and the infinite blessings He came to give. {SC 30.1}
8. In contrast to the Pharisee, what did the Publican pray, and how was he declared by God as he returned to his house? Luke 18:13, 14
Note: Let us now study true heart repentance which God counsels Laodiceans to understand and experience.
9. What is repentance? Acts 8:22; 26:20; 2 Chronicles 7:14
Steps to Christ 23: Repentance includes sorrow for sin and a turning away from it. We shall not renounce sin unless we see its sinfulness; until we turn away from it in heart, there will be no real change in the life. {SC 23.2}
10. Meditate on Psalm 51:1-14. In addition to asking for forgiveness of his sin, what else does David ask God to do in him? Verses 1-3, 7, 10
11. While there is a true form of repentance, there is also false repentance. False repentance involves being sorry for the consequences of sin that are brought upon the sinner, but not for the sin itself. Who are three examples of people who manifested false repentance?
a) Matthew 27:3-5
b) Genesis 25:29-34; 27:32-34; Hebrews 12:17
c) Numbers 22:31-34
12. Many people believe that they have to repent before they can come to God and before He will accept them. Can a sinner come to God before they repent? Who is the one that gives us repentance? Isaiah 1:18; Matthew 11:28; Acts 5:31
Steps to Christ 26: Just here is a point on which many may err, and hence they fail of receiving the help that Christ desires to give them. They think that they cannot come to Christ unless they first repent, and that repentance prepares for the forgiveness of their sins. It is true that repentance does precede the forgiveness of sins; for it is only the broken and contrite heart that will feel the need of a Saviour. But must the sinner wait till he has repented before he can come to Jesus? Is repentance to be made an obstacle between the sinner and the Saviour?” {SC 26.1}
Steps to Christ 31: If you see your sinfulness, do not wait to make yourself better. How many there are who think they are not good enough to come to Christ. Do you expect to become better through your own efforts? “Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.” Jeremiah 13:23. There is help for us only in God. We must not wait for stronger persuasions, for better opportunities, or for holier tempers. We can do nothing of ourselves. We must come to Christ just as we are. {SC 31.1}
13. What must sinners see and understand which will lead them to repent from their sins? John 1:29; 12:32; Romans 2:4; Matthew 26:67-69; 74-75; Hebrews 6:6
14. As we are receiving true heart repentance, what does Jesus give to us which takes away our love for sin? Genesis 3:15; 2 Corinthians 7:9-11; Proverbs 8:13; Psalm 97:10; Romans 12:9
15. When we are convicted of our sins, should we put off repentance for a later time? 2 Corinthians 6:2; Isaiah 49:8
Steps to Christ 32: Beware of procrastination. Do not put off the work of forsaking your sins and seeking purity of heart through Jesus. Here is where thousands upon thousands have erred to their eternal loss. I will not here dwell upon the shortness and uncertainty of life; but there is a terrible danger—a danger not sufficiently understood—in delaying to yield to the pleading voice of God’s Holy Spirit, in choosing to live in sin; for such this delay really is. Sin, however small it may be esteemed, can be indulged in only at the peril of infinite loss. What we do not overcome, will overcome us and work out our destruction. {SC 32.2}
16. What should encourage us as we see the enormity of our sins? Mark 2:17; 1 Timothy 1:15
Steps to Christ 35: As you see the enormity of sin, as you see yourself as you really are, do not give up to despair. It was sinners that Christ came to save. We have not to reconcile God to us, but —O wondrous love!— God in Christ is “reconciling the world unto Himself.” 2 Corinthians 5:19. He is wooing by His tender love the hearts of His erring children. No earthly parent could be as patient with the faults and mistakes of his children, as is God with those He seeks to save. No one could plead more tenderly with the transgressor. No human lips ever poured out more tender entreaties to the wanderer than does He. All His promises, His warnings, are but the breathing of unutterable love. {SC 35.3}
17. Read Revelation 3:20. Jesus is standing at the door of our hearts seeking entrance. What is one application of “opening the door” of our hearts? Hebrews 3:14, 15; Exodus 8:15; Jeremiah 7:26
18. The following quotation shows us another application of Revelation 3:20. What is preventing Jesus from gaining entrance into our hearts?
Testimonies for the Church Vol. 1, 142: Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.” I saw that many have so much rubbish piled up at the door of their heart that they cannot get the door open. Some have difficulties between themselves and their brethren to remove. Others have evil tempers, selfish covetousness, to remove before they can open the door. Others have rolled the world before the door of their heart, which bars the door. All this rubbish must be taken away, and then they can open the door and welcome the Saviour in. {1T 143.2}
Note: The previous quotation lets us know that the rubbish of sin must be removed from our lives so that we can welcome the Savior in. Based on the gospel, can we of ourselves remove sin from our lives and do good works? No! (Isaiah 64:6; Romans 8:7-8) So how is this rubbish to be removed from the door of our hearts? To answer this, let us analyze the account of Thomas and the disciples after Jesus’ resurrection in John 20:19-31.
19. What was Thomas harboring which kept him from believing that the other disciples had seen Jesus? John 20:24, 25
20. When Jesus appeared in the room where Thomas and the disciples were, what is said about the door? John 20:26
Note: Just like the door in that room where the disciples were, many of our hearts are closed to the Savior. Because of doubt, Thomas’ heart, at one point, was also closed to Jesus. However, while the door was still shut, Jesus was able to enter in, both into the room and into Thomas’ heart – effectively removing his doubt. How was this possible? Thomas’ experience is similar to the father who sought after healing for his son in Mark 9:23-24 who prayed, “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.” This shows us that though we have sins piled up at the door of our hearts, Jesus can supernaturally come into our hearts and give us the power to will and to do the work of removing sin from our lives so that we can open the door and thus, remove all barriers between our souls and the Savior. Like Thomas and the demoniac’s father, we just have to be willing!
21. What is the reward for those who overcome and allow Jesus to remove the rubbish of sin from their lives? Revelation 3:21
Steps to Christ 35: When Satan comes to tell you that you are a great sinner, look up to your Redeemer and talk of His merits. That which will help you is to look to His light. Acknowledge your sin, but tell the enemy that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” and that you may be saved by His matchless love. 1 Timothy 1:15. Jesus asked Simon a question in regard to two debtors. One owed his Lord a small sum, and the other owed him a very large sum; but he forgave them both, and Christ asked Simon which debtor would love his Lord most. Simon answered, “He to whom he forgave most.” Luke 7:43. We have been great sinners, but Christ died that we might be forgiven. The merits of His sacrifice are sufficient to present to the Father in our behalf. {SC 35.4}