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Are You A Lukewarm Christian?
Server: Lakshmi
Game: FFXI
Posts: 10394
By Lakshmi.Sparthosx 2014-01-31 12:45:07
What is exactly would perfection look like to compare it to what occurs in this realm? The very process of evolution relies on a dynamic change over long periods of time caused by those very imperfections interacting with the environment.
Even in the Bible God is shown to be making mistakes so even the supreme entity of all things is at the end of the day flawed.
Perfection is an impossible ideal. A way of comparing our state to that which can never exist.
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Server: Odin
Game: FFXI
Posts: 9534
By Odin.Jassik 2014-01-31 12:46:12
Just some food for thought, a little different take on the state of existence. This is not meant as an attack on religious people or faith, just a different way of looking at reality.
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 Valefor.Endoq
Server: Valefor
Game: FFXI
Posts: 6906
By Valefor.Endoq 2014-01-31 12:46:21
Please note that I posted this in the "Politics and Religion" topic, so please no hateful or anti religion remarks or flame-wars.
This post is for my fellow Christians, but I welcome all who are not, but do have a genuine interest in Jesus Christ and his teachings.
I spent many years being a lukewarm Christian after I first accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and savior, and in the last year or so I have devoted myself to him and my life has changed for the better in ways I never imagined possible. and today in my studies I came across some informative websites that touched on some issues that have bothered me for some time now.
Here is the info from those websites.
Are You A Lukewarm Christian? 1. Lukewarm people attend church fairly regularly. It is what is expected of them, what they believe “good Christians” do, so they go. Isaiah 29:13
2. Lukewarm people give money to charity and to the church as long as it doesn’t impinge on their standard of living. If they have a little extra and it is easy and safe to give, they do so, After all, God loves a cheerful giver, right? 1 Chronicles 21:24, Luke 21:1-4
3. Lukewarm people tend to choose what is popular over what is right when they are in conflict. They desire to fit in both at church and outside of church; they care more about what people think of their actions (like church attendance and giving) than what God thinks of their hearts and lives. Luke 6:26, Revelation 3:1, Matthew 23:5-7 4.
4: Lukewarm people don’t really want to be saved from their sin; they want only to be saved from the penalty of their sin. They don’t genuinely hate sin and aren’t truly sorry for it; they’re merely sorry because God is going to punish them. Lukewarm people don’t really believe that this new life Jesus offers is better than the old sinful one. John 10:10, Romans 6:1-2.
5. Lukewarm people are moved by stories of people who do radical things for Christ, yet they do not act. They assume such action is for “extreme” Christians, not average ones. Lukewarm people call “radical” what Jesus expected of all His followers. James 1:22, James 4:17, Matthew 21:28-31
6. Lukewarm people rarely share their faith with their neighbors, coworkers, or friends. They do not want to be rejected, nor do they want to make people uncomfortable by talking about private issues like religion. Matthew 10:32-33
7. Lukewarm people gauge their morality or “goodness” by comparing themselves to the secular world. They feel satisfied that while they aren’t as hard-core for Jesus as so-and-so, they are nowhere as horrible as the guy down the street. Luke 18:11-12
8. Lukewarm people say they love Jesus, and He is, indeed, a part of their lives, their money, and their thoughts, but he isn’t allowed to control their lives. Luke 9:57-62
9. Lukewarm people love God, but they do not love Him all their heart, soul, and strength. They would be quick to assure you they try to love God that much, but that sort of total devotion isn’t really possible for the average person; its only for pastors and missionaries and radicals. Matthew 22:37-38
10. Lukewarm people love others but do not seek to love others as much as they love themselves. Their love for others is typically focused on those who love them in return, like family, friends, and other people they know and connect with. There is a little love left over for those who cannot love them back, much less for those who intentionally slight them, who kids are better athletes than theirs, or with whom conversations are awkward or uncomfortable. Their love is highly conditional and very selective, and generally comes with strings attached. Matthew 5:43-47, Luke 14:12-14
11. Lukewarm people will serve God and others, but there are limits to how far they will go or how much time, money, and energy they are willing to give. Luke 18:21-25
12. Lukewarm people think about life on earth much more often than eternity in heaven. Daily life is mostly focused on today’s to-do list, this week’s schedule, and next month’s vacation. Rarely, if ever do they intently consider the life to come. Philippians 3:18-20
13. Lukewarm people are thankful for their luxuries and comforts, and rarely consider trying to give as much as possible to the poor. Matthew 25:34, 40, Isaiah 58:6-7
14. Lukewarm people do whatever is necessary to keep themselves from feeling too guilty. They want to do the bare minimum, to be “good enough” without requiring too much of them. 1 Chronicles 29:14, Matthew 13:44-46
15. Lukewarm people are continually concerned with playing it safe; they are slaves to the god of control. This focus on safe living keeps them sacrificing and risking for God. Matthew 10:28
16. Lukewarm people feel secure because they attend church, made a profession of faith at age twelve, were baptized, come from a Christian family, vote Republican, or live in America.
17. Luke warm people do not live by faith; their lives are structured so they never have to. They don’t have to trust God if something unexpected happens-they have their savings account. They don’t need God to help them—they have their retirement plan in place. They don’t genuinely seek out what life God would have them live—they have life figured and mapped out. They don’t depend on God on a daily basis-their refrigerators are full and, for the most part, they are in good health. The truth is, their lives wouldn’t look much different if they suddenly stopped believing in God. Luke 12:16-21
18. Lukewarm people probably drink and swear less than average, but besides that, they really aren’t very different from your typical unbeliever. They equate their partially sanitized lives with holiness, but they couldn’t be more wrong. Matthew 23:25-28, Luke 14:34-35
Source: http://chrismarlow.me/2008/06/are-you-a-lukewarm-christian/
Bible Verses about lukewarm Christians: Revelation 3:15-16 ESV / 495 helpful votes
“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.
Revelation 3:14-22 ESV / 298 helpful votes
“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. “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.
1 John 2:15-16 ESV / 220 helpful votes
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.
Matthew 12:30 ESV / 134 helpful votes
Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
Matthew 5:13 ESV / 130 helpful votes
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.
James 3:10-12 ESV / 94 helpful votes
From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.
2 Timothy 4:3 ESV / 76 helpful votes
For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,
2 Corinthians 6:14-18 ESV / 69 helpful votes
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”
Matthew 16:26 ESV / 67 helpful votes
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
1 John 3:10 ESV / 63 helpful votes
By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
Matthew 12:33-37 ESV / 51 helpful votes
“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
1 Peter 3:15 ESV / 46 helpful votes
But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
2 Timothy 3:4 ESV / 45 helpful votes
Treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
2 Corinthians 6:14 ESV / 45 helpful votes
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
1 Timothy 4:1 ESV / 40 helpful votes
Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,
Revelation 1:3 ESV / 39 helpful votes
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.
Deuteronomy 30:19 ESV / 37 helpful votes
I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live,
Revelation 3:14-19 ESV / 33 helpful votes
“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. “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.
John 14:6 ESV / 29 helpful votes
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Mark 13:35-36 ESV / 27 helpful votes
Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— lest he come suddenly and find you asleep.
Hebrews 12:7 ESV / 26 helpful votes
It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
Romans 12:1 ESV / 25 helpful votes
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
Matthew 28:19 ESV / 25 helpful votes
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Revelation 3:16 ESV / 24 helpful votes
So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.
Philippians 4:8 ESV / 22 helpful votes
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Matthew 10:8 ESV / 22 helpful votes
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.
Revelation 21:7 ESV / 18 helpful votes
The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.
Romans 7:24 ESV / 18 helpful votes
Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
Revelation 12:11 ESV / 17 helpful votes
And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.
Colossians 2:12 ESV / 16 helpful votes
Having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.
Romans 6:4 ESV / 16 helpful votes
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Romans 1:1-32 ESV / 15 helpful votes
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,
Matthew 18:3 ESV / 15 helpful votes
And said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 7:21 ESV / 15 helpful votes
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Psalm 118:1-18 ESV / 15 helpful votes
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Let the house of Aaron say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Let those who fear the Lord say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free.
Matthew 18:10 ESV / 14 helpful votes
“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.
Jeremiah 10:5 ESV / 14 helpful votes
Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field, and they cannot speak; they have to be carried, for they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good.”
Colossians 1:16 ESV / 13 helpful votes
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
Luke 18:8 ESV / 13 helpful votes
I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
Zechariah 14:12 ESV / 13 helpful votes
And this shall be the plague with which the Lord will strike all the peoples that wage war against Jerusalem: their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths.
Revelation 2:9 ESV / 12 helpful votes
“‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
James 4:17 ESV / 12 helpful votes
So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.
James 1:6 ESV / 12 helpful votes
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
Luke 17:30 ESV / 12 helpful votes
So will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed.
Mark 11:1-33 ESV / 12 helpful votes
Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’” And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?”
Matthew 28:20 ESV / 12 helpful votes
Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
1 John 2:27 ESV / 11 helpful votes
But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.
Revelation 3:15 ESV / 10 helpful votes
“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!
John 3:1-36 ESV / 10 helpful votes
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
2 Timothy 1:7 ESV / 9 helpful votes
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
Luke 17:1-2 ESV / 9 helpful votes
And he said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.
Helpful Not Helpful
John 15:5-6 ESV / 8 helpful votes
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
1 Corinthians 5:11 ESV / 7 helpful votes
But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.
source: http://www.openbible.info/topics/lukewarm_christians
Another thing that seems to be left out these days is the teaching of what repentance is. Is asking for forgiveness without repenting really meaningful? To truly mean it is to repent from that sin, to repent is to turn away from it, not because of the consequences but because of a genuine disdain for sin. To repent and then turn back to the same sin again is like a dog eating its own vomit just to become sick all over again... I was to understand the entire point of Christian Apologetics was there is no way for a human being to NOT be "lukewarm", by this standard, but Jesus died to make all that okay and all that was really needed for a Christian to be good in the eyes of God was to repent and try to do better, y/n?
Christian Apologetics: Checking Your Privilege Since 325 AD Yes all that is required it to repent and accept Jesus Christ as your only savior and Lord. This post was more to help further that relationship with god and to live our full potential as we try our best to walk in his foot steps, yes it is impossible to reach perfection but that is part of the test to, in life we learn how much we need his guidance and how short we fall compared to him, but we must all try our best no matter how many times we inevitably fail and in all this is learn things like humility and compassion and the realization that no one is in any position to pass judgement and look down onto any other person Bump
 Siren.Mosin
By Siren.Mosin 2014-01-31 12:46:47
Lakshmi.Sparthosx said: »Perfection is an impossible ideal
that is highly dependent on ones perception.
Server: Phoenix
Game: FFXI
Posts: 3686
By Phoenix.Amandarius 2014-01-31 12:50:25
Amandarius said: Can't use logic to comprehend the origin of the Universe and not believe in God. God is the only logical conclusion. You believe in God but you just want to call it something else like a Multiverse or something. You must believe in a place not bound by the dimensions of space and time that created our dimensions of space and time. The only other options left are illogical; a Universe with no beginning ( a circle), something created from absolutely nothing, or you can simply believe the Universe doesn't exist at all. All illogical. Stop misusing the word logic as a crutch, instead of belief or logic just say you have arrogance, Or, I can opt to believe in nothing because the amount of available information is insufficient to make an accurate assessment. Agnosticism.
Your logic is flawed, regardless. The first thing you must acquiesce in the above hypothetical is that all information is tentative and limited.
"I'm going to believe because I can't not believe in something" is such a shitty position to take, by the way.
But you yourself just said you believe in something that we cannot witness in the only dimensions that we are privy to and bound to. That's belief in something you can never prove. That's religion.
 Caitsith.Zahrah
Server: Caitsith
Game: FFXI
By Caitsith.Zahrah 2014-01-31 12:51:37
Please note that I posted this in the "Politics and Religion" topic, so please no hateful or anti religion remarks or flame-wars.
This post is for my fellow Christians, but I welcome all who are not, but do have a genuine interest in Jesus Christ and his teachings.
I spent many years being a lukewarm Christian after I first accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and savior, and in the last year or so I have devoted myself to him and my life has changed for the better in ways I never imagined possible. and today in my studies I came across some informative websites that touched on some issues that have bothered me for some time now.
Here is the info from those websites.
Are You A Lukewarm Christian? 1. Lukewarm people attend church fairly regularly. It is what is expected of them, what they believe “good Christians” do, so they go. Isaiah 29:13
2. Lukewarm people give money to charity and to the church as long as it doesn’t impinge on their standard of living. If they have a little extra and it is easy and safe to give, they do so, After all, God loves a cheerful giver, right? 1 Chronicles 21:24, Luke 21:1-4
3. Lukewarm people tend to choose what is popular over what is right when they are in conflict. They desire to fit in both at church and outside of church; they care more about what people think of their actions (like church attendance and giving) than what God thinks of their hearts and lives. Luke 6:26, Revelation 3:1, Matthew 23:5-7 4.
4: Lukewarm people don’t really want to be saved from their sin; they want only to be saved from the penalty of their sin. They don’t genuinely hate sin and aren’t truly sorry for it; they’re merely sorry because God is going to punish them. Lukewarm people don’t really believe that this new life Jesus offers is better than the old sinful one. John 10:10, Romans 6:1-2.
5. Lukewarm people are moved by stories of people who do radical things for Christ, yet they do not act. They assume such action is for “extreme” Christians, not average ones. Lukewarm people call “radical” what Jesus expected of all His followers. James 1:22, James 4:17, Matthew 21:28-31
6. Lukewarm people rarely share their faith with their neighbors, coworkers, or friends. They do not want to be rejected, nor do they want to make people uncomfortable by talking about private issues like religion. Matthew 10:32-33
7. Lukewarm people gauge their morality or “goodness” by comparing themselves to the secular world. They feel satisfied that while they aren’t as hard-core for Jesus as so-and-so, they are nowhere as horrible as the guy down the street. Luke 18:11-12
8. Lukewarm people say they love Jesus, and He is, indeed, a part of their lives, their money, and their thoughts, but he isn’t allowed to control their lives. Luke 9:57-62
9. Lukewarm people love God, but they do not love Him all their heart, soul, and strength. They would be quick to assure you they try to love God that much, but that sort of total devotion isn’t really possible for the average person; its only for pastors and missionaries and radicals. Matthew 22:37-38
10. Lukewarm people love others but do not seek to love others as much as they love themselves. Their love for others is typically focused on those who love them in return, like family, friends, and other people they know and connect with. There is a little love left over for those who cannot love them back, much less for those who intentionally slight them, who kids are better athletes than theirs, or with whom conversations are awkward or uncomfortable. Their love is highly conditional and very selective, and generally comes with strings attached. Matthew 5:43-47, Luke 14:12-14
11. Lukewarm people will serve God and others, but there are limits to how far they will go or how much time, money, and energy they are willing to give. Luke 18:21-25
12. Lukewarm people think about life on earth much more often than eternity in heaven. Daily life is mostly focused on today’s to-do list, this week’s schedule, and next month’s vacation. Rarely, if ever do they intently consider the life to come. Philippians 3:18-20
13. Lukewarm people are thankful for their luxuries and comforts, and rarely consider trying to give as much as possible to the poor. Matthew 25:34, 40, Isaiah 58:6-7
14. Lukewarm people do whatever is necessary to keep themselves from feeling too guilty. They want to do the bare minimum, to be “good enough” without requiring too much of them. 1 Chronicles 29:14, Matthew 13:44-46
15. Lukewarm people are continually concerned with playing it safe; they are slaves to the god of control. This focus on safe living keeps them sacrificing and risking for God. Matthew 10:28
16. Lukewarm people feel secure because they attend church, made a profession of faith at age twelve, were baptized, come from a Christian family, vote Republican, or live in America.
17. Luke warm people do not live by faith; their lives are structured so they never have to. They don’t have to trust God if something unexpected happens-they have their savings account. They don’t need God to help them—they have their retirement plan in place. They don’t genuinely seek out what life God would have them live—they have life figured and mapped out. They don’t depend on God on a daily basis-their refrigerators are full and, for the most part, they are in good health. The truth is, their lives wouldn’t look much different if they suddenly stopped believing in God. Luke 12:16-21
18. Lukewarm people probably drink and swear less than average, but besides that, they really aren’t very different from your typical unbeliever. They equate their partially sanitized lives with holiness, but they couldn’t be more wrong. Matthew 23:25-28, Luke 14:34-35
Source: http://chrismarlow.me/2008/06/are-you-a-lukewarm-christian/
Bible Verses about lukewarm Christians: Revelation 3:15-16 ESV / 495 helpful votes
“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.
Revelation 3:14-22 ESV / 298 helpful votes
“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. “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.
1 John 2:15-16 ESV / 220 helpful votes
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.
Matthew 12:30 ESV / 134 helpful votes
Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
Matthew 5:13 ESV / 130 helpful votes
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.
James 3:10-12 ESV / 94 helpful votes
From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.
2 Timothy 4:3 ESV / 76 helpful votes
For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,
2 Corinthians 6:14-18 ESV / 69 helpful votes
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”
Matthew 16:26 ESV / 67 helpful votes
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
1 John 3:10 ESV / 63 helpful votes
By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
Matthew 12:33-37 ESV / 51 helpful votes
“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
1 Peter 3:15 ESV / 46 helpful votes
But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
2 Timothy 3:4 ESV / 45 helpful votes
Treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
2 Corinthians 6:14 ESV / 45 helpful votes
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
1 Timothy 4:1 ESV / 40 helpful votes
Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,
Revelation 1:3 ESV / 39 helpful votes
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.
Deuteronomy 30:19 ESV / 37 helpful votes
I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live,
Revelation 3:14-19 ESV / 33 helpful votes
“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. “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.
John 14:6 ESV / 29 helpful votes
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Mark 13:35-36 ESV / 27 helpful votes
Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— lest he come suddenly and find you asleep.
Hebrews 12:7 ESV / 26 helpful votes
It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
Romans 12:1 ESV / 25 helpful votes
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
Matthew 28:19 ESV / 25 helpful votes
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Revelation 3:16 ESV / 24 helpful votes
So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.
Philippians 4:8 ESV / 22 helpful votes
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Matthew 10:8 ESV / 22 helpful votes
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.
Revelation 21:7 ESV / 18 helpful votes
The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.
Romans 7:24 ESV / 18 helpful votes
Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
Revelation 12:11 ESV / 17 helpful votes
And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.
Colossians 2:12 ESV / 16 helpful votes
Having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.
Romans 6:4 ESV / 16 helpful votes
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Romans 1:1-32 ESV / 15 helpful votes
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,
Matthew 18:3 ESV / 15 helpful votes
And said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 7:21 ESV / 15 helpful votes
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Psalm 118:1-18 ESV / 15 helpful votes
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Let the house of Aaron say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Let those who fear the Lord say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free.
Matthew 18:10 ESV / 14 helpful votes
“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.
Jeremiah 10:5 ESV / 14 helpful votes
Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field, and they cannot speak; they have to be carried, for they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good.”
Colossians 1:16 ESV / 13 helpful votes
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
Luke 18:8 ESV / 13 helpful votes
I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
Zechariah 14:12 ESV / 13 helpful votes
And this shall be the plague with which the Lord will strike all the peoples that wage war against Jerusalem: their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths.
Revelation 2:9 ESV / 12 helpful votes
“‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
James 4:17 ESV / 12 helpful votes
So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.
James 1:6 ESV / 12 helpful votes
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
Luke 17:30 ESV / 12 helpful votes
So will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed.
Mark 11:1-33 ESV / 12 helpful votes
Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’” And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?”
Matthew 28:20 ESV / 12 helpful votes
Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
1 John 2:27 ESV / 11 helpful votes
But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.
Revelation 3:15 ESV / 10 helpful votes
“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!
John 3:1-36 ESV / 10 helpful votes
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
2 Timothy 1:7 ESV / 9 helpful votes
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
Luke 17:1-2 ESV / 9 helpful votes
And he said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.
Helpful Not Helpful
John 15:5-6 ESV / 8 helpful votes
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
1 Corinthians 5:11 ESV / 7 helpful votes
But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.
source: http://www.openbible.info/topics/lukewarm_christians
Another thing that seems to be left out these days is the teaching of what repentance is. Is asking for forgiveness without repenting really meaningful? To truly mean it is to repent from that sin, to repent is to turn away from it, not because of the consequences but because of a genuine disdain for sin. To repent and then turn back to the same sin again is like a dog eating its own vomit just to become sick all over again... I was to understand the entire point of Christian Apologetics was there is no way for a human being to NOT be "lukewarm", by this standard, but Jesus died to make all that okay and all that was really needed for a Christian to be good in the eyes of God was to repent and try to do better, y/n?
Christian Apologetics: Checking Your Privilege Since 325 AD Yes all that is required it to repent and accept Jesus Christ as your only savior and Lord. This post was more to help further that relationship with god and to live our full potential as we try our best to walk in his foot steps, yes it is impossible to reach perfection but that is part of the test to, in life we learn how much we need his guidance and how short we fall compared to him, but we must all try our best no matter how many times we inevitably fail and in all this is learn things like humility and compassion and the realization that no one is in any position to pass judgement and look down onto any other person Bump
They're not passing judgement on you. They're giving their perspective.
I think some Christians could have a more fulfilling spiritual experience were they to also be receptive to the teachings of Buddha. (Being receptive to all ideas/philosophies and approaching each with "Tabula Rasa"...There's a Buddhist lesson!) Some Christians could also benefit from the Buddhist idea that cycles of constant questioning and curiosity fulfillment are a valuable part of life also.
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Server: Phoenix
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By Phoenix.Amandarius 2014-01-31 12:53:08
Phoenix.Amandarius said: »Can't use logic to comprehend the origin of the Universe and not believe in God. God is the only logical conclusion. You believe in God but you just want to call it something else like a Multiverse or something. You must believe in a place not bound by the dimensions of space and time that created our dimensions of space and time. The only other options left are illogical; a Universe with no beginning ( a circle), something created from absolutely nothing, or you can simply believe the Universe doesn't exist at all. All illogical. Stop misusing the word logic as a crutch, instead of belief or logic just say you have arrogance,
What theological exploration, outside of Christianity, have you embarked on?
My own tortured path.
Ragnarok.Ashman
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By Ragnarok.Ashman 2014-01-31 12:57:39
Lakshmi.Sparthosx said: »Saying "i'm not into religion because I'm intelligent" counts enough to me. Granted, I feel that they need to convince themselves more than anything. They're not like "join atheism" so much as they feel the need to stomp out your faith. Think a Klan member telling a white girl why interracial mixing is wrong. You, me and her might not agree but he's going to rant at you until you pretend you do. I've never seen a religious person carry on when someone tells them to *** off like some atheists do.
Lol, ok.
Keep acting like there aren't some batshit aggressive Christians trying to hawk their faith on you with threats of death, destruction and damnation. They are on the corners of streets across 'Murica, on TV every Sunday, in books and just abut everywhere. You only see atheists because they're the relatively new thoughtset on the block. And they also oppose your beliefs.
Today in Jesus: God gives kids autism because we support gay marriage. We must stop offending God or he'll throw another two or three Katrinas at us. Repent sinners. Expel the gays or suffer the wrath of Posiedon God. Yes, repent!
I wasn't acting like anything. I made an assertion based on my personal experience. I pretty clearly said "I" have never seen etc etc.
Cerberus.Tikal
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By Cerberus.Tikal 2014-01-31 12:58:05
Amandarius said: But you yourself just said you believe in something that we cannot witness in the only dimensions that we are privy to and bound to. That's belief in something you can never prove. That's religion. I'm at a loss here. What is it that I believe in?
And no, that's not religion – whatever that assertion was supposed to mean, it's not a religious stand point. It is not a core set of values or a belief structure that surrounds the belief-in and worship of gods.
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By Lakshmi.Sparthosx 2014-01-31 12:59:51
Lakshmi.Sparthosx said: »Perfection is an impossible ideal
that is highly dependent on ones perception.
Eastern religions?
I ask because we never get a Buddhist, Confucians, Hindus, Daoists or Shinto dropping into XIAH. A pity, eastern thought is far less about conversion and more about introspection.
But then again if people can't be bothered to read the Bible/Torah/Koran.... have you seen how thick eastern volumes get? Jesus, tl;dr
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 Valefor.Sehachan
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By Valefor.Sehachan 2014-01-31 13:00:34
I've taken a strong interest into buddhism lately.
Caitsith.Zahrah
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By Caitsith.Zahrah 2014-01-31 13:01:10
Lakshmi.Sparthosx said: »Lakshmi.Sparthosx said: »Perfection is an impossible ideal
that is highly dependent on ones perception.
Eastern religions?
I ask because we never get a Buddhist, Confucians, Hindus, Daoists or Shinto dropping into XIAH.
They obviously have more sense than us.
I've taken a strong interest into buddhism lately.
There's several sects. Gets tah crackin', books that is.
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Valefor.Endoq
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By Valefor.Endoq 2014-01-31 13:02:54
Please note that I posted this in the "Politics and Religion" topic, so please no hateful or anti religion remarks or flame-wars.
This post is for my fellow Christians, but I welcome all who are not, but do have a genuine interest in Jesus Christ and his teachings.
I spent many years being a lukewarm Christian after I first accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and savior, and in the last year or so I have devoted myself to him and my life has changed for the better in ways I never imagined possible. and today in my studies I came across some informative websites that touched on some issues that have bothered me for some time now.
Here is the info from those websites.
Are You A Lukewarm Christian? 1. Lukewarm people attend church fairly regularly. It is what is expected of them, what they believe “good Christians” do, so they go. Isaiah 29:13
2. Lukewarm people give money to charity and to the church as long as it doesn’t impinge on their standard of living. If they have a little extra and it is easy and safe to give, they do so, After all, God loves a cheerful giver, right? 1 Chronicles 21:24, Luke 21:1-4
3. Lukewarm people tend to choose what is popular over what is right when they are in conflict. They desire to fit in both at church and outside of church; they care more about what people think of their actions (like church attendance and giving) than what God thinks of their hearts and lives. Luke 6:26, Revelation 3:1, Matthew 23:5-7 4.
4: Lukewarm people don’t really want to be saved from their sin; they want only to be saved from the penalty of their sin. They don’t genuinely hate sin and aren’t truly sorry for it; they’re merely sorry because God is going to punish them. Lukewarm people don’t really believe that this new life Jesus offers is better than the old sinful one. John 10:10, Romans 6:1-2.
5. Lukewarm people are moved by stories of people who do radical things for Christ, yet they do not act. They assume such action is for “extreme” Christians, not average ones. Lukewarm people call “radical” what Jesus expected of all His followers. James 1:22, James 4:17, Matthew 21:28-31
6. Lukewarm people rarely share their faith with their neighbors, coworkers, or friends. They do not want to be rejected, nor do they want to make people uncomfortable by talking about private issues like religion. Matthew 10:32-33
7. Lukewarm people gauge their morality or “goodness” by comparing themselves to the secular world. They feel satisfied that while they aren’t as hard-core for Jesus as so-and-so, they are nowhere as horrible as the guy down the street. Luke 18:11-12
8. Lukewarm people say they love Jesus, and He is, indeed, a part of their lives, their money, and their thoughts, but he isn’t allowed to control their lives. Luke 9:57-62
9. Lukewarm people love God, but they do not love Him all their heart, soul, and strength. They would be quick to assure you they try to love God that much, but that sort of total devotion isn’t really possible for the average person; its only for pastors and missionaries and radicals. Matthew 22:37-38
10. Lukewarm people love others but do not seek to love others as much as they love themselves. Their love for others is typically focused on those who love them in return, like family, friends, and other people they know and connect with. There is a little love left over for those who cannot love them back, much less for those who intentionally slight them, who kids are better athletes than theirs, or with whom conversations are awkward or uncomfortable. Their love is highly conditional and very selective, and generally comes with strings attached. Matthew 5:43-47, Luke 14:12-14
11. Lukewarm people will serve God and others, but there are limits to how far they will go or how much time, money, and energy they are willing to give. Luke 18:21-25
12. Lukewarm people think about life on earth much more often than eternity in heaven. Daily life is mostly focused on today’s to-do list, this week’s schedule, and next month’s vacation. Rarely, if ever do they intently consider the life to come. Philippians 3:18-20
13. Lukewarm people are thankful for their luxuries and comforts, and rarely consider trying to give as much as possible to the poor. Matthew 25:34, 40, Isaiah 58:6-7
14. Lukewarm people do whatever is necessary to keep themselves from feeling too guilty. They want to do the bare minimum, to be “good enough” without requiring too much of them. 1 Chronicles 29:14, Matthew 13:44-46
15. Lukewarm people are continually concerned with playing it safe; they are slaves to the god of control. This focus on safe living keeps them sacrificing and risking for God. Matthew 10:28
16. Lukewarm people feel secure because they attend church, made a profession of faith at age twelve, were baptized, come from a Christian family, vote Republican, or live in America.
17. Luke warm people do not live by faith; their lives are structured so they never have to. They don’t have to trust God if something unexpected happens-they have their savings account. They don’t need God to help them—they have their retirement plan in place. They don’t genuinely seek out what life God would have them live—they have life figured and mapped out. They don’t depend on God on a daily basis-their refrigerators are full and, for the most part, they are in good health. The truth is, their lives wouldn’t look much different if they suddenly stopped believing in God. Luke 12:16-21
18. Lukewarm people probably drink and swear less than average, but besides that, they really aren’t very different from your typical unbeliever. They equate their partially sanitized lives with holiness, but they couldn’t be more wrong. Matthew 23:25-28, Luke 14:34-35
Source: http://chrismarlow.me/2008/06/are-you-a-lukewarm-christian/
Bible Verses about lukewarm Christians: Revelation 3:15-16 ESV / 495 helpful votes
“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.
Revelation 3:14-22 ESV / 298 helpful votes
“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. “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.
1 John 2:15-16 ESV / 220 helpful votes
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.
Matthew 12:30 ESV / 134 helpful votes
Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
Matthew 5:13 ESV / 130 helpful votes
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.
James 3:10-12 ESV / 94 helpful votes
From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.
2 Timothy 4:3 ESV / 76 helpful votes
For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,
2 Corinthians 6:14-18 ESV / 69 helpful votes
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”
Matthew 16:26 ESV / 67 helpful votes
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
1 John 3:10 ESV / 63 helpful votes
By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
Matthew 12:33-37 ESV / 51 helpful votes
“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
1 Peter 3:15 ESV / 46 helpful votes
But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
2 Timothy 3:4 ESV / 45 helpful votes
Treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
2 Corinthians 6:14 ESV / 45 helpful votes
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
1 Timothy 4:1 ESV / 40 helpful votes
Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,
Revelation 1:3 ESV / 39 helpful votes
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.
Deuteronomy 30:19 ESV / 37 helpful votes
I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live,
Revelation 3:14-19 ESV / 33 helpful votes
“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. “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.
John 14:6 ESV / 29 helpful votes
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Mark 13:35-36 ESV / 27 helpful votes
Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— lest he come suddenly and find you asleep.
Hebrews 12:7 ESV / 26 helpful votes
It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
Romans 12:1 ESV / 25 helpful votes
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
Matthew 28:19 ESV / 25 helpful votes
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Revelation 3:16 ESV / 24 helpful votes
So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.
Philippians 4:8 ESV / 22 helpful votes
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Matthew 10:8 ESV / 22 helpful votes
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.
Revelation 21:7 ESV / 18 helpful votes
The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.
Romans 7:24 ESV / 18 helpful votes
Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
Revelation 12:11 ESV / 17 helpful votes
And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.
Colossians 2:12 ESV / 16 helpful votes
Having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.
Romans 6:4 ESV / 16 helpful votes
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Romans 1:1-32 ESV / 15 helpful votes
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,
Matthew 18:3 ESV / 15 helpful votes
And said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 7:21 ESV / 15 helpful votes
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Psalm 118:1-18 ESV / 15 helpful votes
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Let the house of Aaron say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Let those who fear the Lord say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free.
Matthew 18:10 ESV / 14 helpful votes
“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.
Jeremiah 10:5 ESV / 14 helpful votes
Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field, and they cannot speak; they have to be carried, for they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good.”
Colossians 1:16 ESV / 13 helpful votes
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
Luke 18:8 ESV / 13 helpful votes
I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
Zechariah 14:12 ESV / 13 helpful votes
And this shall be the plague with which the Lord will strike all the peoples that wage war against Jerusalem: their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths.
Revelation 2:9 ESV / 12 helpful votes
“‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
James 4:17 ESV / 12 helpful votes
So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.
James 1:6 ESV / 12 helpful votes
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
Luke 17:30 ESV / 12 helpful votes
So will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed.
Mark 11:1-33 ESV / 12 helpful votes
Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’” And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?”
Matthew 28:20 ESV / 12 helpful votes
Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
1 John 2:27 ESV / 11 helpful votes
But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.
Revelation 3:15 ESV / 10 helpful votes
“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!
John 3:1-36 ESV / 10 helpful votes
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
2 Timothy 1:7 ESV / 9 helpful votes
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
Luke 17:1-2 ESV / 9 helpful votes
And he said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.
Helpful Not Helpful
John 15:5-6 ESV / 8 helpful votes
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
1 Corinthians 5:11 ESV / 7 helpful votes
But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.
source: http://www.openbible.info/topics/lukewarm_christians
Another thing that seems to be left out these days is the teaching of what repentance is. Is asking for forgiveness without repenting really meaningful? To truly mean it is to repent from that sin, to repent is to turn away from it, not because of the consequences but because of a genuine disdain for sin. To repent and then turn back to the same sin again is like a dog eating its own vomit just to become sick all over again... I was to understand the entire point of Christian Apologetics was there is no way for a human being to NOT be "lukewarm", by this standard, but Jesus died to make all that okay and all that was really needed for a Christian to be good in the eyes of God was to repent and try to do better, y/n?
Christian Apologetics: Checking Your Privilege Since 325 AD Yes all that is required it to repent and accept Jesus Christ as your only savior and Lord. This post was more to help further that relationship with god and to live our full potential as we try our best to walk in his foot steps, yes it is impossible to reach perfection but that is part of the test to, in life we learn how much we need his guidance and how short we fall compared to him, but we must all try our best no matter how many times we inevitably fail and in all this is learn things like humility and compassion and the realization that no one is in any position to pass judgement and look down onto any other person Bump
They're not passing judgement on you. They're giving they're perspective.
I think some Christians could have a more fulfilling spiritual experience were they to also be receptive to the teachings of Buddha. (Being receptive to all ideas/philosophies and approaching each with "Tabula Rasa"...There's a Buddhist lesson!) Some Christians could also benefit from the Buddhist idea that cycles of constant questioning and curiosity fulfillment are a valuable part of life also.
Huh? I'm not sure how you came to the conclusion of me saying anyone passed judgement on me or anyone else. I never said those word nor did I imply them.
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By Lakshmi.Sparthosx 2014-01-31 13:03:32
They obviously have more sense than us.
Enlightenment is most definitely not on this website. Only sisyphean tasks and the sadism that comes with it. XD
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Lakshmi.Flavin
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By Lakshmi.Flavin 2014-01-31 13:04:03
That's called gnosticism Endoq. Gnostics claim knowledge. Agnostics deny knowledge. Flavin, unless you're going to provide something outside of "I feel you're wrong," I'm not even going to humor a real response. It has nothing to do with how I feel. I never once said that I feel that you are wrong just that you are wrong.
Not only that you're post was very vague.
Disbelief itself really has no place in this converstation anyways as there is nothing to be in disbelief of. A state of disbelief is a refusal or inability to accept something we know to be true more akin to you explaining that the world is round to someone who still believes it is flat. It doesn't hold a negative value as much as the word doesn't even belong in this discussion.
I suppose nonbelief could be nuetral because it's more of a wait and see approach. I wouldn't ever really attribute this path to atheists though, as it has always seemed to me that they have made up their mind when it comes to this.
While athiests don't fit in a neatly wrapped little box that can be defined in one fell swoop (but what can really?) The ones that make statements like "god is not real" take a stance on the matter and form a belief. It is not fact. Neither side can prove that the other is wrong. If they could this wouldn't be a discussion anymore.
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Valefor.Endoq
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By Valefor.Endoq 2014-01-31 13:04:33
I bumped the main topic to keep things on topic.
I have to go out for a few... Please play nice everyone, lol.
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By Phoenix.Amandarius 2014-01-31 13:04:39
Amandarius said: But you yourself just said you believe in something that we cannot witness in the only dimensions that we are privy to and bound to. That's belief in something you can never prove. That's religion. I'm at a loss here. What is it that I believe in?
And no, that's not religion – whatever that assertion was supposed to mean, it's not a religious stand point. It is not a core set of values or a belief structure that surrounds the belief-in and worship of gods.
You said information is limited which implies belief in dimensions we cannot observe.
What was flawed in my claim? What other option is there. There either was an origin or there was no origin. No beginning is illogical. So we are left with a beginning which means there was nothing that became something. That is also illogical. Or you can assume that not only did the Universe have no origin but it never existed at all. Again illogical. You can observe anything you want in space and time one if the above will be the Absolute answer and they are all illogical.
Valefor.Sehachan
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By Valefor.Sehachan 2014-01-31 13:08:23
I suppose my Flatland analogy fell on deaf ears.
By fonewear 2014-01-31 13:08:40
I bumped the main topic to keep things on topic.
I have to go out for a few... Please play nice everyone, lol.
It's all holding hands and singing in here no worries.
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By Lakshmi.Sparthosx 2014-01-31 13:11:54
Aman, it'll click eventually but believing that a God created the universe based on your logic still leaves you quite a distance from the Christian interpretation of God. Following your logic, you'd end up a deist, like the founders and not a Christian.
You must make another cosmic leap in beliefs to wind up at Christianity. One most definitely informed by your being born and raised around Christians in the United States in the late 20th century.
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By Odin.Jassik 2014-01-31 13:12:24
Phoenix.Amandarius said: »Amandarius said: But you yourself just said you believe in something that we cannot witness in the only dimensions that we are privy to and bound to. That's belief in something you can never prove. That's religion. I'm at a loss here. What is it that I believe in?
And no, that's not religion – whatever that assertion was supposed to mean, it's not a religious stand point. It is not a core set of values or a belief structure that surrounds the belief-in and worship of gods.
You said information is limited which implies belief in dimensions we cannot observe.
What was flawed in my claim? What other option is there. There either was an origin or there was no origin. No beginning is illogical. So we are left with a beginning which means there was nothing that became something. That is also illogical. Or you can assume that not only did the Universe have no origin but it never existed at all. Again illogical. You can observe anything you want in space and time one if the above will be the Absolute answer and they are all illogical.
We do observe the big bang, though, it's a theory formed from the observation of the universal microwave background and motions of celestial bodies. There are well established laws of the universe that are from those observations and can be tested repeatedly with the same results. It is quite different than the observations of supernatural forces and entities because they are consistent and repeatable, supernatural occurrences are unrepeatable and inconsistent. They aren't the same thing.
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Lakshmi.Flavin
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By Lakshmi.Flavin 2014-01-31 13:14:57
I just don't get all this... It seems like people are saying "I don't believe in this" but then going "but don't mistake that for a belief!" like having a certain belief is wrong or it somehow likens them to theism in some weird way. Wtf..
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By Lakshmi.Sparthosx 2014-01-31 13:17:50
Also, at the end of the day very few people care if you believe some God (why not a Goddess?) created the universe and left it for us to *** up or exist in. We can agree to disagree there and move on with our lives.
The problem lay in people who believe God is regulating our sex lives, wants you to be circumcised by a rabbi sucking the foreskin off your fresh cut penis, believes pork is unclean, routinely cares about who is sticking what where, believes nonbelievers should be put to the sword, treats women like garbage, has laid out some prophecy involving magic Jews in Jerusalem and is going to destroy the world with cataclysms once the legendary evil is awoken in the form of the President/Pope/whoever seems charismatic.
Your beliefs are all well and good till you start wanting the world to conform. People call religion poison because these dogmatic beliefs are responsible for numerous conflicts across the globe with Islam being the most virulent strain at present.
If it were just about living like Jesus, a humble man who had some beliefs and died because an oppressive empire had him executed then things would be fine. You don't need to ascribe magic powers to Jesus in order to get the point of the story.
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Valefor.Sehachan
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By Valefor.Sehachan 2014-01-31 13:19:30
The circumcision practice might actually be a positive thing!
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By Odin.Jassik 2014-01-31 13:19:44
I just don't get all this... It seems like people are saying "I don't believe in this" but then going "but don't mistake that for a belief!" like having a certain belief is wrong or it somehow likens them to theism in some weird way. Wtf..
Meh, the biggest issue with labeling it a belief is that is opens the door to group non-belief in as a religion. It's a way for "luke-warm" religious people to paint non-believers as just another set of beliefs. If there wasn't an alterior motive for using specific wording, it would be a non-issue.
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By fonewear 2014-01-31 13:22:21
The circumcision practice might actually be a positive thing!
Oh ***it's about to get real in here. Talking bout snips.
Cerberus.Tikal
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By Cerberus.Tikal 2014-01-31 13:26:30
Amandarius said: You said information is limited which implies belief in dimensions we cannot observe. No, it is an inherent acknowledgment of the fact that humans are a species in its infancy, and that there is much more to learn in the observable universe. It's the idea of being humble in the face of concepts such as lightyears, black holes, and stars that are billions of times larger than the sun, which is billions the size of earth. We know exceedingly little about this space we exist in, and this silly concept of "who created the creator" is a straw man in the face of the potentially boundless.
Flavin said: It has nothing to do with how I feel. I never once said that I feel that you are wrong just that you are wrong. It has everything to do with how you feel Flav. It always does. You're predictable like that. Even this post, you don't breach yourself.
In case you still don't get it, it was an analogy for the sake of understanding. Negative, neutral, positive, was a way to lead through a simple concept and then apply it to the more complex concept that was being discussed. If you're arguing so heavily the analogy, you've missed the forest for the trees.
Caitsith.Zahrah
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By Caitsith.Zahrah 2014-01-31 13:26:48
Please note that I posted this in the "Politics and Religion" topic, so please no hateful or anti religion remarks or flame-wars.
This post is for my fellow Christians, but I welcome all who are not, but do have a genuine interest in Jesus Christ and his teachings.
I spent many years being a lukewarm Christian after I first accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and savior, and in the last year or so I have devoted myself to him and my life has changed for the better in ways I never imagined possible. and today in my studies I came across some informative websites that touched on some issues that have bothered me for some time now.
Here is the info from those websites.
Are You A Lukewarm Christian? 1. Lukewarm people attend church fairly regularly. It is what is expected of them, what they believe “good Christians” do, so they go. Isaiah 29:13
2. Lukewarm people give money to charity and to the church as long as it doesn’t impinge on their standard of living. If they have a little extra and it is easy and safe to give, they do so, After all, God loves a cheerful giver, right? 1 Chronicles 21:24, Luke 21:1-4
3. Lukewarm people tend to choose what is popular over what is right when they are in conflict. They desire to fit in both at church and outside of church; they care more about what people think of their actions (like church attendance and giving) than what God thinks of their hearts and lives. Luke 6:26, Revelation 3:1, Matthew 23:5-7 4.
4: Lukewarm people don’t really want to be saved from their sin; they want only to be saved from the penalty of their sin. They don’t genuinely hate sin and aren’t truly sorry for it; they’re merely sorry because God is going to punish them. Lukewarm people don’t really believe that this new life Jesus offers is better than the old sinful one. John 10:10, Romans 6:1-2.
5. Lukewarm people are moved by stories of people who do radical things for Christ, yet they do not act. They assume such action is for “extreme” Christians, not average ones. Lukewarm people call “radical” what Jesus expected of all His followers. James 1:22, James 4:17, Matthew 21:28-31
6. Lukewarm people rarely share their faith with their neighbors, coworkers, or friends. They do not want to be rejected, nor do they want to make people uncomfortable by talking about private issues like religion. Matthew 10:32-33
7. Lukewarm people gauge their morality or “goodness” by comparing themselves to the secular world. They feel satisfied that while they aren’t as hard-core for Jesus as so-and-so, they are nowhere as horrible as the guy down the street. Luke 18:11-12
8. Lukewarm people say they love Jesus, and He is, indeed, a part of their lives, their money, and their thoughts, but he isn’t allowed to control their lives. Luke 9:57-62
9. Lukewarm people love God, but they do not love Him all their heart, soul, and strength. They would be quick to assure you they try to love God that much, but that sort of total devotion isn’t really possible for the average person; its only for pastors and missionaries and radicals. Matthew 22:37-38
10. Lukewarm people love others but do not seek to love others as much as they love themselves. Their love for others is typically focused on those who love them in return, like family, friends, and other people they know and connect with. There is a little love left over for those who cannot love them back, much less for those who intentionally slight them, who kids are better athletes than theirs, or with whom conversations are awkward or uncomfortable. Their love is highly conditional and very selective, and generally comes with strings attached. Matthew 5:43-47, Luke 14:12-14
11. Lukewarm people will serve God and others, but there are limits to how far they will go or how much time, money, and energy they are willing to give. Luke 18:21-25
12. Lukewarm people think about life on earth much more often than eternity in heaven. Daily life is mostly focused on today’s to-do list, this week’s schedule, and next month’s vacation. Rarely, if ever do they intently consider the life to come. Philippians 3:18-20
13. Lukewarm people are thankful for their luxuries and comforts, and rarely consider trying to give as much as possible to the poor. Matthew 25:34, 40, Isaiah 58:6-7
14. Lukewarm people do whatever is necessary to keep themselves from feeling too guilty. They want to do the bare minimum, to be “good enough” without requiring too much of them. 1 Chronicles 29:14, Matthew 13:44-46
15. Lukewarm people are continually concerned with playing it safe; they are slaves to the god of control. This focus on safe living keeps them sacrificing and risking for God. Matthew 10:28
16. Lukewarm people feel secure because they attend church, made a profession of faith at age twelve, were baptized, come from a Christian family, vote Republican, or live in America.
17. Luke warm people do not live by faith; their lives are structured so they never have to. They don’t have to trust God if something unexpected happens-they have their savings account. They don’t need God to help them—they have their retirement plan in place. They don’t genuinely seek out what life God would have them live—they have life figured and mapped out. They don’t depend on God on a daily basis-their refrigerators are full and, for the most part, they are in good health. The truth is, their lives wouldn’t look much different if they suddenly stopped believing in God. Luke 12:16-21
18. Lukewarm people probably drink and swear less than average, but besides that, they really aren’t very different from your typical unbeliever. They equate their partially sanitized lives with holiness, but they couldn’t be more wrong. Matthew 23:25-28, Luke 14:34-35
Source: http://chrismarlow.me/2008/06/are-you-a-lukewarm-christian/
Bible Verses about lukewarm Christians: Revelation 3:15-16 ESV / 495 helpful votes
“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.
Revelation 3:14-22 ESV / 298 helpful votes
“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. “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.
1 John 2:15-16 ESV / 220 helpful votes
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.
Matthew 12:30 ESV / 134 helpful votes
Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
Matthew 5:13 ESV / 130 helpful votes
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.
James 3:10-12 ESV / 94 helpful votes
From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.
2 Timothy 4:3 ESV / 76 helpful votes
For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,
2 Corinthians 6:14-18 ESV / 69 helpful votes
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”
Matthew 16:26 ESV / 67 helpful votes
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
1 John 3:10 ESV / 63 helpful votes
By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
Matthew 12:33-37 ESV / 51 helpful votes
“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
1 Peter 3:15 ESV / 46 helpful votes
But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
2 Timothy 3:4 ESV / 45 helpful votes
Treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
2 Corinthians 6:14 ESV / 45 helpful votes
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
1 Timothy 4:1 ESV / 40 helpful votes
Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,
Revelation 1:3 ESV / 39 helpful votes
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.
Deuteronomy 30:19 ESV / 37 helpful votes
I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live,
Revelation 3:14-19 ESV / 33 helpful votes
“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. “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.
John 14:6 ESV / 29 helpful votes
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Mark 13:35-36 ESV / 27 helpful votes
Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— lest he come suddenly and find you asleep.
Hebrews 12:7 ESV / 26 helpful votes
It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
Romans 12:1 ESV / 25 helpful votes
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
Matthew 28:19 ESV / 25 helpful votes
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Revelation 3:16 ESV / 24 helpful votes
So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.
Philippians 4:8 ESV / 22 helpful votes
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Matthew 10:8 ESV / 22 helpful votes
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.
Revelation 21:7 ESV / 18 helpful votes
The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.
Romans 7:24 ESV / 18 helpful votes
Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
Revelation 12:11 ESV / 17 helpful votes
And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.
Colossians 2:12 ESV / 16 helpful votes
Having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.
Romans 6:4 ESV / 16 helpful votes
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Romans 1:1-32 ESV / 15 helpful votes
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,
Matthew 18:3 ESV / 15 helpful votes
And said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 7:21 ESV / 15 helpful votes
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Psalm 118:1-18 ESV / 15 helpful votes
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Let the house of Aaron say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Let those who fear the Lord say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free.
Matthew 18:10 ESV / 14 helpful votes
“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.
Jeremiah 10:5 ESV / 14 helpful votes
Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field, and they cannot speak; they have to be carried, for they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good.”
Colossians 1:16 ESV / 13 helpful votes
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
Luke 18:8 ESV / 13 helpful votes
I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
Zechariah 14:12 ESV / 13 helpful votes
And this shall be the plague with which the Lord will strike all the peoples that wage war against Jerusalem: their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths.
Revelation 2:9 ESV / 12 helpful votes
“‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
James 4:17 ESV / 12 helpful votes
So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.
James 1:6 ESV / 12 helpful votes
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
Luke 17:30 ESV / 12 helpful votes
So will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed.
Mark 11:1-33 ESV / 12 helpful votes
Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’” And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?”
Matthew 28:20 ESV / 12 helpful votes
Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
1 John 2:27 ESV / 11 helpful votes
But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.
Revelation 3:15 ESV / 10 helpful votes
“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!
John 3:1-36 ESV / 10 helpful votes
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
2 Timothy 1:7 ESV / 9 helpful votes
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
Luke 17:1-2 ESV / 9 helpful votes
And he said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.
Helpful Not Helpful
John 15:5-6 ESV / 8 helpful votes
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
1 Corinthians 5:11 ESV / 7 helpful votes
But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.
source: http://www.openbible.info/topics/lukewarm_christians
Another thing that seems to be left out these days is the teaching of what repentance is. Is asking for forgiveness without repenting really meaningful? To truly mean it is to repent from that sin, to repent is to turn away from it, not because of the consequences but because of a genuine disdain for sin. To repent and then turn back to the same sin again is like a dog eating its own vomit just to become sick all over again... I was to understand the entire point of Christian Apologetics was there is no way for a human being to NOT be "lukewarm", by this standard, but Jesus died to make all that okay and all that was really needed for a Christian to be good in the eyes of God was to repent and try to do better, y/n?
Christian Apologetics: Checking Your Privilege Since 325 AD Yes all that is required it to repent and accept Jesus Christ as your only savior and Lord. This post was more to help further that relationship with god and to live our full potential as we try our best to walk in his foot steps, yes it is impossible to reach perfection but that is part of the test to, in life we learn how much we need his guidance and how short we fall compared to him, but we must all try our best no matter how many times we inevitably fail and in all this is learn things like humility and compassion and the realization that no one is in any position to pass judgement and look down onto any other person Bump
They're not passing judgement on you. They're giving they're perspective.
I think some Christians could have a more fulfilling spiritual experience were they to also be receptive to the teachings of Buddha. (Being receptive to all ideas/philosophies and approaching each with "Tabula Rasa"...There's a Buddhist lesson!) Some Christians could also benefit from the Buddhist idea that cycles of constant questioning and curiosity fulfillment are a valuable part of life also.
Huh? I'm not sure how you came to the conclusion of me saying anyone passed judgement on me or anyone else. I never said those word nor did I imply them.
Okay. These threads get tricky.
What I also find funny is that Ecclesiastes is always trivialized by some Christians when it's purpose is to remind us that change is constant and inevitable, which can also be intertwined with Mahayana Buddhism. I've wondered since Confirmation, before I took my little swan-dive into other ideas of divinity, why that book was always marginalized.
Is it because invoking the concept of perpetual change is adverse to what some denominations symbiotically "need" from their parishioners?
[+]
Ragnarok.Nausi
Server: Ragnarok
Game: FFXI
Posts: 6709
By Ragnarok.Nausi 2014-01-31 13:28:13
Same ol religious hatred by people of no faith. Careful non-believers, in a previous life, secularists who had the capacity, started packing up those of faith onto train cars and sending them off to gas chambers...
Server: Lakshmi
Game: FFXI
Posts: 10394
By Lakshmi.Sparthosx 2014-01-31 13:29:29
Same ol religious hatred by people of no faith. Careful non-believers, in a previous life, secularists who had the capacity, started packing up those of faith onto train cars and sending them off to gas chambers... 
Please note that I posted this in the "Politics and Religion" topic, so please no hateful or anti religion remarks or flame-wars.
This post is for my fellow Christians, but I welcome all who are not, but do have a genuine interest in Jesus Christ and his teachings.
I spent many years being a lukewarm Christian after I first accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and savior, and in the last year or so I have devoted myself to him and my life has changed for the better in ways I never imagined possible. and today in my studies I came across some informative websites that touched on some issues that have bothered me for some time now.
Here is the info from those websites.
Are You A Lukewarm Christian? 1. Lukewarm people attend church fairly regularly. It is what is expected of them, what they believe “good Christians” do, so they go. Isaiah 29:13
2. Lukewarm people give money to charity and to the church as long as it doesn’t impinge on their standard of living. If they have a little extra and it is easy and safe to give, they do so, After all, God loves a cheerful giver, right? 1 Chronicles 21:24, Luke 21:1-4
3. Lukewarm people tend to choose what is popular over what is right when they are in conflict. They desire to fit in both at church and outside of church; they care more about what people think of their actions (like church attendance and giving) than what God thinks of their hearts and lives. Luke 6:26, Revelation 3:1, Matthew 23:5-7 4.
4: Lukewarm people don’t really want to be saved from their sin; they want only to be saved from the penalty of their sin. They don’t genuinely hate sin and aren’t truly sorry for it; they’re merely sorry because God is going to punish them. Lukewarm people don’t really believe that this new life Jesus offers is better than the old sinful one. John 10:10, Romans 6:1-2.
5. Lukewarm people are moved by stories of people who do radical things for Christ, yet they do not act. They assume such action is for “extreme” Christians, not average ones. Lukewarm people call “radical” what Jesus expected of all His followers. James 1:22, James 4:17, Matthew 21:28-31
6. Lukewarm people rarely share their faith with their neighbors, coworkers, or friends. They do not want to be rejected, nor do they want to make people uncomfortable by talking about private issues like religion. Matthew 10:32-33
7. Lukewarm people gauge their morality or “goodness” by comparing themselves to the secular world. They feel satisfied that while they aren’t as hard-core for Jesus as so-and-so, they are nowhere as horrible as the guy down the street. Luke 18:11-12
8. Lukewarm people say they love Jesus, and He is, indeed, a part of their lives, their money, and their thoughts, but he isn’t allowed to control their lives. Luke 9:57-62
9. Lukewarm people love God, but they do not love Him all their heart, soul, and strength. They would be quick to assure you they try to love God that much, but that sort of total devotion isn’t really possible for the average person; its only for pastors and missionaries and radicals. Matthew 22:37-38
10. Lukewarm people love others but do not seek to love others as much as they love themselves. Their love for others is typically focused on those who love them in return, like family, friends, and other people they know and connect with. There is a little love left over for those who cannot love them back, much less for those who intentionally slight them, who kids are better athletes than theirs, or with whom conversations are awkward or uncomfortable. Their love is highly conditional and very selective, and generally comes with strings attached. Matthew 5:43-47, Luke 14:12-14
11. Lukewarm people will serve God and others, but there are limits to how far they will go or how much time, money, and energy they are willing to give. Luke 18:21-25
12. Lukewarm people think about life on earth much more often than eternity in heaven. Daily life is mostly focused on today’s to-do list, this week’s schedule, and next month’s vacation. Rarely, if ever do they intently consider the life to come. Philippians 3:18-20
13. Lukewarm people are thankful for their luxuries and comforts, and rarely consider trying to give as much as possible to the poor. Matthew 25:34, 40, Isaiah 58:6-7
14. Lukewarm people do whatever is necessary to keep themselves from feeling too guilty. They want to do the bare minimum, to be “good enough” without requiring too much of them. 1 Chronicles 29:14, Matthew 13:44-46
15. Lukewarm people are continually concerned with playing it safe; they are slaves to the god of control. This focus on safe living keeps them sacrificing and risking for God. Matthew 10:28
16. Lukewarm people feel secure because they attend church, made a profession of faith at age twelve, were baptized, come from a Christian family, vote Republican, or live in America.
17. Luke warm people do not live by faith; their lives are structured so they never have to. They don’t have to trust God if something unexpected happens-they have their savings account. They don’t need God to help them—they have their retirement plan in place. They don’t genuinely seek out what life God would have them live—they have life figured and mapped out. They don’t depend on God on a daily basis-their refrigerators are full and, for the most part, they are in good health. The truth is, their lives wouldn’t look much different if they suddenly stopped believing in God. Luke 12:16-21
18. Lukewarm people probably drink and swear less than average, but besides that, they really aren’t very different from your typical unbeliever. They equate their partially sanitized lives with holiness, but they couldn’t be more wrong. Matthew 23:25-28, Luke 14:34-35
Source: http://chrismarlow.me/2008/06/are-you-a-lukewarm-christian/
Bible Verses about lukewarm Christians: Revelation 3:15-16 ESV / 495 helpful votes
“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.
Revelation 3:14-22 ESV / 298 helpful votes
“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. “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.
1 John 2:15-16 ESV / 220 helpful votes
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.
Matthew 12:30 ESV / 134 helpful votes
Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
Matthew 5:13 ESV / 130 helpful votes
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.
James 3:10-12 ESV / 94 helpful votes
From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.
2 Timothy 4:3 ESV / 76 helpful votes
For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,
2 Corinthians 6:14-18 ESV / 69 helpful votes
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”
Matthew 16:26 ESV / 67 helpful votes
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
1 John 3:10 ESV / 63 helpful votes
By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
Matthew 12:33-37 ESV / 51 helpful votes
“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
1 Peter 3:15 ESV / 46 helpful votes
But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
2 Timothy 3:4 ESV / 45 helpful votes
Treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
2 Corinthians 6:14 ESV / 45 helpful votes
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
1 Timothy 4:1 ESV / 40 helpful votes
Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,
Revelation 1:3 ESV / 39 helpful votes
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.
Deuteronomy 30:19 ESV / 37 helpful votes
I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live,
Revelation 3:14-19 ESV / 33 helpful votes
“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. “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.
John 14:6 ESV / 29 helpful votes
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Mark 13:35-36 ESV / 27 helpful votes
Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— lest he come suddenly and find you asleep.
Hebrews 12:7 ESV / 26 helpful votes
It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
Romans 12:1 ESV / 25 helpful votes
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
Matthew 28:19 ESV / 25 helpful votes
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Revelation 3:16 ESV / 24 helpful votes
So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.
Philippians 4:8 ESV / 22 helpful votes
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Matthew 10:8 ESV / 22 helpful votes
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.
Revelation 21:7 ESV / 18 helpful votes
The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.
Romans 7:24 ESV / 18 helpful votes
Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
Revelation 12:11 ESV / 17 helpful votes
And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.
Colossians 2:12 ESV / 16 helpful votes
Having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.
Romans 6:4 ESV / 16 helpful votes
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Romans 1:1-32 ESV / 15 helpful votes
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,
Matthew 18:3 ESV / 15 helpful votes
And said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 7:21 ESV / 15 helpful votes
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Psalm 118:1-18 ESV / 15 helpful votes
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Let the house of Aaron say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Let those who fear the Lord say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free.
Matthew 18:10 ESV / 14 helpful votes
“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.
Jeremiah 10:5 ESV / 14 helpful votes
Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field, and they cannot speak; they have to be carried, for they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good.”
Colossians 1:16 ESV / 13 helpful votes
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
Luke 18:8 ESV / 13 helpful votes
I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
Zechariah 14:12 ESV / 13 helpful votes
And this shall be the plague with which the Lord will strike all the peoples that wage war against Jerusalem: their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths.
Revelation 2:9 ESV / 12 helpful votes
“‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
James 4:17 ESV / 12 helpful votes
So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.
James 1:6 ESV / 12 helpful votes
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
Luke 17:30 ESV / 12 helpful votes
So will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed.
Mark 11:1-33 ESV / 12 helpful votes
Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’” And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?”
Matthew 28:20 ESV / 12 helpful votes
Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
1 John 2:27 ESV / 11 helpful votes
But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.
Revelation 3:15 ESV / 10 helpful votes
“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!
John 3:1-36 ESV / 10 helpful votes
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
2 Timothy 1:7 ESV / 9 helpful votes
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
Luke 17:1-2 ESV / 9 helpful votes
And he said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.
Helpful Not Helpful
John 15:5-6 ESV / 8 helpful votes
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
1 Corinthians 5:11 ESV / 7 helpful votes
But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.
source: http://www.openbible.info/topics/lukewarm_christians
Another thing that seems to be left out these days is the teaching of what repentance is. Is asking for forgiveness without repenting really meaningful? To truly mean it is to repent from that sin, to repent is to turn away from it, not because of the consequences but because of a genuine disdain for sin. To repent and then turn back to the same sin again is like a dog eating its own vomit just to become sick all over again...
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