What does the Bible say about lukewarm?

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The Bible says that lukewarm, complacent profession is spiritually dangerous and calls for Christ’s urgent rebuke, repentance, and renewed faith. In Revelation 3:15-16, Jesus condemns the Laodicean church for self-satisfied indifference, warning that neither cold unbelief nor empty religious warmth can stand in place of wholehearted devotion. Yet His severe words are also gracious: Revelation 3:19-20 calls those He loves to repent and receive fellowship with Him. Believers are not saved by spiritual intensity, but by Christ alone; nevertheless, saving faith bears fruit in alertness, obedience, and growth. Hebrews 5:11-12 warns against dullness and immaturity, while Revelation 3:2 urges the church to wake up and strengthen what remains.

Top passages, ranked by readers

Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

  • Revelation 3:16

    So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth.

  • Revelation 3:15-16

    [15] "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot. [16] So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth.

  • 2 Timothy 4:3

    For the time will come when they will not listen to the sound doctrine, but, having itching ears, will heap up for themselves teachers after their own lusts;

  • Revelation 3:14-22

    [14] "To the angel of the assembly in Laodicea write: "The Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Head of God's creation, says these things: [15] "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot. [16] So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth. [17] Because you say, 'I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing;' and don't know that you are the wretched one, miserable, poor, blind, and naked; [18] I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich; and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see. [19] As many as I love, I reprove and chasten. Be zealous therefore, and repent. [20] Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with me. [21] He who overcomes, I will give to him to sit down with me on my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father on his throne. [22] He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies."

  • 1 Peter 2:16

    as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.

  • Hebrews 5:11-12

    [11] About him we have many words to say, and hard to interpret, seeing you have become dull of hearing. [12] For when by reason of the time you ought to be teachers, you again need to have someone teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the oracles of God. You have come to need milk, and not solid food.

  • Revelation 3:2

    Wake up, and keep the things that remain, which you were about to throw away, for I have found no works of yours perfected before my God.

  • Acts 4:12

    There is salvation in none other, for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, by which we must be saved!"

  • Revelation 3:20

    Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with me.

  • Revelation 3:1-22

    [1] "And to the angel of the assembly in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars says these things: "I know your works, that you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. [2] Wake up, and keep the things that remain, which you were about to throw away, for I have found no works of yours perfected before my God. [3] Remember therefore how you have received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If therefore you won't watch, I will come as a thief, and you won't know what hour I will come upon you. [4] Nevertheless you have a few names in Sardis that did not defile their garments. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. [5] He who overcomes will be arrayed in white garments, and I will in no way blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. [6] He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. [7] "To the angel of the assembly in Philadelphia write: "He who is holy, he who is true, he who has the key of David, he who opens and no one can shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says these things: [8] "I know your works (behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one can shut), that you have a little power, and kept my word, and didn't deny my name. [9] Behold, I give of the synagogue of Satan, of those who say they are Jews, and they are not, but lie. Behold, I will make them to come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. [10] Because you kept my command to endure, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, which is to come on the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. [11] I am coming quickly! Hold firmly that which you have, so that no one takes your crown. [12] He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will go out from there no more. I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God, and my own new name. [13] He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. [14] "To the angel of the assembly in Laodicea write: "The Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Head of God's creation, says these things: [15] "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot. [16] So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth. [17] Because you say, 'I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing;' and don't know that you are the wretched one, miserable, poor, blind, and naked; [18] I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich; and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see. [19] As many as I love, I reprove and chasten. Be zealous therefore, and repent. [20] Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with me. [21] He who overcomes, I will give to him to sit down with me on my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father on his throne. [22] He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies."

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