Lukewarm faith of lukewarm believers therefore, is known by works, that are neither cold nor hot, neither good nor evil.
Lukewarm works neither do only good, nor only evil, but do both evil and good.
The Lord's command to the lukewarm doers of both good and evil, is the same to all men everywhere: Get hot and repent from all the sinning and trespassing, and only do His good will on earth.
Lukewarm faith is with lukewarm repentance, that only results in doing both evil and good, more or less.
The faith of lukewarm repenters only seeks to do more good than evil, and sin less. The sinless faith of Jesus Christ is is only for them that repent of all sins and trespasses, so as to only do good for His name's sake.
Looking at scripture ( the truth) we see the ways of the Pharisees ( hypocrites) is to do works only to be seen of men.
Looking at scripture, we see their works are not faith. ( Jesus testified they OMIT, the greater matters...FAITH)
The Pharisees we understand ( because of the testimony of God) do the works of the law, but are not justified in them.
Matthew 23:4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
Matthew 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier
matters of the
law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
There is a lot of testimony in the Epistles. ( useful to include them therefore)
The law of works is not the law of faith.
The righteousness of faith, has no righteousness in the works of the law. ( the promise to Abraham was not through the law.)
The righteousness which is of faith was not found by Israel, who followed after the law ( of righteousness) but did not attain to any law of righteousness. ( they sought not by faith/the law is not of faith/they stumbled at the stumbling stone, of whosoever BELIEVES on Him shall not be ashamed.)
A man is not justified by the works of the law. ( the works of the law are not of faith) but by believing in Jesus Christ to be justified by the faith of Christ.
No man is justified in Gods sight by the law. ( the just SHALL live by faith/we walk by faith not by sight/the law IS NOT OF FAITH.)
We be found in Christ by not having our own righteousness, ( which is of the law/the law is not of faith) but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.
That we may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto His death....
Romans 3:27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what
law?
of works? Nay: but by the
law of faith.
Romans 4:13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was
not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the
law, but through the righteousness of
faith.
Romans 9:30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
Romans 9:32 Wherefore? Because they sought it
not by
faith, but as it were by the works of the
law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
Romans 9:33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
2 Corinthians 5:7 (For we walk by
faith,
not by
sight
Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man
is not justified by the
works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed
in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the
works of the law: for by the
works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Galatians 3:11 But that no man is justified by the
law in the sight
of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by
faith.
Galatians 3:12 And the
law is
not of
faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is
of the
law, but that which is through the
faith of Christ, the righteousness which is
of God by
faith:
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
These are the works of the rebuked churches.
They do works and imagine they are alive ( with God) but are dead.
The perfect works before God are of faith.
This is to remember how we received and heard, and how to hold fast and repent. ( from unbelief)
To not have defiled garments is to walk worthy with Jesus Christ in white.
Again the rebuke to the churches is knowing their works that they seek riches, lots of goods, lack nothing. ( but as Jesus testified of the hypocrites/Pharisees, they OMIT the weightier matters of the law...they OMIT FAITH and the LOVE OF GOD.)...
Revelation 3:1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
Revelation 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Teaching was given about good and evil also, what is not corrupt brings forth good, and a corrupt tree cannot bring forth good.
Again the Epistles are useful to know, that the ones who profess they know God, ( as in the rebuke to the churches in Revelation.) but are DENYING ( no faith) Him in works, they are completely DISOBEDIENT, completely ABOMINABLE, and ENTIRELY REPROBATE, unto EVERY GOOD WORK.
Little children are not to be DECEIVED by any man, that those who do evil ( sin) have not seen/known Christ, and the ones who do righteousness ( good) are righteous EVEN as He ( Christ) is righteous.
The ones who do sin ( do evil) are of the DEVIL, the Son of man was MANIFESTED to destroy the WORKS OF THE DEVIL. ( evil/unbelief)
The beloved are to follow that which is GOOD, not what is EVIL, he that
does good is of God, but he that
does evil has not seen God....
Matthew 7:17 Even so every
good tree bringeth forth
good fruit; but a corrupt
tree bringeth forth
evil fruit.
Matthew 7:18 A
good tree cannot bring forth
evil fruit, neither can a corrupt
tree bring forth
good fruit.
Titus 1:16 They profess that they
know God; but
in
works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
1 John 3:6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
1 John 3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth
righteousness is
righteous,
even as he is
righteous.
1 John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
3 John 1:11 Beloved, follow not that which is
evil, but that which is good. He that
doeth good is of God: but he that
doeth evil hath not seen God.