Revelation: Miserable Laodicea

Revelation: Justification by Faith

Miserable Laodicea

Revelation 3:17-18 (ESV)
"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."

Laodicea believed they lacked nothing. They had no desire for more and were satisfied with what they had.
But in reality, they were wretched and pitiable. They were not only in a seriously dangerous position, but also sinful.
The Greek word for "wretched" here is used only once elsewhere in the New Testament. That is in Romans 7.
In Romans 7, Paul talks about the experience of a converted Christian. In Romans 3, 4, and 5, he speaks about justification by faith, and in Romans 6, he applies this personally, leading to a life of serving God.
But, as many people think, Paul is not referring to losing against sin here. He is, in fact, an overcomer of sin.
He makes a distinction between the "working out" of sin or righteousness and the law of sin that remains in us even when we obey God.
Even in our best obedience, there is still a law of sin in us that taints our obedience. There is often that desire in us to do the wrong thing, even though we may not act on it.
This distinction is also clear in the Greek, where two different words are used for "doing." One refers to actually carrying out the action, while the other refers to the inner working of sin or righteousness, which may not necessarily express itself outwardly.
So Paul says:

Romans 7:17-26 (ESV)
"Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!"

Earlier, Paul speaks of lust, which is clearly evident in this inner struggle:

Romans 7:7 (ESV)
"What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, 'You shall not covet.'"

This law of sin in us, or the desires of the flesh, is, in itself, legally punishable in God's eyes. It is a violation of the law.
Thus, even our best obedience is not 100% pure.
With this inner struggle, Paul cries out:

Romans 7:24 (ESV)
"Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?"

Laodicea does not realize this. They think they have no need.
But, in fact, they are wretched. They are naturally sinful, and this sinfulness is at the core of their soul. They are not completely pure and, therefore, need more.
For if they were to stand before God based on their own obedience, it would not be enough.
Just like the Israelites, they need a High Priest to stand in their place, even for their holy gifts:

Exodus 28:38 (ESV)
"It (a mitre) shall be on Aaron's forehead, and Aaron shall bear the iniquity of the holy things that the people of Israel consecrate as their holy gifts. It shall be regularly on his forehead, that they may be accepted before the Lord."

Jesus Himself is this righteousness. He had no law of sin within Him. He was sinless and completely pure. And this Jesus stands in our place.
We must recognize that we are miserable, even in our best obedience with the Spirit. Through this inner struggle, we should be brought to realize how much we need Jesus. And when we see who Jesus is for us, it heals our lukewarmness.
And then, we say with Paul:

Romans 7:25 (ESV)

"Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" 

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