Revelation: Naked Laodicea

 Revelation: Justification by Faith

Naked 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."

Perhaps the most serious warning to Laodicea here is about their nakedness.
Earlier in this study, we discussed this concept of nakedness.
In the Bible, being clothed often represents having righteousness, and this is the meaning of it in Revelation. Sometimes it refers to our character, and other times it refers to the righteousness of Jesus that covers us and is credited to us as if it were our own:

Isaiah 61:10 (ESV)
"I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels."

Revelation 19:8 (ESV)
"It was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure, for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints."

When someone is naked, they are also ashamed and have a sense that they need something to cover themselves, especially when in the presence of others. This is the same with our nakedness before God. When we stand before God in faith or in reality, we feel our lack and sin, and we long to grasp any form of righteousness we can find. This often leads to self-righteousness, where we convince ourselves that we are good or downplay the severity of our sin.

Laodicea, though naked, refuses to acknowledge this. They do not see it and continue to ignore it. When the day of Christ's return comes, they will realize too late their nakedness.

But those who sincerely search their own hearts will recognize their sinfulness and desire righteousness or something to cover them.
Such individuals must be directed to the white garments that Jesus Himself has.
His righteousness, which He lived out here on earth, can be credited to our account if we trust in Him. Then, even though we are naked and without righteousness on our own, we can know in faith that God sees us as clothed.

Romans 4:5-8 (ESV)
"And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness. Just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: 'Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.'"

Thus, Laodicea has these four problems: they are wretched, naked, blind, and poor.
And this is the root of their problem with lukewarm love. If these issues are addressed and the remedy for these problems is emphasized in all churches, there will be a return of fervor. Here, and nowhere else, is where our focus must be.
The Laodicean church today needs this, and it is here where the battle lies.

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