Soteriology and a Personal Statement of Salvation

[webdog]

You are correct when you say that the passage is directed at churches -- which are made up of regenerated persons. Therefore, you miss the point of the passage when you use it as a proof text for evangelism. Christ is contending with those already evangelized, not the lost, when He says that He would like to come in! He made a point of the church at Laodicea that they, though calling themselves a "church," did not let even their Master and Savior into their midst.

If anything, this passage describes churches (loosely used) like Joel Olsteen, T.D. Jakes, etc., or worse, cults like Mormons or Jehovah's Witnesses, who are heretical or close to it in their doctrines and practice, yet say that they represent Christ. It is not an evangelism passage, but it has been used that way by so many for so long, that it is now one of the go-to passages.

I agree with John MacArthur on Laodicea, they were a church in name only and Christ was offering salvation, particularly with His "buy from Me's"

Think Westoboro Baptist Church.

 

[menageriekeeper]

I emphasized that on purpose

So when Christ knocks you expect "Hey, can someone else get that door"

Does that passage actually speak to salvific evangelism? If not, your context is already out of sorts, so any conclusion you may draw from it regarding salvation is misplaced.

The only problem with the idea that this passage is only in the context of the church is the little fact that it goes on to say "if any man". That shifts it from the larger perspective of the Laodician church to the smaller perspective of the individual member.

(oh yeah, I was talking to both Webdog and GL in response to posts 35-41, excluding post 39)

 

[glfredrick]

The only problem with the idea that this passage is only in the context of the church is the little fact that it goes on to say "if any man". That shifts it from the larger perspective of the Laodician church to the smaller perspective of the individual member.

(oh yeah, I was talking to both Webdog and GL in response to posts 35-41, excluding post 39)

is not the church made up of men (people)?

 

[menageriekeeper]

Exactly, which is why Christ changed from the big pic of the church in general, to the smaller pic of the individual member.

 

[glfredrick]

Exactly, which is why Christ changed from the big pic of the church in general, to the smaller pic of the individual member.

But is it salvific?

 

[webdog]

But is it salvific?

What do the "buy from Me's" represent?