“Hot, Cold, or Lukewarm: Yeshua’s Warning to the ‘Christian’ Who Isn’t”
In the world today, countless people claim to be Christians, but do they truly follow the teachings of Yeshua (Jesus)? We must ask ourselves if we are truly walking in the way He commanded or if we are merely calling ourselves by a title that has no meaning. What would Yeshua say if we asked Him about the term “Christian”? Would He even recognize it? The truth is, the term Christian never came from Yeshua’s own lips, and the Bible warns us about those who claim to be something they are not.
The Lukewarm Condition – A Dangerous Place to Be
In the book of Revelation, Yeshua speaks to the church of Laodicea and gives a stern warning about spiritual complacency:
“I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” — Revelation 3:15-16 (KJV)
Yeshua condemned those who were lukewarm—people who believed they were righteous simply because of their association with faith, yet their hearts were far from Him. How many today call themselves Christians but live in this same state of lukewarmness? They attend church, recite scripture, but fail to live a life of true commitment, zeal, or obedience to Yehovah.
A Warning From Yeshua: Claiming What You Are Not
Yeshua gave a similar warning to those who called themselves Jews but did not truly live according to Yehovah’s ways:
“I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.” — Revelation 2:9 (KJV)
The same principle applies to those today who say they are Christians but are not truly following Yeshua. What does it mean to claim a title without walking in righteousness? Yeshua condemned those in His day who claimed religious identity but did not live according to Yehovah’s commandments. We must examine ourselves, for merely claiming a title does not mean we belong to Him.
Yeshua made it clear that many would come to Him on judgment day, thinking they were secure in their faith, only to find out they never truly knew Him:
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” — Matthew 7:21-23 (KJV)
The people Yeshua refers to in this passage were religious. They knew the right words, the right rituals, and the right ways to appear outwardly faithful, but their hearts were far from Him.
What Is a True Follower of Yeshua?
If you were to ask Yeshua what it meant to be a “Christian,” He would likely not even recognize the term. Yeshua never used the word “Christian” during His ministry. Instead, He spoke of those who truly love and obey Him as His disciples and followers:
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” — John 14:15 (KJV)
“Then said Yeshua to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.” — John 8:31 (KJV)
The word “Christian” is mentioned only three times in the New Testament, and it was a label applied by others, not by Yeshua Himself. The true measure of our faith is not in what we call ourselves but in how we live according to His teachings.
Beware of Scriptures Misused by Those Who Do Not Study
Many people who claim to be Christian rely heavily on certain scriptures they’ve heard from preachers or friends, without ever digging deep into the Word of Yehovah themselves. They take familiar verses, often out of context, and build their beliefs on half-truths rather than the full counsel of Scripture.
The Apostle Paul warned Timothy about this very thing:
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” — 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)
And again, Paul warns about those who have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof:
“Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” — 2 Timothy 3:5 (KJV)
We are not to rely solely on what we have been taught but must diligently search the Scriptures ourselves, testing everything we hear against the Word of God. As the Bereans were praised for their diligence:
“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” — Acts 17:11 (KJV)
Are You Lukewarm?
Take a moment to reflect on your own walk with Yehovah. Are you “hot” for Him, fully engaged in prayer, study, and obedience? Or have you become lukewarm, going through the motions of religion without a true heart for the Kingdom? Yeshua’s words to the Laodiceans are not just a historical rebuke but a message to all of us today. He desires for us to be either hot or cold—fully committed or honest about our spiritual need—rather than being comfortable in a lukewarm state.
“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” — Luke 6:46 (KJV)
Let us not be content with a surface-level faith or the labels we place upon ourselves. Let us be true disciples, known by our obedience to Yeshua’s teachings and our love for Yehovah.
Conclusion: A Call to True Discipleship
In these days, it is not enough to merely call ourselves Christians or attend church. Yeshua is calling us to be His true disciples—people who live out their faith in every aspect of their lives. Let us heed His warning and avoid the spiritual trap of lukewarmness. Search the Scriptures diligently, examine your heart, and seek to live a life fully devoted to Yehovah.
“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” — James 1:22 (KJV)
May we all strive to be “hot” for Yeshua, fully committed to walking in His ways and living out His commandments. For in the end, it is not what we call ourselves that matters, but how closely we follow the Word of God
