Rev.3:1-6
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.
He that hath the seven Spirits of God and seven stars is the one searching their hearts and trying their works. So, while they have a name that they are alive and carry that reputation the Lord knows otherwise. Churches in general will boast of their liveliness in the Lord relative to other churches. Those who believe in the gifts and operation of the Spirit (1 Cor.12:7-11) will boast of their being alive corporately as an assembly relative to their non-sign gift operating brethren. Where those who believe the gifts have all ceased except a teacher will claim they are alive because of their focus upon doctrines over lively worship. Where those practicing lively worship will say the letter (meaning doctrine) kills and so it should not be emphasized but rather just “loving Jesus”. The conclusion that your church is ‘alive’ is based upon your doctrines to start with. But our opinions do not matter to Christ because his determination is based upon the operation of the seven Spirits of God.
How have we responded to his presence? Do we resist his Spirit (Act.7:51) and grieve him (Eph.4:30)? Do we commune with the Holy Ghost (2 Cor.13:14) and follow him (Rom.8:14,Gal.5:18)? What about wisdom, the principle thing (Prv.4:7)? Were we wise in your own eyes (Prv.3:7, Isa.5:21)? Did we seek wisdom that is earthly, sensual, devilish (Jam.3:14-16)? How about understanding? In all our getting did we get understanding (Prv.4:7)? Did we lift up our voice for it, and seek it like we did money? (Prv.2:3-5) And what about counsel? Did we ever darken council by words without knowledge (Job 38:2)? Did we establish our purposes with good counsel and advice (Prv.20:18)? Did we let the Lord guide us with his counsel (Psa.73:24, Rev.3:18)? How about our might? Did we love God with all our might (Dt.6:5)? Did we glory in our own might (Jer.9:23)? Were we strong in the Lord and the power of his might (Eph.6:10)? Did we not make God our strength (Psa.52:7, Isa.26:4)? And how about the fear of the Lord? Was there a heart in us that would fear him and keep his commandments (Dt.5:29)? Did we tremble at his word (Isa.66:2) or just pay it lip service and exalt the words and doctrines of men (Mt.15:7-9) with the fear of man (Mt.10:28, Prv.29:25)? Did we hate pride and arrogancy and the evil way (Prv.8:13)? This is how the Lord will judge us.
This church had a reputation for being alive that Christ was formed in them corporately (Gal.4:19), that they were knit together in love (Col.2:2) holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God (v19). They had a name that they were fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, making increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love (Eph.4:16); builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit (Eph.2:22). But this was all a façade, and the Lord knew the whole time, “thou…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.
This admonition is deadly serious as this church was descending into self righteousness vainly puffed up in their minds and engaging in and establishing dead works of their own carnal efforts. They had a few sincere and true efforts that were ready to die as they were exercising themselves in establishing their own righteousness and not the righteousness which is by faith and the Spirit. (Rom.3:31, 8:4, 10:3, Phil.3:9) Our works are made perfect and entire, not lacking anything when we understand the God of peace working in us that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, both to will and do of his good pleasure (Heb.13:20-1, Phil.2:13,Ja.1:4). We wait patiently for him to stablish us by the power of the gospel in every good word and work, suffering while our faith is tried (Rom.16:25, 2 Thes.2:17, 1 Pt.5:10). The things that remained of this church were sick and ready to die, which is to say alienating themselves completely from the life of God working in them (Eph.4:18). The danger with not walking by faith is one will make shipwreck their faith and depart from the faith (1 Tim.1:19, 4:1) and frustrate the grace of God (Gal.2:21) for it is of faith that it might be by grace (Rom.4:16). For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. (Gal.5:5,4) They are warned ‘beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.’ (2 Pt.3:17)
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.
This sharp rebuke was to call them to remembrance the former days, after they were illuminated (Heb.10:32) how they held fast the faithful word and form of soundness (Tit.1:9, 2 Tim.1:13). They are exhorted to repent of their pride and slothfulness and hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. (Heb.3:6) That they be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Showing the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end (Heb.6:11-2) They were trusting in themselves that they were righteous while making themselves hateful unto God (Lk.18:9, 16:15) If a man trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it. (Ezek.33:13, 1 Jn.5:16) He was persuaded better things of them, things that should accompany salvation (Heb.6:9)
The Lord will come for his church quickly and at an hour when we are not aware and a day when we think not, therefore we better watch. (Mt.24:42-4, 50) His reference to coming as a thief is his imminent return (Mt.24:43, Lk.12:38-40). For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. (1 Thes.5:2,4) For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. (Mk.13:34-7) Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. (1 Thes.5:6-7) Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. (Eph.5:14) Watch therefore!
The danger would be that he didn’t keep his garments and they become spotted by the flesh and the world and he be ashamed before the Lord at his coming. (Rev.16:15, 1 Jn.2:28, Jd.23, Jam.1:27) Or worse yet that day overtake them as a thief and sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. (1 Thess.5:1-3) The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. (Lk.12:46, Rev.21:8)
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.
The Lord has his remnant according to the election of grace when all others seem to drift into darkness and blindness not knowing at what they stumble. (Rom.11:5) The Lord will reserve some to himself by their faith (Rom.11:4, 4:16) to the praise of the glory of his grace (Eph.1:6). It is as if the Lord emphasizes their filthiness of spirit saying “even in Sardis” even though thou “art dead” there were a few names. How twisted and skewed was their view of themselves! But there were a few there who kept their garments white. This is the righteousness of the saints (Rev.19:8), that is the works of faith they have established (1 Thes.1:3, 2 Thes.2:11, Ja.2:17-8). White indicates the absence of sin, (Isa.1:18) and we wash our robes and make them white in the blood of the Lamb (Rev.7:14). They have exalted their relationship with Christ above any earthly bond and taken up their cross (Mt.10:37-8) and these few watch and pray always and are accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. (Lk.21:36) The Lord calls upon those in Sardis to bring forth fruits worthy of repentance. (Lk.3:8) We can likewise walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God as we are filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding (Col.1:9-10) How do we do this? By faith. (Hab.2:4,Rom.1:17, Gal.3:11, Heb.10:38, 11:6)
5-6 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
This church had defiled garments and needed to repent. Only the few names there had not defiled their garments and were worthy to walk in white raiment. The Lord instructs those many with defiled garments regarding their overcoming, that they likewise could be clothed in white raiment, and that their names would not be blotted out of the book of life. He associates not blotting out their names with their overcoming. Along with not having their names blotted out he says that he will confess them by name before the Father and the angels. This would be a direct reference to Luke 12:8-9 where Jesus says “Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.” Sardis professes and has a name that they know God; but in works they deny him. (Tit.1:16) Paul warns us “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us” (2 Tim.2:12)
The Lamb's book of life has the names of those who will have access to his kingdom and the new heavens and earth. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Rev.20:12,15) Their names were written in the book of life from the foundation of the world (Rev.17:8) but the warning was regarding their name being blotted out. The warning is repeated and expounded upon in Rev.22:19 “God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” If the name could not possibly be blotted out why would the Lord introduce the idea here? We better hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
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