Revelation 3:1-6
Notes
Transcript
Please pray with me.
If you are able, please stand for the reading of God’s word. Today we read the pastoral prophetic message to the church in Sardis, Revelation 3:1-6
Revelation 3:1–6 (CSB)
“Write to the angel of the church in Sardis: Thus says the one who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: I know your works; you have a reputation for being alive, but you are dead. Be alert and strengthen what remains, which is about to die, for I have not found your works complete before my God. Remember, then, what you have received and heard; keep it, and repent. If you are not alert, I will come like a thief, and you have no idea at what hour I will come upon you. But you have a few people in Sardis who have not defiled their clothes, and they will walk with me in white, because they are worthy.
“In the same way, the one who conquers will be dressed in white clothes, and I will never erase his name from the book of life but will acknowledge his name before my Father and before his angels.
“Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.
This is the word of the Lord - please be seated.
What would it be like when converting to Christianity didn’t seem to require any change in the individual responding to Christ? What would that say about the gospel that is being preached?
I think of infamous alleged gangster and crime boss Mikey Cohen. In the late 1940s Cohen made a very public profession of faith in JEsus Christ and obviously there was rejoicing in the church, and he made new friends in the church.
But as has been recorded, as time went one, his new friends were curious why Mikey still participated in his gangster lifestyle and participating in criminal enterprises. Eventually they confronted him concerning that question, and according to Charles Colson, Mikey protested saying:
“You never told me I had to give up my career. You never told me that I had to give up my friends. There are christian movie stars, Christian athletes, Christian businessmen. So what’s the matter with being a Christian gangster? If I have to give up all that - if that’s Christianity - count me out.”
He eventually left all Christian circles, and apparently died rather lonely and forgotten.
Charles Colson writes about the event quote:
“Cohen was echoing the millions of professing Christians whom, though unwilling to admit it, through their very lives pose the same question. Not about being Christian gangsters, but about being Christianized versions of whatever they already are - and are determined to remain.”
And beyond just Mikey Cohen, think of Kanye West who had a infamous public conversion to Christianity and even launched Sunday Services of worship to recently make anti-semitic pro nazi statements and now stating that he IS a god.
And there are many others in each of our lives, I’m sure, that we could recall.
Today we look at the Church in Sardis. And I’d like to start with a brief tour, like we have for the last four churches.
Here is sardis in relation to the other 6 churches. According to Gordon Fee Sardis easily outstrips the other cities in Revelation 2-3 in terms of its antiquity and well known history. It was known as having a choice location, climate, economy, money, and culture.
There was numerous pagan shrines and some evidence of imperial worship here, but the big thing was the amazing security the location provided to the inhabitants. *picutre of the mountain with city on top.
Sardis had an upper and lower part of the city - with the fortress on the top of the cliff and during times of conflict, they would retreat to the tops of the cliff and they believed them to be virtually impregnable.
Well, twice in history, first by Cyrus of Persis and then Antiochus the great, the city had been conquered - both times the capture was brought by some who scaled the cliffs at night to breach the fortress.
They thought they were impregnable, which lead to pride and they went to sleep. Then the enemy struck.
These stories were infamous - and it’s unlikely that those reading the message would not understand the allusion when JEsus will say that he will come like a thief. AGain JEsus is using the local cities history to preach to them about what he is about to do.
What’s fascinating is it seems the church in sardis had taken on and adopted much of the cities culture and identity - to the point of potentially being indistinguishable from the broader culture.
Let’s look at the text now - Revelation 3:1
Revelation 3:1 (CSB)
“Write to the angel of the church in Sardis: Thus says the one who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: I know your works; you have a reputation for being alive, but you are dead.
This message starts again with a direction to write to the angel of the church in Sardis - then refers back to Revelation 1 with the vision of Jesus John saw.
The one who has the seven spirits of God - this refers to the Holy Spirit, and the all encompassing unity of the Spirit. The direct image, which we talked about in the sermon on chapter one comes from Isaiah 11:2.
So Jesus has the seven spirits, but also the seven stars - which we know refer to the angels of the seven churches.
Jesus is seen as supreme here - holding the spirutal authority over all things.
And what does he say - I know your works. or I know what you have been up to.
You have a reputation for being alive - but you are dead.
Reputation can also be translated as name - you have name, a reputation of being alive, but you are DEAD.
What a stunning rebuke right out of the gate.
Sardis the city had the reputation for being glamorous - unconquerable - and yet it wasn’t true - they had been conquered and destroyed.
In the same way - especially in our culture nowadays - we like to have a shiny successful veneer on things. This is true in a lot of churches, both older traditional churches, and large mega church non-denoms.
Ariana’s family is from germany and I’ve had the privilege to go with her twice to germany - hopefully we will get to go back next summer. But there is a sad and fascinating thing in Germany - first the amount of history there is just fantastic. But particularly it’s the home of Protestant Reformation. And the history and stories of faith from there are just amazing.
But there is a sad reality that a lot of the german church has been compromised in the culture.
So there are these structures of faith and histories of saints that are just faint echoes in the here and now.
During our first trip to Germany I remember we went with some family to the city of Erfurt in former east germany, and in the center of this beautiful city were two MASSIVE churches in the city square. *picture of the two churches*
They were gorgeous and the architecture like sings praise - seriously. And yet - they weren’t active churches. They were just shells, but were just tourist destinations at this point. No ministry, no life. Just a beautiful empty tomb of a dead church.
But it’s not just those beautiful old churches - you have the modern mega church with lights and haze and book deals and merch - they have conferences and groups, and programs - and the appearance of live - but it’s shocking the amount of pastoral scandals that come from them. It’s shocking how little discipleship can happen.
Throughout history you can see where churches have the reputation of being alive - the appearance of beauty but really they are dead.
Look at verse 2
Revelation 3:2 (CSB)
Be alert and strengthen what remains, which is about to die, for I have not found your works complete before my God.
Be alert, he says - or in other words WAKE UP! Get up and strengthen what remains, which is dying.
For i have not found your works complete before my God.
So the church is dying - in fact there is just death - but there is complacency - a lack of urgency.
This reminds me of the fable of how to boil a frog. To boil a frog if you plop it in hot water they just jump out. But if you put them in at room temperature, they get comfy, then you raise the temperature little by little, slowly, and they wont even realize what’s happened till they’re boiling.
The church in sardis got in the water, and as it’s gotten warmer, they fell asleep. JEsus says to WAKE UP! There is still so much work to be done - this is not kingdom on earth - the sin and depravity and the brokenness and evil - Don’t get into bed with them and get comfy. There is more work to be done with God!
This can be really convicting - at least it is to me, in terms of laziness, entertainment, contentment, and the like. Does my life reflect the idea that there are more works for me to complete before Jesus returns? Am I being faithful to what God has called me to? Or am I guilty of wasting my days and my hours and my life? Just like the sardis church, I am called to witness, to turn from culture when it’s contrary to God, reject sin and idolatry, and to be steadfast in prayer. But if I’m honest - youtube is pretty great. Sleep is amazing. We can be entertained to DEATH and waste our lives as a result.
I’m not saying that rest isn’t important - of course it is - but oftentimes I fail to rest and therefore i am not productive and my life can just look lazy. Or distracted. unfocused on the things that really matter.
This week as I was studying I read in a commentary on Revelation that Jonathan Edwards, a prominent puritan preacher in New England in the mid 1700’s. When he was a teenager he wrote resolutions for his life, and one of which was that he did not want to do anything that he wouldn’t do if it were the last hour of his life.
Not to do anything that you wouldn’t do if it were the last hour of life. That hit me like a ton of bricks. For there is more work to be done, people to love, messages to preach.
Look at verse 3:
Remember, then, what you have received and heard; keep it, and repent. If you are not alert, I will come like a thief, and you have no idea at what hour I will come upon you.
They are called to remember what they have received and heard - this is the gospel. They received the word of God the gospel - they’re called to Remember it, keep it - and that should lead them to repentance. The idea is that in their current slumber - they are not living in line with the word of God. They are sleeping - and they need to change.
If they don’t wake up - if they stay in their slumber, Jesus is going to come like a thief. Theives don’t annouce when they’re coming- and just like that JEsus is coming and they will be found sleeping.
This should remind us of Jesus words in MAtthew - but also is culturally relevant as twice in the past Sardis was sacked because they thought their walls and unscalable cliffs would keep them safe - and the enemies scaled the walls at night at took the city while they were asleep. And Sardis kept trying to bounce back and keep their reputation up as just a safe delightful and successful place. The evidence starts to add up a bit though, no? They may want the reputation for being alive and safe and important - but they are really dead. Asleep. All while there is much work to be done.
Jesus is coming back to Sardis - but ultimately at the end of the age when things are made new - and we are called to be faithful and doing the work of God while we await his return. Not get super comfortable.
Verse 4:
Revelation 3:4 (CSB)
But you have a few people in Sardis who have not defiled their clothes, and they will walk with me in white, because they are worthy.
So it’s not the whole congregation - but most who have become defiled. Jesus says there are a few who have not defiled their clothes.
How do clothes become defiled - well contextually, it is likely similar to the other churches in Asia Minor - compromise with the imperial worship, spiritual and sexual immorality, and not being faithful to the way of JEsus. This leads to being defiled. compromised.
But those who have not defiled their clothes - they will walk with JEsus in white - for they are worthy. White speaks of moral purity, and cleanliness. They have been washed clean.
This leads right into Jesus promise to the overcomer.
Revelation 3:5 (CSB)
“In the same way, the one who conquers will be dressed in white clothes, and I will never erase his name from the book of life but will acknowledge his name before my Father and before his angels.
This shows us that the way we conquer, is to be faithful. Don’t defile oneself with stupid sin and idolatry. Those who do that will be dressed in white - an image that will come back later in Revelation - and their names will never be erased form the book of life - instead JEsus will be there to acknowledge their names before the Father and the heavenly host.
Notice - The church in sardis had a reputation or a name for being alive - but are dead. However, if the sardis christians are faithful, even to the point of death - then JEsus will defend their name! For their actions have proved their faith.
I know a verse like this - when we read of JEsus talking about erasing a name from the book of life - that can breed a lot of anxiety and concern for some. How can I avoid that? Can I lose my salvation? It can challenge a lot of common belives in our current american evangelical culture.
But historically we have two predominant christian thoughts - Arminians hold that apostasy, or walking away from God, can undo the results of conversion, that you can lose your salvation. Calvinists, historically hold that if someone fails to persevere in the faith - they were never truly converted to begin with. Notice however, and Craig Keener points this out - both AGREE on the end result.
If one doesn’t persevere, they are lost. They just argue whether they were truly saved or not in the first place.
This is in contradiction to a widely held misinterpretation of calvinism, that anyone will be allowed into heaven as long as they had at one point professed salvation. But this idea is refuted so many times in the new testament! Think of Mark 4:16-19, John 8:30-32, John 15:6, Romans 11:20-22, Galatians 4:19, 2 Peter 2:20-22, and many others. Faith, saving faith, depends on us, by grace, holding on and persevering.
Keener writes that this promise that those who persevere will not be blotted from the book of life also offers a warning to many nominal believers in our current culture who look to a past profession of faith to ensure their salvation rather than ask if they are living in faith right now.
So if our lives do not reflect faith and the desire to follow JEsus and his word - we would be RIGHT to hear these words AND REPENT! If find ourselves in sin - we would be WISE to turn from that sin and repent.
Think of the past few weeks - Because the amazing work of Jesus Christ, we no longer need to be perfect ourselves, Jesus is the standard, and by grace through faith in the justifying work of Jesus - therefore our perfection is no longer what God requires - for Jesus is our security. What he does require is faith, and contrition. Fully falling on JEsus and following him into new creation.
LEt’s finish this message Verse 6:
Revelation 3:6 (CSB)
“Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.
Does the shoe fit? Then we wear it.
We get to our question, so what?
First, something that’s striking to me, is this church is about to die with only a few faithful remaining - and yet Jesus does not call the faithful to leave and find a better church. He doesn’t say to move to Smyrna, where they could really use them and their resources. No - he calls the faithful to remain and be faithful.
There are many churches, denominations, and christians who are in sleeping and or dying churches in our day. And in those churches, there are true genuine regenerate believers in them. There is a Christian cancel culture sometimes at play when it comes to churches that seem to be asleep that many would look down on the faithful in those denominations. But the fact of the matter is God indeed does ask and call some believers to remain in those places to call them back into faithfulness.
Martin Luther did not want to start a new church when he nailed the thesis to the church in germany which led to the protestant reformation - no he wanted to reform the current church. He wanted, I’d argue by the providence of God, the catholic church to repent and be remade. Well they didn’t want that and they ended up trying to kill him.
But the historic protestant position is The church is wherever truly faithful believers are and are participating with God.
Part of our mission of our church isn’t to just attract all the faithful believers who are in drowsy or sleepy churches to ditch their place and come join us. No we want to see renewal! How much better to see sleeping churches awoken in the Gospel! How much better to see sleeping saints awoken and their names established on the lips of our savior!
That’s not to say that God doesn’t ever call people out of those places either -perhaps when a church is no longer a church - BUT I agree with Craig Keener here - it is not wise for those of us in more comfortable situations to judge our brothers and sisters who have remain to fight a battle we judged not our own.
Pray for the faithful saints who find themselves in sleepy and dying churches. And remember the call of Jesus wherever you may find yourself is to faithfully follow the lamb into new creation. Follow Jesus
Second, reputation and pride leads to comfortable and sleepy churches.
I don’t want my heart to be stirred by crowds who know my name. I don’t want our church to be striving after being well known.
Know i want my name in the book of life. And our nae on the lips of our savior.
Which means we need to be much more cognizant of what our savior JEsus is about, what he loves, and what he detests. And we need to follow his lead.
Jesus sought out the lost - therefore so should we - even if it means that we are going to then be welcoming people into our lives that are less than acceptable culturally and it may make us look less put together. So be it!
Jesus was adament about preaching the Gospel = therefore so we should be.
Jesus loves kids and hung out with them - therefore so should we.
What ever JESUS is about and cares for and praises may that be the rallying cry for our church. Would we make decisions not based on what the world would say and do, or what is the most strategic according to the Christian Growth Movement - but to be attentive to the Spirit and be faithful to do whatever mission he calls us into. EVen if it mean we will never be recognized by our peers on this side of eternity.
Lastly, Friends - have we bought into the lie that following Jesus is just an add on to our lives? Like a bonus deal or a dessert option on the entree of life.
Man this meal is good - oh and I can have everlasting life - sure ill order that.
In line with that analogy - that restaurant where we are eating is on the titanic. And Jesus is telling us he can give us real food but we gotta get off the boat.
So many of us want to add on JEsus without actually offering our lives as a sacrifice to God.
I mean let’s be honest, with ourselves and with God. Look at your life - how different is it from the average midwestern non-believer in our area?
I don’t mean to beat anyone up - quite the opposite - i am blown away by many here on your audacious loving heart of God and your willingness to say no to things that our foul and to do crazy things with JEsus!
But we need to be REALLY careful that we are not getting comfortable here!
Because it can be easy to fall into the trap where we make the gospel conform to what our lives are like with a Christian veneer.
Jesus doesn’t want to just dust off the dirt from the outside of your body.
He wants to take your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. He wants to make you a new creature.
And so friends - we need to once again - repent. Turn your eyes upon JEsus, look full on his wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim. In the light of his glory and grace.
Examine our hearts - in what areas have we grown comfortable and made ourselves a hot tub in the water that’s starting to boil?
That means if you’re an infamous gangster, you need to quit that.
And it’s gonna cost you - but the inheritance we get with JEsus - far eclipses any little bit we can do on our own.
Eternity. Inheritance. adopted as children of God for ever. Ruling over the nations and co heirs with christ.
So friends - may we wake up to the ways that we are being defiled - and follow JEsus, the lamb, into new jerusalem.
Pray with me.