A word to Christ church: Letter to Sardis

Intro

This evening we continue our study in the book of Revelation. We are looking at John’s letter to the seven churches in Asia. These churches, as we have discussed, are representatives of the catholic (universal) church throughout the ages. Each church provides us with a warning and with hope. Those churches who have been compromised are warnings to us to avoid being compromised. Those churches who are commended for their faith and perseverance are an encouragement to us to continue steadfast in the faith. The promise of reward to those who overcome give us hope that Christ will one day reward us for our perseverance.

This evening will are going to look at the letter to the church in Sardis. The church in Sardis and in Laodicea have it the worst. Neither of them receive any praise, only rebuke. The church in Sardis are in a spiritual coma and in need of being revived. They are a warning to those churches who live on past glory. May we learn from their mistakes and avoid becoming a lifeless and compromised church.

Before we get into the text, I want us consider the following quote from an article by David Gibson titled, “Three symptoms of a Dying Church.”

“I knew the patient before she died. It was ten years ago. She was very sick at the time, but she did not want to admit it....She never got better. She slowly and painfully deteriorated. And then she died.....She, of course, is a church.”

Also:

The message to Sardis is a warning to all “great churches” that are living on past glory. Dr. Vance Havner has frequently reminded us that spiritual ministries often go through four stages: a man, a movement, a machine, and then a monument. Sardis was at the “monument” stage, but there was still hope!

Warren W. Wiersbe

Exposition Revelation 3:1-6

Revelation 3:1

John receives the command to write to the angel (Gk. messenger) of the church in Sardis. Which is meant either a supernatural being or an actual human being. And by human being is the pastor of the church.

Sardis was the capitol of the Lydian Empire. They were a trade town, known for their woolen goods and red dye. At one time they discovered large amounts of gold and as a result became a wealthy city.

Some bible scholars believe that the church in Sardis represents the church of the reformation age (1517-1800).

We read here that Jesus appears to the church in Sardis as one who has “the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.” As we seen in Rev. 1:4, the reference to “the seven spirits” are a symbol of the fullness and perfections of the gifts and grace of the Holy Spirit. This is significant to Sardis situation.

The reference to “the seven stars” is an element from John’s initial vision of the Son of Man. Christ holds the seven stars in His right hand, which are the seven angels (Gk. messengers) of the seven churches Rev. 1:16, 20. This could mean one of two things:

Christ is reminding the messenger of the church that Christ upholds and supports him.

There is angelic support for the church.

Either way, the church in Sardis has support available in Christ.

Christ once again shows that He has sufficient knowledge of what is going on in His churches. He says, “I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.” The church in Sardis receives the harshest censure out of all the seven churches. They have the reputation (lit. name) as being alive but are dead. The church in Sardis was full of professing Christians who had a nominal faith; the appearance of godliness but denied its power 2 Tim. 3:5. They appeared lively but were on the verge of collapse. They had lost their zeal; some were hypocrites, the rest lifeless. The condition in Sardis is a reminder that appearance isn’t everything. NOTE: One of the defining characteristics of a dead church is the members do not realize it’s dying.

In Sardis the question is the relationship between reputation and reality. The reputation of the church at Sardis was life, but the reality was that they were dead.

Paige Patterson

You can be alive physically but be dead spiritually

1 Timothy 5:5–6 ESV

5 She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, 6 but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives.

Only through the quickening power of the Holy Spirit can the spiritually dead be mad alive.

Ephesians 2:1–5 ESV

1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

The word “name” is significant. It appears 4 times in three verses: 1, 4, 5. It may be that their “name” is in question here. Do they truly belong to Christ?

Revelation 3:2

The word “wake up” (Gk. be on the alert; be watchful).

The church in Sardis have become lethargic. Christ is giving them a wake up call. He commands them to be on watch and on alert.

The call to “wake up” or “be on the alert” is used commonly to call believers to stay alert.

Matthew 24:42–43 ESV

42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.

Mark 14:38 ESV

38 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

1 Corinthians 16:13 ESV

13 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.

1 Peter 5:8 ESV

8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Christ not only commands them to “wake up” but He also instructs them to “strengthen what remains and is about to die.” The mention of things that remain, suggest they had some life remaining. They are not totally dead.

It may also suggest that they began a life of faithful services, but something happened that has hindered their progress. This is likely considering their parallel to the church in Ephesus.

Christ says He does not find their works to be complete (Gk. fulfilled). Perhaps this suggest their spiritual lethargy is a failure to maintain watch and witness for Christ. Their services are unfinished. They started out well but have not finished well.

Notice Christ words, “in the sight of my God” paralleled with “you have a reputation (lit. name) of being alive.” Again, what appears to be alive and well with man is quite different with Christ who searches the heart and mind.

Revelation 3:3

Because of their spiritual lethargy, Christ commands them to “remember” what they have received and heard. This refers to the gospel message, the sound words of Jesus 2 Tim. 2:13. A similar command is given to the church in Ephesus Rev. 2:5. Both are called to remember where they started and to repent.

We see now why Christ appears to them as one with seven spirits of God (the Holy Spirit) and the seven stars. Christ is reminding them of life-giving power of the Holy Spirit. Only the Holy Spirit can revive them. So, there is hope for the church in Sardis if they recognize this.

Romans 8:11 ESV

11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

If the church in Sardis fails to heed the wake up call, Christ will come like a thief. Thieves do not come at an appointed time but rely on the element of surprise.

Here is a reminder of Sardis history. They believed their cliffs and walls kept them safe, but twice in its history Sardis had been conquered—by Cyrus 549 BC, and Antiochus the great 218 BC—for not staying alert.

If they fail to maintain watch Christ threatens something similar or worse will occur.

The threat suggests that dead and dying churches are frequently oblivious to either their condition or to the imminent threat.

Paige Patterson

The “coming” here likely refers to Christ coming in judgment but is a precursor to His second coming.

Christ regular visit to His church in judgment throughout history foreshadows His final judgment at the end of human history.

Matthew 24:43 ESV

43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.

1 Thessalonians 5:2–4 ESV

2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.

Revelation 3:4

Not everything is hopeless in Sardis. There are a few names in Sardis who have not “soiled” (Gk. pollute, literally and morally) their garments. Again, we see the word “name.” The repeated occurence here is by no accident. Christ knows the names that are truly His. “Soiled” here is symbol of sin.

Jude 23 ESV

23 save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.

There were some who remained faithful and have not been compromised; who are lively, zealous, and careful, and have a desire for purity of doctrine, discipline, worship and conversion of sinners. These will walk with Christ in white.

White is a symbol of glory Matt 17:2

Matthew 17:2 ESV

2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.

it is also a symbol of righteousness and purity which believers will receive in the kingdom of God as a reward for overcoming.

They will “walk with Him” here and hereafter. They will enjoy fellowship with Christ here and when they enter glory.

And they will walk with him because they are “worthy.” They are “worthy” because they have not soiled or polluted their garments.

Revelation 3:5

Here we see a threefold promise to those who overcome:

“clothed in white garments.”

as we have seen in the previous verse, white garments are given to those who have not polluted their garments and who enjoy fellowship with Christ.

there is a connection with the promise of “white garments” and perseverance. Our robes are washed in the blood (purchased by Christ). Consider the following verses Revelation 7:14 14 I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

will not have their names blotted out of the book of life. Again we see the word “name.”

the book of life is a registry of those destined to eternal life. First mentioned in Exodus 32:32 “32 But now, if you will forgive their sin—but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written.””

Moses appeared to have a physical life in mind.

The “names” of those who are truly among God’s elect were written before the creation of the world Revelation 13:8 “8 and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.” Revelation 17:8 “8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come.”

Christ will confess the name of the one who overcomes to the Father. Matthew 10:32 “32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven,”

Those who overcome will be publicly vindicated on judgment day.

Contrast to those who will be denied by Jesus Matthew 10:33 “33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.” 2 Timothy 2:12 “12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us;”

Revelation 3:6

As usual, Christ ends His letter with an exhortation to hear what the Spirit is saying concerning their sin, need to overcome and promise of rewards. The fact that the word “churches” indicates the contents of this letter is to be read to all the churches throughout all the ages.

The church in Sardis seems to have heeded the warning. In the second century, the city was home to the prominent bishop Melito, who wrote the Homily on the Passion. Also preserved was a copy of a letter from Antonius Pius forbidding commoners from persecuting Christians (Neufeld, “Communities,” 29–30).

Conclusion/Application

The church in Sardis had a name that of being alive, yet Christ found them to be in fact dead. This again shows that appearance isn’t everything. Man judges by outer appearance but Christ judges the heart.

APPLICATION: If a church can appear to be alive but be dead, have we become more focused on how we appear outwardly rather than the condition of our heart?

The church in Sardis had come to a place where they were living on their past glory.

APPLICATION: Have become like Sardis in that we are living on our past glory?

Christ appeared to the church in Sardis as one with the seven stars (the Holy Spirit) and the seven stars (either angelic support or a reminder of Christ support).

APPLICATION: Are we aware of Christ supernatural ability to revive us?

The church in Sardis had some who were not compromised by sin; their garments were unstained.

APPLICATION: Are we aware of some who have been compromised by sin?

The church in Sardis was told to “wake up” and “to stay alert.”

APPLICATION: Are we staying alert and awake? Or have we fell a sleep?

Prayer: Father, I pray that you will search our hearts and shine light on any hidden sin. May our garments not be found polluted with sin. And if we are in need of being revived, I pray that you do so.