How Not to Die

The Letters to the Churches - Sardis How Not to Die - Revelation 3:1-6 July 13, 2025 A Christian Post article from June posted a starling piece with this headline: Only a quarter of Catholic, Mainline pastors 'definitely' believe Adam and Eve existed. "Mainline" would refer to historic protestant churches, like the United Methodist, Presbyterian USA, Episcopal, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Kumar, the writer, revealed that only one in four of these pastors believed that Adam and Eve "definitely" existed. But wait, there's more: when asked about belief in Hell, 93% of Evangelical pastors expressed certainty, compared to 70% of Catholic priests and 45% of Mainline Protestant leaders. For belief in miraculous healing, 84% of Evangelical pastors and 78% of priests said they definitely believed in it, while the number fell to 47% for Mainline clergy. If you thought that was bad, how about this one: On the question of God's existence, Evangelical and black Protestant leaders again showed the highest levels of certainty - 98% and 89%, respectively. Catholics followed at 85%. Mainline Protestants reported the lowest confidence, with 70% saying they had no doubts, and 26% acknowledging belief in God while admitting to doubts. How these are not 100% is beyond me. The fact that they even call themselves Christian leaders, is also mind blowing. Believe it or not, there are worse facts from this article, but I think you get the idea. Now, I can't be 100% certain about this, but I'm pretty sure that the letter we're going to read today is for these churches and these church leaders. Let's see what Jesus' letter to Sardis says here in chapter 3, verses 1-6. 1 "AND TO THE ANGEL OF THE CHURCH IN SARDIS WRITE: 'THE WORDS OF HIM WHO HAS THE SEVEN SPIRITS OF GOD AND THE SEVEN STARS. " 'I KNOW YOUR WORKS. YOU HAVE THE REPUTATION OF BEING ALIVE, BUT YOU ARE DEAD. 2 WAKE UP, AND STRENGTHEN WHAT REMAINS AND IS ABOUT TO DIE, FOR I HAVE NOT FOUND YOUR WORKS COMPLETE IN THE SIGHT OF MY GOD. 3 REMEMBER, THEN, WHAT YOU RECEIVED AND HEARD. KEEP IT, AND REPENT. IF YOU WILL NOT WAKE UP, I WILL COME LIKE A THIEF, AND YOU WILL NOT KNOW AT WHAT HOUR I WILL COME AGAINST YOU. 4 YET YOU HAVE STILL A FEW NAMES IN SARDIS, PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT SOILED THEIR GARMENTS, AND THEY WILL WALK WITH ME IN WHITE, FOR THEY ARE WORTHY. 5 THE ONE WHO CONQUERS WILL BE CLOTHED THUS IN WHITE GARMENTS, AND I WILL NEVER BLOT HIS NAME OUT OF THE BOOK OF LIFE. I WILL CONFESS HIS NAME BEFORE MY FATHER AND BEFORE HIS ANGELS. 6 HE WHO HAS AN EAR, LET HIM HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT SAYS TO THE CHURCHES.' Let's dive right in. What was going on in Sardis? Sardis, like the other churches, was a merchant city, known for her great wealth, mostly through its manufacturing of wool garments. It was also known for its military prowess, most notably its mountain fortress which made it very hard to penetrate, that is unless the guards didn't do their job. This may not surprise you, but twice in her history, Sardis was in fact overthrown for that very reason. And, if you have been here for any of our sermons in this series, it will also not surprise you that Sardis was also known for her pagan worship, particularly a massive temple dedicated to Artemis. In short, the people of Sardis were very comfortable and as one commentator described them, notoriously loose-living, notoriously pleasure-and luxury loving. Jesus, in verse 1, describes Himself as the one WHO HAS THE SEVEN SPIRITS OF GOD AND THE SEVEN STARS, He is emphasizing His authority and control of the church and the messengers. Recall His words from Revelation 1:20, where he says: AS FOR THE MYSTERY OF THE SEVEN STARS THAT YOU SAW IN MY RIGHT HAND, AND THE SEVEN GOLDEN LAMPSTANDS, THE SEVEN STARS ARE THE ANGELS OF THE SEVEN CHURCHES, AND THE SEVEN LAMPSTANDS ARE THE SEVEN CHURCHES. Pastor and teacher, Ray Steadman made this great connection to the character of Christ in these letters, noting that, "the way the Lord presents Himself is to what that particular church needs. What this church desperately needed was the Spirit from Whom all believers receive LIFE." This is to say, the condemnation from Jesus in verses 1-2, that this church was a dead church, was in desperate need of life. I think this is a perfect segway to introduce the main idea for this passage: Jesus makes the dead, alive. So, what does it mean to be a dead church? The language here indicates that there was no struggle, no fight, no persecution within this church. Why? Jesus said at the end of verse 2 that their WORKS WERE NOT COMPLETE IN THE SIGHT OF GOD. That word "complete" means perfect, or fulfilled, so Jesus is alluding - once again - to the heart of their service. He is saying that they performed good works from their flesh, not to glorify the Lord. Others have described a "dead church" as being "busy" with programs and events, but once again, not for God's glory. You see this when Jesus says that they had good reputation, a good name. Someone said that reputation is how others see you, but your character is how you really are. I'm sure we all know someone like this. Someone in the workplace that is a completely different person outside of work. We have them in the church, too. A dead church is filled with Christians who are Christians in name only. Jesus, when He was in His teaching ministry, may have called them fruitless. A dead church can only be made alive in Christ Jesus. So, as we continue in this letter, I want to answer the question: HOW TO BE AN ALIVE CHURCH In verse 3, Jesus gives us four ways not to be a dying church, beginning with: * Wake up! o I think the King James uses a better translation when it reads "keep watch." o Remember when I told you that Sardis' history included two takeovers? Both of which were because the guards got lazy in their defensive of the city. o Jesus was playing off of their cemented history, comparing that to where the state of the church was. o Keeping watch, holding fast are terms used to described protection. o We are to protect our faith. We are to protect our relationship with the Father through the Son. o Why? Because it is deadly. o Years and years ago, our next door neighbor inadvertently left his garage door open, and someone went in overnight and took a few things. If he had closed the garage door, that likely wouldn't have happened. o We have to guard our hearts, as Proverbs 4 reminds us. o Next, in verse three, Jesus says to the dead church ... * Strengthen what you have left. o If you have ever tried to exercise regularly or diet well in order to get into, or remain healthy, you understand this perfectly. o If you have ever tried to create spiritual habits, only to fail over time, you understand this perfectly. o Both of these are very good, and highly recommended, but we all know how hard it is to stay on track, but more so to get back on track if you get off the track for a little. o Jesus is reminding Sardis that there's still time for them to get back to where they were. o This is really accomplished in His next command, where He says to ... * Remember what you have learned. o Jesus said that they learned in two ways. o Receiving, and hearing. o Acts 19:9-10 describes the possible moment when Sardis would have received the Message, when Luke records: 9 BUT WHEN SOME BECAME STUBBORN AND CONTINUED IN UNBELIEF, SPEAKING EVIL OF THE WAY BEFORE THE CONGREGATION, HE WITHDREW FROM THEM AND TOOK THE DISCIPLES WITH HIM, REASONING DAILY IN THE HALL OF TYRANNUS. 10 THIS CONTINUED FOR TWO YEARS, SO THAT ALL THE RESIDENTS OF ASIA HEARD THE WORD OF THE LORD, BOTH JEWS AND GREEKS. o A simple way to apply this would be for us to return to the basics. o A dead church is disconnected with God. o The only way for us to be connected with God is through Christ Jesus. o I may have shared this with a couple of you, but back in May, I was in Long Beach for Elizabeth's volleyball tournament. I set a ping (or marker) in my phone to where I had parked the car, so I wouldn't forget where I parked. Evidently, the service wasn't good, so my phone pinged a completely different location. So, needless to say, I got lost. So, I went back to my starting point, and from there, tried to retrace where my car was located. Guess what? It worked, I'm here! I got so far away, I had to start from the beginning. o Jesus is encouraging the same. o Return to the basics. o Remember what you received and learned. o Next, and should be no surprise to you - Jesus says to ... * Repent. o I feel like we've heard this before. o Ironically, hours before I wrote this, a pastor online made the comment that churches will hear the word "love" a thousand times before they hear the word "repent" once. Not when you're preaching through the letters in Revelation 2-3! o Jesus continues to preach the message of repentance. o Just like Elijah did. o Just like Isaiah and Jeremiah did. o Just like Jonah, Micah, and Amos did. o Just like John the Baptist and the Twelve did. o I like the consistency. o He is also consistent in His warning. Similar to Ephesus, Pergamum and Thyatira, Jesus says that He would come and judge. An interesting note about this letter, and the structure that has been typical for the other churches is that there is no real commendation. I suppose when you look at verse 4, and the promises found in verses 5-6, you can say that indirectly, the commendation is that there were still some who were not dead. It may not mean anything, but the mention of "A FEW NAMES" in verse 4 is telling. To me, this means that there were a literal few people. A remnant, to use some biblical language. I love the concept of a remnant. God always preserves a small group that remain faithful to Himself. The role of the remnant could be critical for the church. They are the ones who evangelize and share Jesus with others. They ae the ones who are adding to the Kingdom. Even in Sodom, there were but a few names that were called faithful and were given life. So, if there are some who are still alive, or those who will be made alive, we must finally inquire about the ... PROMISES FOR THE LIVING In verses 4-5, Jesus gives the living four promises. First: * The living will walk with Jesus. o Walking with Jesus implies a Christ-like walk, or lifestyle o Walking with Jesus means that you belong to Him, as His disciple. o Here, you are declared righteous, and therefore can be in His presence. o It speaks to fellowship with Christ. o Next, * The living will be clothed in white garments. o A picture that would be familiar to the people in Sardis due to the commerce they were engaged in. o White, of course, implies purity and the righteousness of Christ. o The white garments, of course, contrast the soiled garments in verse 4 that has been stained by the world. o Keeping "clean" in a dirty world demands obedience and courage as you walk "IN THE SHADOW OF DEATH," as we depend on the Person who keeps you. o Next, Jesus promises that ... * Your name will not be blotted out from the book of life. o This verse can cause some confusion. o Similar to the letter to Smyrna, and the promise that the faithful will not be subject to the second death (Rev. 2:11), Jesus is making the same promise here. o He is playing off this theme of dead and alive. o You see, back in John's day, each city had a register, and when someone died, their name was removed from that register. o Jesus here is giving the faithful few in Sardis assurance that they will be with Him, that their names will not be removed, rather they will be found in the Book of Life. o Time after time in these letters, we find hope in Christ's finished work that gives each of us the opportunity to repent and follow Him, thus being rewarded in eternity. o There is hope, even in chaos. o Finally, Jesus gives us one more promise: * Jesus will confess your name before the Father. o What does that mean? o Let's let Scripture interpret Scripture. o That word "confess" is translated as "acknowledge" in Matthew 10:32-33. Here's what we read there: 32 SO EVERYONE WHO ACKNOWLEDGES ME BEFORE MEN, I ALSO WILL ACKNOWLEDGE BEFORE MY FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN, 33 BUT WHOEVER DENIES ME BEFORE MEN, I ALSO WILL DENY BEFORE MY FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN. o In other words, for the alive, the faithful, He will stand before God, and say "let him in, he belongs to me." o Jesus is the only One who can do this. o In fact, He is the only One who can cloth us in white. o He is the only One who can give us eternal life. As stated earlier in our main idea: Jesus makes the dead, alive. You see, the dead church looks inward, while the alive church looks upward and outward. Which direction do you have your eyes set? Let's pray. 2