A Dead Church

Revelation 3:1–6 NKJV

1 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. 3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. 4 You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. 5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but 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.” ’

Introduction:

Background:

The Revelation of Jesus Christ The Letter to Sardis: The Church That Was Dead (3:1-6)

The people of Sardis were idolaters—they worshipped the mother goddess, Cybele. The fragments of the temple that was erected to her honour still remain, and there are two stately columns, with Ionic capitals, which are fully 60 feet high and about 6 1/3 feet in diameter, whose bases are deeply imbedded in the rubbish that has fallen down from the citadel. Her worship was of the most debasing character, and orgies like those of Dionysos were practiced at the festivals held in her honour. Sins of the foulest and darkest impurity were committed on those occasions; and when we think of a small community of Christians rescued from such abominable idolatry, living in the midst of scenes of the grossest depravity, with early associations, and companionships, and connections, all exerting a force in the direction of heathenism, it may be wondered that the few members of the church in Sardis were not drawn away altogether, and swallowed up in the great vortex.1

G. Campbell Morgan observes that there is a change in approach beginning with this letter:

There is a marked change in our Lord’s method of address to the church at Sardis. Hitherto He has commenced with words of commendation. Here, He commenced with words of condemnation. In the other churches, evil had not been the habit, but rather the exception, and therefore it was possible first to commend. Here the case is reversed, and no word of commendation is addressed to the church as a church.2

Exposition:

Christ refers Himself here to the one who has “the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars”.

“I know your works”

Nothing about their works is worth commending them for, because there was nothing good!

“you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead”!

What do we say about such churches?

Is this possibly an indictment upon the church in America, that is comfortable and does not stand against the hedonistic practices of society, but excuses and even partakes of them?

“Be watchful (Stay awake) and strengthen the things that remain, that are ready to die.”

They’re really hanging on by a shoe string, from the Lord’s perspective.

Although they thought that everything was great!

“For I have not found your works perfect (complete).”

None of the things they were doing were acceptable to the Lord. Not one work was a complete work of faith!

What are the motives behind our own works?

Are they perfect before God?

“Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.”

Think about this! The Lord gives them one chance to wake up and smell the coffee!

- if they don’t, what they have that is dying is going to die,and there will be nothing left spiritually!

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Three: Christ and the Churches, Part 2 (Revelation 3)

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!

"When a church ceases to be the church, it is no better than a country club!”

And yet,

“there are a few even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments...”

These true believers will walk with Christ in White (righteousness).

There is imagery here of garments that are symbolic of the faithfulness of these believers. And all those that overcome, will be clothed with white robes,symbolic of Christ’s righteousness put on them.

Romans 13:14 NKJV

14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

“And I will not blot out his name out from the book of life.”

Many think this to mean the loss of salvation!

I am not convinced of this!

First, salvation is of grace through faith, and both belong to God and are a gift of God (Eph. 2:8-9).

Second, There are more than one book in God’s library!

Exodus 32:32 NKJV

32 Yet now, if You will forgive their sin—but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written.”

Psalm 69:28 NKJV

28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, And not be written with the righteous.

Revelation 13:8 NKJV

8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Revelation 20:12 NKJV

12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.

Three: God never says that He would blot anyone’s name out of the Book of Life, only that He wouldn’t!

Challenge:

The church at Sardis was a dead (lifeless) church.

They, like many such churches today are at peace with the world.

But, we could say, “aren’t we supposed to live peaceably with all people?” (Romans 12:18).

Well, we do not go looking for trouble! we live honestly and humbly, giving no-one any reason to accuse us!

But, if we are true to the gospel and our call as followers of Christ, the gospel itself will be a stumbling block to many, and we shall inherit tribulation.

John 15:18–19 NKJV

18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

We must be vigilant that we do not fail to do the work we’ve been sent to do!

I. We must strive to Walk in the Light.

1 John 1:7 NKJV

7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

II. We must relinquish our grip on the world.

That is, we must be vigilant to not conform to the world!

1 John 2:15 NKJV

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Yes, we must end this love affair. The world has no hold on us.

Jesus unlocked the shackles, opened the prison doors, and set us free!

Why are we staying in the prison cell?

III. We must fill ourselves with the gospel of Christ.

It is the good news (gospel), that brings our hearts into perfect peace and love.

2 Corinthians 5:14–15 NKJV

14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

IV. We must not relax for a moment.

1 Peter 5:8 NKJV

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

And how he devours churches, is to tell us what we want to hear.

To get us to believe that our church must be a place where everyone feels comfortable.

Where the word of God is less important than people’s feelings.

A place that teaches God loves everyone just the way they are, and expects nothing from them except love in return.