Church of Sardis Needed to Stand Firm

Churches of Revelation:
#5 Church of Sardis:

“I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 

Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die;
 for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. 

So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent.

Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you.

But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments;

and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.

He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments;

and I will not erase his name from the book of life,
and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
Revelation 3:1-6

Many believe that was the church of the protestant reformation until the 1800's..  Jesus says that He knows the deeds of this church and this is not a word of commendation, but rather condemnation.  The deeds of this church are evil or fleshly.  Deeds that speak of greatness for men – bigger churches, more buildings, more campuses, and deeper coffers.  They have the name of Christian church, protestant, but they are not alive, but dead because they are not promoting the truth and authority of God’s word.  Many protestant denominations of our time hold to traditions but have left the essential truths and application of true believers.   Jesus is calling the church to “Wake up!”  The church in Sardis was situated on a mountain.  It was impregnable on three sides.  This left them to guard just the south entrance.  Twice in their history, however, they were overtaken by the enemy because that south guard was asleep.  We are to be sober, stand guard, and protect the Biblical truths that Protestantism was founded upon, for we do not know when the church will be raptured and Jesus will come again.

 That which the church received and heard was the saving power of the blood of Jesus through repentance and rebirth.  But many churches of our day are preaching good works and baby baptism rather than the blood of our Lord and Savior. 

 Jesus does say, however, that there are those who have “not soiled their garments.”  In other words those who are walking in purity through the saving blood of Jesus.  They are claiming His power and His life and walking therein to the obedience of Christ.  These are the true believers – the true church that Jesus will rapture and give white garments to that they may walk with Jesus through all of eternity.

This next statement is confusing, but J Vernon McGee, a writer of Christian commentaries and the Bible teacher of “Walk Through the Bible”, says that in this book is written every name of every person ever born.  When they die and have not received Christ, then their name is erased from this book.  Only the names of the true believers will remain and these Jesus will present before God and the angels as His brethren.

Each of you have made that critical decision to become a Christian.  You were each born again and are in the book of life.  But now what?  Will you walk as in garments of white through confession and repentance and righteousness?  Will you choose to be the voice of grace to others?  Will you grow and learn the truths of God’s word and be a witness to God’s great love and mercy?  Will you raise your children to love the Lord Jesus and to be born again?

Money, education, prestige, happiness in your circumstances, are all good if used for the kingdom of God.  God is preparing you for arenas of influence that astound and amaze me.  Be faithful with the teachings that have been yours since birth.  Be faithful to the calling of God on your life.  And seek Jesus in all things – hard and joyful.  May you grow in the knowledge and grace of Jesus our Lord.