Springs Of Life Bible Church - Sardis

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		Sardis - Part 2

LETTER TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS Part 2
Revelation 3:1-6

REVIEW
The church at Sardis had a reputation for being alive with the light, but Christ pronounced it dead.

The spiritual darkness of false teaching and sinful living, had extinguished the light on the inside, though some of its reputation remained.

CHRIST’S GREETING TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS 3:1a
In John’s day Sardis was prosperous but decaying. Both the city and the church it contained were dying from within.

CHRIST’S SELF-DESIGNATION 3:1b
This self-designation of Christ shows Him to be the sovereign Lord of the church ruling by His Spirit through godly leaders and pastors.

CHRIST’S CONCERN 3:1c-2
The works of the church at Sardis seemed solid and worthy enough to onlookers, but in the sight of God, were thoroughly defective.

The spiritually dead members populating the Sardis church were living a lie.

FOR OUR STUDY THIS MORNING we will look at three things concerning the church at Sardis.
1. Christ’s Warning & Threat
2. Christ’s Commendation
3. Christ’s Promise and Exhortation

I. CHRIST’S WARNING AND THREAT 3:3

The word “remember” (mnēmonueō) is a powerful word, used by God all throughout the Old Testament when calling a wayward and disobedient Israel to repentance, and to remember from where they had fallen. Here it is used toward the local, visible, church that bears Christ’s name.

Those in the Sardis church who had truly professed faith in Christ needed to go back to the truths of God’s Word, remembering the gospel and teaching of the apostles and what it meant to be a Christian.

But remembering wasn’t enough; they had to put what they received and heard into practice. Matthew 7:21; James 1:22

The picture of Jesus coming like a thief always carries the idea of imminent judgment.

II. CHRIST’S COMMENDATION 3:4

In this spiritually dead church there was a remnant of true believers who refused to be influenced by the world and remained faithful to the Lord and His word.

The Greek translated “soiled” (molunō) can also mean “to stain”, “to defile”, or “to pollute.” It was a word that would have been familiar to readers in Sardis because of the city’s garment and wool-dyeing industry. Isaiah 64:6; Jude 22-23

The faithful remnant could come into God’s presence because they had not defiled nor polluted themselves, but had shown godly character.

Those who by God’s grace and enablement are growing in holiness and purity now will be given perfect holiness and purity in the future.

Their worthiness is found in Christ alone and His work in them by the Holy Spirit.

III. CHRIST’S PROMISE AND EXHORTATION 3:5-6

Lastly, Christ described the rewards awaiting those who overcame the spiritual influences of a dead church. These true believers would be “clothed in white garments.” Revelation 19:7-9

White robes were also worn by those celebrating victory in battle. All true believers are victorious through Christ over sin, death, and Satan.

White robes here primarily represent purity and holiness. Christ promises to clothe Christians in the brilliance of eternal purity and holiness.

Christ, the King of heaven, promises never to erase a true Christian’s name from the list of those whose names were written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain Revelation 13:8.

The spiritually dead professing Christians playing church needed to follow Christ’s warning of impending judgment.

Those who were true believers needed to wake up from their complacency before it was too late to rescue their church.

Those who proved by their God-enabled obedience that they were true believers could take comfort that their salvation was eternally secure.