Revelation 3:1-6

Commission: to the angel of the church in Sardis.  Meaning a remnant, those who escaped, and once the capital of Lydia, Sardis was on a plateau with vertical drop offs on three sides.  But twice (549 by Cyrus, 214 by Antiochus) the city was captured by thieving armies who climbed the steep unguarded cliff during the night.  Sardis was less important under Rome but was home to the goddess Cybele and associated with the goddess Artemas (Diana) of Ephesus.  

Character of Christ: Christ has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars (1:4,16).  He has judged perfectly and speaks perfectly through His messengers.

Commendation: His word to Sardis contains no word of commendation.

Condemnation: His word of condemnation is short but powerful.  He knows their works.  You have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.  This church has a great reputation for activity.  But Jesus knows the truth: this church is dead!  Like the church of the Middle Ages, this church appeared all-powerful as a superior political entity.  But because the Word of God had been replaced by the words of men, the life of Christ was absent!  His judgment is clear and simple!

Correction: First he commands the church to watch (be on the alert) and strengthen what remains that is on life-support, about to die.  They should remember what they had received at first, in terms of the gospel and the other fundamentals of Christ.  These are to be revived before they die.  Then He cautions them that if they do not do this He will come as a thief, suddenly and without warning.  This is not a reference to the rapture; He is coming to judge the church.  Lastly, He comforts the remnant, the few that remain that have not defiled their garments.  He reminds them that they will walk with Him in white, a reference to the realized righteousness of believers when they see Christ.

Challenge: The overcomer will be clothed in the white robe of righteousness and Christ will not blot out his name from the Book of Life.  There are differing ways of understanding this.  Some say those blotted out lose their salvation; but I believe this to be contrary to the rest of Scripture.  Others say the passage doesn’t actually say anyone’s name is blotted out; but it is clearly implied (cf. Ex. 32:32-33).  Others maintain that the name of every human is on the book and only removed if they reject Christ; but Rev. 13:8 and 17:8 seem to indicate the names are believers from eternity past.  Finally some say it is different than the Lamb’s Book of Life; that it is a list of professing believers, and that true believers remain in the book.  This might fit this church which was hypocritical, having a reputation of being alive while actually being dead.  It also fits passages like Ex. 32:32-33.  However we understand it we must conclude that to be omitted from God’s record that effects eternity would be tragic.  May it not be!

Call: He who has an ear let Him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.  It is possible to be such a mimic that one fools others and even himself.  But Christ will not be fooled.  He knows our works.  May we hear His word to our hearts.