And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write;
These things saith He that hath the seven Spirits
of God and the seven stars: I know thy works,
that thou hast a name that thou livest,
and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen
the things which remain, that are ready to die:
for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
Revelation 3:1-2
The city of Sardis lies close to the Aegean Sea, near Thyatira, and Ephesus, Philadelphia and others in what is now Turkey. This letter to that Church speaks of them having a form of Christianity but not the reality of Christianity and what they had was about to die. These people were living as thou they had true Christianity but their works belie their belief. While they believed that their works were of God, they were not and what they did have, what they did know of the truth, needed to be strengthened. The Church at Sardis needed to examine what they believed to ensure that they were not being misled. Jesus spoke to them that He was coming and those who did hold to the truth needed to wake up and teach repentance: "Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shat not know what hour I will come upon thee" (Revelation 3:3).
Repentance is what is needed for anyone who desires to be an Authentic Christian, and have Authentic belief in God. Without repentance there can not be salvation. PERIOD! There are those, too many of them, that hold fast to a creed, or liturgy, or sacraments, or ordinances as thou by holding fast to them they are doing the work of God. Jesus Christ finds fault with false doctrines and ungodly inconsistent practices and rebukes those who are holding onto them as though this is what is required to be saved. The praise that a person receives from Jesus Christ is often when Jesus praises faith in Him. Jesus rewards patience, and even works when they are done truly with Him, not for Him, your labor of love, perseverance on these He bestows high commendation.
This must be noticed: Jesus in any epistle that He dwells upon Church government,or ceremonies, nor does He give doctrine, liturgies, forms, or baptism, or even the Lord's Supper, or apostolical succession. I wrote about this in an earlier blog but feel that this must be understood fully for there are many believers that think and preach that those things are of paramount importance. Was this happening in Sardis, was this their works leading to death? Those things have some importance but are not the highest important and they can have great blessing if taught as they should be and practiced as they should be.
Sardis had problems and yet there were some who were holding fast to the faith and that which was taught from the beginning: "Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy" (Revelation 3:4). Would that not be great if that would be said of you? Yes! This requires that you be an overcomer and if an overcomer this promise is yours: "He hath overcometh, he same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before His angels. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches" (Revelation 3:5-6).
An overcomer in Jesus Christ is assured that their name will never be blotted out of the Book of Life. An overcomer will be wearing a garment of white denoting that they are no longer under sin. Jesus makes intercession eternally for you. Are you hearing this? Not just with your ears, but with your mind, and are you confessing Him as He confesses to the Father for you?
Incline your ear, and come unto me:
hear, and your soul shall live;
and I will make an everlasting covenant
with you, even the sure mercies of David.
Isaiah 33:3
Overcomers receive praise and blessing
Richard L. Crumb
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