(Reflections and notes on Jesus’ words to the church in Sardis in Revelation 3:1-6. Explore the previous parts of this series.)
Jesus cares for His church, passionately. He is passionate about her welfare and He’s passionate that appearances reflect what’s going on inside. Such is His passion that He will not allow anything other than this purity to be the quality of the Bride He’s returning for.
This basis is helpful for us when it comes to exploring what Jesus has to say to the church in Sardis. As we voyage through this letter we will consider the Owner expressing his observations; the Offence that the church has to take on board and the Order given in the light of the offence. This journey also considers, the Outcome for failing to obey the order as well as a hope-filled Observation for the Others concluding with the Offer for the Overcomers.
From the one who holds the Spirit and the Stars. Reputation for being alive, but you’re dead. Death related to being spiritually dull and dormant. Urgency to wake up, strengthen what’s left, even what you got doesn’t reach up to what God wants. Return to basics, treasure that, return to Christ. Otherwise Jesus will come like a thief – sudden, unexpected and undesired. It’s not all bad, some keep a clean sheet and those who keep a clean sheet will get to wear clean sheets reflecting the purity. They get to walk with Jesus. That’s the portion of all who are victorious. That as well as being declared as being one of their own by Jesus, never being blotted out of the book of life. Implication that the church has got itself mucky because of its alignment to the life of sleep.
Let’s get a picture of Sardis at the time. To get to this city from Thyatira, we travel thirty-five miles south-east. A feature of this city is that it’s located in a prime position in a mountainous region. There is only one way to access the city and as a result residents would often feel their city was impregnable. This despite two episodes in history where the city was invaded as the enemy saw those who were supposed to guard the city actually outline the best route to get access. This allowed them to take the people by surprise who had thought they were in a safe position. The city was important in the Roman Empire and known for its arts and crafts. Their proximity to the mountains also gave them access to resources such as gold mines and it was said to be the first city to make currency. It was a place that prided itself on being self-sufficient and self-reliant. there is not much said about the church in Sardis in other places in scripture. One notable aspect of the letter to them, owever, is that they are not facing persecution from Jewish neighbours or other external forces. Likewise there is no mention of overt doctrinal failings from Nicolaitans or significant prophets/teachers as would be the case with other churches.
The Owner (vs 1) The reference to Jesus as having seven Spirits and the seven Stars is a picture of ownership of the whole of that which is His. He holds them, He has them, He owns them. As the seven stars refer to the seven angels and as these seven angels are given responsibilities over the seven churches, so there is a clear sense in which Jesus holds all. The Spirit required to make the church alive is held by Him. The way of taking in the complete picture is in Him because He has the whole thing. This leaves no room for anyone else to feel self-sufficient in the situation. This means there’s no one who can have that degree of ownership and completion as He does in the situation. That’s not just specifically to Sardis, that’s to all those who are His. All the churches, all that is required to rule them. What kind of repercussion does that have to our own approach to church and ownership?
The Offence (vs 1-2) Jesus breezes past acknowledging that the church has works, to address the main issue at hand. That issue namely being about the people with a reputation for being alive are so asleep on the job that whatever they have is in desperate need of retaining because things are not complete to them. It’s an incredible state of delusion – maybe self-delusion, certainly a delusion that gave onlookers the impression that this church was active and thriving and going about doing what it should be doing. As far as Jesus was concerned, however, and something that He was keen for the church to recognise and realise was how dire their situation was. There is a connection between being dead and the state of being asleep which links into the order to come. what’s sobering to consider, however, is just how reputation and reality can be two different things. Not only that, but how even groups of believers can be lulled into such a position of sleeping on the job.
That sense can be reinforced by a reputation of being active, but clearly not causing any issue with anyone – there wasn’t any sense of persecution from those who opposed what the church were about. There was no sense in which the church made such a difference that it irked the status quo. That was about the world and that was just as much about spiritual realms. Life around them could carry on without any sense that the church would be a threat. The deluded, the sleeping – the dead are no threat. As Jesus talks to this church we can also see that a church without the power of the Spirit at work in the church is a church that is as good as dead.
Notice as well what else Jesus brings to the floor of the believers in Sardis. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God. (Revelation 3:2b NLT) What an indictment. You’re not up to scratch. You’re not complete in what God requires. Not only that but there’s clearly no sense of urgency to address that issue, especially as you’re as good as dead. While you sleep, things are taking place that erode the vibrancy and power of the church. While you sleep things are not getting better, things are getting a whole lot worse. While you sleep and you think that things are OK the situation is getting to a critical stage for Jesus.
The Order (vs 2-3) Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. (Revelation 3:2a NLT) Jesus has stark words to address to the church. He is not content with what’s presented to Him. This calls for a sharp rebuke and call to action. Snap out of it! Sense the seriousness and urgency of the situation before everything is lost.
Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. (Revelation 3:3a NLT) All the activity and all the complacency essentially meant that there was no longer a commitment to building on the essentials of faith. It was no longer about that first message about faith in Christ. It was no longer about that first message about focusing on God to truly embrace the power of the gospel. That had been disgarded in favour of an approach that whittled away whatever they had with that focus. It was not too late. Things could be somewhat salvaged. The basis on which that happened was the call to return and repent. Return and repent to a way of life that was all about Jesus being the centre of it all and relying totally on Him. it’s clear that their actions had spoilt the way in which their witness could be viewed by the same onlookers who would applaud their reputation of being alive. Jesus is not letting this situation carry on. It was a time for crossroads.
The Outcome (vs 3) Jesus is not messing about. Think about the thief. He is not wanted, he is not expected and he is intent on coming in to disrupt things. If the church refused to listen to the warnng now, they could expect Jesus to take matters into His own hands and that would not be something they;d want and not something they would expect and it would certainly disrupt the dire delusional state they were in. Once again Jesus is urging his church to do something themselves about it, or He would and when He does, it would not be pretty.
The Observation of Others. (vs 4) Jesus is careful not to tarnish everyone with the same brush and his remarks about the few names gives clear indicators of what he looks for from those who will walk with Him. He looks for purity and that is about a commitment to do what He calls His people to do. It is about what it is not to be contaminated and polluted by the world to the degree that you’re acceptable by their standards. There is an example in a few – in a remnant. There ware a few who will maintain that desire to put Jesus above all in His rightful place as ruler of all and the one who owns them and leads their way in a manner pleasing to Him. The commendation that Jesus gives to them is as strong as His rebuke to the dead was. His affinity with them is something to consider carefully and leads neatly into …
The Offer for Overcomers. (vs 5) John would write in his letter to the saints that because we are the beloved who have the hope that we will be like Jesus as we will see Him as He is, those who have that hope purify themselves even as He is pure. That kind of inclination is rewarded with Jesus clothing you and guaranteeing your name in the book of life. I’s intereesting that Jesus mentions never erasing the name for the book, as if it is something that He could do to some who would not overcome this serious potential to fall complacent, asleep and essentially be dead to the works that God is looking for. The commitment to purity also has this glorious scene of Jesus not just keeping the name but declaring the name to the Father and the angels. As we associate with Him, He takes pleasure in associating with us – we are His and He is ours..
Jesus doesn’t pull any punches in His passionate pursuit of purity. The level of activity on the ourside is no description for what’s going on inside if we don’t pay attention to the essential words received at the beginning of the walk with Jesus. He calls us first to allow His life to be lived through us through a worshipful relationship with Him. That is the basis that determines the overflow of love shared to others and serving others.
Questions based on the letter to the church in Sardis
- What does this letter tell you about the nature of Jesus?
- How can a church get to a place where their reputation and reality are so different?
- What can be done to help prevent a church from reaching the state that Sardis finds themselves in?
- There are a few in Sardis who are commended, what can we learn from them to apply to our walk with Jesus?
- When Jesus says He will never blot the names of overcomers from the book of life does this suggest that there are some whose names could be blotted out?
- What basic parts of your relationship with God – individually and as a collective – could Jesus call you to remember and hold onto?
- Reflect on Jesus word of assurance to those who are found worthy – how would you encourage others to be found worthy?
Recommended Sources
David Treybig on Sardis as part of the series of seven churches for Life, Hope & Truth
Ray Stedman sermon on The Church of the Zombies
Janene Keeth on Sardis – The Dead Church for Bible. org
Stephen P. Wickstrom on Sardis: The Church of the Living Dead
Paul Kroll on Sardis: The Dead Church for Grace Communion International
Commentaries on Revelation 3 by Hank Workman and Brad Boyles of The Warehouse blog
David Guzik’s scripture breakdown of Revelation 3:1-6 for Enduring Word site.
J. Hampton Keathley III writes on the Message to Sardis for Bible.org
David Pawson teaching on Sardis in his series on the Letters of Jesus
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 