Jesus gives an urgent command in Verses 2-4:
“ Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. 4 You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.”
-Be watchful.
Jesus wants the church to be vigilant about spiritual death among Christians. Apathy, laziness and indifference result in spiritual death. Believers need to stay awake.
Foreign armies had captured the city of Sardis twice in it history because of its failure to watch. These believers now have an opportunity to avoid a parallel spiritual destiny.
-Strengthen.
The works of the church appeared wonderful to those on the outside, but they were not complete in the sight of God. Jesus does not accuse them of heresy, but neither had they offended the Romans or unbelieving Jews. They were not being persecuted, but they had offended God by emphasizing formality over reality.
-Remember.
Part of the remedy was for this church to remember its glorious past, when it had been spiritually alive. When the believers at Sardis were first converted, they had received something important. Not only had they received salvation, but life in the Holy Spirit. They had forgotten to obey the Spirit’s prompting and the command to be filled with the Spirit. Ephesians 5:18
-Hold Fast.
The church at Sardis knew what it took in their past to get to where they once were with God. It was not because of a man or a ministry, but a deep hunger within their hearts to see a move of God and to reach a lost and dying generation with the gospel of Christ. Jesus calls for them once again to stabilize their faith and not just go through the motions of having church.
-Repent.
Jesus had threatened to judge the unloving church at Ephesus by removing its lampstand if they did not repent. He promised to judge the heretical teachers in Pergamum by fighting with his sword against them if they did not repent.
Now he threatens to judge the lifeless church of Sardis by coming against them like a thief at an unexpected time. Spiritual deadness gives people a false sense of security.
Thieves come when we do not expect them. They don’t call ahead and make an appointment. In the same way Jesus will come unexpectedly and believers out of fellowship will be totally unprepared.
Repentance is more than just turning around. It is coming to God with a submissive heart. Repentance is more that emotion. It is a change of attitude. Repentance is more than fire insurance. It is the transformation of one’s life.
Now, is it possible for a dead orthodox church to change?
In the case of Sardis, the answer is yes, because a few people had remained faithful. They had not soiled their clothes by not assuming that the appearance of religion was a substitute for the real thing. Jesus does not ask these faithful to leave the majority, but to maintain their presence as a witness. They will have a difficult time doing it, but He commends them as worthy of special praise. These believers will appear dressed in white one day, revealed as truly righteous. Their righteousness was based on Christ’s death for them, which resulted in righteous living.
No comments:
Post a Comment