Angel of the church in Sardis (Rev 3:1-5)
Rev 3:1-5
1“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.
2Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.
3Remember 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.
4You 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.
5He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
*that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead (ver.1)
Every believer of the true church had been baptized in the name of Lord Jesus Christ, so to live is by the Savior Lord Jesus. (Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.)
Rom 6:6-11 6knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
John 11:23-26 23Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
Phil 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Col 3:3-4 3For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
Those that have a name are alive because they have been baptized in His name and believers can live eternally. But “are dead”, why is it so? (Jam 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Jam 2:17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Jam 1:22-25 22But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
After a believer has been baptized, they must keep the commandments of God, His true words and rules of the church and only then they would not lose their lives. (Matt 7:21“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.)
1 Tim 5:6 But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives.
Heb 3:7-8, 12 7Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you will hear His voice, 8Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, In the day of trial in the wilderness, 12Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God;
2 Tim 4:3-4 3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
*Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die (ver.2 up)
God wants the angel of the church in Sardis to be watchful and strengthen the things which remain. During the prayer at Gethsemane before Lord Jesus was crucified, said to Peter: “watch with Me” (Matt 26:40-41 40Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? 41Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”)
1 Pet 4:7-8 7But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. 8And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”
Phil 4:8-9 8Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
Jam 5:8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
1 Pet 1:12-13 12To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into. 13Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
Heb 12:12-13 12Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, 13and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.
Prov 4:26-27 26Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established. 27Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil.
*for I have not found your works perfect before God (ver.2 low)
None of the works of the church in Sardis is perfect before God. It is because they didn't fully take off their old act. Just like how the Israelites murmured in the wilderness and angered God’s punishment during their exodus from Egypt.
Eph 5:3-7 3But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7Therefore do not be partakers with them.
Gal 5:19-21 19Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
1 Tim 3:1-6 1This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. 2A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; 3not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; 4one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence 5(for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); 6not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.
How can one be perfect before God if one does not take off the evil acts as above.
1 Tim 6:9-10 9But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
*Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent (ver.3 up)
2 Tim 1:13-14 13Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 14That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.
In the parable of the lost son, he came to himself and said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! Thus he arise and go to his father. (Luke 15:12-24)
Rom 13:11-14 11And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
Heb 12:15-17 15looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; 16lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. 17For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.
*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 (ver.3 low)
How can one be blessed if one does not repent, does not remember how one has received, how to fear God and to keep his commandments? No one knows when Lord God will come again. But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. (Matt 24:26)
Matt 24:42-44 42Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. 43But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
In the parable of the ten virgins, blessed are those who are prepared and waited for the bridegroom (Matt 25:1-13)
Rev 19:7-9 7Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” 8And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 9Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”
*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 (ver.4)
By faith Enoch walked with God for he pleased God and he was not, for God took him. (Heb 11:5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. Gen 5:24 And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.)
Matt 28:20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Luke 13:23-24 23Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?” And He said to them, 24“Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
Matt 22:14“For many are called, but few are chosen.”
*He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life (ver.5 up)
John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
1 John 5:4-5 4For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
Heb 2:14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,
Gal 6:14 But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
Matt 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
1 Pet 2:12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Blessed are those who were granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright for they are seen with good deeds and glorified to your father in heaven. Thus God will not blot out his name from the Book of Life.
*but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels (ver.5 low)
Luke 10:18-20 18And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
Isa 4:3 And it shall come to pass that he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy—everyone who is recorded among the living in Jerusalem.
Phil 4:3 And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.
Luke 12:8“Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God.
Rev 13:8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Rev 20:15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
Thus the words spoken by the spirit to all churches, those who have ears should listen! For the time is coming and now it is, not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. (Rom 12:11)
1 Cor 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
From Bible Study Seminar 1982 (Chinese ver)