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5. Jesus' Message to the Leader of the Church in Sardis (Revelation 3:1-6)
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: In addressing the church leader in Sardis, Jesus makes mention of the small number of faithful believers in his church, those who had never been much noticed by the residents of Sardis. Nevertheless, their names were written in heaven. Jesus intentionally struck at the church leader's previous life of self-love and self-centeredness, who had acted to see that his name was praised and written everywhere. Jesus told him that (apart from any of his doing) there were still some inconspicuous Christians in his church, who prayed, loved, served and worshipped. They had not, with eloquent words, pushed themselves to the fore of the church, but had worked in quietness. These names the church leader should learn by heart. He should visit them and learn from them, for they were the most important people in his church.
These quiet members walked prayerfully and carefully in the midst of the polluted Hellenic culture of Asia Minor. Having been cleansed from all their sins by the blood of Jesus Christ, they wanted to live according to their Savior’s culture, to work hard at home, in job, in schools and in leisure time, and to live uprightly, purely, frugally, always prepared to help. We do not know whether they were old or young, rich or poor, men or women. They kept away from the sexually oriented worship of gods. They wanted to be the salt in the soup, but not the soup themselves.
Jesus depicted before the minister’s eyes that these unknown or disregarded members of the church were so valuable because it was the Lord Jesus Himself would walk with them in this life and in all eternity. This promise surpasses our understanding. The Creator of everything, the King of Kings, the Judge of all judges does not bow before meek Christians, but binds Himself to them by an eternal covenant. He wants to have communion with them as a friend among his friends. As a father treats his children, so the Lord confirms to His faithful ones that they may draw from the fullness of His grace, wisdom, guidance, strength, comfort and eternal life. The presence of the Son of God in His invisible and despised church, both here and hereafter, is a great and indescribable privilege, unknown and unsuspected in Islam and other religions. Allah is not present in the paradise of the Muslims. Jesus, however, will walk with His servants and maidservants throughout eternity.
Their white garments indicate their purification by the sacrifice of Christ, just as Count Zinzendorf claimed:
That is my adornment and garment of honor,
With that alone I stand before God,
When in heaven I enter in.
Those chosen ones of Sardis were, by nature, no better than all other animists, Hellenists or Jewish Semites. There dwelt in them, as in all men, garbage, hatred and pride. Yet those who had repented had died to their selfishness, and now lived with their Lord and Savior. They waited His coming with longing, and had adorned themselves His righteousness. They were made worthy not by the righteousness of their own works, but by the work of Christ’s grace. They loved Jesus with all their hearts. Therefore, He could dwell in them and transform them into His own likeness.
The coming to light of these unknown saints in Sardis signified a great call to repentance for the minister. The Lord neither said that the church leader belonged to the chosen ones, or that he didn't. The man needed to examine himself and see what was more important to him – to be known by men or to be known by God. What was his dignity based on? Was it based on his good works, name and diligence, or only on Christ’s merciful sacrifice? The Lord asked the preacher indirectly: “What have you come to? Where do you stand inwardly? Are you wearing the white garment of grace? Or are you thoroughly spotted with sin due to your attempts to conform to society and twist the gospel – all as a result of your desire to be somebody?”
He 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 Aangels: It was necessary for the minister of the church, if he was to overcome, not only to deny himself, but also to recognize the devil’s lie that every man is naturally good and can attain salvation by his own merit. Most religions, educational programs and party doctrines are based on this great delusion and self-deception. This lie must be radically overcome by the truth that no man is righteous in himself, and no one can please God unless he is connected by faith to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for sin. He alone reconciled us to God. Apart from His sacrifice there is no righteousness, no purity, and no acceptance with God.
This is why the Lord, in whose hand were the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, said: “You failure and one who is spiritually dead because of the devil's lie and your unlimited pride - put away your fame entirely and put on the righteousness of God by grace”. A white garment can only be received by one who has accepted Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for sin. The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. Jesus has snow-white garments and a holy name prepared for anyone who turns to Him and no longer serves self, but worships his savior. Is your name written in the holy blood of the Son of God in the Book of Life?
Our names, in themselves, are not worthy of being mentioned or recorded in the Book of Life. But for the sake of the atoning sacrifice of the Son of God and through our faith in him, we are worthy to be registered in the Book of Life. As long as you hold fast to the Lamb of God you will live. As soon as you clamor for man's honor you will lose your honor with God. It is true that Jesus can blot out your name from the Book of Life –if you neglect His cross, the only justification you have for life. It is not important to have your name written in newspapers; but it is of eternal consequence to keep your name recorded in the list of citizens of the New Jerusalem.
Jesus said that whoever denies himself and takes up his cross daily is worthy to follow Him in triumph. If the church leader truly died entirely and forever to his own fame, dignity and name, then Jesus, as chief Witness, Advocate and Mediator, can in the last judgment confess his name before His Father and His angels. He clearly said: “Whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32-33).
The man from Sardis had to choose: he could either continue to glorify his own name and strive for human recognition, or he could deny his own name, choosing to glorify and exalt Jesus alone before man. He had no other choice. Jesus said, “How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?” (John 5:44).
At the beginning of the letter to the church in Sardis, Jesus addressed His Father as “My God”, when he placed the haughty church leader, looking like a bloated corpse, before the eternal Judge. He had previously lived in doubt about the holiness and greatness of God. Yet now, following his spiritual resurrection and repentance, after the Lord had both threatened him as well as offered him a grand promise, Jesus drew His chosen servant to Himself: He revealed to him the greatest of all names, by calling the holy God “My Father”. The preacher in Sardis had to recognize again that life and grace, light and power, spirit and pleasing come neither from the Lawmaker nor from the Judge, but only from the God of love - who proclaimed himself as the Father of Jesus Christ. The church leader needed to find a new theme for his preaching: it is not self-achievement or self-honor, but grace and peace from God, our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
He who has an Ear, let him Hear What the Spirit Says to the Churches: Even a dead body has ears, but these ears can no longer hear. Many spiritual dead bodies may be walking among us, especially among the religious establishment of pastors and priests. They are no longer able to hear, and only become enthralled with their own imaginations. Jesus intended to give the church leader in Sardis, through His message of awakening, a new ear, so that he could once again hunger to hear the word of the Lord and attend to His voice. How is it with our inner silence before God? Do we still hunger for the word of God? Or would we rather listen to ourselves?
There are churches that have been “preached dead” by captivating sermons. The ears of the church members are filled with what they heard, and they think that they understand everything. They are interested only in theological hairsplitting or clever formulations. Thus, they have long separated themselves from the power source of the clear and simple word of God. They hear with their intellect, not with their hearts. Would that we ask the Lord for opened minds and hearts that are prepared to do what the Spirit tells them to do. That means repentance –realized through the life-changing imperatives of Jesus Christ.
PRAYER: We magnify You, Lord Jesus, because You kept Your church in Sardis even though its minister was spiritually dead. In the midst of this church lived simple believers, chosen by You, and promised with your fellowship in heaven. At the same time, You promised the minister, who was called to repentance, to keep his name in the Book of Life if he repented sincerely. Preserve the simple believers in our churches, even if they did not speak too much. They continue to be silent because of the situation of the church that is void of spiritual life.''
QUESTION:
- What characterizes the simple believers in dead churches? And what is promised to their ministers if they would repent a true repentance?