Church Message to Sardis
“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 (1), that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead
(2). Be watchful (3), and strengthen (4) the things which remain, that
are ready to die, for I have not found your works (5) perfect before
God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard (6); hold fast
and repent (7). Therefore, if you do not watch, I will come upon you as
a thief, and you will not know what hour (8) I will come upon you. 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 (9). He who
overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out
his name from the Book of Life (10); but I will confess his name (11)
before My Father and before His angels. He who has an ear, let him hear
what the Spirit says to the churches (12).”’” Revelation 3:1-6
1) Believers’ work should demonstrate that they are saved.
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be
hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a
lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your
light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and
glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16
2) Believers’ conduct should demonstrate that they are saved.
And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which
you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the
prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of
disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the
lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the
mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
Ephesians 2:1-3
3) Believers will be watching for the return of Jesus Christ.
“But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with
carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on
you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on
the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you
may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to
pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:34-36
4) Believers will be strengthened by the grace of God by Jesus Christ.
But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by
Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish,
strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion
forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 5:10-11
5) Believers’ work should demonstrate that they are saved.
Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” John 6:29
6) The Gospel should be the believers’ core message.
Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to
you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you
are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless
you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I
also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the
Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third
day according to the Scriptures. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
7) Repentance leads to salvation.
For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be
regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. 2 Corinthians
7:10
8) Believers will be ready for the return of Jesus Christ.
“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler
over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that
servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly,
I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. But if
that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his
coming,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink
with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when
he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of and
will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites.
There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 24:45-51
9) Believers will glorify the name of Jesus Christ.
Therefore, we also pray always for you that our God would count you
worthy of this calling and fulfill all the good pleasure of His
goodness and the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the
grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
10) Believers will be found in the Book of Life.
I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the
Lord. 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. Rejoice in the Lord
always. Again, I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all
men. The Lord is at hand. Philippians 4:2-5
11) Believers will confess Jesus Christ to people.
“Therefore, 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
12) There is no one true organized church.