The Church at Sardis
Minister: |
Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: |
9/20/2009 PM
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Text:
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Revelation 3:1-6
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Psalters: |
407, 264, 88, 268 |
- The condition.
- The church had ?a name that thou livest, and art dead? (1b).
- This cannot mean that there was no spiritual life there at all, for they do have the candlestick.
- As a whole the church was characterized by a spiritual stupor, without a healthy spiritual life and activity.
- Two, Jesus declares that He had ?not found thy works perfect before God? (2b).
- This was their ?works? of confessing Christ, preaching His Word, sacraments, discipline, walking faithfully.
- Not ?perfect,? i.e., complete - they were half-hearted in following Christ.
- The instructions the Lord of the church gives to this congregation.
- First, ?be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die? (2a).
- It begins with watching (cf. Canons V - 4).
- This refers to a reformation, i.e., being re-formed by the truth of God.
- Second, ?remember how thou has received and heard, and hold fast, and repent? (3a).
- Like Ephesus we are to remember how we first received the gospel of Jesus - with great joy of faith.
- Repent and seek forgiveness. And fill the good activity with genuine reality.
- Judgment and promise.
- First, ?If thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief? (3b).
- The figure is of a coming which is very surprising and sudden, in the sense of unexpected.
- To come as a thief means that the Lord will take away what they have, namely, the preaching, the candlestick.
- Second, a promise for those who have not defiled their garments: ?they shall walk with Me in white? (4b).
- There where some who had not defiled their external confession.
- The ?white? promised is God?s judgment of their innocency and righteousness, purity and glory.
- Then there are wonderful promises given to those who overcome.
- ?The same shall be clothed in white raiment? (5a).
- And ?I will not blot out his name out of the book of life? (5b).
- More ?I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels? (5c).
- Therefore, ?he that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches? (6).