The Seven Churches Of Revelation Part 5: Sardis

Revelation 3:1-6
" “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 (nekros). 2 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. 5 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 angels.

6 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” 

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Often referred to as "The Dead Church," obviously it was still viable but that had deviated from its original intent.  Jesus would not have spoken to this pastor if it was wholly given over to paganism. 

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History.
Known biblically as the home of the church that received the fifth of letters to the seven churches in Revelation, Sardis was the capital of the Lydian empire and one of the greatest cities of the ancient world.

Located on the banks of the Pactolus River, Sardis was 60 miles inland from Ephesus and Smyrna. The city was home to the famous bishop Melito in the 2nd century.

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Artemis was the main goddess of the city and the temple dedicated to her in Sardis was one of the seven largest Greek temples (more than double the size of the Parthenon).  Artemis, known as Diana by the Romans, was the daughter of Zeus and twin of Apollo. She was the goddess of the hunt, the moon and fertility.

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Dead (Nekros) Works.

As you can see, there was a lot of pagan worship surrounding the Church in Sardis.  Some of her people had strayed from God, indulging in dead works as opposed to good works, as Paul talks about in the book of Hebrews:

Hebrews 5:12-14

"12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is,those who by reason of [d]use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."

Hebrews 6:1-3

 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead (nekros) works and of faith toward God, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits."

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The word in the opening scripture for "Dead" is the same word as used to refer to dead, as in a corpse, but also "Dead works."  James deals with this same topic, giving even more light to this topic:

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James 2:14-17

14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

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Faith And Works.

“Faith Without Works Is Dead.”  Ever heard that before?  I’m sure most of you have heard a message or two expounded on from time to time.  Unfortunately, this passage is often taken out of context to make you believe you need to do good works in order to be pleasing God, to be acceptable to Him, or to prove your love for Him.  The implication, of course, is that the lack of them “proves” that either you don’t love Him enough or, even worse, maybe you’re not even be saved!  Now there’s a frightening thought!

Of course, just to be sure, you run up to the altar during the inevitable altar call to get “Saved,” all over again.  This is not a scriptural concept.  It’s another in a long line of deceptions form you know who:  The devil.

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Context Is King.

Since the Bible is its own best commentary, let’s see what it has to say.  We’re going to have to look at this passage it’s proper context.  As you’ll see, CONTEXT IS KING.  Any time you take the TEXT out of it’s CONTEXT, you are left with a CON.

Who Is It Written TO?
First of all, the entire book of James was written to, and I quote:  “The twelve tribes that are scattered abroad.”  (See ch. 1, vs. 1).  Paul is writing TO THE JEWS OF THE DISPERSION.

Notice that he is admonishing them not to neglect caring for other believers in need.  THAT is the CONTEXT of his remarks.  It doesn’t have anything whatever to do with your relationship to God.  That is a done deal.

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Remember Widows And Orphans.

At the end of chapter one, James is reminding these Jews not to forget widows and orphans.  Chapter 2 also encourages these same Jewish believers not to show favoritism to those who are wealthy over those of lesser means, and that they are not justified by works before God but before men.  Remember, THEY (the world) will know us by our love.  The entire book of James is teaching about relating to others, not about being acceptable to God.

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Apparently, the pastor at the Church at Sardis had forgotten that good works do not justify us before God, but show the world the God is love.  They are a witness to the unsaved to draw them to want to know this wonderful Jesus for themselves.  That's what "They will know us by our love," means.

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Forever Secure.

Church, your good works cannot save you.  They have nothing to do with maintaining your salvation.  The lack of them will not cause you to lose your salvation or be left behind in the rapture, as some have more than hinted.  AS IF!
Do not be afraid:  You are forever safe and secure in Jesus!  You can NEVER lose your salvation!  Call it “Eternal Security” or whatever you want.  I put my faith in the FINISHED work of JESUS!

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False Teaching.

That (false) “teaching” is a cheap scare tactic.  It is an abuse of the privilege of the pulpit.  The person teaching it is using his own self effort to try and manipulate people into living holy lives.  It is a dead work.

(For more on the subject of holiness follow this link:

https://emmausroadministries.wordpress.com/2016/08/13/the-opposite-of-holiness/)

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Transformed By Beholding.

The one thing that would be most effective in helping people live holy lives seems to be the one thing many don’t seem to want to preach.  And what is that?  Beholding Jesus in His beauty and glory, not our ugliness and gory. 

But if you go to church and during the sermon Jesus’ Name is hardly even mentioned, let along His beauty unveiled, how can you be transformed?  The answer is, “YOU CAN’T.”  The Holy Spirit, Who actually does the transforming, has nothing to work with.  Give Him the raw materials He need and your people will be changed effortlessly.

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Repent: Metanoia.

So Jesus wanted this Pastor to " Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent.'  In other words, "Change his mind" about what he taught his people that our good works are not to make us acceptable to God, but as a witness before the ungodly that there is a God in heaven Who loves them.

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If there are some who thought they were saved by doing good works, let the truth be told that Jesus is THE Way, THE Truth, and THE Live.  No one becomes acceptable to the Father without being cleansed by the precious blood of Jesus.

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 "He who overcomes (has been cleansed by the blood) 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.

6 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” 

The Seven Churches Of Revelation, Part 1: Ephesus

Revelation 2:1-7

“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write,

‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that YOU HAVE LEFT YOUR FIRST LOVE.”

Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works,

or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.  But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” ’

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Jesus through John, His Jewish secretary, wrote seven different letters to the seven Churches in Asia.  He wanted to make sure that He addressed certain problems or issues they were having at the time.  They also teach us about dispensations of the Church and speak of the end times.

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Messengers.

Why did He say, “To the ANGEL of the Church of Ephesus,” and not simply “To the Church of Ephesus?”  Why put the word, “angel” in there at all?  Who is this “ANGEL” He’s addressing?

Angel, in Greek, is the word, “Ángelos”  It can refer to an angel, as in one from heaven, but simply put, it means, “Messenger.”  Also, notice that the word is SINGULAR.  Who is this messenger for each of these Churches?  

Another clue that this is not an angel from heaven is this little phrase:  "Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works,

or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent."

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Obviously, God would not have a FALLEN ANGEL watching over His Church.  So who is the one who is fallen?  THE SENIOR PASTOR.  

These letters are not written to the rank and file; they are directed at the senior pastors of the Churches to encourage, admonish and correct some wrong doctrines, which were found in five of them.  The only two pastors who were not corrected were the ones at Smyrna, who were under great persecution at that time, and Philadelphia.

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First Love.

In the case of Ephesus, they had “Left their first love.”  What does that mean?

Most of you have heard a sermon or two on this topic telling us that we need to put God first and love Him more.  They’re implying, of course, that we would live more holy lives if we worked harder to show our love for Him.  But is that Jesus’ message here?

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Surprisingly, NO.  But you know how religious folks are.  Man always feels the need to twist everything around to make it all about man, as if there’s anything you and I can do to add to what Jesus has already done.  HELLO!!!  His work is FINISHED!

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First Love.

Church, Jesus wasn’t telling the Church at large they needed to love Him more.  THE PASTOR FORGOT IT WAS JESUS WHO FIRST LOVED US.”  He had been telling his people to love God more instead of unveiling Jesus and His love FOR us.

That’s what He meant by “FIRST LOVE.”

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The Church at Ephesus used to be described this way:

I Thessalonians 1:3 “…remembering without ceasing your WORK OF FAITH, LABOR OF LOVE, and PATIENCE OF HOPE in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father….”

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Notice the words He left out of the verse in Revelation?  FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE.

Their works lacked faith; their labor lacked love and their patience lacked hope. 

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What He wanted that pastor to do was to turn once again and focus on The One Who “FIRST LOVED” him and teach it to his Church.  Then faith, hope and love would once again be found in their works, labor and patience!  These things become a “fruit,” when we are rooted and grounded in His love, as opposed to a dead “work.”

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That’s why the people’s love for God had cooled.  Jesus’ love was not being unveiled to them.  Remember, we are transformed by beholding Him.

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Wrong  Direction.

The spotlight isn’t shining on you and me, on what we are doing or not doing.  Preachers are POINTING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.  Under the Old Covenant, God commanded the people to “Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your and soul and with all your mind.”  But has anyone done that?  Can anybody do that?  BIG FAT NO!  We try…..and fail MISERABLY!

SO God TOOK US OUT OF THE EQUATION.

This is love under the new covenant:

I John 4:10
“In this is love, NOT that we loved God, BUT THAT HE LOVED US and sent His Son to  be the propitiation for our sins.”

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You saw how God used to describe the Church.  They forgot WHO it was that first loved them:  JESUS!  It’s not the other way around.  See how man twists things?  Full consciousness of that one fact is what activates (energizes) faith.  Faith comes by HEARING.  HEARING causes  miracles to take place.  FOCUS ON THAT.

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Clarity In The Greek Text.

Galatians 5:6
“For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but FAITH WHICH WORKETH BY LOVE.” 

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The word for “Worketh” above is the Greek word “Energéo,” from which we get the word  “energy.”  Focusing on Jesus’ love FOR us “ENERGIZES” the faith that creats miracles!  Want your faith to grow and energize miracles in your life?  Focus on the love of Jesus FOR you!

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So, Church:  Why do we love God?  We love Him because HE FIRST LOVED US.

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JESUS…..He is our FIRST LOVE.