Sardis was once the capital city of the fabulously rich Croesus, King of

Lydia, until it was conquered by Cyrus the Mede. After a disastrous

earthquake, it was rebuilt in 17 AD by Emperor Tiberius. Once, Sardis had had

a reputation for being a lively city; but now it was dead (1). Its Acropolis

was built on a mountain crag and was thought impregnable; but it was captured

five times through sheer complacency (2-3). It was a local centre for the

woollen industry, its only claim to fame at the end of the 1st century (4-5).

It had two large temples, one dedicated to the cult of Cybele/Sibyl and

another to Artemis/Diana; and also a very large ornate Jewish Synagogue. We do

not know when the Church of Sardis was founded; possibly it was a

daughter-church of Ephesus.

1. A SEVERE REBUKE PRONOUNCED 1-3

a. They were Hypocrites. 1-2; 4

The church of Sardis was not criticised for its good works, but for its dead

works. Hebrews 6:1 demands repentance from "dead works", i.e. works which lead

to death. They had a reputation for being a church with a living faith; but it

was a sham. Outward piety masked inward apostasy. "Man looks on the outward

appearance; but the LORD looks on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7). Jesus Christ is

not fooled; he knows their works. As he told the scribes and Pharisees, "you

are like whitewashed sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but

inwardly are full of dead men's bones and of all uncleanness" (Matthew 23:27).

b. They were Secret Sinners.

The most impressive ruin in Sardis is the gymnasium, where young men gloried

in their naked bodies and became the targets of homosexuals. It appears that

even church members secretly indulged in sexual sins, because verse 4 speaks

of them "defiling their garments". Jude urged his readers "And others save

with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by

the flesh" (Jude 1:23). Sexual offenders can be saved; see 1 Corinthians

6:9-11. Paul told the Corinthians "and such were some of you". Internet

KiddyPorn has been in the news. People involved in this are prominent members

of society, including churchpeople. Many clergy have been prosecuted for child

abuse; not just RCs.

2. A GRACIOUS REMEDY PROPOSED

a. Wake Up! Strengthen what remains! 2

The Acropolis at Sardis was stormed five times because the city was not on its

guard. The Church will be caught unawares when Christ returns "as a thief",

i.e. unexpectedly, unless it keeps awake and watching. "Blessed are those

servants, whom the Lord when he comes shall find watching: verily I say to

you, that he shall gird himself, and make them sit down and eat, and will come

forth and serve them. And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the

third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants" (Luke 12:37-38).

b. Remember! Hold fast! Repent! 3-4a

The Church had not yet fallen; it could still be revived by the Holy Spirit:

the Seven Spirits of God (1); Isaiah 11:2. A "few" had not defiled their

garments; a "few" were still spiritually alive. It only needs a little "salt"

and a little "light" to change the situation. The faithful few are the salt of

the earth, the light of the world. The Sardis Church could still be a "Star"

church (1). The godly remnant (4) could yet assume the leadership, gain the

ascendancy, and lead the revival. But this means recognising and repenting of

their sin. Then a dead church can be a lively church again. Sardis did revive

again; Bishop Melito (c. 130-200) became its brightest star.

3. A GLORIOUS REWARD PROMISED

a. Clothed in White.

According to Isaiah, "all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags" in God's

sight (Isaiah 64:5). According to Jesus' parable of the Wedding Feast, all the

guests were given a white marriage garment to wear. This covered the

inadequacies of their own dress. One gatecrasher came in not wearing a wedding

garment; he was instantly expelled (Matthew 22:11-13). The Church is the Bride

of Christ. "Unto her it was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen,

clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints"

(Revelation 19:8). Our righteousness is Christ's righteousness, not our own.

b. Booked for Life.

Think of the Lamb's Book of Life as the "Electoral Roll" of heaven. It is

first mentioned in Exodus 32:32. Moses wanted to offer himself as an offering

for the people; but that honour belongs to Christ. God said, "Whoever has

sinned against me, him I will blot out of my book" (Exodus 32:33). In Daniel

12:1 all will be delivered who are written in the Book. Jesus told his

disciples to "rejoice rather, that your names are written in heaven" (Luke

10:20). Paul told the Philippian church that all who labour for the Gospel

have their "names in the Book of Life" (Philippians 4:3). At the Judgment of

the Great White Throne, the Book of Life is there to prove that the names of

the lost are not written in it (Revelation 20:12). Jesus says "I will confess

[his] name before my Father and before his angels" (verse 5): echoing Matthew

10:32, "Whoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I also confess

before my Father who is in heaven".

Do you "have an ear"? Are you listening to what the Holy Spirit is saying to

the Churches? You have a reputation that you are alive. Just let's keep it

that way!

__________________________________________________________________________

Ben

--

Revd Ben Crick BA CF, and Mrs Joanna (Goodwin) Crick

<ben.crick@argonet.co.uk>

232 Canterbury Road, Birchington, Kent, CT7 9TD (UK)

http://www.cnetwork.co.uk/crick.htm