The 7 Churches of Revelation - Sardis

FYI Point:

Literal Meaning- the plain and ordinary sense of a Scriptural reading based on contextual, grammatical and historical considerations as opposed to an allegorical or symbolic sense such as in a parable.  The task of the Bible student is often to differentiate these two senses properly to arrive at God’s intended meaning in a text.  The Book of Revelation is without a doubt one of Scripture’s greatest challenges in this aspect of hermeneutics.

The Church of Sardis (Revelation 3:1-6)

Sardis is located fifty miles northeast of Ephesus.  This ancient city was once the capitol of the kingdom of Lydia and was at one time the most powerful and important in the Mediterranean world.  When incorporated into the Roman Empire, however, the glory days of Sardis were long past.  By the first century of Christianity, it could only bask in the “good ol’ days”.

The image of Christ in this passage is a combination of He who holds the seven spirits and seven stars; that is to say, Jesus in the authority of the Holy Spirit’s work in the churches.  “Sevenfold” refers to the seven gifts the Spirit has given the seven churches to build God’s Kingdom (hence seven candles by our altar).  The work of the Spirit is to call sinners to repentance and faith in Christ and the work of the churches to accomplish this is the spreading of the Gospel; thus the work of the Holy Spirit and the Holy Christian Church are in tandem.  We see in this designation the wonderfully unified interworking of Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the Church all centered in and around the Gospel, God’s one power to save sinners.  This holy ministry was ignited at Pentecost.  You cannot remove one part of it without rendering the Gospel impotent to save.  Without Jesus, there is no atonement.  Without the Holy Spirit, there is no gift of faith.  Without the Church, there is no distribution of the means of grace (the Holy Bible, Holy Baptism, and Holy Communion) to give faith and sustain it.  Jesus rules over this as we are not called Christians for nothing.  Yet His reign is good and just.  Jesus sustains and protects the Church.

Jesus has a stern rebuke for Sardis right from the start.  Only after Laodicea, it is the strongest.   Jesus knows their works but they are dead (see Isaiah 64:6).  Like a bouquet of flowers, they look alive but they are not.  Not all purporting to be of God and to His glory really are (see Matthew 7:21-23).  Many churches bursting forth with activities are not necessarily alive by the Spirit; their busy bustle is not bringing people to faith in Jesus.  For this we, the Church, must use the authority of Jesus in His Keys (see Matthew 16:19) and the power of the Holy Spirit working through the means of grace.  To this sleepwalking of Sardis Jesus shouts, “Wake up!”  What they had in civic pride is gone.  What they have in Gospel truth is also fading away.  They need to rededicate themselves to the Gospel and have it brought to completion among them (see Col. 4:17, James 1:4, 1 John 4:12-17) lest Jesus come in judgment unexpectedly like a thief.

But there is hope.  There is yet time to repent and awaken in renewed faith.  Their faith is waning and in risk of dying but this has not happened yet.  Moreover, there are some who had not given into this sleep.  They have not soiled themselves but still seek after God’s righteousness.  This is likened to be those dressed in white, a symbol in Revelation for the saints of God who live by grace through faith (see Rev. 7).  Jesus is being proactive warning the Christians of Sardis to repent and to hold onto what they had received (saving faith) and heard (the Word of God).  Jesus parallels His words here with those of the Judgment Day (see Matt. 24:42-44).  Don’t delay! Wake up! Be watchful!  There may not be any other call of the Spirit before it is too late.  But faithful until death, they will receive a spotless white robe and their name will remain in the book of life (justification).  The message: don’t neglect your faith or take it for granted. 

 For Our Further Discussion

1.       Do we bask in the glory of “the good ol’ days” as Lutherans?  How are we doing at keeping our passion for the Gospel alive?  Are St. John’s best days ahead?

2.       Why do some preoccupy themselves with the so-called charismatic gifts at the expense of the clear gift of faith given in the means of grace? (see Acts 2:38, 39) 

3.       What is the purpose of Christian fellowship outside of the times specifically for worship; for example, potlucks, camp outs, beach trips, youth outings, movie nights, etc.?

4.       What promise and warning does Jesus offer us as He did to the Sardis Christians and as He had in Matthew 10:32, 33)?