articlesforchristians

“To the angel (divine messenger) of the church in Sardis write:

“These are the words of Him who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars:

• ‘I know your deeds; you have a name (reputation) that you are alive, but [in reality] you are dead. 
• Wake up, and strengthen and reaffirm what remains [of your faithful commitment to Me], which is about to die;
  • for I have not found [any of] your deeds completed in the sight of My God or meeting His requirements. 
• So, remember and take to heart the lessons you have received and heard. Keep and obey them, and repent [change your sinful way of thinking, and demonstrate your repentance with new behavior that proves a conscious decision to turn away from sin]. 
• So then, if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you. 
• But you [still] have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes [that is, contaminated their character and personal integrity with sin]; and they will walk with Me [dressed] in white,
  • because they are worthy (righteous). 
• He who overcomes [the world through believing that Jesus is the Son of God] will accordingly be dressed in white clothing; and I will never blot out his name from the Book of Life, and I will confess and openly acknowledge his name before My Father and before His angels [saying that he is one of Mine]. 
• He who has an ear, let him hear and heed what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Some History about Sardis

• It is in modern Sart, Turkey.
• In Roman times, was a wealthy city known for the manufacture and dyeing of woolen fabric and carpets.
• Originally, it was the capital of the ancient Lydian Empire and was the first city to mint coinage (600 b.c.).
• A stream that flowed through its marketplace carried gold dust from a nearby mountain.
• King Croesus of Lydia (560-546 b.c.) financed the building of the great Temple of Artemis in Ephesus (550 b.c.).
• The city was conquered twice, under Cyrus the Great and under Antiochus, due to lack of adequate watchfulness.
• The chief idol deity was the goddess Artemis.
  • Artemis was worshipped as the mother goddess.
• Sardis was destroyed by an earthquake in 17 AD. It was later rebuilt.

This city was known for its lack of watchfulness. It was conquered not once, but twice for the same reason. In the letter sent to the church, Jesus is telling them to wake up and pay attention. They think that they are good, but destruction is just around the corner, spiritually speaking. Most are already dead spiritually, some are just before dying spiritually, and a few are righteous. However, according to their reputation they are alive and doing well. This is similar what Jesus was trying to say to the pharisees.

• Matthew 23:27
  • “Woe to you, [self-righteous] scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which look beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean.

Don’t be self-righteous. Instead, remember and take to heart the lessons you have received and heard. Keep and obey them, and repent [change your sinful way of thinking, and demonstrate your repentance with new behavior that proves a conscious decision to turn away from sin]. 

Remember that spiritual deadness is the same as if you are not saved. To be saved means to be alive spiritually. Take a good hard look at yourself. Remember that if you judge yourself, God doesn’t have to.

• 1 Corinthians 11:31-32 amp
  • But if we evaluated and judged ourselves honestly [recognizing our shortcomings and correcting our behavior], we would not be judged. 
  • But when we [fall short and] are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined [by undergoing His correction] so that we will not be condemned [to eternal punishment] along with the world.