DIAGNOSIS OF THE SARDIS CHURCH

The Diagnosis of the Sardis Church

This is Twofold. There is both Commendation and Condemnation
"And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead." "Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God." "Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee." "Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy."

The Commendation of the Church

This Church Received the Message and Obeyed to the Point of Believing it

"Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard."

This Church made some progress even though it was not very much.

"I know thy works."

They exerted some energy in constructive enterprise.

This Church Stopped Short of Carrying her Christian Mission to its Fulfillment

"For I have not found thy works perfect before God."

Before men there probably would have not been any fault found. For the standards of men are so low. But before God it was a different matter. The word perfect here means carried to completion. This church and the Reformation period failed to carry purity of doctrine into purity of life.

This Church Nevertheless Acquired a Great Reputation

"That thou hast a name that thou livest."

A name is a great thing, and especially before men. But this is nothing more than a name. It does not represent inner character or reality. Men are often satisfied with this, but with God it is hypocrisy.

There were some things that were remaining though about to die

"Strengthen the things that remain."

Where there is some good, even this is worthwhile and should be accounted as reason for commendation.

This Church Possessed a Few Saints Who Were in Every Respect Real

"Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy."

How wonderful and striking these few saints must have been amidst the general run of professing people. Their garments were not defiled with the pollutions of that society. And they must have been regarded as abnormal. But that is not the way the Lord regarded them. There will be a day when they shall walk with Him in the most intimate relation, and that in absolute spotless white. Why? Because they are worthy. That is, they weigh down the scale on the other side. They have heeded the words, "Be ye holy, for I am holy."

The Condemnation of the Church

There was an element of hypocrisy in this church.

"Thou hast a name that thou livest."

This is always an unfortunate thing. There ought to be such a devotion to truth among the people of God that any pretense would be abhorrent.

The Real Condition of the Church was a State of Deadness

"I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead."
This means inactivity toward God. There were all the outward motions of doing things and subscribing to creeds and saying prayers and such like. But under­neath there was deadness. Hearts warm toward God were absent. Motives were earthly and selfish.

Therefore this church was always stopping short of the goal which the Lord intended.

"No works were perfected before my God."

They went as far as doctrine, but real purity was never reached.