DYNAMIC, DISCRIMINATION & DETERIORATION AT SARDIS

The Dynamic Offered to the Church

"He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels."

Overcoming has the Promise of Great Reward

The overcomer shall be arrayed in white garments. This is the garb of the victor in Roman times.

His name will not be blotted out of the book of life. Those who brought shame upon the city of Sardis and other Roman cities had their names expunged from the register of the city. But this will never happen to the victor. In fact, every true Christian is pro­gressively realizing victory in his life (see 1 John 5:4).
"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."

But what is even more wonderful, the victor will have his name confessed before the Father and the angels.

The Discrimination Within the Church

"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."

 

Because there are those in this church who have donned the robes of Christian faith but are dead underneath, there needs to be the word of warning. Professing Christians "merely", will have their names blotted out of the book of life. But to that one who has ears to hear and will heed, there is the responsibility to hear. Some will. Those who merely pose will not. But they can never say that they were not warned.

The Deterioration Within the Churches

Ephesus: Loss of first love.
Smyrna: Endurance without love.
Pergamos: Mixed with the world.
Thyatira: Moral and spiritual corruption.
Sardis: Impure and dead.