It is very good to be back posting the Weekend Sermon. I miss it when I am away. I am very thankful to the Lord that my car is back up and running. I hope that it keeps going for awhile. Although, I may have to sell it in order to pay bills. I would ask that you continue to keep me in your prayers as I attempt to get through the hard times.
When we last studied in the book of Revelation together, we looked at the message that Jesus gave to the church at Thyatira. Jesus commended the members of this church for their good works and for the fact they were continuing to do more for the Kingdom of Heaven as they progressed in the faith. However, Jesus had some harsh words of condemnation for this church as well.
This church was filled with those who held to false teachings. A woman in the church was calling herself a prophetess and leading the people to practice sexual immorality and eating meat that was sacrificed to idols. Jesus said that He would bring judgment upon this woman and her followers unless they repented.
We also talked about what it means to overcome. The true believer in Jesus Christ is the one who overcomes. Being a Christian doesn't mean saying a prayer so I can get to Heaven. Being a Christian means following Jesus every day and following His commandments. We are to take up our cross daily and follow Jesus. We are not saved by works, but faith is evidenced by our deeds and obedience to Jesus.
Today, we will begin Revelation chapter 3 and focus on Jesus' message to the church at Sardis. In verse one Jesus says, "I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead." In other words, this church was spiritually dead. They were not in obedience to the Lord, they were not producing spiritual fruit and they were not advancing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
This is the case with many churches in the world today. They are calling themselves a church, but they are spiritually dead. I'm not talking about music or liturgy. They are dead because they are not doing anything to spread the gospel. Sadly, many churches go year after year without seeing one person come to faith in Christ. People are not advancing in their walk with the Lord and in their spirtitual disciplines. I know of many churches that are little more than social organizations. They have a lot of dinners, parties and events, but the gospel is not preached, and lives are not changed.
A growing and a vibrant church is a soul winning church. The love of Jesus is preached in the pulpit, and the members are actively engaged in following the Great Commission.
In verse two, Jesus asks the people in the church at Sardis to "strengthen the things which remain." I think that there are two possible meanings for this verse. First of all, Jesus is saying that those things that the church was doing that honored Him, the church at Sardis should keep doing them and do more. I also believe that Jesus is telling those in the church who were faithful to Him to remain strong and continue in the good work of service to the Kingdom.
In verse three, Jesus urges the people to repent or that He would come upon them as a thief, and they would not know when He was coming. As believers in Jesus Christ, we are always to be watchful in anticipation of Jesus' Second Coming. Jesus urged His followers in the four gospels to be ready and watchful.
As followers of Jesus, we are to be living in such a way that we would not be ashamed if Jesus was to return. Jesus could return at any moment. No man knows the day or the hour. We must follow the commandments and teachings of Jesus so that we will be ready should Jesus return at any moment. We do not want to be engaged in sinful behavior and be ashamed when our Lord returns. And He will return. Come quickly Lord Jesus.
Even as dead as the church in Sardis was, there were still faithful followers of the Lord in its midst. They were not following the path of immorality, but they were living righteous and holy lives that were pleasing to the Lord. Jesus says, "They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy."
Jesus says in verse five that the one who overcomes will be clothed in white garments. This signifies the righteousness that only Jesus Christ can provide. Those who put their faith and trust in the finished work of Jesus receive the imputed righteousness of Christ.
Jesus says that their names would not be blotted out of the Book of Life, and Jesus would confess them before the Father in Heaven. This leads us to the whole discussion of the doctrine of eternal security.
I do not believe in the doctrine of eternal security as it is taught by Calvinists. I do not believe in falling from grace as taught by many Arminians. First of all, the person who is engaged in perpetual sinfulness is demonstrating by their actions that they are not really a follower of Jesus. I know some Calvinists who believe that if you have prayed the sinner's prayer and had faith at that moment that know matter if you become a carnal Christian, you are saved and on your way to Heaven. Scripture does not teach this. A true Christian follows the will of Jesus.
Some believe that every time you commit a sin you lose your salvation. Scripture does not teach this. The Bible says that if we confess our sins, Jesus will forgive us.
I do believe that the Bible teaches that a person who believed in Jesus and followed Him can make the decision to stop following the Lord. Jesus speaks about this in the parable of the Sower and Seed. Those who believed and then turned their back on the Lord are blotted out of the Book of Life.
In Sardis, some believed, but were now going back to their pagan ways. Those who remained faithful to the Lord would not be blotted out of the Book of Life like those who turned from Christ to their former paganism.
Next week, I will post a book review on Wednesday. In the Weekend Sermon, we will study the words of Jesus to the church at Philadelphia. May God bless you . Amen.
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