This is our second week studying the letter of Jesus to the church of Sardis.

Key to this is, as in all the letters, is that when Jesus addresses the church His is NOT addressing an organization but a body of believers. No where in these letters does Jesus indicate that part of the church were CNO (Christians in name only), they were His sheep and THESE believers were spiritually dying. If they had not been Jesus’ children, they would already be dead spiritually, for new life is only imparted to those who are legitimately IN HIM!

Furthermore, none of these letters would carry much weight in terms of aiding the modern church if Jesus were to leave us guessing as to whether he was addressing true believers or unbelievers who were meeting with them (which rarely happened in the 1st century).

The reason for bearing down on this matter is the sheer gravity of what Jesus said to them. If these did not begin to produce fruit from their union with Him, if they did not fortify the few works they had and begin in earnest loyalty to produce those works which God, from eternity past, prepared for the church to walk in – HE would come AGAINST them like a thief in the night and blot their name out of the Book of Life.

This is very serious and it of course is a dividing line for many theologically since many believe in eternal security regardless of how one acts subsequent to salvation – but here we have it plain as day.

The Book of Life is only mentioned by name 28 times in all of scripture with one additional mention by Moses which does not employ the word “life”, but it is clear what the reference is to.

In the majority of the places it is mentioned, the names are recorded in the Book of Life were written there before the foundation of the world. They represent those who would come to genuinely know God by faith. Who would enter into union with Him in a real and living relationship of intimacy.
This means, according to the testimony of Jesus, most names of humanity are never recorded in that book, because narrow is the way that leads to life and very few ever commit to it. This leaves us with only one real possibility – the names which are blotted out once knew Him.

2 Peter addresses these like this,

“(17) These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. (18) For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. (19) While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. (20) For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. (21) For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. (22) But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A DOG RETURNS TO HIS OWN VOMIT,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.” – 2 Peter 2:17-22

So the warning is one of loyal love and ongoing relational trust in Jesus – not a once and done profession of Him. That from a heart of devoted loyalty (a.k.a. holiness) we pursue, love and obey Him our whole lives. This does not mean sinless perfection, nor even 100% unbroken devotion – all lives have fluctuations in their walk, but this is referring to those who over a protracted period of time and following several inward warnings from the Holy Spirit – commit to their life of waywardness and reject the Word of God which comes to them for spiritual rescue.

So long as there is a light of love for God in one’s heart (not love of self or ones own concern over their eternal security, but love for God), that one has not done this. There would be no light within them that longs to honor God and which breaks over disloyalty to Him if they had gone this far.

Nevertheless, we cannot water down Jesus’ message – it is serious, it deserves our contemplative attention and surrender to the inward work of the Holy Spirit. That is the honest response to this word – Wake up & repent.

This week we started looking at the letter of Jesus to the church of Sardis.

While in many of the 7 cities, Jesus addresses in Revelation, there is a connection between His concerns  and the influence that their surrounding culture was having upon them – here in Sardis this concern runs deeper.

The inroads of the culture had already long been established there. The culture had already infected the church with its casual and opulent approach to life, and in that way, it makes this church at Sardis one of the most perfect fits for churches today in first world countries.

In His very somber address to this church, Jesus draws a very tight net around the culture of Sardis and the heart condition of the church in Sardis.

The key to this and all the church letters is in how Jesus addresses Himself and the introduction He chooses here to Sardis provided a deep dive into “the seven spirits” before the throne of God.