The Dead
Church
Revelation 3:1-6
The Dead Church
1 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write,
‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven
stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are
alive, but you are dead.
2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that
are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before
God.
3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold
fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will
come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will
come upon you.
4 You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled
their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are
worthy.
5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will
not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his
name before My Father and before His angels.
6 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the
churches.” ’
Sardis was the capital of the ancient Lydian kingdom. It was a
significant and important city in Asia Minor.
Located inside Manisa Province in western Turkey today, it is near
the town of Sart. It is situated at the foot of the Bozdağ
Mountains, and at the edge of the fertile plain of the Gediz River.
Jesus' message to the church in Sardis was to remain vigilant and
watchful. The church had a reputation of being alive but was, in
fact, spiritually dead.
The church in Sardis was characterized by outward appearances of
religious activities and financial prosperity, but she lacked
genuine faith and spiritual life.
Jesus rebuked the church for her complacency, and encouraged the
Christians to awaken and strengthen what was still remaining. He
urged them to repent and return to the truth.
Outwardly, the church appeared to be doing well, growing in numbers
and prospering, but inwardly, she was spiritually dead!
The church had a name that it lived but was actually dead. She had a
reputation for being vibrant and active, even prosperous, but she
lacked genuine spiritual life.
The church had many activities around the clock, seven days a week.
But those religious programs and activities were just a form of
stringent and rigid observances without true transformation in life
or true devotion to God.
Jesus' rebuke and encouragement was a wake-up call for the church,
emphasizing the need for spiritual renewal and revival both
individually as a believer, and collectively as a church.
The Lord encouraged them to strengthen what was still remaining.
Even with a decline in church membership, there was still potential
for growth and progress!
The Lord exhorted them to remember what they had received and heard
and to hold fast, returning to their initial faith and commitment to
Him.
The Lord also warned them that if they did not repent, He would come
to them unexpectedly, like a thief in the night.
Despite the overall spiritual decline and death, Jesus acknowledged
that there was a small remnant of believers who had not defiled
their garments. Jesus promised these faithful members that they
would walk with Him in white garments, and that their names would
not be erased from the Book of Life.
Herein is hope. Even in a dead church, there is this possibility of
finding faithfulness and life! Even if the dead church is
experiencing spiritual decline, there is still a living remnant
serving the Lord truthfully with all of their hearts!
The church in Sardis serves as a warning to us against religiosity
and complacency. To regain genuine faith and spiritual life, we need
to repent, and return to the truth of God's Word. We need to stop
trying to look good and appear okay, and start being good and okay!
May we remain faithful to Christ. And in Him, we live and move!
Written on 28 April 2025