The Church at Sardis: A Low-Profile Congregation

Bible Passage: Revelation 3:1-6

I. A brief introduction to the city of Sardis

1. Located on Hermus River, 60 miles east of Smyrna, capital of Lydia in the seventh and sixth century BC
2. Sardis had many natural resources, one of them was the abundance of gold dust which made the city wealthy (not during Roman Empire)
3. It was a well-protected city, on a hill (acropolis), which had a small gate, which happened to be the vulnerable portion of the heavily fortified city
4. Sardis changed from Lydians to Persians to Greeks to Seleucids and then to Romans in 133 BC
5. During Persian period, Sardis was the western terminus of the royal road that started from Susa (later on Sardis became the western capital of the Seleucids)
6. FYI: Sardis is mentioned in Obediah 20 “Sepharad” (most likely)
7. There was a devastating earthquake in AD 17 and was rebuilt with the help of Tiberius Caesar. So, the Sardians were obligated to venerate Tiberius (so did Augustus, Caligula, and Claudius)
8. The main deities were: Artemis of Sardis, Zeus Polieus, Athena Nicephorus, Apollo, Hera, etc.
9. There was a massive synagogue in Sardis pointing to the existence of a large influential Jewish community
10. It is now called Sartmahmut or Sart

II. “To the angel of the church in Sardis”

1. Most likely, this expression means “to the pastor/bishop of the church in Sardis”
2. By the time the book of Revelation was written, there was a large Christian community in Sardis (Johannine community)

III. “The One who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars”

1. The expression “seven spirits”

a. It denotes the Holy Spirit with his sevenfold gifts, an idea founded on the description of the Spirit in Isaiah 11:2 (William Barclay)
b. It denotes the Spirit in his sevenfold operation (William Barclay)
c. The seven spirits signify the completeness of the gifts of the Spirit and the universality of his presence (William Barclay)

2. The expression “seven stars” represents “seven churches”

IV. “I know your deeds” [“I” here is “Jesus”]

1. Jesus knows the works of the Church at Sardis (3:1)
2. Man looks outside, but God sees inside
3. God has deep knowledge of every local church and every believer
4. If Jesus were to make the same statement of us today, how would it look?

V. “You have a reputation that you are alive” (3:1)

1. They have a reputation to be alive (3:1)
2. It is an imagery for “faking” or not having a realistic self-assessment?
3. Maybe they had external piety but it did not have substance!
4. In the eyes of others, the Church at Sardis looked great! (3:1)

a. It was a fairly wealthy church
b. It probably had a structure
c. It probably had a team of clergies!
d. It probably had other activities: songs, small groups, sermons, etc.

5. Would we fall in this category? Faking Christians or namesake Christians

VI. “But in reality, you are dead”

1. To the eyes of Jesus, they were “dead” (3:1)
2. A state of loss of life
3. A kind of spiritual lethargy
4. Low profile Christianity (keeping the light under the bushel)
5. Non-witnessing Christians
6. Could it be that there was no distinct mark of Christians when compared to the non-Christians?—compromised lifestyle?

VII. Jesus gives them remedy for their spiritual deadness and way to be revived (3:2-3)

1. “wake up”/“be watchful” (3:2)

a. It is not that the people are sleeping but they are unaware of their spiritual condition or intentionally remaining low-profile believers
b. Many of them probably did not see what Jesus was seeing in them
c. They were oblivious to their spiritual deadness
d. There is an organic connection between deadness and lack of witness, and life and witness
e. They probably were satisfied with their externals
f. They were ineffective as Christians

2. “Strengthen what remains that was about to die” (3:2)

a. Be resolved about moving out of deadness
b. Be resolved about stopping the deterioration, which is evidenced by their deeds

3. “I have not found your works complete before my God” (3:2)

a. They begin, but do not complete
b. They are unable to focus due to distractions
c. They compromise—they do not hold on to their faith where they need to!
d. They were content with mediocrity
e. There is nothing in them that Jesus is able to be proud of them before the Father

4. Remember what you have received and heard (3:3)

a. Keep on remembering; never allow yourself to forget
b. Remember the first time they heard the Gospel, the Cross, the forgiveness, etc.

5. Hold it fast (3:3)—it’s not just in hearing but it is in doing!
6. Repent (3:3)—stop the existing status and make a complete change

VIII. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you

1. There is no obvious external threat to Christians in Sardis, but they themselves seemed to be their threat
2. “I will come” refers to Jesus’ coming for punitive correction
3. Those who do not heed to Jesus’ warning will risk their “reputation” removed

IX. Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes

1. While majority Sardian Christians maintained a low-profile presence, a small number of Christians stood out uncompromisingly for their faith

a. The small number of Christians did not compromise with the sinful activities of Sardis
b. The small number of Christians bore witness to their faith despite fear of persecution and ostracization
c. The small number of Christians stood out, visible, and dared to stand for Jesus

2. “… have not soiled their clothes” refers to abstinence for the sake of their faith

X. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy—the small number of Christians are promised a life with Christ in future because they suffered just like Him

XI. Those who heed to Jesus’ warning will be rewarded with Jesus’ appreciation before the Father (3:5)

Takeaway:

Wake up from your deadness