Revelation 3:1

“I have not found thy works perfect”

Revelation 3:1-2 “And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hat the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.”

Thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. In other words they named the name of Christ yet they were not true believers. The church of Sardis had the problem of having much tares among the wheat.

Is it possible for a person to say they believe in Jesus Christ and yet not truly believe? Sure it is. People lie for many reasons. We see politicians lie all the time to get votes. We see preachers lie to get money.

Thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. This could also mean that those who were true believers were not keeping their sins confessed. They were not growing in their faith.

Its interesting that the solution given to these problems is to be watchful. A watchful Christian is one who is expecting the return of Christ. A watchful Christian is one who is on guard against wolves in sheeps clothing.

I have not found thy works perfect before God. This is a high standard. It also shows how important it is to have your works perfect before God. In other words there is no in between. You are either living or you are dead. You are either serving Christ or you are not. You’re works are either perfect or they are not.

Revelation 3:3, “Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come upon thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.”

Once again Sardis was reminded to watch. There is nothing worse than for the time to come for you to go to judgment to go to your death and to not be prepared for it.

How to watch is explained very simply in the first part of verse 3 which says “Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent.” A Christian is always in need to be reminded of the truths and the promises that he has learned from the Bible. If you do this and keep your sins confessed to Christ then you will be watching.

Revelation 3:4, “Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments: and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. ” This verse seems to indicate that many of the Christians in Sardis had fallen into sin. Perhaps they had failed to stay separate from the world. The Bible has much to say about not becoming defiled by the world.

2 Corinthians 6:17 says, “Wherefore com out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.”

1 John 2:15, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

Psalms 1:1 “Blessed is the man that walked not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.”

Revelation 3:4, “Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments: and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. ” There are great rewards which will be given to those who serve Christ faithfully. Some of these rewards were mentioned in Revelation chapter 2. Here we are told they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. The World passeth away and the lusts thereof but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.

Revelation 3: 5-6, “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. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”

Who is he that overcometh? He that overcometh is whoever repents of sin to Jesus Christ. Yes there is much to overcome there is sin and death, the world and the devil. There is much indeed to overcome yet how easy it is. All it takes is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ to overcome.

Revelation 3:7-8 says, “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: these things saith He that is holy, He that is true, He that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know tthy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept My word, and hast not denied My name.”

Opportunity comes from God. The church in Philadelphia was given a special opportunity because of their faithfulness to the name of Christ. What was that opportunity? The opportunity to serve the Lord Jesus.

Revelation 3:9 “Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.”

Some people like to pretend to be Christians. These wolves in sheeps clothing can cause great trouble for the church. But do not fear one day they will be made to worship the Lord Jesus Christ because every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is lord.

Revelation 3:10 says, “Because thou hast kept the word of My patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.”

One of the great blessings of being a true believer is mentioned here. I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world. This is speaking of the great tribulation. Before the great tribulation happens all the believers will be raptured up to heaven. This in itself is a great rewards for those who are living upon the earth at that time for they will not see death.

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour then turn to Him today. Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

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