John, while on the isle of Patmos, wrote the Book of Revelation. In Chapters 2-3, there are recorded seven letters to the churches of Asia Minor. Although each letter was written to a specific congregation, each is also applicable to us (cf. "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches," Rev. 3:6). The fifth of these letters was written to the church at Sardis.

Background of the City

Sardis was located at a junction of five roads commanding the Hermus Valley, which made the city very active commercially, and as a result, the city enjoyed great wealth. The main portion of the city was built upon a smooth, almost perpendicular rock hill about 150 feet above the valley. This provided a natural citadel. The city was practically inaccessible from three sides and easily protected from the fourth. Strengths, however, can often become weaknesses. Sardis' wealth and seemingly impregnable defenses became her weakness because she failed to maintain vigilance (cf. "be watchful," Rev. 3:2). The city was conquered twice in its history, both times by enemy soldiers scaling the rocky cliffs by night to find that no guard was set. Unlike the other churches, there is no mention of persecution of the saints in Sardis, which may indicate a serious lack of spirituality (cf. 2 Tim. 3:12).

Relevance of the Writer

This letter comes from "he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars" (Rev. 3:1a cf. 1:4, 20). The "seven Spirits of God" are most likely a reference to the Holy Spirit (cf. Rev. 1:4-5), where "seven," a number of completeness, may take on the meaning "sevenfold," indicating the complete working of the Spirit (cf. Isa. 11:2-3). The "seven stars" are angels, or messengers, to the seven churches (cf. Rev. 1:20). The total picture shows that the Christ has all power, wisdom, and control.

Christ's Evaluation

Being omnipotent, Christ knows their situation. "I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead" (Rev. 3:1b). Although the church in Sardis had a reputation of being alive, the Lord assessed them as being "dead." An outside observer may have looked at Sardis as being an active, model church, but this congregation was dying of internal decay. It is possible for a person to be spiritually dead, even though he or she may appear to be alive (1 Tim. 5:6). The same is true of a congregation. It is possible for us to appear spiritual, but inwardly be inactive and spiritually dead. This represents a serious condition that cannot be hidden from Christ (Heb. 4:13).

Christ's Solution

Christ tells the church at Sardis how to be alive spiritually. "Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. 3Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent" (Rev. 3:2-3a). The admonition to "be watchful" recalls the city's downfall due to lack of vigilance. We must also realize that a lack of spiritual vigilance is deadly (cf. 1 Pet. 5:8). Although the true character of the church in Sardis did not agree with their reputation of being alive, there was still a flicker of life; hence, Christ commands them to "strengthen" the remaining life. Their works were not complete. Like Ephesus, they got off on a good start, but later slacked off to the point of faithlessness, which would explain their lack of persecution (cf. 2 Tim. 3:12). Like Ephesus, those in Sardis are also told to "remember." Obviously, at a time in the past, they "received and heard" God's word in exemplary fashion (cf. 1 Thes. 2:13). If they are to be "alive" before God, they must not only "remember" that former attitude, they must also keep it ("hold fast"). Additionally, they must "repent." If they do not, Christ will visit them: "If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee" (Rev. 3:3b). The word "if" tells us that this is not a reference to the Second Coming (cf. Mt. 24:36), but rather to a disciplinary judgment of some sort. If we are to be acceptable to God, we must also be watchful (Lk. 12:37), be willing to strengthen our weaknesses (cf. Phil. 4:13), and be filled with the same enthusiasm as when we first obeyed the Gospel (cf. Rev. 2:5).

Christ's Promised Blessing

Although the congregation is generally "dead" according to Christ's evaluation, there is a minority in Sardis that are approved of God. "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" (Rev. 3:4). A "garment spotted by the flesh" is equivalent to death (Jude 23 cf. Jas. 1:27), but these "few names" in Sardis have not polluted their once cleansed lives. They "walk" with the Lord in purity and victory (cf. Isa. 1:18; Dan. 12:10).

In addition to those who remain faithful in Sardis, Christ gives promises to those who overcome. "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" (Rev. 3:5). To be "clothed in white" is to enjoy the holiness, purity, and victory that can only come from the redemptive work of Christ (cf. Rev. 6:11; 7:9; 19:8). To have one's name remain in the "book of life" is to enjoy the privileged and blessing that awaits all God's faithful (Dan. 12:1; Mal. 3:16; Phil. 4:3). To have one's name confessed before the Father is to have Christ acknowledge one's faithfulness before God (Mt. 10:32-33). These same blessings apply to us.

This letter tells us that reputation is not always the same as true character. While we may appear spiritual on the outside, God knows and perfectly assesses our true condition (Jer. 17:10; Mt. 12:25; Jn. 2:25). Sardis also teaches us that it is possible for a "few" to remain faithful in a local church that can be characterized as being "dead." May we ever be alive for God, not forfeiting our place in the "book of life."

1 The titles designating the churches in this series of bulletin articles are adapted from Ray Summers, Worthy Is the Lamb (Nashville, TN: Broadman, 1951), 108-124.