Reading:
And
unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath
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. Remember therefore how thou hast received
and heard, and hold fast, and repent. 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. 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. 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.
Commentary:
God here warns those who think they are "spirit
filled" and are not. Some church
members of Sardis thought they were living, but were dead. Their works did not flow from faith, but
self-righteousness. Our works in life
merit only death, for all we do is sin-filled, as Isaiah wrote "all our
righteousnesses are as filthy rags."
Christ then, His works, must always be the foundation of our faith, and
to believe in Him is to remain in a perpetual state of repentance, trusting
Christ is our life. Our justification is
surely secure in Him. "Strengthen
the things which remain, that are ready to die"…."Because there is
not enough oil poured into the lamps, faith can easily be extinguished and the
love grow cold with the children of God in the congregation"
(Goesswein). May God in Christ increase
our love, so that our works may increase more and more. And thanks be to God we are not saved by our
works but His grace. "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."
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