3: 1 To the pastor of the Church at Sardis; Christ knows the works of that church, that they have authority and reputation that lives, "and art dead"; the church no longer lives up to it's former reputation as a vibrant church full of the first things of Christ.
3: 2 He warns them to keep watch on the things of the gospel that remain and to strengthen them, returning to their first love, for the church is on the point of death regarding it's usefulness as a Light of Christ. Christ has not found their works to be complete in the sight of God.
3: 3 Our Lord admonishes the Church at Sardis to remember how they first received the gospel and to hold fast to it, repenting of their slide into worldliness.
If they do not watch carefully (return to obedience to Christ only and wait and persevere in anticipation of His return), He will come on them as a thief (not as a precipitous decision to come upon them, but that they will not have any awareness of His approaching coming), they will be caught unprepared, that is in sin and abandonment of the first things.
3: 4 Christ states clearly that it will not be so for the whole church, that there are a few of the church in Sardis who have kept themselves undefiled, and that they will walk with Him in white garments (sign of purity), for they are worthy.
Those who's total fiath is in Christ are counted righteous as was Abraham, they are saved ones, saints.
It would appear then, that the church in Sardis, as are many churches then and today, was full of those who did not truly trust in Christ for their salvation, but were more than likely caught up in some form of legalism, and had not come to a saving grace in spite of receiving the Gospel of Christ.
3: 5 "He that overcometh"
is a phrase much used and much debated in the Scripture.
Many people use this verse to argue for loss of salvation. However, we find assurance in many places that those whom God has given to Jesus Christ shall in no wise be lost, that none can take him form His hand, from the Father's hand.
My studies in the Bible have lead me to conclude that those who overcome are those who are faithful to the time of the return of Christ. Not perfect in the Law, but perfect in placing theri faith in Christ alone, His Grace alone, His blood alone.
A study of Romans, particularly Chapter 7, and Galatians will lead one to conclude that He is faithful to keep us. There are two kinds who fall back on the Law; those who were never converted in the first place, and those who are deceived by the legalists.
The fact of death of this mortal body is by default a time of meeting Christ, as Paul has said that to be absent from the body is to present with the Lord. So those who die prior to His return to Earth, have been faithful to the end, if they were indeed saved.
3: 6 He that hath an ear...
3: 7 Christ now addresses the Pastor of the Church at Philadelphia; "These things sayeth he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteht and no man openeth;
3: 8 Christ acknowledges the works of the church, telling them that he has set before them an open door that no man can shut: that they have a small amount of strength but have kept his world, and have not denied his name.
Figuratively, they have kept his word through his strength and by their actions in the world have not denied his name, (or blasphemed Him in their behavior).
3: 9 Christ calls some who claim to be Jews to be of the synagogue of Satan, says that they lie, and that He will make them to come and worship at the feet of the Church of Philadelphia and to know that He loved this church.
Do not take this verse as a blanket condemnation of all of the Jewish people. Christ specifies that it is those "who are of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie".
I will not speculate as to which Jews He refers to here, He knows and that is enough for me.
3: 10 "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of testing (tribulation, adversity), which shall come upon all the world, to try (test or prove) them that dwell upon the earth.
3: 11 "Behold I come quickly (suddenly, not definite in being near future, but by surprise): hold that fast (cling strongly to it) which thou hast (possess), that no man take thy crown.
Do not allow false prophets to deceive you and take from you your crown of faithfulness to the word delivered by Jesus Christ and the Apostles).
3: 12 "Him that overcometh...". Many people who teach a works based salvation use this verse to back up their teaching, but the word nikao (nik-ah'-o) from the Greek that is translated as "overcometh" in the KJV, has four associated meanings as listed in the Strong's Concordance. These are:
conquer
overcome
prevail
get the victory.
The Gospels and the Epistles of Peter and Paul teach us that it is through Christ that we conquer the world, and that it is He who whins the victory while it is we who surrender our will to him.
If you are in Christ, then you have overcome. Your are one of the "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name".
3: 13 He that hath an ear...
3: 14 Jesus tells John to say to the pastor of the church of the Laodiceans, " These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God:
Jesus Christ is the Amen, because he is in total agreement with God; He is the faithful and true witness, because He obeyed even unto death, and spoke only those things which God told Him to speak; He is the beginning of the creation of God, not because He was the first creation as some teach, but because He was the power of the creation.
Jesus says that He knows their works, that they are neither hot nor cold,( they had no passion for Him and no dedication to any thing but themselves), I would that thou were cold or hot. If they were hot, pouring the heat of His Loved into the works that He had for them to do, they would be glorifying the Father and the Son. If they were cold, they would be useful unto Him, but in what way I can not say.
3: 16 Because they are lukewarm he will vomit them out of His mouth.
In a parallel to the geographical situation of Laodicea, Jesus speaks of hot, cold, and lukewarm water. In the time of the writing of the Revelation, Laodicea received water by aqua duct from two other locations, one which had hot springs, the other cold clear water from the snow melt.
Hot water is soothing for bathing and healing; cold water is refreshing to the thirst and also useful in healing, after heat has been applied to an injury.
The water at Laodicea, coming from the two sources, was mingled before it got there and arrived lukewarm. It is said that this lukewarm water was so disgusting that it would induce one to vomit it back out after drinking it.
The church at Laodicea was full of pew warmers, a term that denotes people who have a tradition of going to services, but doing nothing to serve God's Kingdom or help the lost, the widowed, or the orphaned. They were people who showed up because it was expected by their culture, not because they had a passion for Christ and His work.
3: 18 The Laodiceans were rich due to their merchandise being much sought after, but they were poor in the things of the Spirit, lacking any care for God and His Word. They thought they were in need of nothing because of their wealth, but Christ says unto them "knowest not that though art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind (spiritually), and naked:
These people had the finest of clothing, and the nakedness that Christ speaks of is the lack of robes of righteousness, which come from Christ, and without which we are as naked before God in all of our sin.
3: 18 Christ counsels the Laodiceans to buy of Him gold tried in the fire (this speaks of riches in Heaven gained by doing the works of the Lord, not acts to be seen by men), and tried in the fire (proven to be true works or the Spirit, not selfishly done deeds). That they may be rich (in the things of God and His kingdom).
He also urges them to buy of Him white raiment that they may be clothed and that the shame of their nakedness not be seen (the clothes of righteousness that will cover us before God, so that God will see the righteousness of His Son, not the nakedness of our sins.
He goes on to say that they need to anoint their eyes with salve that they may see. When we are lost we are blind to the Truth of Christ and blind to our own sins. The eyesalve is the Word of God, revealing to us the truth and opening or eyes that we may see.
3: 19 God rebukes and chastens those whom He loves. Therefore, covet righteousness, and repent of your sins.
If a man thinks he is a Christian, but is able to sin wilfully without guilt of conscience, he is not being chastened by the Lord.
It is not for me to judge any man's salvation; but it is for each of us to question ourselves. Seek the chastening of the Lord, for a little chastening is painful but a short time, but damnation is and eternity of pain.
3: 20 Behold I stand at the door, and knock, if any man heart my voice and open the door, I will come in and will sup with him, and he with me.
Any man, not a select man; Jesus Christ is knocking at the door of the heart of all, but not all will hear His voice, and of those who hear His voice, not all will open the door of their hearts.
His creation and His Written word are a general invitation to all men. Not all will hear; there are those so bound up in their sins they can not hear. There are those who can hear, but think they have time to repent later. No man knows when it is appointed for him to die, now is the acceptable time of salvation. Only those who open the door in this life will receive Life Everlasting.
3: 21 Again, if we are in Christ, then we are those who will overcome. In addition, Christ promises that will set down with Him in His throne, and with Him in His Father's throne. Throne in this case could imply the place of His power.
3: 22 He that hath an ear....
The word ear used in these messages to the churches of Asia has the meaning of both physical and mental hearing. That is to listen and understand. Strong's Concordance number G191.
