Jesus points out the lifeless state of the church in Sardis - "..you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead." This church may have had a name of being alive, but they were spiritually lifeless. In other words, the church was filled with unsaved people going through the motions of religion who needed to wake up and repent IN CONTRAST with a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Jesus in white.
*White garments are mentioned elsewhere in Revelation. The church at Laodicea mentions white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed.(Revelation 3:18). The 24 elders wear white garments (Revelation 4:4). The martyrs waiting for God’s judgment are given white robes to wear (Revelation 6:11). The armies appearing with the Messiah also wear white and clean linen (Revelation 19:14). The great multitude of the saved in Revelation 7:14 wear robes made white in the red blood of the Lamb. The color paradox makes the point and implies that the color white stands for God’s people made spiritually pure and justified by Jesus’ blood. That means the few in Sardis who were given white robes had been made right and just before God.
In Revelation 3:5, we read - "He who overcomes I will never blot out his name from the book of life." The "overcomer" mentioned in this letter to Sardis is the Believer/Christian. Compare this with 1 John 5:4: "Everyone who is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith.
BELIEVING ON HIM brings salvation (John 1:12; 3:15,16,18; Acts 10:43; 16:31 etc..). Those who believe on Him and are saved will suffer for Him (and some will suffer more than others) because the world (especially certain parts of the world) is hostile to Christianity and it's only going to get worse!
Those who are born again have been sanctified/made holy/set apart in standing before God positionally in Christ. 1 Corinthians 6:11 - Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 1:2 - To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified (past tense) in Christ Jesus..
Yet we also see progressive sanctification in which the reality of that holiness becomes more and more evident in our actions, words, thoughts, attitudes, and motives. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4, - For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain (present tense) from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor.
Who are you implying rejects this instruction? All you do is point out warnings in the Bible, then imply that many Christians will surely fail to heed these warnings (particularly Christians who hold to OSAS/eternal security/preservation of the saints etc..) and fail to merit eternal life based on the merits of their performance and instead, practice sin and end up in hell, while boasting in your performance and self righteously claiming this surely doesn't apply to you. Be sure to read 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 and notice that verse 9 says the "unrighteous" will not inherit the kingdom of God and also take note of the word "practice" in Galatians 5:21 and 1 John 3:9. (NASB)
Believers were (past tense) once darkness, but are now light in the Lord and we are to live as children of light. This is the state of believers.
Acts 26:18 - to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.
2 Corinthians 6:14 - Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?
1 Thessalonians 5:4 - But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.
There are 3 tenses to salvation. 1. We have been saved from the PENALTY of sin (justification) 2. We are being saved from the POWER of sin (ongoing sanctification) 3. We will be saved from the PRESENCE of sin (glorification) Romans 3:11 is referring to the latter tense (glorification).
I have not refused Him who speaks or turned away from Him who warns us from heaven, but unfortunately, many "nominal" Christians over the years have.
What makes you think I refuse His warnings? You speak as if you are on the throne of God Himself judging the world. We are ALL accountable to God. All you do is talk about warnings and imply that Christians who hold to OSAS/eternal security/preservation of the saints etc.. and don't live in fear and bondage to IN-security about their salvation will surely fail to heed these warnings and end up in hell. Then you defend works-salvationists who are trusting in their performance/works to receive eternal life. *I NEVER hear you stress that salvation is by grace through faith in JESUS CHRIST ALONE and is NOT BY WORKS. (Ephesians 2:8,9) *So maybe it's you who needs to heed the warning to repent and believe the gospel. *You need to take a long hard look in the mirror.
*White garments are mentioned elsewhere in Revelation. The church at Laodicea mentions white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed.(Revelation 3:18). The 24 elders wear white garments (Revelation 4:4). The martyrs waiting for God’s judgment are given white robes to wear (Revelation 6:11). The armies appearing with the Messiah also wear white and clean linen (Revelation 19:14). The great multitude of the saved in Revelation 7:14 wear robes made white in the red blood of the Lamb. The color paradox makes the point and implies that the color white stands for God’s people made spiritually pure and justified by Jesus’ blood. That means the few in Sardis who were given white robes had been made right and just before God.
In Revelation 3:5, we read - "He who overcomes I will never blot out his name from the book of life." The "overcomer" mentioned in this letter to Sardis is the Believer/Christian. Compare this with 1 John 5:4: "Everyone who is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith.
BELIEVING ON HIM brings salvation (John 1:12; 3:15,16,18; Acts 10:43; 16:31 etc..). Those who believe on Him and are saved will suffer for Him (and some will suffer more than others) because the world (especially certain parts of the world) is hostile to Christianity and it's only going to get worse!
Those who are born again have been sanctified/made holy/set apart in standing before God positionally in Christ. 1 Corinthians 6:11 - Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 1:2 - To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified (past tense) in Christ Jesus..
Yet we also see progressive sanctification in which the reality of that holiness becomes more and more evident in our actions, words, thoughts, attitudes, and motives. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4, - For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain (present tense) from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor.
Who are you implying rejects this instruction? All you do is point out warnings in the Bible, then imply that many Christians will surely fail to heed these warnings (particularly Christians who hold to OSAS/eternal security/preservation of the saints etc..) and fail to merit eternal life based on the merits of their performance and instead, practice sin and end up in hell, while boasting in your performance and self righteously claiming this surely doesn't apply to you. Be sure to read 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 and notice that verse 9 says the "unrighteous" will not inherit the kingdom of God and also take note of the word "practice" in Galatians 5:21 and 1 John 3:9. (NASB)
Believers were (past tense) once darkness, but are now light in the Lord and we are to live as children of light. This is the state of believers.
Acts 26:18 - to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.
2 Corinthians 6:14 - Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?
1 Thessalonians 5:4 - But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.
There are 3 tenses to salvation. 1. We have been saved from the PENALTY of sin (justification) 2. We are being saved from the POWER of sin (ongoing sanctification) 3. We will be saved from the PRESENCE of sin (glorification) Romans 3:11 is referring to the latter tense (glorification).
I have not refused Him who speaks or turned away from Him who warns us from heaven, but unfortunately, many "nominal" Christians over the years have.
What makes you think I refuse His warnings? You speak as if you are on the throne of God Himself judging the world. We are ALL accountable to God. All you do is talk about warnings and imply that Christians who hold to OSAS/eternal security/preservation of the saints etc.. and don't live in fear and bondage to IN-security about their salvation will surely fail to heed these warnings and end up in hell. Then you defend works-salvationists who are trusting in their performance/works to receive eternal life. *I NEVER hear you stress that salvation is by grace through faith in JESUS CHRIST ALONE and is NOT BY WORKS. (Ephesians 2:8,9) *So maybe it's you who needs to heed the warning to repent and believe the gospel. *You need to take a long hard look in the mirror.
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