The church of Sardis presents us with the dilemma Jesus warned about in the parable of the tares (in Matt. 13:24-43): There will be true and false Christians in the church right up to the 2nd coming of Christ when the angels will gather out the tares and burn them in the fire. The message of repent and watch for the Lord’s coming is given to all but, only the faithful will hear it. The following video explains the church of Sardis –

The main lesson is “don’t judge success the way the world judges” but, remember what Samuel told King Saul – “obedience is better than sacrifice”. Many are putting their hope in false assurances such as infant baptism, church membership, faithful attendance at mass, giving, exuberant worship, or church growth – all of which may be good but, they do not secure your personal salvation.

You must be personally be ‘born again’; convicted by the Holy Spirit, being led to repent, and asking Jesus to come into your life. He will and He will erase your sins and give you a ‘robe of righteousness’ to wear but, but, but, you must put it on and keep it on by surrendering to His commands and endeavor to obey them. He will help you with this but, you must be willing. You can’t be selective in what you will obey and what you ignore. As Paul preached, you must take the ‘full gospel’ –

“Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.” – Rom. 15:19

In other words, there are no Sunday only Christians! If you really mean business with God He will bless you but, the religious crowd will hate you just as they do to Jewish believers in Israel –

Not much has changed since the days of Jesus’ first coming. Jews who should have welcomed His coming rejected it and lost their place in God’s Book of Life.

We just celebrated Yom Teruah (feast of Trumpets) and that is what it is all about – a warning to get ready for God’s judgment 10 days later on the Day of Atonement. I’m not predicting that it will happen this Feast of Trumpets but, it will happen on one Feast of Trumpets. With all the signs presently taking place, surely it is time to get right with God, not with hate and threats but with love and truth.

That is the lesson from the church of Sardis.