“Keep it.” This just a mental exercise. isn’t not just to remember the Gospel, but live it out! We’re = “Repent” “change direction” by remembering and acting on the truth of the Gospel. V. The Consequences of (v. 3b) Ignoring Jesus’ Commands no way know when Powerful language: “There’s you’ll I’ll come!” Jesus will come in and the church. “overturn” If they insist on acting like a dead church, make them a dead church! He’ll VI. The Promise and Challenge to the Overcomers (3:4-6) V. 4 - There is a remnant in Sardis who have their “not soiled garments.” They have not blended into the world. They will with Jesus “walk” to live as Jesus would have them live. They’ll continue V. 5 The reward of all who overcome. – be in They’ll “clothed white” Remain righteous Participate in at His return. Christ’s victory procession names will never be blotted out of the book of life They’re of A book where the names of those who are righteous in the sight “Book life” – of God (they follow Jesus) are recroded. Revelation if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, 20:15: “And he was thrown into the lake of fire.” Revelation 21:27: nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does “But what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.” In Sardis, names of convicted felons were blotted out of the official list of citizens. In Jewish synagogues, the names of those who were removed from the synagogue were blotted out. Jesus is promising that will never happen to those who know Christ! They might be excluded from THIS world, but NEVER from the next! Matthew 10:32: will confess his name before my Father and before his “I angels.” In light of that, how can we ever let our lives and our church become dull and lifeless? who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the “He churches.”
“Keep it.” This isn’t just a mental exercise. We’re not just to remember the Gospel, but live it out! “Repent” = “change direction” by remembering and acting on the truth of the Gospel. V. The Consequences of Ignoring Jesus’ Commands (v. 3b) Powerful language: “There’s no way you’ll know when I’ll come!” Jesus will come in and “overturn” the church. If they insist on acting like a dead church, He’ll make them a dead church! VI. The Promise and Challenge to the Overcomers (3:4-6) V. 4 - There is a remnant in Sardis who have “not soiled their garments.” They have not blended into the world. They will “walk” with Jesus They’ll continue to live as Jesus would have them live. V. 5 – The reward of all who overcome. They’ll be “clothed in white” Remain righteous Participate in Christ’s victory procession at His return. They’re names will never be blotted out of the book of life “Book of life” – A book where the names of those who are righteous in the sight of God (they follow Jesus) are recroded. Revelation 20:15: “And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” Revelation 21:27: “But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.” In Sardis, names of convicted felons were blotted out of the official list of citizens. In Jewish synagogues, the names of those who were removed from the synagogue were blotted out. Jesus is promising that will never happen to those who know Christ! They might be excluded from THIS world, but NEVER from the next! Matthew 10:32: “I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.” In light of that, how can we ever let our lives and our church become dull and lifeless? “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
061216_supplemental-sermon-notes.docx