Main Idea: The final judgment will reveal that many local churches had members who did Christian things but were not actually Christians.

1a “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.

The Near Certainty that Some Within the Local Church Are Not Spiritually Alive

• 1b, 2 “‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.
  • Matthew 7:21–23
  • Romans 8:9
  • Matthew 13:1–8, 18–23
  • Matthew 13:24–30
• 3 Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.
  • Matthew 24:43, 44
  • Revelation 16:15a
  • 1 Thessalonians 5:1–10

The Absolute Certainty That The Spiritually Alive Will Receive Eternal Life

• 4, 5a Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments,
  • Revelation 6:11
  • Revelation 7:9, 13, 14
  • Revelation 16:15b
  • Revelation 19:7, 8
  • Matthew 22:11–14
• 5b, 6  and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
  • Daniel 12:1, 2
  • Revelation 13:7, 8
  • Revelation 20:11–15

So What?

• Our church must value genuine conversion, not mere participation.
  • 2 Corinthians 13:5, 6