DISCOURSE: 2494
EPISTLE TO SARDIS
Revelation 3:1. And unto the angel of the Church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
IF we thought, as some do, that the epistles to the different Churches in Asia were descriptive of the state of the Church, in successive periods of time, to the end of the world, we should be ready to fix on this epistle, above all others, as characterizing the present time. There is much profession of religion in the world, and somewhat of the reality; but very many, who “have the form of godliness, are either wholly destitute of its power,” or so inanimate as to excite suspicions that they are “dead.” Without intending to say that any such parallel was designed of God (for I conceive that all the epistles were merely descriptive of the several Churches at the time they were written), I yet feel no doubt, but that, so far as the circumstances of any particular Church at this day accord with those of any Asiatic Church, what is spoken to that Asiatic Church may well be applied to us at this time. I therefore avail myself of this to point out to you,
I. The reproof given to the Church of Sardis—
Our blessed Lord, in this, as in all the other epistles, assumes to himself such titles and attributes as are peculiarly suited to the subject-matter of the epistle itself. He was about to declare the real state of the Church at Sardis to be very different from that which was generally supposed: we therefore here find,
1. His qualifications for exercising judgment—
[He has in himself all the fulness of the Spirit. This is intimated in that expression, “He hath the seven Spirits of God.” The number, seven, denotes both variety and perfection: and he has, both for his own personal endowment and for the benefit of his people, the Holy Spirit in all his diversified powers and operations. As Messiah, it was foretold of him, that “he should be anointed with the oil of joy and gladness above his fellows [Note: Psalms 45:7.];” that is, above all, whether in earth or heaven, who should partake of this divine unction. It was said, “The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord, and shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord [Note: Isaiah 11:2-3.].” So endowed, he was able to discern every motion of men’s hearts: not the slightest “imagination of a thought” could escape his notice: “every spirit could be weighed by him” in a perfect balance; and his “judgment could not but be according to truth.” Hence it is expressly said of him, that “all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do [Note: Hebrews 4:13.].” At the same time, “he holdeth the seven stars in his hand;” and observes whether they move with perfect regularity in their respective orbits, and reflect with unclouded splendour, for the benefit of the world, the light which they derive from him. He has formed them for his own glory; and he expects that they exist and move for no other end.
But, from the closest inspection of them, he gives this as,]
2. His testimony respecting that degenerate Church—
[“Thou hast a name that thou livest, and (but) art dead.” The Church of Sardis was held in repute by the other neighbouring Churches to which the different epistles were written: but they were really in a very degenerate state; many of them being yet altogether “dead in trespasses and sins;” and those who had a spark of life within them, being so cold, as to be to all appearance “dead.” What were the precise points in which they failed, we are not informed. It does not appear that there was any flagrant violation of God’s law among them, or any toleration of principles that were fundamentally erroneous; for then they would have been condemned on these accounts, as the other Churches had been: but, while they were externally blameless, he “found,” and testified, that their inward state was lamentably defective. Of this he complained; and,]
From his complaint, I will take occasion to shew,
II.
How far it is applicable to the Christian Church at this day—
There is doubtless a great profession of religion at the present day—
[Religion, in some respects, has of late become, I had almost said, the fashion of the day. The leading doctrines of Christianity, such as our fall in Adam and our recovery by Christ, are so generally acknowledged now, that, if they were kept out of sight in the degree in which they were withheld from public notice through the seventeenth and the greater part of the eighteenth century, there would be a general complaint against those ministers who so treacherously withheld from men the bread of life. Mere morality would not satisfy men now, as it did through that unhappy period, when the extravagances of those who had professed a more than ordinary zeal for the Gospel had driven men to a contrary extreme, and led them almost to expel the Gospel from their public ministrations. A concern to propagate the Gospel has arisen of late, and pervaded all ranks and orders of men. Even kings upon their thrones have used their influence to send the light of divine truth to the remotest nations of the earth, where not a ray of it had ever shone before. Nobles have also lent their influence, and even personally stood forth to advocate the cause of Christ before men: and vast assemblies of persons, who could find no other common ground to stand upon, have met, to advance the diffusion of divine knowledge, and to help forward, in every possible way, the salvation of the world. Societies have been formed, by every class of Christians, for the furtherance of this good work; and even the poorest in the land have gladly contributed their aid, that, through the collective efforts of the Christian world, ignorance might be banished from the earth, and that the light of the Gospel might shine into the hearts of the most benighted heathen. In this view, it may well be said of the great mass of the Christian community, that “they have a name to live.”]
But, though a profession of religion is general, the actual possession of it is rare—
[The greater part of these very persons, it is to be feared, whilst “they have a name to live, are dead.” Many have patronized the spread of the Bible, and promoted the reading of it by others, who yet have never had it written in their own hearts; and many have advocated its leading truths, who have never experienced them in their own souls. Many have spoken well about repentance, and faith, and obedience, as to be inculcated on others, who have never wept for their own sins; never fled to Christ for refuge from the wrath of God; never yielded up themselves as living sacrifices to God, to be employed, and, if need be, to be consumed for him. And thousands have given liberally to God the pittance they could ill afford, who yet have never given to him their hearts, which alone is the gift that is acceptable to him. Yes, indeed, it is to be feared that the great mass of those who applaud themselves, and are applauded by others, as zealous for the truth, have never so much as had the first principles of the Gospel formed within them. They are still, in all other respects, the very same men that they were before they became thus active, and the same as other persons are who have never once concurred in any one of their benevolent pursuits.
Respecting some we may “hope better things.” But even where there is some spiritual life, it is but a spark, which is scarcely seen under the embers by which it is obscured. The frame of the generality is by no means such as the Christian life requires. How little is there of real spirituality of mind, real delight in God, real devotedness of heart to his service! Where the souls of men are in a right state, a divine savour diffuses itself all around them, and they shine as lights in a dark world. But, if you look at those who appear so zealous for the diffusion of the Gospel amongst others, how few do you find of this character! Truly the state of the Sardian Church is realized to an awful extent amongst us: insomuch, that it may well be said of us, as it was of them, “Ye have a name that ye live, but are dead.”]
Let me then, in conclusion, urge upon you two important duties,
1.
Examine into the real state of your souls before God—
[Be not satisfied with good appearances, or with the good opinion which others have formed respecting you. To what purpose will it be to “have a name to live, when the heart-searching God attests that ye are dead?” It is by his judgment, and not by that of men, that ye will stand or fall: and therefore you must rest in no state which does not approve itself to the heart-searching God. “Examine, then, whether ye be in the faith, and prove your own selves:” for, “not he that commendeth himself will be approved, but he whom the Lord commendeth.”]
2. Look to the Lord Jesus Christ for the effectual aid of his Spirit—
[The Lord Jesus has received the Holy Spirit, in order that he may give it [Note: Compare Psalms 68:18. with Ephesians 4:8.]; and in him is a sufficiency for all your necessities. You cannot conceive of any want that there is in you, but there is a corresponding fulness in him. Look, then, to Christ for the sevenfold gifts of his Spirit: so shall your future course be bright and regular, and God himself shall be glorified in your deportment.]