Church in Sardis

THE SEVEN KINDS OF MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST (Part 5)

Let us study another kind of member in the Church of Christ according to our Lord Jesus Christ.

Revelation 3:1-6 NASB

“To the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. ‘Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. ‘So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you. ‘But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. ‘He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and 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.’”

It is clear from our Lord Jesus that the members in Sardis are regarded as dead because they are not practicing deeds of holiness. Although they were born anew for God and for Jesus, their faith remains dead because it is not accompanied with deeds.

Therefore, being a member of the Church of Christ loses its meaning if they don’t accompany their faith with works. The words of God loses its influence over them because they don’t put them into practice. Even if they have a broad and deep knowledge of the teachings of God, it will not amount to sacredness, not until they live in accord with them.

The ministers must remember this and strive to enlighten the members under their care. Although it is essential to join the true Church, it will be inconsequential if they will not abide by or follow God’s commandments.

James 2:14 NIV

“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?”

Apostle James’ question is rhetorical. Faith alone without works will not save us. He also affirmed that faith is perfected through obedience of God’s commandments.

James 2:22, 26 NASB

“You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected;“

“For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.”

The work referred to is the righteous deeds of the saints dressed in white, allowing them to attend the marriage of the Lamb. They were cleansed and made white by the blood of Christ. In Christ’s parable of the wedding feast, those who are invited but are not wearing white clothing would be thrown out into punishment. Therefore, simply becoming a member of the true church is insufficient; abiding by God’s teachings and commandments is necessary. Through a parable, our Lord Jesus Christ explains why there will be members caught unprepared on the day of his second coming.

Matthew 24:42-51 NIV

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.“

The wise servant is faithful to his Lord, while the wicked servant is indulging in irrelevant things and beats up other servants. What needed to be done, however, was to strive for the perfection of faith. Hence, if one only has faith, but without works, he cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. He will not have the white clothing needed to attend the wedding feast. According to the parable of our Lord Jesus Christ, they will be cast out to eternal punishment. They did not strive for the perfection of their faith for they thought that there will be a long time until Christ returns. They are negligent, overindulging and abounding with wicked deeds. Our Lord Jesus Christ admonished them to repent and change their ways while they still have the chance.

Therefore, it is truly important that the ministers edify and tend the brethren under their care. Enjoin them to adhere and follow the teachings and commandments of our Lord God for the perfection of faith. God’s promise is clear, the name of those who will be triumphant will never be removed in any way from the Book of Life.