But you do have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments, and because they are worthy, they will walk with Me in white.Nevertheless you have a few names in Sardis that didn’t defile their garments. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.But thou hast a few names in Sardis that did not defile their garments: and they shall walk with me in white; for they are worthy.
3 sermons cite this verse
… and then doing what the Lord leads you to do. I want to go this morning to the book of Revelation. I didn't even get to read my Bible verse last service, so I'm going to read at least my Bible verse, and then I'm going to go into the message. But in the book of Revelation chapter 3, and to the angel of the church in Sardis write, these things says he who has seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your works that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain that are ready to die. For I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard and hold fast and repent. Therefore, if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief and you will not know the hour I came upon you. He, verse five, he who overcomes shall be clothed with white garments and I will not blot out his name from the book of life, but 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. …
… hour I will come to you. I'll come and bring judgment on your church. But you have a few in Sardis who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. By the way, Sardis today is a pile of ruins. The church, even in the time this was written was on its deathbed. This is the church that really is no church. Well, there may be a straggling few believers there, but this is the church that we would say is involved in politics, social work, welfare, psychology. This is the rhyme of the ancient mariner. You remember Coleridge, corpses man the ship, dead men pull the oars. men steer the vessel." This was Sardis, the dead church, right at the very end of its very existence, barely alive. Verse 1, you have a name that you're alive, but you're dead. The only reason I say not completely is because of verse 5, there are overcomers who will be clothed in white garments, whose names will never be removed from the book of life, and whom I will confess before My Father and the angels." This church had a lot of activity, a lot of activity, deeds. …
Why, it is, first, that we should remember that if the love of the many may grow cold, then our love may grow cold! What are we that we should think ourselves secure where others are in danger? If other men as good as we are have gradually cooled down, may not we? Let us be watchful and careful—and let us go to God for more Grace. Let us notice, next, that if the love of the many grows cold, it is not much use our complaining about it, but the few must get together and pray. The real vitality of a Church seldom lies in the many, but generally in the few. Inside the election there is another election. Do you remember that out of Christ's disciples there were twelve? Out of the 12 there were three? Out of the three there was one? And so election has rings within rings. Inside the nominal Church—(we cannot say whether they are all God's people or not)—the many may grow cold, but there ought to be a remnant who abide in life and love. God grant that we may belong to it! We must at once grow warmer. We must live nearer to Christ. We must be more enthusiastic. Oh for a band of choice spirits—men fit to walk with Christ in white, for they are worthy— men who will be prepared to follow the Lamb wherever He goes! The Spirit said, "You have a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments." And so in every Church there are some that have not grown idle or heretical! Let them get together and help each other! I thank God for those whom the Lord keeps very near to Him—may their number be daily increased! May each one of us be filled with the Spirit! When I hear of one minister after another giving up the old-fashioned Gospel, do you know what I say to myself? I resolve that I will stick the closer to it! If the many cannot bear Calvinistic Doctrine, I will be more Calvinistic than ever! The more men do not like the Truths of God, the more they shall have it! Let this be our line of action. If men become more worldly, we will become more Puritanical. If professing Christians do not exhibit the Spirit of Christ, we will ask our Lord to give us sevenfold of His Spirit, that we may maintain His Truths! …