LEARNING DAILY

 

Revelation 3:1c, “I know your works, that you have a name, that you are alive, but you are dead.”   Jesus to the church at Sardis

 

I have found a study of the seven churches in Revelation to be fascinating.  One scholar has said that each church represents a particular time in the history of the church.  I have written in the margin of my Bible that the church of Sardis represents the church during the time of the Reformation and Martin Luther.   Even if it does, there is a strong message for the church of today.  Notice I am not mentioning a specific denomination nor a particular church.  Jesus is speaking to the church in general.  Basically, He is telling the church to wake up because it is dead.  I am interested to understand why.

 

“The church at Sardis was spiritually dead, with only a few of its members remaining faithful to the gospel.  Outwardly it appeared spiritually alive and active and had a reputation of success.  But Jesus saw the absence of inner reality of Himself in the hearts of the people; He saw religion, not spiritual life.” (from notes in the Life of the Spirit Study Bible).  The church appeared to be alive and had a great reputation for religious activity.  But Jesus said it was dead.  Read on about the church.  Their works showed different from their profession. 

 

I read about what churches are teaching and doing and I think how can this train of thought be?  Do you remember the Scripture that says, “For the time will come when people will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” (2 Timothy 4:3-4).  Churches who preach anything different from the gospel of Jesus Christ are leading people away from truth and teaching lies.  They are not teaching doctrine because people do not want to hear about sin causing them to be separated from God.  No, they preach a different doctrine that makes one feel good about themselves.  Preach the love of God but do not preach about a God that judges sin.  Just make up doctrine and a made-up Christianity.

 

You don’t believe this is happening?  Answer this question.  Why are so many mainline churches arguing over whether Jesus is the only way to heaven?  Why are so many professing to be Christians denying the existence of hell?  Why are mainline churches passing regulations placing homosexuals in the pulpit when this behavior is detestable in God’s eyes?  It is all because it feels good. 

 

I have a thought.  In the Tribulation to come, there will be a worldwide religion, one religion that will be focused on worship of the Antichrist.  I wonder if this dead church thing is part of the plan to get people to go along with whatever the Antichrist says once he takes over the religions of the world.  The true church would never go along with what he will demand.

 

Jesus told the church at Sardis to wake up and repent.  I believe the true church of Jesus needs to wake up today.  Perhaps we need to explore this a little further.

 

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