Could You Be a Christian in Name Only?

The same apathetic arrogance that characterized the city of Sardis was evident in the Sardis church. Its believers grew content, complacent and self-satisfied. They had created a name for themselves, but a spirit of smugness left them open to sin’s assault. Sardis’s church drifted into spiritual unconsciousness and died.

Christ wastes no time confronting their sin. In Revelation 3:1, He says, “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.”

Sardis was perhaps the first church in history with what we would call nominal Christians—people who claim to be Christians but are not. The church was full of people who made professions of faith, but it was clear the Holy Spirit was not present—they were not bearing the fruit of genuine faith. While the church appeared outwardly alive, it was inwardly dead, and the Lord was frank in His rebuke.

The church was full of people who made professions of faith, but it was clear the Holy Spirit was not present—they were not bearing the fruit of genuine faith.

Jesus detected the same defective faith in the Pharisees when He was on earth. They gave alms, prayed, and fasted in a dramatic fashion so that other men would notice how spiritual they were. Jesus confronted them in Matthew 23:27-28, saying, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”

Outward appearances never fool God, but He is ever patient, “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). This is why He gave the believers in Sardis an opportunity to correct their ways. As members of the modern Church, we also need to heed these instructions. Far be it for our beautiful church buildings, bustling with activity, to disguise spiritual stagnation.

Step 1: Be Sensitive to Sin

First, Christ warns the church to “be watchful” (Revelation 3:2). This warning conveys the idea of chasing away sleep. In other words, stay alert! Or, as the apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:14, “Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”

Jesus is not suggesting insomnia as a spiritual solution. His instruction is to be watchful and perpetually on guard against sin. As the Lord instructed Cain, “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it” (Genesis 4:7, NIV). To have a vibrant faith, we must be sober-minded and alert.

Step 2: Be Submissive to the Holy Spirit

In verse three, Jesus charges the church, “Remember therefore how you have received and heard.” He is referring to the work of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit’s power enables us to engage our sinful culture from a position of redemption and receive the Word of God in a life-changing way.

The Spirit’s power enables us to engage our sinful culture from a position of redemption and receive the Word of God in a life-changing way.

If we fail to live in the power of the Holy Spirit and continue our sinful habits, we will quench God’s Spirit and become separated from our life source. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians puts it this way: “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30). Sin is personal to God; it pains Him deeply. Activities that grieve the Spirit include bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, evil speaking or slander, and all types of immoral behavior. On the other hand, submitting to the Spirit enables us to replace sinful inclinations with kindness, tenderheartedness, and Christlike forgiveness.

So, living in the Holy Spirit’s power will improve our relationships. It will also transform the manner of our worship.

Consider your attitude toward worship. Do you offer God praise out of a sense of ritual and duty? Or do you praise Him with love, joy, and excitement?

Submitting to the Spirit enables us to replace sinful inclinations with kindness, tenderheartedness, and Christlike forgiveness.

Scripture is clear that God values the spirit of our giving, not the substance of our giving (see 2 Corinthians 9:7, Luke 21:1-4). No matter what worship styles we practice or how much we give, the power of the Holy Spirit should be evident in our lives.

Step 3: Be Subject to the Authority of God’s Word

The next instruction given to Sardis is to “hold fast” (Revelation 3:3), which means “to keep.” It appears four other times in the book of Revelation. In each case, it refers to keeping the Word of God (Revelation 1:3; 3:8; 12:17; 22:7). I believe the greatest threat to biblical soundness today is the removal of God’s Word from the pulpits, and the death of the Sardis church bears testimony to this truth.

Jesus charges His people to know God’s Word and obey it. In all personal and corporate matters, Scripture should govern our decisions. Hiding God’s Word in our hearts is the key to avoiding temptation. It should form the foundation for our choices and actions.

Hiding God’s Word in our hearts is the key to avoiding temptation.

Step 4: Repent

Finally, Jesus instructs the Sardis church to repent. This is the same prescription He issued to the Ephesian church that had abandoned its first love and the church in Pergamos that had pursued immorality and idolatry. Sin grieves God’s Spirit.

God’s method of recovery never changes. For those of us in the process of spiritual decay, the only remedy is repentance. We must ask God to forgive us for abandoning His Word as we turn away from our sins and move in a new direction. If we intend to love the Lord with all our hearts, souls, and minds (Matthew 22:37), there is no room for unrepented sin.

If we intend to love the Lord with all our hearts, souls, and minds (Matthew 22:37), there is no room for unrepented sin.

Although hypocrisy and pride characterized the church of Sardis, it was not too late for them to admit their sin, submit to their Savior and His Word, and repent. We have the same opportunity today. By guarding against the inroads of sin in our life, we can experience spiritual renewal through Jesus (Romans 6:4).

Any time you find yourself drifting from the rock of our salvation, implement the four-step prescription Christ Jesus gave to Sardis. God will restore you and enable you to walk in newness of life.