It was in his play, The Merchant of Venice, that William Shakespeare first popularized the phrase that perhaps your mother said to you as you were growing old,
all that glitters is not gold.
Influenced by Shakespeare a couple of hundred years later, Tolkien writes in The Riddle of the Strider,
which is originally meant to be in partnership with The Fellowship of the Ring,
transforms that phrase somewhat, and he says this,
all that is gold does not glitter.
So you hear from Shakespeare, all that is glitter is not gold.
Just because something is shiny doesn't mean that it has value.
Tolkien takes it, flips it just a little bit, and he says all that is gold is not glitter.
In other words, something may seem drab and dull at first,
but is actually truly precious if you come to understand its reality.
Now what both of these men were hinting at, this proverb that they're hitting at at those moments,
is at the same truth, and that is that things are not always as they appear.
They're not always as they appear.
As many people discovered in the gold rush of the 1840s, the California gold rush,
something that seems like a precious metal to the trained eye,
to the one with knowledge, turns out to just be a worthless mineral pyrite, fool's gold.
The sermon to the church in Sardis applies this same truth to the Christian world.
A church that appears to be full of life can, in reality, be spiritually dead.
Because not everyone who professes to be a Christian is truly saved from sin,
is truly forgiven, is truly at peace with God through the work of Christ.
So it's possible then, and it's evidenced in the church of Sardis,
that a church can consist of unsaved Christians.
Jesus said it this way in Matthew chapter 7,
Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven,
but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
On that day, that day of judgment, of reckoning,
that he refers to in this letter to Sardis,
on that day many will say to me,
Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name?
And cast out demons in your name?
And do many mighty works in your name?
And then will I declare to them,
I never knew you.
Depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.
In other words, all that glitters is not gold.
Not every professing believer has been reborn.
The church in Sardis is the last in a grouping of three churches
addressed in the middle of this section of chapters 2 and 3 of Revelation.
All three churches were dealing with the same issue,
but it was varying levels of spiritual compromise.
And their order, as we have discussed the last couple of weeks,
presents a progression of bad to worse.
The subtle compromise in Pergamum evolved into an overt compromise in Thyatira.
Sardis then, as the concluding church in this threefold grouping,
represents the final stage of development,
where compromise kills a church.
And interestingly, as we get through this sermon,
and as we think through it,
it's not that the congregation ceases to exist.
Deadness does not equate to non-existence.
Not every church that is dead is wiped away.
Sometimes that is the case.
That's not the case with Sardis.
Instead, the church continued under the banner of Christianity
without actually being Christian.
Now, there's two dominant themes in this particular message from Jesus
that we can't ignore.
The first is the divine omniscience of Jesus.
Omniscience meaning all-knowing.
He knows all things.
Jesus knows what is true of everyone and everything
and what appears to us, perhaps,
as a precious metal in terms of a Christian
or professing Christian or a professing Christian church.
Jesus knows to be fool's gold.
He's the one with the trained eye.
He's the one who knows the reality of all things.
That's the first theme.
Jesus knows.
The second dominant theme in this particular sermon
is the righteous judgment of Jesus.
The righteous judgment of Jesus.
The Lord Jesus knows all things truly.
Therefore, he judges all things righteously.
Do you see the connection between the two?
He knows all things truly for what they really are.
Therefore, his judgments are perfectly righteous.
They're always accurate.
He cannot be fooled.
So, his judgments are perfect.
Now, a key feature in dead churches
and among unsaved Christians, if we can use that term,
is self-deception.
We fool ourselves perhaps even faster than we would fool anyone else,
which is why passages like this are so vitally important for us to hear and to understand.
Not only does it contain a severe warning for those who will continue on this path of spiritual compromise,
but as always, it affirms God's glorious promises for all who persevere in repentance and faith.
That's why it's so necessary.
It confronts us at just the place we need to be confronted,
and then it picks us up with the promises that we need to be picked up by.
The only promises that can actually pick us up.
So, that's what's happening with the church in Sardis.
It's what we want to meditate on this morning.
Let's consider in verse 1 the church's identity and the Christ titles that are used here.
Look with me at the beginning of verse 1.
To the angel of the church in Sardis write,
the words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.
During Jesus's life and ministry,
if you want to know a little background of the city of Sardis,
it was as Jesus was growing up as a boy and as a teenager and then on into his ministry,
it was the emperor, Roman emperor Tiberius,
who was sponsoring several reconstruction efforts in the ancient city of Sardis.
By the time John writes the revelation,
Sardis had a large theater in its sitting.
It had a stadium.
Its main street was made of marble.
It had a marble road.
You can look at some of the ancient ruins that are there
to see some of the remnants that still remain.
It had many religious sites,
including monumentally its temple to Artemis.
It had all of these things at the time that John is writing.
But the truth is that the glory days of Sardis
were well in the past by the time this book was circulated among the churches in Asia.
The city was actually most famous for having been embarrassingly conquered
the same way twice in its history.
The stories of these conquerings involve the Acropolis of Sardis,
which an Acropolis is just a large hill that would be connected to a city.
And on the top of this hill, there might be a religious site or a temple or something like that.
In Sardis, it was a citadel.
It was a fortified place for the wealthy and for the soldiers to kind of hunker down
when they were being besieged by an enemy army.
The citadel atop the Acropolis in Sardis was only guarded on three sides.
Reason being that one side had such steep cliffs that it was determined and believed by most people
that the citadel was completely impregnable.
Nobody could possibly gain access to the citadel, so they thought, from that side of the complex.
So they never left it guarded.
They left it totally unguarded, unwatched.
Well, as you might imagine, on two separate occasions, once in 547 B.C. with Cyrus the Great,
and then again in 215 B.C., enemy soldiers invade the citadel from the unattended side.
They scale the cliffs, they climb over, and they walk to the front where the gate is,
and themselves, they open the gate to allow the army in.
That's what Sardis is famous for historically, not only today, but even in the days of John
when he's writing the Revelation.
It is known for these infamous events which serve as parables to the state of the church in Sardis.
Just as the soldiers had been defeated due to a lack of vigilance,
the church had left its doctrine unguarded and was almost entirely dead.
Well, that's the church's identity.
Let's think now about the Christ titles that are listed here.
Jesus says, write the words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.
So, in Jesus' self-revelation, there seems to be mystery at first,
but really what Jesus says about the seven spirits and the seven stars is defined for us in the first chapter.
The seven spirits of God refers to the Holy Spirit.
Just set your eyes on chapter 1.
You're open to chapter 3.
Look over at chapter 1 in this Trinitarian greeting in verses 4 and 5.
Revelation 1, 4 and 5.
John to the seven churches that are in Asia.
Grace to you and peace.
Number one, from him who is and who was and who is to come.
That's God the Father.
And from the seven spirits who are before his throne.
And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead,
and the ruler of kings on earth.
Do you see where the seven spirits of God are sandwiched here?
It's in this Trinitarian greeting.
John writes and he says,
I'm sending you grace and peace on behalf of the Father and the Son.
And sandwiched right in between is the seven spirits of God, which is just representative.
It's a different way of referring to the Holy Spirit.
Now, it's not entirely clear why Jesus used seven spirits in this self-revelation instead of just saying Holy Spirit.
This is not common in the scriptures.
It's unique to these few chapters here in Revelation.
It's not exactly clear why he does that,
but it will be helpful for you to remember that there are certain numbers that are used in the book of Revelation
that have significant symbolic meaning.
Seven is one of them.
It's not always, especially in Revelation, intended to provide a precise number,
but it is a symbol, a representative of fullness, completeness.
So, Jesus doesn't mean for us to conclude here that there are seven distinct spirits of God,
but that he possesses the fullness of the knowledge of the Holy Spirit,
who is everywhere present and fully apprised of all that takes place.
Notice what it is that Jesus says.
The words of him who has the seven spirits,
who has the Holy Spirit, the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
In other words, this is a statement of Jesus' divine oneness in the Trinity,
his divine oneness with the Father and the Spirit.
So, what is it that he's saying?
He's saying, I know.
I know everything.
I know what's true of you Sardisian Christians.
Everybody else thinks one thing of you.
I know what's actually true of you because I'm the one who has the seven spirits.
I am one with the Spirit.
I have the fullness of the knowledge of God.
We're also told in chapter 1 that the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches.
You're in chapter 1, perhaps still.
Look at verse 20 there.
As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand,
and the seven golden lampstands,
the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches,
and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
Now, angel, angelos in Greek here,
isn't referring to a heavenly being,
but to a messenger from God.
It can literally be translated as messenger.
The messengers to the churches are best understood as the pastors who serve as Christ under shepherds to the church.
Okay?
They are his messengers.
They care for his people.
That Jesus has the seven stars.
What he says in chapter 1 and verse 20,
and then again in chapter 2 and verse 1,
he phrases it that he holds them in his right hand.
He means the same thing here.
That he has the seven stars.
That he holds them in his right hand.
Speaks to his authority over the churches.
So the bottom line of these Christ titles is this.
That Jesus is the Lord.
He is the Lord God.
He knows all things.
He has authority over all things.
He knows what's true of each one of us,
and he will judge each of us in perfect righteousness.
So from the very beginning of this message to Sardis,
he wants them and he wants us to understand his omniscience and his lordship,
that he knows what's true,
and that it is before him that each of us will ultimately stand in judgment.
That's the identity in the Christ titles.
Let's now look at the complaint.
Now, if you've followed along closely in the last few sermons,
you'll recognize that we missed one of the categories here,
which would typically be the category of commendation.
The reason we've skipped it is because there isn't one.
There is no commendation for this church.
In fact, it's one of two churches among the seven
that receives no commendation whatsoever.
The other one is Laodicea,
which we'll get to in a couple of weeks.
Now remember, Jesus' judgments are perfect.
So the lack of a commendation is due to the reality
that there was truly nothing worth commending.
Even Thyatira,
who was accommodating a Jezebel false teacher in their church,
still received a commendation.
But Jesus comes to Sardis and to Laodicea,
and he has nothing good to say.
Nothing.
Why these churches,
these two churches don't have commendations?
Well, it's because they both represent the final developments
in both spiritual complacency,
that's Laodicea,
and spiritual compromise,
that's Sardis,
which produces spiritual death.
These are dead churches.
Jesus is on the outside looking in.
There's no commendation there.
So we move directly to complaint.
Look at the end of verse 1.
Jesus says,
I know your works.
You have the reputation of being alive,
but you're dead.
Look at the second part of verse 2.
I have not found your works complete
in the sight of my God.
So Jesus' complaint here is that
though it appears to outsiders
as a vibrant congregation,
the church in Sardis is actually comprised
of unsaved Christians.
They appear to be alive,
but they're truly dead.
And in this context,
the New Testament always uses death
to describe the unregenerate,
the unsaved.
When Jesus says it's a dead church,
he doesn't mean that
if you go to a service there,
it's a little chilly,
and people don't sing very well,
and that people are a little bit rude
and to themselves and introverted
and all those kinds of things.
That's not what Jesus means.
When Jesus says the church in Sardis is dead,
he means they're not believers,
that it's made up mostly
of unregenerate people.
Something about the church in Sardis
seemed spiritually vibrant,
and we could jump into
all kinds of speculation
as to what that is
and how it corresponds
to the same kind of situation today,
and we won't do that,
but in Jesus' perfect evaluation,
they're spiritually gone.
But what is it that killed
the church in Sardis?
Nothing explicit is stated
in Jesus' words,
but the context points
to spiritual compromise
having run its full course.
Jesus uses soiled garments
in verse four,
indicating that the problem
was a loss of doctrinal
and moral purity.
In verse two,
he says that their works
were found incomplete
in the sight of God,
revealing that their profession
didn't match their lifestyle.
In other words,
they were claiming Christ,
but they weren't showing the fruit
of genuine conversion.
And if you track the progression
from Pergamum to Thyatira to Sardis,
it becomes clear
that toleration of idolatry
and sexual immorality
reached its peak in Sardis,
and it produced this death
about which Jesus warned.
What killed the church in Sardis?
Spiritual compromise.
Now remember,
at the heart of spiritual compromise
is a desire
to maintain a Christian identity
while justifying participation
in the world.
It's when someone decides,
I'm a Christian,
I want to be known as a Christian,
but I'm gonna justify participation
in the world's ideas,
in the world's philosophies,
in the world's religion,
and in the world's morality
or immorality.
Now remember,
the religious culture
in ancient Rome at this time
didn't mind adding gods
as much as it minded
condemning gods.
They were okay
with someone following Jesus
until that individual claimed
that Jesus was the exclusive God
and the only way to forgiveness
and to eternal salvation.
The exclusivity of the gospel
resulted in persecution
as we've seen so often
in the first four churches.
But notice,
there's no mention whatsoever
about opposition in Sardis.
Nothing.
There's no Jezebel figure.
There's no Nicolaitans.
There's no Antipas
who has been brutally murdered
in front of the church.
There's no people
like in Smyrna
who Jesus says
are about to be captured
and imprisoned
and then killed.
There's nothing like in Ephesus
where the people
are constantly being assaulted
by the religious programs
of the world around them.
Nothing like that is mentioned
or is true of the church in Sardis.
Why?
Why is there no opposition there?
Because the church in Sardis
ultimately had achieved its end,
its desired end
in this spiritual compromise.
What was it trying to do?
What did it want?
A comfortable,
non-threatening Christian experience
that professed to follow Christ
while accommodating
and participating
in the pluralism
and immorality of its culture.
That's what compromise desires to do.
It wants to maintain the identity
while enjoying the pleasures
of the world.
It wants to maintain
a Christian label
while not professing
to be exclusive
to Christianity
for anyone else.
It waters down the gospel.
It denies the gospel.
It lives in sinfulness
willfully.
Sardis had achieved
its desired end.
So there's no opposition there.
Why would there be?
There was nothing to oppose.
It's precisely like the churches today
who profess to be Christian
while accommodating
narcissistic worship
and affirming
the rampant immorality
of our culture.
They appear to be alive.
Many times
they have large congregations.
Lots of money.
Lots of glitter.
No gold.
Jesus says they're dead.
Now here's the terrifying truth
of it all.
Jesus knows.
He knows.
Look at what he says
in verse 1.
I know
your works.
Except in this case
there's nothing positive
that follows.
It's only negative.
What Jesus knows
to be true of Sardis
is what everybody else
thought was different.
Everybody thought
it was alive.
Jesus says no
you're dead.
I know the reality
of your heart.
I know the reality
of your condition.
You see
you can't punk
Jesus.
No one
who isn't
a true Christian
can fool Jesus
into thinking
that they are one.
No one
who is a genuine Christian
will be mistaken
by Jesus
for someone
who isn't.
Why?
Because he knows
all.
And it was precisely
because of Jesus'
omniscience
that we can be
certain
of his righteous
judgment.
Now for some of us
this is a wonderful
comfort
because we blow
it a lot.
We sin
a lot.
And in those
moments
we rest
on the fact
that Jesus
knows what
is true
of me.
Other people
may look at my life
at any given point
in its history
and in its existence
and say there's no way
that guy's a Christian
but Jesus knows
what's true.
Jesus knows
he saved me.
For others of us
though this is no
comfort at all
this should be
absolutely terrifying
to you.
You may have
everyone in this
church fooled.
You may have
everyone in your
family fooled.
Your circle of friends
may not realize
what's true.
You may have
even fooled yourself
but you will
never be able
to deceive
the one
who has
the seven
spirits
of God.
And on that day
you will have
to stand
before the
one
who has
the seven
stars
and he
will be
the one
who determines
whether your
Christianity
is true
or whether
it is
false
and he
cannot be
deceived.
He will
judge
perfectly
righteously
in that moment.
That's the complaint.
Look with me
now at the
correction
and the
consequence.
verse 2
the very
beginning
wake up
Jesus says
and strengthen
what remains
and is about
to die.
Look now at
verse 3
remember then
what you
received
and heard
keep it
and repent
if you will
not wake up
I will come
like a thief
and you will
not know
at what hour
I will come
against you.
Now here's
how I want you
to think about
this
correction
first.
As always
Jesus
demonstrates
incredible
mercy.
This is
mercy
in this
correction.
It's
merciful
because
he is
the one
that's
actually
providing
a solution
for the
church.
He is
still
providing
time
for them
to repent
time
for them
to turn
to
receive
his
full
mercy
if
they
turn
to
him
in
faith
and
repentance
but if
they
reject
his
correction
they will
endure
his
full
judgment.
so if
!
repent
and you
need to
hear it
the primary
instruction here
if you look
at it
is to
wake up
is defined
by Jesus
as this
strengthening
what remains
remembering
what you've
received
and heard
keeping it
and repenting
remembering
what you
received
and heard
that's
the gospel
message
the gospel
of Jesus
keeping
the gospel
message
and all
of its
implications
repenting
of sin
Jesus
says
wake up
and this
is how
you do
it
you return
to the
gospel
the circumstances
and the
complaints
for each
of these
seven churches
vary
each of them
is very
different
the solution
in every
sermon
is exactly
the same
it's exactly
the same
every time
repent
and believe
repent
and believe
whether a
congregation
as a whole
or an
individual
the only
solution
is to
stop
trying to
maintain
this
Christian
identity
while holding
hands with
the world
at the same
time
it doesn't
work
it's not
actually
possible
to do
it
and here's
the amazing
truth about
it
it doesn't
matter how
far
or how
long
you've
continued
in your
sin
Jesus
stands
ready
to fully
completely
forgive you
right now
he'll forgive
you
right now
you can
receive his
mercy
he warns
you
because he
loves you
he issues
this call
because he
wants to
save you
that's his
desire
you'll never
find a love
like this
anywhere else
you will not
find love
like this
in the world
you won't
find love
like this
in anyone
else
except
in Jesus
the world
offers it
it offers
all kinds
of satisfaction
it's all
glitter
it's no
gold
and you may
look at
Jesus
and you may
say there's
no glitter
here
it's dull
it's drab
it's offensive
but it's
precious
and he
stands
waiting
ready
willing
to forgive
you
his call
is issued
to you
some of us
we wonder
when will
God call
me
he's calling
you now
right now
through his
word
he's calling
you
but you
must respond
in faith
and repentance
he won't do
the believing
for you
he won't do
the turning
for you
you must
respond
to his
call
though Jesus
offers his
mercy
through the
solution
he also
confirms the
consequence
if you
don't obey
you say all
of that mercy
and love
stuff
that sounds
great
but what
if I don't
want to do
that
what if I'm
not ready
to deal
with the
implications
that comes
from being
a true
Christian
listen to
what Jesus
says here
if you
will not
wake up
I will
come like
a thief
and you
will not
know what
hour I
will come
against you
the word
for wake
up here
it literally
means to be
vigilant
in fact
that's
probably
the better
way to
translate it
if we're
being honest
that it
means to
be vigilant
be
watchful
and it's
almost always
used in
scripture
in the
context
of preparing
for a
coming
threat
a threat
against you
that's why
Jesus
refers to
himself as
a thief
Jesus
in this
passage
is the
threat
he
is the
one
you must
be
vigilant
of
the fact
that he
will make
sure you
do not
know
the hour
of his
judgment
requires
that you
waste no
time
that you
respond
immediately
because you
do not
know the
hour that
he will
come against
you
this is
not a
reference
to some
secret
rapture
this is
a reference
to judgment
which your
judgment
could happen
today
it could
happen
today
he says
if you
will not
wake up
you will
not know
the hour
that I
will come
and when
I come
for you
I'm coming
against you
as an
enemy
as a
thief
in judgment
don't
waste
another
moment
turn to
Jesus
and live
he wants
to save
you
he desires
to give
you mercy
receive
it
let's
finish
with the
call and
conquer
sequences
in verses
four through
six
we finish
with wonderful
promises
again
verse four
yet you
have still
a few
names
in Sardis
people who
have not
soiled their
garments
they will
walk with
me in
white
for they
are worthy
the one
who conquers
will be
clothed
thus in
white
garments
I will
never
blot
his name
out
of the
book
of life
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
this term
name
is an
important
one
it's an
important
thread
to keep
things
popularly
contextualized
to our
week
it is a
clear thread
through this
particular
passage
it's used
four different
times
you have
a name
he says
in verse
one
reputation
what's
given to us
as reputation
is literally
the word
for name
you have
a name
of being
alive
or a name
for being
alive
verse
one
you still
have a few
names
verse
four
I will
never
blot
out
his
name
verse
five
I will
confess
his
name
verse
five
now
what's
the
significance
of the
emphasis
here
one of
the elements
of spiritual
compromise
is an
aversion
to publicly
confessing
the name
of Christ
and what
we mean
by confessing
the name
of Christ
is by
embracing
the gospel
with all
of its
implications
now here's
what many
people in
our
particular
religious
climate
prefer to
do
they want
the things
that seem
good about
Jesus
they want
the love
they want
the self
sacrifice
they want
the example
of ethics
and of
morality
to some
extent
they want
the mercy
that is
offered
they want
the man
who sits
with and
has dinner
with publicans
and with
prostitutes
they want
all of that
all of that's
good
what they
don't want
is moral
demands
they don't
want
sex
between a
man and
a woman
within the
confines of
marriage
they don't
want
the sanctity
of human
life
they don't
want
a number
of other
things
that we
may name
in the
course
of all
of that
so what
they do
is they
attempt
to keep
and maintain
this
particular
identity
because they
like these
particular
things about
Jesus
but they
want to
maintain
all of
these
other
things
at the
same
time
that are
completely
opposite
of who
Jesus
is
and of
what
he
teaches
so then
one of
the elements
of this
compromise
is that
they will
not publicly
confess the
name of
Jesus
unless it's
convenient
for them
to do
so
but one
of the
promises
for those
who will
truly
confess
Christ
is that
Christ
will confess
them
before the
Father
do you
see it
there
I
will
confess
his
name
this
is the
opposite
experience
of those
who are
Christian
in appearance
only
that will
hear
Jesus
say
I never
knew
you
depart
from me
you workers
of lawlessness
the people
that will
stand in
judgment
and will
say
Jesus
I went
to
church
on Sunday
I didn't
even just
go to
church
I went
to
Lakeside
Bible
church
where they
read
the
scripture
for like
three
hours
on a
Sunday
morning
and they
sing all
these songs
and they
don't
they don't
have
classes
for my
kids
to go
to
and they
got
all
this
I
even
went
to
the
heart
church
and he'll
say
I never
knew you
what happens
for the
conqueror
is the
opposite
of that
you've
experienced
a
graduation
before
where you
stand in
line with
your cap
and gown
and you
eagerly
await for
them to
call your
name so
that you
can walk
across the
stage and
you receive
the recognition
of that
moment and
the honor
of that
moment and
this picture
is of
standing in
judgment and
Jesus has
the book of
life the
book that
has the
record of
all the
people who
belongs to
him and
you stand
there and
you wait
and with
anticipation and
finally you
hear it
you hear
Josh
Francis
maybe
you hear
Amy
Blevins
you hear
Marty
Cain
you hear
Evelyn
Smith
so on
and so
forth
Jesus
says if
you will
confess
my name
I'll
confess
your name
at the
moment it
matters
most
which is
when you
stand in
judgment
before my
father
who has
wrath
for sinners
but I
took your
wrath for
you and
I will
declare your
name before
him
that's the
promise of
the gospel
that's the
promise
the one who
conquers through
faith
in Jesus
the conqueror
who does not
soil their
garments by
flirting around
with the
immorality and
idolatry of
this world
Jesus will
publicly confess
your name
he will not be
ashamed of you
he says as much
himself in
Matthew 10
everyone who
acknowledges me
before men
I also will
acknowledge
before my
father
who is in
heaven
but the
promise gets
even sweeter
in the verse
not only
will Jesus
confess your
name
but he
promises to
never take
your name
out of his
book
he holds
his people
firmly
eternally
secure in
his hand
no one can
pluck you
out
he says
he's not a
fickle savior
once he writes
your name in
his book
he never
takes it
out
come to
him
and live
live
eternally
I don't
believe we're
a Sardisian
church
I don't
want to have
the kind of
pride that
would suggest
that we're
above falling
into something
like this
because we
certainly are
but I do
want to ask
this question
as far as
an individual
application is
concerned
are you a
Sardisian
Christian
do you bear
all the
kind of
outward
trappings
of the
Christian
religion
but you
know
inside
you're
dead
life isn't
really all
that bad
you have
happiness
you have
joy
you enjoy
life to
some extent
it's not
that
you know
it's not
that
it's that
when it
comes to
the things
of the
spiritual
life
you know
there's
nothing
there
it's not
real
and there
could be
a hundred
different
explanations
for why
it isn't
for you
but the
fact is
you look
like a
Christian
but you're
not
and perhaps
the Lord
is dealing
with you
somewhat
this morning
maybe he's
poking at
your heart
you know
what that's
like
it's a
miserable
experience
isn't it
to come
to the
word
or to
hear a
sermon
knowing
that this
is the
message
that God
intends
for you
it's a
miserable
experience
and some
of you
maybe
perhaps
you're
here
this
morning
and you're
just
miserable
can I ask you
what's your
response to
that work
of the
spirit
when he's
kind of
poking at
you and
he's saying
this is
you you look
like a
Christian
you're not
really a
Christian
what's your
first response
you're
probably seeking
some kind
of comfort
from your
conviction
you need
to seek
comfort
from your
conviction
but where
you search
for that
comfort
is what
makes
all the
difference
if you
self
soothe
in a
spiritual
sense
by reflecting
on all
the Christian
things you
do
and you
try to
find comfort
by thinking
about the
church
attendance
and the
giving
and the
and I'm
not as
bad as
this person
and I
I don't
do all
of those
things
and I'm
I'm just
I'm a
good
Christian
man
or I'm
a good
Christian
woman
or boy
or girl
and you're
just trying
to think
of all
the things
that you
do
that looks
Christian
I think
that if
that's the
way you're
trying to
find comfort
you've missed
the gospel
part
you've missed
that part
true
spiritual
life
comes not
from the
religious
things
that you
do
but from
what
Jesus
has
already
done
he
lived
the life
that you
should have
lived
and he
died
the death
that you
deserve
to die
he
bore
God's
wrath
for sin
and he
proved
it
by raising
from the
dead
and now
he calls
you to
believe
and trust
what he
has done
what he
has done
try to
focus with
me for
just a
second
it's not
about what
you do
it's about
what he's
done
it's about
fully coming
to him
and saying
nothing in
my hands
I bring
simply to
the cross
I cling
of course
to embrace
Christ
is to
accept
all the
implications
that come
with his
lordship
which means
that if you're
going to be
a true
Christian
compromise
is not
an option
it doesn't
work
the
the old
adage
goes
he's either
lord of
all
or he's
not lord
at all
that's
true
so remember
the gospel
that's what
he says
keep
the gospel
and repent
he who
has an
ear
let him
hear
what the
spirit
says
to the
churches