Revelation: White Robes

Revelation 3:1-6

I grew up believing I could lose my relationship with Jesus. I might be a Christian in the morning, sin in the afternoon, and be cast out of God’s family by evening. But when I realized I am a child of God and will always be, a heavy burden was lifted from my shoulders.

There is only one thing worse than lacking the assurance of salvation, and that is believing you're a Christian when you're not. Let’s examine what that looked like in the church of Sardis. 

Before delving into the prophetic message of Revelation, Jesus addressed seven historical churches in the Roman province of Asia around AD 95. These churches faced real issues that have echoed through church history and remain relevant today. The church in Ephesus had lost its passion for Jesus. The church in Smyrna serves as encouragement to Christians enduring persecution. The message to the church in Pergamum highlights the problem of compromise. The church in Thyatira drifted into syncretism and tolerated sin. The church we will look at today, Sardis, was simply going through the motions. They were spiritually dead. 

The Person of Jesus
Jesus introduces himself to the Sardis church as the One “who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.” The “seven spirits of God” is a phrase used in Revelation 1:4, where I believe it refers to the Holy Spirit, with the seven spirits representing the seven works of the Spirit as described in Isaiah 11:2.[1] The “seven stars” are the angels of the seven churches (Rev. 1:20). Jesus stands before this church with power and authority. 

Praise for the Sardis believers
Praise for Sardis is reserved for a select few true believers—those “who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy” (Rev. 3:4). Dyeing wool was a major trade in Sardis; therefore, having soiled clothes would be immediately noticeable. A few individuals remained pure by not giving in to pagan practices, maintaining their integrity and earning Jesus’ commendation. 

Problems in Sardis
The issue facing the Sardis church was an empty display of incomplete deeds. The people went to church, raised their hands, and sang songs. But outside of acting like Christians on Sunday, there was nothing to show for it. Jesus said, “I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead” (Rev. 3:1b). Most only participated in the church out of tradition, routine, or maybe for business reasons. 

It's interesting to observe that Sardis was not troubled by persecution, heresy, or false teachings. They lived in a wealthy, well-connected city. Jewelry found in local cemeteries suggests considerable wealth. They were linked to major cities by a 1,500-mile highway called the Royal Road (which is being excavated today). However, the lack of persecution, combined with their wealth, allowed some to become spiritually complacent and others to remain spiritually dead. 

The Solution
Jesus instructed those in Sardis to do four things: 

• Wake Up
  Jesus said, “Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God” (Rev. 3:2). The phrase “wake up” could also be translated as “Be watching.” This would have hit the people of Sardis right between the eyes. The fortress of Sardis was built at the top of Mt. Tmolus, with rock walls rising 1,500 feet above a lower valley. The fortress was considered impregnable. But twice in their history, opposing forces had scaled the hill at night with no guards at the gate.[2] When we are not on guard, we drift into spiritual slumber.
  
  
• Remember
  Jesus told them to consider the fundamental truths they had heard but not accepted. Jesus said, “Remember, then, what you received and heard” (Rev. 3:3a).
  
  
• Obey
  Jesus urged them to do what they knew was true (Rev. 3:3b).
  
  
• Repent
  It seems that most people in the Sardis church were not true believers. They needed to stop pretending and accept Jesus as their Savior (Rev. 3:3c). We know that not everyone who goes to church today has trusted in Jesus; therefore, they are spiritually dead. Only Jesus can give life. 

The Promise
Jesus said, “The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and 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” (Rev. 3:5-6).

“The one who conquers”—those who trust in Christ and demonstrate their faith through perseverance—will experience three amazing things. First, they will be clothed in “white garments.” White garments are what believers wear. Jesus often reminds us of this in his message in Revelation (see Rev. 6:11; 7:9, 13-14; 19:7-8). One day, everyone who knows Jesus will be dressed in radiant white. That will be a glorious sight!

Secondly, a believer’s name will never be removed from the book of life. In the first century, the names of influential people were carved into stone. If someone fell out of favor, their name would be rubbed out. When I visited the seven churches a few years ago, I saw a stone in Sardis where a name had been removed from a large marble slab. Due to its location, those in Sardis would have frequently passed by this stone. It served as a reminder to believers that their names would never be erased from the most important list of all—the book of life. 

Finally, Jesus himself promised to confess the believer’s name to the Father and before his angels. Think about it! One day, we will stand before Jesus. He will call us by name, and he will confess to the Father that we are ones he died for. And we will be welcomed home. 

What a tremendous promise! What a moment that will be!

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD
Time in the Word: Read and reflect on Revelation 3:1-6. Think about the time that you will stand before Jesus and he will say, “You are mine!”

Talking to God: How does knowing your name is secure in the book of life strengthen your confidence and daily walk with Christ?

Have questions? Please send your questions to our team. We're happy to assist you as we explore God's Word together. Share your question below, and we'll respond shortly. Please let us know if you would like to learn more about a relationship with Jesus or if you're seeking spiritual guidance.

CLICK HERE for a virtual tour of Sardis.

The Living Grounded Ministry is hosting a tour to the Holy Land from November 4 to 15, 2026, as part of our Bible Immersion Experiences. We would love to have you join us. We will provide more details soon.