Sermon
#1 Christ’s Warnings To The Churches
Title: WARNINGS FROM THE
MASTER
Text: Revelation 2:1-3:22
Readings: Office:
Larry Criss Auditorium: Rex Bartley
Subject: Christ’s Warnings to the
Churches
Date: Tuesday Evening - March 30, 1999[1]
Tape # V-20a
Introduction:
In Revelation chapters two
and three, we have seven letters which the Lord Jesus dictated to the apostle
John, which were sent to the pastors of the seven churches in Asia. Each letter
was sent to a specific local church in the cities named: Ephesus, Smyrna,
Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.
These were literal local churches in the apostolic
era. However, these seven churches represent all the churches of Christ in this
world throughout the gospel age. They do not represent all the churches in the
world, but all the churches of Christ in the world. They are representative of
all New Testament churches. The seven churches of Asia do not represent seven
different periods of church history, but the various conditions of local
churches at any time in history.
In a word, these are letters from Christ to us. They are just as pertinent
to the life and ministry of the life and ministry of Grace Baptist Church in
Danville, KY as they were to the seven churches to which they were originally
sent. Our Lord’s commendations, warnings, and promises in these two chapters
are addressed to you and me.
I want us to look at these
seven letters together, asking God the Holy Spirit to be our Teacher. May it
please him now to take the things of Christ and show them to us.
In these two chapters, our
Lord repeats this admonition seven times. "He that hath an ear, let him hear
what the Spirit saith unto the churches." This admonition is
given seven times in these two chapters because our Lord Jesus means for every
believer to pay particular attention to the warnings contained in these seven
letters. The title of my message tonight is WARNINGS FROM THE MASTER.
Proposition: In these seven letters,
the Lord Jesus Christ himself warns us (both as individual believers and as
believers assembled together as a local church) plainly of the most prominent
dangers we must face in this world.
Divisions: I want to show you four
things in this message.
1. A Fact We Must Never Forget.
2. Some Dangers We Must Labor
To Overcome.
3. The Counsel Of Our
Compassionate Savior.
4. Our Lord’s Promises To Those
Who Overcome.
I. Here is A FACT WE MUST NEVER FORGET.
Our Lord Jesus Christ says
s, "I
know thy works." He makes this statement seven times (2:2, 9,
13, 19; 3:1, 8, 15). He says to every church, to every professed believer, to
the true believer and to the mere false professors of faith in him, “I know thy works.” He does not say, “I
know thy feelings,” or “I know thy desires,” or “I know thy profession.” He
says, “I know thy works.”
The works of God’s elect are important. Our
works have no merit before God. Our works can never atone for our sins. Works
cannot save us, justify us, sanctify us, or earn us some imaginary special
place of honor and reward in heaven. Anyone who is even faintly familiar with
the teachings of Holy Scripture knows that God’s grace and God’s salvation in
Christ are absolutely free. All who know the Bible know that the believer’s
standing before God is a matter of free grace alone! We earn nothing from god
by our works, except his wrath.
But,
if you think good works are insignificant, useless, and of no value because
they are not meritorious, I am afraid your religion is but a sham, a show, a
pretense. Grace always produces good works. All true believers walk in good
works for the glory of God. There is no such thing as a saved man or woman who
does not in willing, voluntary, submissive obedience to Christ as his Lord. Our
obedience and works are far from perfect. In themselves, they are just filthy
rags (Isa. 64:6), of no merit whatever before God. Yet, God’s saints do perform
good works. It is the nature of
spiritual men and women to walk in the Spirit (Rom. 8:5-10). Let me
show you this from the Word of God.
A. All who are saved by the grace of God, believing on
the Lord Jesus Christ, perform good works from a principle of inward grace.
The
apostle James tells us, most plainly, that “faith
without works is dead” (James 2:14-26). Good works are those things which
give evidence to others that our faith is real Our Lord says, “Every tree is known by its fruit” (Luke
6:44). Abraham believed God; and he proved it to all who knew him by his works
of obedience toward God. Rahab believed God; and she proved it when she hid the
spies.
1. God has ordained that all who are saved by his grace
walk in good works for the honor of his name (Eph. 2:8-10).
Ephesians 2:8-10 "For by grace are ye saved through
faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the
gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest
any man should boast. (10) For we are
his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before
ordained that we should walk in them."
And that which God has
ordained, God will bring to pass. He will see that his people walk in good
works.
2. The indwelling presence of God the Holy Spirit makes
all believers new creatures in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17).
If we walk in the Spirit, Paul tells us, we shall not
fulfil the lusts of the flesh (Gal. 5:16). And all who are born of God walk in
the Spirit (Rom. 8:9). The Scriptures do not
teach that we shall not have the lusts of the flesh, but that we shall not
fulfil, we shall not live after the flesh (Rom. 8:12-13).
Romans 8:4-14 "That the righteousness of the law might
be fulfilled in us, who walk not after
the flesh, but after the Spirit. (5) For
they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that
are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. (6) For to be carnally
minded is death; but to be
spiritually minded is life and peace. (7) Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not
subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. (8) So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. (9) But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the
Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is
none of his. (10) And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. (11) But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead
dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your
mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. (12) Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. (13) For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do
mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. (14) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the
sons of God."
If I am in Christ, I have a
new, holy nature, that which is born of God; and the bent of that nature is toward
God(2 Pet. 1:4; Gal. 5:17-22).
3. Of this I am sure: If I profess faith in Christ, but by my
works deny him, my profession is an abomination to God, and I am reprobate (Tit.
1:16).
Titus 1:16 "They profess that they know God; but in
works they deny him, being
abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate."
The same is true of you.
Those who profess faith in Christ but by their works deny him are reprobate.
This is not a debatable issue. True believers glorify God before men by their good
works. “Faith worketh by love.” Faith
always works, not by law, but by love. But faith always works!
B. In the light of these facts, let all who profess
faith in the Lord Jesus Christ hear the words of Christ - “I know thy works!”
For the religious hypocrite, these words are
terrifying
- "I know thy works." "The eyes of the Lord are in every
place, beholding the evil and the good" (Pro. 15:3). His eyes are a
flaming fire and darkness is light before him. A man may deceive his pastor,
his family, and even himself; but the Son of God is not deceived. All things
are naked and open before him (Heb. 4:13).
He sees through the facade.
All your “righteous” deeds, those things by which you hope to appear righteous
before God, are, your self-righteousness is an abomination before God. He looks
upon your prayers as blasphemy, your sacrifices as sacrilege, and your works of
religion as evil works. In the end, our Lord will expose every hypocrite (Luke
16:15).
Luke 16:15 "And he said unto them, Ye are they
which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that
which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God."
That makes hypocrisy a losing game. "The hypocrite's hope shall perish"
(Job 8:13).
For the believer, these words are full of comfort
and cheer
- "I know thy works." What
a delight! Our dear Savior looks not at our works themselves, but at the motive
behind them. He looks into the heart and sees why we do the things we do. And
he is well-pleased with the most feeble efforts of sincere, believing hearts.
By the merits of his blood and righteousness, he makes our works a sweet
smelling sacrifice to God, acceptable and well-pleasing in his sight (1 Pet.
2:5).
Imagine that, God is
well-pleased with the faltering steps of believing sinners for Christ's sake,
because they are steps toward him!
Illustrations: Your Child’s First Steps
Faith’s Dandelions
Mark 14:6-8 -- “She
hath wrought a good
work on me,,,She hath done what she could.”
God will not forget your
works of faith and labors of love (Heb. 6:10). The works of those who die in
the Lord "shall follow them"
into glory (Rev. 14:3). And they shall be named by Christ himself in the day of
judgment (Matt. 25:37-39). The Son of God, our Savior says, "I know thy works." What could
be more comforting?
II. Secondly, OUR LORD WARNS US OF
CERTAIN DANGERS THAT MUST BE OVERCOME.
In these two chapters, the
Lord Jesus Christ identifies six conditions which, if they are not resisted and
overcome, will result in apostasy and eternal ruin. If these conditions are
allowed to go unchecked in any local church, it will soon wither and die. It
may continue to exist in name, but that is all. Christ will withdraw the light
of the gospel from it. Instead of being a house of light, it will be a den of
darkness.
My
soul, how often I have seen that happen, to individuals and to churches! If you
find yourself described in these letters as one in a condition of decline, I
warn you, no, the Master himself warns
you to repent and turn to him again.
Here are six dangerous
conditions into which we are constantly tempted to fall. The world, the flesh,
and the devil all strive to pull us down into these pits. May God the Holy
Spirit give us grace to overcome them and persevere, steadfast unto the end.
1. The first danger described is apostasy from our
first love.
The Lord Jesus Christ says, "I have somewhat against thee, because
thou hast left thy first love" (2:4). Does the Son of God speak these
words to me? Are they addressed to you?
These Ephesians were zealous
in good works, patient in the trials and afflictions of life, and thoroughly
orthodox in doctrine. But there was a dreadful decay in the matter of love to
Christ!
William Hendriksen illustrates this decay of love
very clearly. "A wife may be very faithful to her husband and may give evidence
of bustling assiduity in all matters pertaining to him - and yet, there may be
a decay in love. Her sense of duty may cause her to remain faithful in all the
details of attention she bestows upon him" (William Hendriksen).
Even so, you and I may be
very faithful in all the outward forms of godliness and remain perfectly
orthodox in doctrine, while our hearts' love and devotion to Christ declines
and decays.
Are you like the Ephesians?
Am I? Does our love for Christ decline? Do we find ourselves more and more
concerned about the cares of this world and less and less concerned about
Christ? Repent! Turn anew to Christ! Renounce all but him and set your affection
on him alone (Col. 3:1-3).
NOTE: The correction for dead
doctrine is not no doctrine, emotionalism, or Pentecostalism, but steadfast
commitment to Christ.
Like Mary, let us take our
place at his feet and have our hearts ravished with his love (Lk. 10:39-42).
2. Next we are warned not to embrace the doctrine of
Balaam
(2:14).
Revelation 2:14 "But I have a few things against thee,
because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac
to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things
sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication."
When Balak called for Balaam
to curse Israel, God restrained him. Much to Balak's disgust, God forced Balaam
to bless his people (Num. 22-24). Yet, Israel became involved in the worship of
Baal (Num. 25:1-3). Their sin, we are told, was the result of Balaam’s counsel
(Num. 31:16). The doctrine of Balaam is the doctrine of compromise with the
religion of the world. Balaam did not advise Israel to give up the worship of
Jehovah. He simply told them it would be wise to accept the worship of Baal and
go along with the religious customs, traditions, and practices of their pagan
neighbors (Num. 25:1-9).
Be warned! Compromise with
false religion is damning to the souls of men. Compromise is the way of least
resistance, the way approved of by the world, the way that is easiest on the
flesh. But any compromise of God's truth is an outright denial of Christ (2
Cor. 6:14-18).
2
Corinthians 6:14-18 "Be ye not
unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness
with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? (15) And what concord hath Christ with
Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? (16) And what agreement hath the temple
of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I
will dwell in them, and walk in them; and
I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (17) Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith
the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing;
and I will receive you, (18) And
will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the
Lord Almighty."
2
Corinthians 7:1 "Having therefore
these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of
the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."
·
The only way to remove the offense of the gospel is to deny the gospel.
We must never give any credibility to the religion of this world.
·
Those who preach man’s free will deny God’s sovereignty.
·
Those who preach the freedom of man deny the sovereign freedom of God.
·
Those who preach salvation by the will, works, or worth of the sinner
deny salvation by grace.
·
Those who preach universal atonement deny the efficacy of Christ's
blood.
·
To preach universal atonement is to deny that atonement was actually
accomplished by the blood of Christ.
·
Those who preach universal grace deny the efficacy of God's saving
grace.
·
Such people may talk about grace, redemption, and salvation; but their
doctrine is free will and works, and results in damnation to all who follow
them in the way of Balaam.
We must never seek agreement
with such men, even in the name of peace, unity, and brotherly love. The only way those who believe the
gospel can get along with those who do not is for us to deny the gospel.
That we must not do!
3. We are all, by nature, tempted to embrace the
doctrine of the Nicolaitanes (2:15).
Revelation 2:15 "So hast thou also them that hold the
doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate."
The Nicolaitanes were a
group of heretics in John's day who taught that it was alright for believers to
engage in the sexual immoralities of pagan religions.
They "committed
fornication, adultery, and all uncleanness, and had their wives in common, and
also ate things offered to idols" (John Gill).
They were antinomians. They
were lawless, licentious rebels who wore the name of Christianity. These people
really were antinomian, opposed the law of God. Their doctrine was, "Let
us sin that grace may abound. Since we are saved by grace, it does not matter
how we live."
Without question, any man who preaches salvation by
grace alone will be accused of antinomianism (Rom. 3:8). It is not
possible to preach redemption, justification, and sanctification by grace
alone, through the merits of Christ alone, without some legalist crying,
"That is antinomianism! That will lead to licentiousness!"
Having said that, this must also be declared - Any
man who really is an antinomian is a lost man. God's elect seek holiness
and righteousness. They are not self-willed, licentious rebels. Their hearts
and lives are ruled by the love of Christ. And the love of Christ prevents
lawlessness.
4. Fourthly, the churches of Christ and
individual believers are constantly pressured by the world to be tolerant of
false prophets (2. 20).
Revelation 2:20 "Notwithstanding I have a few things
against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself
a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to
eat things sacrificed unto idols."
The church at Thyatira was
charitable, diligent in service, patient in trial, and well established in the
faith of the gospel. But it was tolerant of "that
woman Jezebel." There was a woman in the church who claimed to be
called of God and gifted as a preacher, a prophetess. Our Lord calls her "Jezebel" after Ahab's wife,
because she was a deceiver.
Though the Word of God
clearly forbids the ordination of women and the tolerance of women as preachers
and teachers in the house of God (1 Tim. 2:11-12), this church allowed this
woman to teach and to seduce the people with her doctrine.
·
The flesh says, "Do not make a fuss about false prophets. It will
only cause trouble."
·
The world says, "Judge not! To condemn the actions of another is
bigotry."
·
Satan tempts us to be silent, lest we create strife and division.
·
Yet, the Bible warns us
constantly to "beware of false
prophets" (Matt. 7:15). If they are not identified, exposed, and
denounced, they will soon devour a congregation (Gal. 1:6-9; 2 Tim. 2:16-18).
5. Fifthly, we must guard against the
tendency of our flesh toward hypocrisy, ritualism, and lifeless orthodoxy
(3:1).
Revelation 3:1 "And unto the angel of the church in
Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the
seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art
dead."
We are all prone to
hypocrisy. We are all great pretenders by nature. Being natural born
hypocrites, there is an innate tendency in man to substitute ritualism for
worship, a creed for Christ, and orthodoxy for life. "Beware of the leaven of
the Pharisees" (Lk. 12:1). What is the answer? Give up the
ordinances of divine worship? No! The answer is to seek grace from God that we
may worship in the Spirit.
·
We must take care that we live in the pursuit of true godliness, not a
mere form and show of godliness.
·
We must carefully observe the ordinances of Christ (baptism and the
Lord's supper), but resist the mere outward practice of religious ceremonies.
·
We must tenaciously adhere to the doctrine of Christ, but fear that
form of doctrinal purity that has no heart.
·
All who have, practice, and hold to a form of religion without Christ
are like the church at Sardis - "Thou
hast a name that thou livest, and art dead!"
6. Lastly,
our Lord warns his churches of the
most dangerous of all fleshly tendencies: lukewarmness, apathy, and
indifference (3:15-16).
Revelation 3:16 "So then because thou art lukewarm, and
neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth."
The Laodiceans were lukewarm.
Nothing is more disgusting to the palate than lukewarm coffee, lukewarm stew,
lukewarm gravy, or lukewarm milk. And nothing is more disgusting to Christ than
lukewarm, half-hearted, apathetic, indifferent men and women.
Yet, we are ever prone to
become lukewarm about the things of Christ. Every faithful pastor has seen many
gradually sink into disgusting apathy. Once the gospel of the grace of God made
the faces of men and women light up with joy, who now are unmoved by it. Once
the story of redeeming love filled them with rapturous gratitude and melted
their hearts to tears, but now nothing moves them. They are lukewarm.
What
is the answer? Shall we fake it? Shall we pretend and put on a lively show? No!
The answer is “Return!” As often as
our hearts become lukewarm, let us fly away again to Christ.
III. Now, let us HEAR THE COUNSEL OF OUR COMPASSIONATE
SAVIOR.
If we would overcome these
evil tendencies of the flesh, we must hear and obey our Master. There is no
guesswork involved. The Lord Jesus tells us exactly what we must do.
A. "Remember from whence thou art fallen" (2:5).
B. "Repent and do the first works" (2:5).
C. “That which ye already have hold fast" (2:25). -- Tenaciously
adhere to the truth of God, the gospel of his free and sovereign grace in
Christ.
D. "Be watchful and strengthen those things which remain" (3:2).
E. "Buy of me!" (3:18).
Without money and without
price, by faith alone, we must buy from Christ the gold of his grace and the
white raiment of his righteousness, as we did in the beginning, and anoint our
eyes anew with the eye salve of the gospel.
IV. HERE ARE THE PROMISES THE SON OF GOD GIVES TO THOSE
WHO HEED HIS WORD, OVERCOME THESE DANGERS, AND PERSEVERE UNTO THE END.
Let us be wise and make
personal application to ourselves.
A. Return to your first love, and Christ promises you
the blessedness of eternal glory (2:7).
Revelation 2:7 "He that hath an ear, let him hear what
the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat
of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God."
B. Hold fast the doctrine of Christ and confess him in
the midst of his enemies, and he promises to own you as his (2:17).
Revelation 2:17 "He that hath an ear, let him hear what
the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat
of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new
name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it."
C. Continue in the way of faith, and the Son of God
will give you power over the world (2:26).
Revelation 2:26 "And he that overcometh, and keepeth my
works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations."
D. Awake, arise from the dead, and he will give you
light of life (3:5; Eph. 5:14).
Revelation 3:5 "He that overcometh, the same shall be
clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of
life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his
angels."
E. Return to Christ with a true and fervent heart of
faith, and he will cause you to reign with him forever (3:21).
Revelation 3:21 "To him that overcometh will I grant to
sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my
Father in his throne."
F. The Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, leans hard
against the door of his church, knocking to his beloved. If anyone in his house
will open to him, he will come in and sup with him (3:20).
Revelation 3:20 "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock:
if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will
sup with him, and he with me."