SardisSardis

                                

                            

Sardis Bath HouseSardis Bath House

                                

                            

Sardis AcropolisSardis Acropolis

                                

                                                                                  

      

Temple of AtermisTemple of Atermis

                                

                            

Letter to SardisLetter to Sardis NIV Revelation 3:1 "To the angel

of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.

God can see on the God can see on the insideinside NIV 1 Samuel 16:7 The LORD

does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.

Letter to SardisLetter to Sardis 2 Wake up! Strengthen what

remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.

Letter to SardisLetter to Sardis 4 Yet you have a few people in

Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.

Letter to SardisLetter to Sardis 5 He who overcomes will, like

them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. 6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Letter to SardisLetter to Sardis Sardis was an inland city in a Sardis was an inland city in a

deep valley. They had a deep valley. They had a tremendously successful wool tremendously successful wool (clothing and carpet) business (clothing and carpet) business from the many sheep all around from the many sheep all around them.them.

Is clothing imagery used for Is clothing imagery used for them???them???

Letter to SardisLetter to Sardis The Christians there must have The Christians there must have

been envied by other been envied by other congregations for their great congregations for their great labors and success. But the Lord labors and success. But the Lord knew their hearts. They were knew their hearts. They were laboring for ulterior motives.laboring for ulterior motives.

Letter to SardisLetter to Sardis Interestingly, the synagogue is Interestingly, the synagogue is

extremely well preserved (all things extremely well preserved (all things considering). This synagogue was an considering). This synagogue was an amazing and luxurious spa and retreat amazing and luxurious spa and retreat for Jewish men. A huge font adorned for Jewish men. A huge font adorned the center with water overflowing into a the center with water overflowing into a surrounding pool and distribution surrounding pool and distribution system. It definitely was not your system. It definitely was not your average school for learning God’s Word.average school for learning God’s Word.

Letter to SardisLetter to Sardis Law.Law. Don’t labor for Christ because Don’t labor for Christ because

You You have tohave to but because you but because you want towant to.. NIV 2 Corinthians 8:12 For if the NIV 2 Corinthians 8:12 For if the

willingness is there, the gift is willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he has, not according to what he does not have.does not have.

There is a danger in just going through There is a danger in just going through the motions.the motions.

Letter to SardisLetter to Sardis Gospel.Gospel. Christ loves to lift up those who Christ loves to lift up those who

have their motives washed clean. have their motives washed clean.

SardisSardis Under the emperor Under the emperor TiberiusTiberius, in 17 , in 17

AD, Sardis was destroyed by an AD, Sardis was destroyed by an earthquake; but it was rebuilt. earthquake; but it was rebuilt.

It was one of the great cities of It was one of the great cities of western western Asia MinorAsia Minor until the later until the later Byzantine period. Byzantine period.

                                                                                                                        

Size

Sardis Synagogue

                                                                                                                        

Sardis Synagogue

Letter to SardisLetter to Sardis This city was once capital of Asia This city was once capital of Asia

Minor when the Lydians reigns Minor when the Lydians reigns (from 4(from 4thth – 8 – 8thth century BC). century BC).

The glory had slowly eroded over The glory had slowly eroded over time.time.

How was this a spiritual reality of How was this a spiritual reality of their glorious love?their glorious love?

Letter to SardisLetter to Sardis

                                                            

Letter to SardisLetter to Sardis What happened to the What happened to the

congregation in Sardis?congregation in Sardis? Sardis became a powerful Sardis became a powerful

congregation that produced an congregation that produced an influential teachers of the early influential teachers of the early Christian Church:Christian Church:

MelitoMelito

Letter to SardisLetter to Sardis Melito of Sardis (died 180 A.D.)Melito of Sardis (died 180 A.D.) Melito the Eunuch Melito the Eunuch Melito the ChasteMelito the Chaste

Melito of SardisMelito of Sardis He probably knew Polycarp and his He probably knew Polycarp and his

disciple Irenaeus. He is revered for the disciple Irenaeus. He is revered for the diligence with which he sought out the diligence with which he sought out the evidence which, in his day, established evidence which, in his day, established the Canon of the Old Testament used by the Canon of the Old Testament used by Christ.Christ.

Melito travelled to Palestine to verify this.Melito travelled to Palestine to verify this. Melito’s canon is used minus Wisdom Melito’s canon is used minus Wisdom

and plus Esther.and plus Esther.

Melito of SardisMelito of Sardis For there is no need, to persons of intelligence, to For there is no need, to persons of intelligence, to

attempt to prove, from the deeds of Christ subsequent attempt to prove, from the deeds of Christ subsequent to His baptism, that His soul and His body, His human to His baptism, that His soul and His body, His human nature like ours, were real, and no phantom of the nature like ours, were real, and no phantom of the imagination. For the deeds done by Christ after His imagination. For the deeds done by Christ after His baptism, and especially His miracles, gave indication baptism, and especially His miracles, gave indication and assurance to the world of the Deity hidden in His and assurance to the world of the Deity hidden in His flesh. For, being at once both God and perfect man flesh. For, being at once both God and perfect man likewise, He gave us sure indications of His two likewise, He gave us sure indications of His two natures: of His Deity, by His miracles during the three natures: of His Deity, by His miracles during the three years that elapsed after His baptism; of His humanity, years that elapsed after His baptism; of His humanity, during the thirty similar periods which preceded His during the thirty similar periods which preceded His baptism, in which, by reason of His low estate as baptism, in which, by reason of His low estate as regards the flesh, He concealed the signs of His Deity, regards the flesh, He concealed the signs of His Deity, although He was the true God existing before all ages although He was the true God existing before all ages ((Melito. On the Nature of Christ.)Melito. On the Nature of Christ.)

Melito of SardisMelito of Sardis God who is from God; He is the Son God who is from God; He is the Son

who is from the Father; Jesus Christ who is from the Father; Jesus Christ the King for evermore...He that the King for evermore...He that bore up the earth was borne up on bore up the earth was borne up on a tree. The Lord was subjected to a tree. The Lord was subjected to ignominy with naked body--God put ignominy with naked body--God put to death, the King of Israel slain! to death, the King of Israel slain!

THE TEACHING OF THE CROSS. THE TEACHING OF THE CROSS.

Melito of SardisMelito of Sardis MELITO CLAIMED THAT NO IMAGE SHOULD MELITO CLAIMED THAT NO IMAGE SHOULD

ATTEMPT TO BE MADE OF GOD AT ALL!ATTEMPT TO BE MADE OF GOD AT ALL! There are, however, persons who say: It is for There are, however, persons who say: It is for

the honour of God that we make the image: in the honour of God that we make the image: in order, that is, that we may worship the God order, that is, that we may worship the God who is concealed from our view. But they are who is concealed from our view. But they are unaware that God is in every country, and in unaware that God is in every country, and in every place, and is never absent, and that every place, and is never absent, and that there is not anything done and He knoweth it there is not anything done and He knoweth it not. Yet thou, despicable man! not. Yet thou, despicable man! Apology to Apology to Marcus Aurelius Antoninus. Marcus Aurelius Antoninus.

Christian Passover?Christian Passover? PassoverPassover also known as also known as PesachPesach or or PesahPesah ( (פסחפסח

pesaḥpesaḥ), as a ), as a ChristianChristian holiday, was observed holiday, was observed historically by a number of early Christians and historically by a number of early Christians and is observed today by a small number of is observed today by a small number of Christian groups. Unlike the Jewish Passover Christian groups. Unlike the Jewish Passover which commemorates the deliverance of the which commemorates the deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery, the Christian Israelites from Egyptian slavery, the Christian Passover commemorates the deliverance from Passover commemorates the deliverance from sin by the sacrifice of Jesus, the fulfillment of sin by the sacrifice of Jesus, the fulfillment of the prophetic Old Testament Passover. The the prophetic Old Testament Passover. The Christian Passover begins on the evening of the Christian Passover begins on the evening of the 14th day of Nisan. 14th day of Nisan.

Melito of SardisMelito of Sardis He also believed in the actual He also believed in the actual

1,000 year earthly reign of Christ 1,000 year earthly reign of Christ as taught in the Book of as taught in the Book of Revelation.Revelation.

Eusebius’ stunning silence Eusebius’ stunning silence on Melito?on Melito? My personal opnion is that Eusebius did My personal opnion is that Eusebius did

not like personal opinion taught as divine not like personal opinion taught as divine truth. Eusebius may have disagreed with truth. Eusebius may have disagreed with Melito’s teachings. He hardly quotes his Melito’s teachings. He hardly quotes his vast works and minimizes his influence. vast works and minimizes his influence. Eusebius who had seen images of Christ Eusebius who had seen images of Christ and the apostles may have disagreed with and the apostles may have disagreed with Melito’s views on them. He may have also Melito’s views on them. He may have also disagreed with strict observance of the disagreed with strict observance of the Passover and the Millenial reign of Christ Passover and the Millenial reign of Christ taught by Melito.taught by Melito.

ApplicationApplication Don’t go through the motions!Don’t go through the motions! Christ loves to renew us to love Christ loves to renew us to love

as we are loved.as we are loved.