Overcoming Death

Revelation 3:1 "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write,'These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: "I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. 3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. 4 You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. 5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. 6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

The Reformation brought about drastic changes on the Church landscape. The question is: Were those changes really for the better?

It would certainly seem so. The events of Church history so far now culminated in the famous “95 Theses” of Martin Luther, nailed to the church door.

Martin Luther had become aware of the Word of God. The Bible. He had become convinced by what the Bible has to say about grace that the position of the Church system he was a part of was completely theologically and morally wrong. And with 95 choice items to state in protest, Martin Luther drove a stake in the ground of history as he nailed his theses to the door.

The chief problem with the Roman Catholic Church of history was its denial of God’s grace alone being the means of salvation for any man. The Bible had not been the sole source of the Roman Catholic perspective on salvation, and many grievous errors ensued.

Luther had become convinced, (upon exposure to God’s Word,) that the Papal Church was in error, and that the system of priestly confession and purgatory and indulgences were an offense to God, and harmful to man. (Let alone the tragedies involved with putting to death all those deemed to be heretical by the hierarchy of the Church.)

Luther staked his life, and the future life of the Church, on God’s Word rather than man’s design. How could THIS church then, be regarded by Christ as, “dead?” It would seem everything pertaining to life and grace would be found here.

The question is possibly answered by the nature of grace as they perceived it - and as it continues to be perceived to this day by the Reformed Church - as completely a matter of Divine Authority and God’s sovereignty. But, is God entirely sovereign in His dissemination of grace - to the extent His grace is irresistible – OR - is man responsible by God's grace to choose to enter into loving relationship with God?

This theological question has raged on without definitive conclusion since the time of The Reformation. Could the answer be found in Jesus’ admonition to the Church in Sardis?

-Pastor Bill