Lesson 14.
CHRIST REQUIRES CHURCHES TO BE HOLY

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches (Revelation 2:7).

Whatever the name of your church may be, I invite your special attention to the verse above. If you attend public worship in any Christian church at all these words are for you; they are for all who call themselves Christians.
   These words are repeated seven times in the second and third chapters of the book Revelation. The Lord Jesus sends seven different letters by the apostle John to seven churches in Asia. And each letter ends with these words.
   Everything God does is perfectly done; he does nothing without a purpose. Therefore it is certain that no part of the Bible is there by chance. There is purpose and design in every repetition of a verse. There is reason in the sevenfold repetition of these words, and we should therefore pay attention to them. So let me point out the leading truths which are being taught in these seven letters. They are truths for the days we live in truths which it will be good for us all to know.
   

1. In all seven letters we find nothing, except matters of Christian doctrine, behaviour, warning and promise

   

Jesus gives a sharp rebuke where he sees false doctrine and ungodly behaviour. Praise is given for faith, patience, good works and perseverance. Repentance and turning back to God is always encouraged.

But I want you to notice that nothing is said about the way churches are governed, or the ceremonies or forms of worship they may use. He does not instruct John to write about baptism, or the Lord's supper. Now do not misunderstand me, when I say this. I do not say that these things are unimportant. But this I say, all of these things are as nothing compared to faith, repentance and holiness. Those are the first and most weighty matters. I believe that without those spiritual things no one can be saved.

Here is one reason why I so often urge upon people not to be content with the mere outward parts of religion. They are not Christians who are merely so outwardly; there must be a new creation by the Holy Spirit in the heart. True religion is eminently a personal matter between Christ and yourself.

    
    2. Another phrase which occurs in every letter is, I know your deeds
    
    It is not for nothing that we read these words seven times! Jesus does not say, `I know your wishes' `I know your decisions' `I know what you profess'. He says, `I know your works'. It is true that deeds cannot save your soul, but they are important nevertheless. They cannot justify you, or wipe out your sins, but they are a good evidence of the state of your heart. It is of no value if we say that we know God, if our behaviour denies what we say, like those people Paul describes in Titus 1:16. Our behaviour is the evidence of our religion.

   a) The Lord Jesus knows the works of unbelievers, and one day will punish them. Such deeds may be forgotten on earth, but they are not forgotten in heaven.
    

b) The Lord Jesus knows the deeds of his own godly people, and he weighs them. He knows why believers do what they do ? how much is done for their own praise, and how much is done for him!

    

c) The Lord Jesus knows the deeds of his own people and will one day reward them. He never overlooks anything which is done in his name. The world may not know what you do, or why ? but Jesus sees and knows all.

    
    There is a solemn warning in all this. You may deceive others, or even yourself, about what you do and why you do it. But you cannot deceive Christ. But think what encouragement there is in all this, too. You may not feel that you have done very much for him. All you do seems imperfect, and not as good as you wish it was. But Christ does not forget what you do out of love for him, however little the world - and even you - may regard it! .
    
    3. Another thing repeated in each of the seven letters is a promise to the one who overcomes
    
    Seven times the Lord gives the churches great promises. Each one is different, each is full of encouragement, but each one is directed only to `the one who overcomes'.
   Every true Christian meets enemies to the spiritual life of the soul, and must fight them to overcome them. I refer you again to what I said about this in Chapter four. The point that I want to make now is that the true believer is not merely a soldier, but is a victorious soldier. Victory is the only satisfactory evidence that any believer has a true saving religion.
   

a) Moses chose to be illtreated along with the people of God, rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time (Hebrews 11:25). This was overcoming the love of ungodly pleasure.

   
   b) Micaiah refused to prophesy smooth things to King Ahab, even though he knew he would be persecuted if he spoke the truth; this was overcoming the love of ease (1 Kings 22).
   

c) When Daniel refused to give up praying, even though he knew a den of lions was prepared for him, he overcame the fear of death (Daniel 6).

   

d) Matthew left his tax collector's desk and, at Jesus' call, left all and followed him. You could say he was overcoming the love of money (Matthew 9:9).

   

e) Peter and John refused to stop preaching about Christ and his resurrection despite being threatened by the Jewish council. That was how they overcame the fear of unbelieving officials (Acts 4:19,20).

   
   f) Saul the Pharisee gave up all prospect of promotion and high regard among the Jews and went everywhere preaching about the Jesus he once had tried to persecute. This was an overcoming of the love of human praise (Philippians 3:4-9).
   
   The lesson for us is unmistakable. If you wish to make it clear that you are a true believer you too must be prepared for spir?itual struggle in God's cause, and overcome!
   Let us beware of leaving our first love like Ephesus; of becoming lukewarm like Laodicea; or of tolerating false customs like Pergamum; of tolerating false doctrines like Thyatira or of being halfdead like Sardis. Let us aim for holiness, like Smyrna and Philadelphia. Let us be unmistakably Christian! Let us be truly holy people! Then Jesus will not have urged us to listen to what the Spirit says to the churches in vain.