What the Bible says about Dead Men Walking
(From Forerunner Commentary)

Revelation 3:2-3 Jesus gives them three urgent commands: remember, hold fast, and repent. Spiritually, they are “dead men walking.” The revealed truths Christ had given them “are ready to die,” thus He warns them to take heed because they risk losing what they have “received and heard,” either through neglect or distraction. Many people today are straying from what God has revealed, allowing themselves to reject it piecemeal for titillating but false ideas that regularly float through the church or simply by failing to build on the fundamental doctrines (see Hebrews 5:12-6:3). This number includes some who, despite fleeing apostasy, are allowing sound doctrine to be eroded and lost. Richard T. Ritenbaugh The Seven Churches (Part Seven): Sardis Related Topics: Dead Men Walking | Drifting Spiritually | Faith Once Delivered | Guarding the Truth | Relationship with God | Sardis, Church of

Revelation 3:2 Christ first addresses their “works,” which He finds imperfect. God desires quality, godly works, full of love and faith toward Him. The works of Sardis seem to be blemished like unworthy, ritualistic Old Covenant sacrifices, lacking holiness and the intent of pleasing Him. While they may still have some truth, their dead works indicate a lack of living faith (James 2:17-20), suggesting people who perceive themselves to be alive but are standing still, spiritually catatonic, even comatose. They may exist as stones in the Temple but not as “living stones” (I Peter 2:5). Richard T. Ritenbaugh The Seven Churches (Part Seven): Sardis Related Topics: Dead Men Walking | Drifting Spiritually | Faith Once Delivered | Guarding the Truth | Living Stones | Relationship with God | Sardis, Church of | Spiritual Lethargy | Spiritual Slumber | Spiritual Stupor | Spiritually Comatose

 

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