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).
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