"I Know Your Works"
12/1/25 Bible Thought (Revelation 3)
The upright were dead and the rich were naked.
That is the diagnosis of the Lord Jesus looking at the churches of Sardis and Laodicea.
In Revelation 3, we are introduced to the final three of the seven churches addressed by the Lord Jesus and two of them receive a bad report.
Sardis had a reputation for being alive (Rev. 3:1b). Outwardly they looked good. The people around them thought they were doing good. They seemed righteous and had good works to show for it.
Yet, only one opinion mattered, and that opinion concluded their works were incomplete and they were spiritually dead (Rev. 3:1b-2).
Their garments weren’t pure, but soiled. While they had much good, they also had impurity that tarnished their reputation in the eyes of Christ.
Living in Laodicea
Likewise, in Laodicea, there was the problem of the lukewarm church that the Lord Jesus would vomit out (Rev. 3:15-16). It’s not enough to have both a blend of good and bad works. The Lord Jesus bought for Himself a church that is to be without spot or wrinkle—holy and unblemished (see Eph. 5:27).
We cannot partner with Christ and the world, for then truly we are partnered with neither.
In Laodicea, there was another compromise with the culture. Slightly different here it seems the issue stemmed more from a
Jesus would prefer either hot or cold.
Now, this does not mean He wanted them to be fully pagan rather than be ordinary, half-hearted Christians.
Based upon background information for the city of Laodicea, many scholars conclude that the reference is to the fact that lukewarm water offers no distinct benefit.[1] That is, cold water is refreshing and hot water can be healing or cleansing, but lukewarm water is well, meh.
The Laodiceans’ problem wasn’t necessarily that they weren’t spiritually zealous.
Rather, it appears that their shortcoming resulted from seeing themselves as self-sufficient which disqualified them from being useful in the sight of God. They boasted in themselves, their riches and their independence, “I need nothing” they said (Rev. 3:17).
This makes sense, for it was a culturally commonplace view for them. A few decades earlier many cities in Asia Minor were devastated by an earthquake, and out of the cities affected, only Laodicea refused support from Rome in order to rebuild.[2] They could do it on their own. No help necessary.
To the rich and well-to-do, independent, self-sufficient church the Lord Jesus says, “you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked” (Rev. 3:17b).
Their pride was pitiable.
Their riches were nakedness.
The view of self-sufficiency caused them to lose sight of the words of the Lord Jesus, “apart from me you can do nothing” (Jn. 15:5b).
Anyone who is proud enough to think they can make it on their own isn’t humble enough to be a Christian.
Yet, at this church, in His grace, the Lord Jesus stood at the door knocking. If they would hear His voice, repent from their wicked ways, and turn to Him He is there ready and willing to sup with them.
A Letter to the American Church?
I don’t know exactly what sort of letter the American church would get. However, I do know that many so-called Christians live double lives. Their life is compartmentalized. They are Christian when they need to be Christian, and worldly when they need to be worldly. To them the Lord Jesus would warn, “I know your works.” The white robe has been tarnished.
Likewise, there are many who strive to live independently.
It’s a cultural value in America not to depend on others and be self-sufficient. But again, the Christian life isn’t to ever be self-sufficient, but grace-sufficient. Riches apart from God are no riches at all—the rich without God is actually destitute.
He knows our works.
What would He say about us?
Challenge for Today:
Christ stands, knocking at the door. If we have found ourselves lured away by worldliness or worldly ideals, we can repent of these things and open the door to Him again
[1] Robert H. Mounce, The Book of Revelation, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1997), 109–110.
[2] Clinton E. Arnold, Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: Hebrews to Revelation. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002), 276.
Brother, this word hits deep because it cuts through every layer of appearance and speaks straight to the heart the same way Jesus spoke to Sardis and Laodicea. When the Lord says I know your works, He is reminding us that His eyes see past reputation, past activity, past image, and straight into the truth of our spiritual condition. Hebrews 4:13 says nothing in all creation is hidden from His sight; everything is laid bare before the One to whom we must give account. Sardis looked alive to men, but Jesus saw they were spiritually dead. Laodicea thought they were rich, but Jesus saw they were poor, blind, and naked. It’s sobering, brother, but it is also mercy because the worst thing God could do is let us stay blind to our own condition What struck me most is this Jesus does not expose to shame He exposes to restore. Even after calling them lukewarm and spiritually bankrupt, He still says in Revelation 3:20 behold, I stand at the door and knock. That’s love. That’s patience. That’s grace. A holy God knocking on the door of a compromised church, asking for room again in the hearts of people who forgot Him. He doesn’t force Himself in but He waits, He calls, He invites And when He speaks to Laodicea, He says buy gold refined in fire, white garments, and eye-salve meaning come back to Me for true purity, true riches, true sight. Because apart from Me you can do nothing. John 15:5 isn’t a rebuke; it’s a reminder of where our strength and fruit come from. Self-sufficiency is the quiet poison of our generation. We want God, but we also want control. We want blessing, but we resist surrender. But real life begins when we say Lord, I cannot do this without You. My strength is not enough. My wisdom is not enough. My righteousness is not enough. I need Your grace Brother, this message feels like Jesus putting His hand on our shoulder and gently saying return to your first love. Let Me cleanse what is stained. Let Me revive what is dying. Let Me open your eyes again. Revelation 3:5 says the one who overcomes will be clothed in white. That is His desire for every believer not half-hearted faith, not double-lives, not lukewarm discipleship but a heart fully alive in Him May the Lord give us humility to hear His voice, courage to repent where we’ve drifted, and grace to open the door wide again. He stands knocking even now, ready to restore, revive, and renew every part of us.