And to the messenger of the assembly in Sardis, write, “These things says the One who holds 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.” (Revelation 3:1).
The fifth period of the Church on earth is characterized as an assembly that possesses a reputation for being alive, yet is spiritually dead. This condition is attributed to the emergence of Reformed Theology (Calvinism), which facilitated the inclusion of many unbelievers within the assembly. The doctrine of predestination, present only in certain translations of the Bible, enabled the proliferation of alternative gospels within the church. If salvation is understood as predetermined before the foundation of the world, the necessity for a precise articulation of the salvation message diminishes (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). In the absence of the message of the cross, emphasis shifts toward works-based salvation. The removal of the offense of the cross allows individuals to claim Christian identity with minimal doctrinal commitment (Galatians 5:11). Salvation is then perceived as contingent upon personal actions such as admitting sinfulness, seeking forgiveness, repenting, accepting Jesus into one’s heart, or making Jesus the Lord of one’s life. Although salvation is professed to be by grace through faith, the underlying teaching promotes a works-based approach to salvation and Christian living (2 Peter 2:19).
Reformed theology rejected certain teachings associated with Catholicism, yet it also set aside doctrines received from the Apostles (Revelation 3:3). Specifically, it dismisses the seven dispensations outlined in Scripture, as well as the two covenants given to Abraham and his descendants regarding the land and the promise in Genesis 22:17 (Galatians 3:16) concerning the Messiah (Ephesians 1:10; 3:2; Hebrews 3:5). These doctrines are replaced by a framework that emphasizes two covenants: a covenant of works with Adam, requiring perfect obedience for life, and a covenant of grace with Christ, offering salvation by grace through faith to all believers throughout history. This perspective asserts that Jesus is present throughout the entirety of Scripture and that all believers, even prior to the revelation of his name and the cross in the Old Testament, were required to believe in his sacrificial death (Luke 1:31; 1 Corinthians 2:8).
The assembly in Sardis represents the prevailing state of the Church from approximately AD 1520 to AD 1730. During the Reformation period, Protestant scholasticism and pietism emerged as movements intended to counter Catholicism, resulting in the development of rigid and highly ideological orthodoxies, exemplified by creeds such as the Westminster Confession of Faith.
Although numerous assemblies continue to identify as Reformed or Covenant, the majority now reflect the contemporary condition of the Church, characterized by the Laodicean approach, which prioritizes material wealth over doctrinal integrity (Revelation 3:17). The ongoing influence of rejecting the authentic gospel continues to affect the Church, resulting in many congregations comprised of individuals who claim Christian identity based on alternative gospels, receive a different spirit, and even follow another Jesus (2 Corinthians 11:4; Galatians 1:7).
It is essential to adhere to the traditions and faithful teachings delivered by the Apostles (2 Thessalonians 2:15; Titus 1:9). Salvation is granted by grace through faith, not out from works (Ephesians 2:8). The gospel message possesses the inherent ability to save (Romans 1:16). Faith in Christ’s death on behalf of sins, burial, and resurrection three days later, just as Scripture stated would happen, is the only bases for salvation (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). Stop being fooled by these false teachers who profess salvation by faith alone in Christ alone, yet reject the message of the cross. For those who are perishing, the message of the cross is regarded as foolishness (1 Corinthians 1:18). Salvation cannot be earned or exchanged; it is a benefit received solely by trusting in God’s Word, independent of personal merit (Titus 3:4–5).
