SCRIPTURE Revelation 3:1–5 “And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.  Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.  Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent.  If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.  Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.  He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.”  

COMMENTARY All references in this passage are to the saints of God.  We see here that those who are precariously clinging to spiritual life are in danger of dying spiritually.  The phrase “strengthen the things which remain” demonstrate a progressively bad situation which, if not repented of, will result in loss of salvation.  Those barely hanging on to spiritual life are contrasted with those that walk with Him “in white” (see Revelation 19:14) who will be saved.  Those that overcome are those that the Lord will not blot out of the book of life.  These believers are told to remember their faith, to hold fast to that faith and repent.  It is a command to us.  If guaranteed, unconditional eternal security is true, then believers don’t need to be on the alert, and Jesus coming as a thief in the night is of no concern.  Why then do we see this warning to believers here and in other passages like Matthew 24:43, 1 Thessalonians 5:2–6, and 2 Peter 3:10?  This is yet another passage where the garments that the saints have on are loosely tied to their works (cf. Matthew 22:12, Revelation 19:7-8),