1. Christ’s Letters to His Church: Why They Still Matter

Introduction: A Question We Cannot Avoid

If Christ wrote a letter to your church, what would He say? Would He commend faithfulness, or expose hidden compromise? The seven letters in Revelation 2-3 are not distant history; they are Christ’s timeless diagnosis of His church. Written to real congregations in Asia Minor, they reveal the sins, struggles, and strengths of churches in every age.

We live in a moment of crisis. The cultural hostility against Christianity is rising. Many churches are folding under pressure, either by softening doctrine, adopting worldly values, or retreating into silence. Others are busy with activity but lack spiritual life. Still others boast of wealth and influence but are blind to their spiritual poverty. These realities mirror the seven churches of Revelation. The question is unavoidable: where do we stand?

The Authority of Christ’s Word

Christ introduces Himself to each church with a title drawn from the vision of Revelation 1: the One with eyes of fire, the One who holds the keys of death, the One who is holy and true. His authority is absolute. These letters are not suggestions; they are verdicts from the risen Lord who walks among His lampstands (Rev. 1:12–13).

This confronts the modern objection: “The church is just a human institution, corrupted over time.” Yet Scripture insists the church belongs to Christ. He purchased her with His blood (Acts 20:28). He builds her so that the gates of hell cannot prevail (Matt. 16:18). He speaks to her, purifies her, and sustains her. The church may be marred by sin, but she is Christ’s bride, and He will finish His work in her (Eph. 5:25-27).

The Apologetic Edge: Why These Letters Matter Today

Critics often dismiss Christianity as irrelevant, outdated, or hypocritical. But the very letters of Revelation shatter those accusations.

1. Relevance: Christ addresses persecution, poverty, false teaching, sexual immorality, complacency, and pride—the same issues we face today. As Bauckham notes, “John’s prophetic critique unmasks the illusions of worldly power and exposes the church’s constant temptation to compromise.”¹

2. Authority: These letters prove that Christianity is not man-made religion. Who but Christ could speak with such piercing accuracy across cultures and centuries? As Hendriksen observes, “They are timeless in character. Though written to seven churches, they apply to all churches of all times.”²

3. Hope: Unlike secular ideologies, which rise and fall with history, Christ promises eternal reward to the one who conquers. Every letter ends not in despair but in the assurance of victory.

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The Call to Self-Examination

The great danger is to read these letters as mere history lessons or doctrinal checklists. They are mirrors. When Christ says, “You have abandoned your first love” (Rev. 2:4), we must ask whether our zeal has grown cold. When He warns, “You are lukewarm” (Rev. 3:16), we must ask whether we are spiritually complacent. When He commends, “You have kept My word” (Rev. 3:8), we must long to be that faithful, persevering church.

Paul commands, “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith” (2 Cor. 13:5). These letters help us do exactly that. They reveal whether we are clinging to Christ or drifting away.

The Gospel Anchor

The heart of these letters is not condemnation but grace. The risen Christ calls His people to repent because He loves them (Rev. 3:19). He warns of judgment, but He also promises life, victory, and eternal fellowship. The gospel runs through every line: Christ died for His church, rose in triumph, and now reigns as Lord of all. He is both Judge and Savior.

This is why we cannot ignore these letters. They are Christ’s living Word to His people today. To dismiss them is to despise His voice. To hear and obey them is to share in His victory.

Conclusion: He Who Has an Ear, Let Him Hear

The series ahead will walk through each of the seven letters. Some will pierce. Others will comfort. All will reveal Christ’s evaluation of His church. The only question is: will we listen?

Christ stands at the door and knocks (Rev. 3:20). Will we open in repentance, or will we continue in self-deception? The time for excuses is over. Christ is walking among His lampstands. He is speaking. The only safe response is to hear His voice and obey.

Footnotes

1. Richard Bauckham, The Theology of the Book of Revelation (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993), 35.

2. William Hendriksen, More Than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1967), 72.