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. (Revelation 3:4)

Compare Ephesians 5:27 and Revelation 3:4. Let us consider the two groups of believers who constitute the Christian church in Sardis. The majority compose one group, and a "few names" compose the other group. The "few names" are the victorious saints.

The thesis of this paper is that the victorious saints are the true Christians, and the remainder of the church members (perhaps the majority) do not meet the Lord's standard. While they are walking in sin and self-will they have not as yet attained the standard that has been set for the Church, the Wife of the Lamb, the Body of Christ.

What is true of the majority of believers in Sardis? They have defiled their garments. They will not walk with Christ in white, for they are unworthy to do so.

What does the Scripture state concerning the Church, the Wife of the Lamb?

Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness [righteous deeds] of saints. (Revelation 19:7,8)

If the majority of believers in Sardis are unworthy to walk with Christ in white, then they are unworthy to be part of the Wife of the Lamb, the true Church.

We see, therefore, that in the present hour only the victorious saints are the true Christians, the genuine disciples of the Lord. The rebukes directed toward the seven churches in Asia reveal the displeasure of Christ over the behavior of the members of the churches that bear His name.

What is an overcomer? An overcomer is a believer in Christ who gains victory over the world, the flesh, Satan, and his own self-love. It is entirely possible for every believer to be an overcomer, a victorious saint. This would please the Lord very much. But to be a victorious saint we must believe that God, by the riches of His glory, can bring us to this level, and then we must cooperate with the Holy Spirit.

Each Christian person faces problems and trials every day of his discipleship. Some believers pray, exercise faith, study the Scriptures, have fellowship with fervent saints, give, serve, and, through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, achieve victory over the evil that comes before them each day. They carry their cross and follow the Lord Jesus.

These are the victorious saints—people of whom the world is not worthy. They are not super-Christians. They merely are normal Christians—individuals who grasp the grace of Christ to the extent they are not overcome by the pressures and deceptions that attack every believer in Christ.

To be continued.