Revelation 3:4 Revelation 3:4 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. This verse contains a word of consolation, and encouragement unto this angel and church from Christ; which consists of three parts. First, a description of the persons in this church whom Christ would comfort. Secondly, the promise that he makes concerning them: And, Thirdly, the reason Christ gives why he makes this gracious promise. The persons were some eminent and noted men among the ministers and members of that church; therefore "names" are here put for persons, or men of name, to wit, some in this church, which were more excellent for grace and holiness than the rest in Sardis. Lot and Job, in their generation, or such as Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, who were the chief men among the brethren, \ and so the word names is put for persons or men of name Among the disciples of Christ, there were above five hundred brethren met together at once, that is, at one time, and in one place, unto whom Jesus Christ did appear after his resurrection, \ where, of them a hundred and twenty, \ were the number of names or number of the men of name. So those persons here in this church of Sardis, though very eminent above others, yet they were but few. A few Names, the special notice of them, for the encouragement of this angel and church, as well as for their particular commendation. "Thou hast a few Names even in Sardis". And for a minister to have but a few members in the church, who are eminent for grace and holiness is more commendable, and more comfortable, than to have many that have a name to live, and are yet dead, and a few that are indeed alive, but their works, duties and gifts, withering, decaying, and ready to die. "Which have not defiled their garments". By "garments" we may not understand their outward profession, and form of godliness only, (no, nor chiefly), for in that respect, there were some formal professors in this church, who seemed as religious, and were eminent for gifts and parts; for they had a name to live, although some of them might be hypocrites, \ and denied the power of Godliness, and so defiled the garments of their profession, etc. But by "garments" here is meant their white robes, even that inward purity of heart, and that spiritual power of Godliness in their life, which is called the brides array of fine linen, clean and white, which is the righteousness of saints, \ to wit, of Christ’ s righteousness, of justification, sanctification and holiness; the saint’ s garments of salvation, \ which these "few" kept undefiled, unspotted, uncorrupted, unpolluted, that is, pure and clean by faith, \ not only in the sight of men, but also in the sight of God. Not that these few eminent saints in Sardis lived without sin in the sight of god, or that they kept their garments of fine linen so white and clean, that they were never defiled in any respect; but they were not polluted, corrupted, nor defiled with such enormities as others were, which were not the spots of God’ s children. \ And, if at any time they contracted any filth of sin upon their fine Linen, then they washed their Robes, and made them white in the blood of Christ. \ "And they shall walk with me in white". Here Christ promised those saints in Sardis two things. First, communion and fellowship with himself, signified by walking with Christ. \ He brought me into the Banqueting-house, and his Banner over me was love;( compare Colossians 2:6 with 1 John 1:3). In which walking and communion with Christ the saints enjoy his spiritual presence in his word preached, and in his holy ordinances administered unto them, which fills them with joy and peace through believing. \ In thy presence is fullness of joy. Secondly, conformity unto Christ; Christ was cloathed in white raiment \ and his saints shall be cloathed also in white, \ that is, they shall be like Christ. What marvelous love is this- that we shall be like him? \ "For they are worthy" Not in themselves, with respect to any merit of their own; for when we have done all, we are unprofitable servants, because we have left something of our duty undone; and also, because we have done our Master’ s will no better. The saints can merit nothing of God, \ but yet they may be accounted worthy, First, through God’ s gracious acceptance of their persons and services in his Son Jesus Christ; in which respect, as the saints are said to be righteous in Christ, so they may be said to be worthy in Christ, that is, so accounted of God. Secondly, through that meetness which is found in the saints to partake of Christ’ s favor and free-grace, to walk with him in white, Christ having granted them to be clothed in fine linen, clean and white, \ and they being watchful to keep their garments undefiled (as these few did), he is well-pleased to account them worthy, that is meet to walk with him in white. And the Greek word here used, is translated meet, \ meet or suitable unto repentance. And indeed, there was in some proportion a meetness in those few saints in Sardis, even in Christ’ s own gracious and righteous judgment, to walk with him in white who had kept their garments undefiled.