TOPIC:“Philadelphia - The Lovable Church”
by Rev. Dr. Reg Dunlap
TEXT:Revelation 3:7-13
“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These things saith he that
is holy, he that is true, he that has the key of David, he that opens, and no man
shuts; and shuts and no man opens” (3:7).
Philadelphia, the sixth of the seven churches, is a city in Lydia of Asia Minor, located bout twenty-eight miles southeast of Sardis on the Cogamus River. The city was named after its founder, Attalus Philadelphia, and means “brotherly love.” It became famous for its vintages and wines through the growing of grapes on the fertile fields in the area.
Being situated on the edge of a great volcanic area, the city of Philadelphia suffered from occasional earthquakes. It was destroyed by one in A.D. 17, and like Sardis, the city was rebuilt by the generosity of Tiberius, the Roman emperor. The city was a religious center of pagan worship, the chief god being Dionysus, the god of the grapes. It is interesting to note that a Christian witness continued in the city of Philadelphia right into the 20th century.
As in the other five letters to the churches, this letter begins with a description of the living Christ. Without any word of criticism or rebuke for this church, the risen Christ now addresses this faithful congregation. Consider how He presents Himself to them.
The Absolute HOLY One - “he that is holy” (v. 7). This title used to designate Christ as “the Holy One” is the same used by Isaiah to describe God (Isaiah 40:25). Christ was holy before His birth and after His birth. He is described in the womb of Mary as “that holy thing” (Luke 1:35). He is totally and eternally pure. He lived a perfect life. The summons of Christ to the believers in Philadelphia and to Christians today is that they “might be partakers of his holiness” (Hebrews 12:10) and that as “he who has called you is holy, so you, be holy in all manner of life” (I Peter 1:15).
The Absolute TRUE One - “he that is true” (v. 7). If purity speaks of the inward character of Christ, truth speaks of the outward conduct of Christ. He is the real One. The word “true” means “genuine” as distinguished from that which is false. What Christ does and what He says does not contradict what He is in reality. And what is He? Let Him answer it in His own words: “I am the truth” (John 14:6).
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