Completed Works

Jesus judges everyone according to his works (Revelation 2:23), and the letters to the churches present a refined assessment of works.

In Ephesus, they do their works but they (or at least the angel) has left his first love. Repentance means returning to the works that they did at the beginning (2:4-5). The works of the saints in Thyatira age well: The last are first, the best, and the first are the last, a point neatly signified by the placement of the word “first” ( proton ) at the end of the clause (2:19).

In Philadelphia, their works lead to an open door. They have used the little power they were given well, and they’re going to be given more (3:8). Jesus’ palate cannot tolerate the lukewarm works of the Laodiceans; they are judged abominable and spit out (3:15-16).

One of the most interesting assessments is to the church at Sardis. Their works are not judged bad or good but “incomplete” ( ou . . . pepleromena , 3:2). This is a sign that their reputation for liveliness is inaccurate. Without completed works they are sleeping, dead, or about to die (3:1-2). Their are like seedlings that have begun to grow but have produced no fruit, unripe or uncircumcised fruit, and they don’t pass muster with the food inspector.

This is part of the Bible’s “philosophy of action”: Our deeds will be judged not only by their moral character, the motives that moved us and the ends we sought to achieve. They will be judged by their state of maturity. When Jesus judges, He asks not only “What have you done?” but “Did you finish?”