CF has a function where you can vote for posts you consider to be thread "winners." If there's a winner on this thread, this one would be it!
See you later, brother, and God bless! :)
The scripture in Rev 3:4 is not in the same context as what Paul was speaking of, as per your OP. One cannot just match scripture that sounds the same and draw a conclusion that the context is the same and has the same meaning; it usually is not the case.
Paul is speaking to believers to walk worthily in the Spirit in this earthly life, as a LIFESTYLE as one that is 'overcoming' in this life. Not everyone every time will walk that is considered worthily every day. I for one cannot always, everyday. I may be harboring some impediment that keeps me from giving my all, freely in my spiritual walk one day, and it happens at times. Sometimes I do not search for God's will. And this does not mean I defiled my garment or spiritual clothing because of those 'un-spiritual' days. I have I put on Christ's spirit. My lifestyle and the attitude of my heart for God is what counts.
Those that defile their clothing are those that begin their walk after professing to be a believer and yet not possessing the Lamb's spirit. They have not taken on Christ. They are still in Adam and in their own spirit trying to walk worthily. Their clothes are rags of a sinful nature.
In Rev 3:4. Jesus is speaking of the future, when true believers that walked an earthly lifestyle worthily of God and therefore worthy of walking with the Lamb in the Kingdom. They have now overcome and are now in their new immortal bodies, walking with the Lamb AFTER their earthly life of imperfection and sometimes walking improperly although their lifestyle was spot on, in spirit, in perfection. They have the appropriate spirit clothing that never defiles that person. In Sardis, like in all congregations, even today, there are those overcoming and those pretending in this earthly life. One is in Christ, of white clothing, of life, and the other still in their natural Adamic clothing, of darkness, of the 1st death. The latter are those that are spiritually alone without the hope of 'seeing' the Kingdom. They will be part of the 'Lakers' outside the Kingdom, learning to become righteous for the first time by the consuming fire of the Almighty.
Bless you,
APAK