Do you remember your first love for Christ?

Compliments and Admonitions

A good student of the Bible understands that the tributes and warnings of scripture are mainly directed to God’s people, those who claim to know Him. Why is this? Shouldn’t His words be directed solely at those on the path to destruction? To those who do not know Him?

The answer is simple; God wants His people to be a light to the community and the world. But our journey requires correction and direction because we all are sinful humans. He encourages, cautions, warns, and directs His people because we are like dumb sheep who often wander off into the world and make a wrong impression of God who desires all to know the truth as found in Jesus. The church of Ephesus is a good example of starting good but wandering from their “first love.”

“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write,

‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands:  “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.  Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” ’Revelation 2: 1-7

As we have discovered previously, this message was first and foremost to the congregation at Ephesus when John wrote it. Understanding the message to them makes the message to us more viable. But, it also was written and distributed in a whole book to the other churches of John’s time. Each of the seven churches received all seven letters and the material that followed. (Chapter 4-22).

Understanding the problems of this church (Ephesus), Jesus gave both compliments and warnings to the other six churches who would read about their sister churches, creating empathy, depth, and application to their own experience. Finally, it was written for our churches today. It is not limited to denominations. Just as Revelation’s message is not limited to these seven churches but to anyone “who has an ear.”

…it (Revelation) was written for our churches today. It is not limited to denominations. Just as Revelation’s message is not limited to these seven churches but to anyone “who has an ear.”

Eddie

A subtle and often missed nuance to these messages to the seven churches is a description of the characteristics and challenges of church history. This thought will be developed as we study each church.

First and foremost, the messages of Revelation were for the churches in John’s time and to any who “has an ear.” Likewise, the message is applicable for today’s churches and any who “has an ear.” People in today’s churches have similar strengths and weaknesses. These messages are built on the framework of historical ages of the church…from Jerusalem to the last days. Each church represents another time period in the life of the church. This is the Historists method of understanding Revelation.

Eddie

Ephesus’ Strengths

The tribute to Ephesus is described through words like works, labor, endurance, patience, and their disdain for those who are evil. This is an active church that desires to keep its congregation pure. So they “test” those who make a bold claim of being “apostles.” Nothing is said about how they “tested” them; Perhaps, it was through the writings of the true Apostles. It had not been many decades since the ministry of Jesus and the apostles. Their words still echoed in their ears.

This church “hated” the deeds of the Nicolaitans, as did God Himself. The presence of the heretical group of Nicolaitans in the church in Ephesus threatened to destroy the integrity and purity of Christian faith and conduct. Some fifty years earlier in his farewell speech, Paul warned the Ephesian elders:

“I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your selves men will arise, speaking perverse things to draw away the disciples after them” (Acts 20:29-30)

Ephesus’ Risky Business

Keeping a church pure is risky business. Often, churches are divided, and their light goes out over simple things such as carpet color, non-salvation discussions, silly disagreements, and other such things. But, they were correct in resisting the very blatant attempts of the Nicolaitans to bring in deeds and theology that would ultimately spread and make of non-affect the pure gospel of Jesus Christ.

While it is a good work of not endorsing false doctrine, it can become a fire that does not know where to stop. This may have been the case with Ephesus. Being critical created the warning Jesus gives this church. Sometimes the attempt to “keep the church pure” leads to legalism and a loveless congregation.

This church seems to have been severe, judgmental, critical, and fault-finding. They didn’t know where to stop. They had forgotten that only the gospel could balance religious duty with loving affection for fellow Christians. They had wondered from their first love.

Consequently, the entire church is called upon to repent and do the first works. Repentance means a radical change of the whole direction of life. It is a decisive break from the present situation. They needed more love towards God, their first love, to direct their paths, not legalistic religion.

Admonition and Promise of Overcoming

A return to the first-love Christian experience consistently results in the first-works experience. Jesus tells them to remember and return their first experience of love to God and their fellow believers. Often the church and individuals start strong in the love of God but wander off the path. They can become too religious, critical, stiff, and closed-minded. But, if they recognize their condition, which is brought on by the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, then repent and return to loving God, their light to the community would remain. Otherwise, Jesus will “remove (their) lampstand from its place.” This phrase has a similar message to Jesus’ warning regarding worthless salt. He used the exact phrase he used in all seven churches: “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” Luke 14:34-35

THE FRUITS OF OVERCOMING

After repentance, overcoming is not far away. Overcoming sin is part of the Christian experience. It is the desire and requirement to a church maintaining its “saltiness” and “light.” But both are impossible unless it is under the banner of “First Love.” All seven church’s have a similar message of staying close to Jesus and overcoming. An eternal reward awaits those who “has and ear” and hears (responds)

The overcomer in the church of Ephesus is given the promise that they will:

“…eat from the tree of life which is in the paradise of God.”

Revelation 2:7

Historical Significance

…the apostolic period (and some time after)…was a great start for the church characterized by love and faithfulness to the gospel. But by the time John wrote the book of Revelation, namely, the last decade of the first century, the church had begun losing the fire of its first love, thus departing from the simplicity and purity of the gospel. Thus the church in Ephesus could aptly represent the Christian church of the first century.

Revelation of Jesus Christ-Ranko Stefanovic p. 121