Revelation 2
1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
Because the resurrected Lord dwelt amid His people, in matchless grace He decided to send Seven Letters of Love to seven churches in Asia (Turkey). While the interpretation of each letter belongs to the specific congregation addressed, the application from all the assemblies belong to every congregation in every generation. There is a blessing when the local church studies the Seven Letters of Love, and Christians take each message to heart.
The first Letter of Love was addressed to the Church in Ephesus. Historically, the city of Ephesus was a cultural center. It was a commercially prosperous place attracting worldwide trade, much like a modern city such as Paris, London, or New York.
The city of Ephesus was also a religious center where the Greek goddess Artemis (Diana, to the Romans) was worshipped. The people of Ephesus honored Diana by building her a marvelous temple, which became one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
A Divine Commendation
In the providence of God, Christianity came to Ephesus when Paul preached the gospel there for two years and three months (Acts 19:8-10). Later, Timothy was the bishop, or pastor of the Church, which made him one of the “seven stars” in the right hand of Christ (Rev. 2:1). Wanting to watch over the work he had established, c AD 62, Paul wrote an epistle to the assemble (Eph. 1:1). Study 1 Timothy 1:1-3
Initially the Church at Ephesus did well and was blessed by God. The Church performed many good deeds.
When people were hungry, the Church of Ephesus fed them.
The poor were given food, clothing, and shelter.
The sick was cared for, and the dying were comforted.
In many ways the Church labored to exalt Christ because it was not enough the Church knew about Jesus; others must know about Him as well.
So, the Church persevered and was “patient” in the sphere of saving grace and faith.
Believers waited upon the Lord in difficult days, and did not faint in times of testing. The words of Jesus were remembered.
“Blessed are you when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake” (Matt. 5:11).
All of this was known to Christ, who commended the saints because of the following.
First, the Church did not tolerate evil.
The believers did not approve those who caused injury to self or others.
Individuals who were in gross error morally, or ethically, were not allowed to practice illicit behavior amid the saints.
The Church in Ephesus would not have tolerated the incest found in the Church of Corinth (1 Cor. 5:1ff).
Second, the Church did not allow anyone to become a divisive personality by trying to have a place of preeminence.
In the congregation in Ephesus, some individuals were claiming to be apostles.
They were lying, and their lie was easily proved because there are several tests for being an apostle.
First, an apostle is a man who has been appointed by God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit (Mark 3:14; 1 Cor. 4:9; 1 Cor. 12:7).
Second, an apostle is a person who has been an eye witness of the resurrection (1 Cor. 12:7).
Third, an apostle is a person who was with Jesus, or at least was familiar with the ministry of Christ from beginning to end (Acts 1:15-26; John 15:27).
Fourth, an apostle is one who is initially invested with unusual spiritual power, to the extent that he could perform miracles (Mark 3:14; Acts 2:43).
Fifth, an apostle is one whose teachings does not contradict what has been taught by the other apostles, or by what has been written in the Scriptures (2 Peter 3:14).
Any person, in any age, seeking to establish spiritual authority within the church by claiming to be an apostle, must meet these biblical qualifications, or be branded a liar.
Beyond that, such personalities are to be officially avoided.
“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them” (Rom. 16:17).
It seems unloving to want to avoid specific individuals, but sometimes it is the will of the Lord, and best for the congregation.
Concerning this matter of separation, the Church must be discerning, and then faithful to the known will of the Lord.
This is not always easy, especially when Church leaders disagree among themselves who should be avoided.
In 2014, Russell Moore, then president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) advised Southern Baptists to attend a “gay wedding” reception as a gesture of affection towards a homosexual friend or relative.
More recently, a prominent Reformed pastor and theologian, Alistair Begg, has given the same counsel, to the astonishment of many.
The Bible does not say that a Christian can participate in an evil ceremony if the people we are participating in it with understand that they believe in Jesus.
The Bible says the exact opposite—it says to take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness (Eph 5:11) ~Marsha West, Christian Research Network
Third, the Church of Ephesus did not embrace doctrinal error.
6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
The word for hate (Gk. miseo [mis-eh’-o]), means to abhor, to detest, and to find something utterly repulsive.
Miseo describes a person who has a deep-seated animosity, and is antagonistic to something found to be completely objectionable.
What Jesus hated, what the believers in Ephesus despised, were the deeds (Gk. ergon), the works, of the Nicolaitans.
According to tradition, the Nicolaitans believed that it was lawful to eat food offered to idols. They were insensitive to those who were not legalistic on this matter.
Then, the Nicolaitans mixed sensual idolatrous worship (such as was associated with Artemis [Diana]) with the worship of Jesus. Study Acts 19:24-40
The Nicolaitans also denied that God was the creator of the world.
While there is no positive evidence, several of the early church fathers, such as Ireneus (c. AD 130 – 202) and Hippolytus (c. AD 170 – 235), contended that it was Nicolas, one of the first seven deacons that was the founder of the Nicolaitans (Acts 6:5).
If Nicolas was one of the original seven deacons, then his life serves as a warning that it is not how well one begins in the Christian faith that matters, but how well life ends.
An Alarming Condemnation
Despite all the good the Church in Ephesus was doing, there was something seriously wrong in the hearts of God’s people.
4 Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
How was that possible?
First, love for Christ can be lost by reading the Bible out of a sense of duty, but with no delight in meditating on the Lord.
Personally, I am not a fan of trying to reading the Bible through in one year, just to say it has been read.
It is far better to slow the process down and meditate on what each text says.
“I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings” (Psalms 77:12).
Second, teaching what is not practiced can cause a person to lose love for Christ.
It is possible to teach on prayer, and not pray.
It is possible to teach on forgiving others, and harbor resentment and bitterness in the heart.
It is possible to teach about Christian compassion, and never show it.
Love for Christ will be diminished by not performing Christian duties.
Third, hearing Biblical doctrine, but not believing what is taught can destroy love for Christ.
The deity of Christ, His virgin birth, and the resurrection, along with all the miracles of the Bible must be believed if there is to be authentic fellowship with and love for Jesus.
Fourth, love for Christ can be lost by preferring to serve rather than to be with Jesus in His Word.
The story of Mary and Martha reminds the Church of this spiritual truth (Luke 10:38-42).
“But Lord,”
said Martha,
“there is so much to do; so many needs! Make Mary help me!”
And Jesus said,
”Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it [meaning, I] will not be taken away from her.”
Find a way to stay under the sound of the gospel and be with Jesus.
On a more positive note, love for Christ can be restored to its initial intensity and fervor.
First, love for Christ can be kindled afresh by remembering the greatness of the Lord as Creator.
“O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the works Thy hands have made,
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy pow’r thru-out the universe displayed!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee;
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee;
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!”
Second, by studying the life of Christ, and the words He spoke will cause love for Christ to return.
When Jesus chose the Twelve Disciples, He did so that they might learn from Him, but also that they might be with Him.
“And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him,
and that he might send them forth to preach” (Mark 3:14).
The more a person is with someone special, the more love they will cultivate for that individual.
It is inevitable.
I am anxious to return to our study of the l of Christ so that we might be with Jesus in a more intimate way.
Then, our hearts will say,
“More love to Thee, O Christ,
More love to Thee!
Hear Thou the prayer I make
On bended knee;
This is my earnest plea:
More love, O Christ, to Thee,
More love to Thee,
More love to Thee!”
Third, constant communion with Jesus can renew love for Him.
“Now let us have a little talk with Jesus
Let us tell Him all about our troubles
He will hear our faintest cry
He will answer by and by
Now when you feel a little prayer wheel turning
And you know a little fire is burning
You will find a little talk with Jesus makes it right.”
Fourth, receiving those words that can save the soul can find love for Christ returning.
Jesus said,
“It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63).
If any local assembly, if any individual Christian, is convicted of losing their first love, then receive the words of Revelation 2:5.
5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
The fallen state is not a reference to loss of salvation, for the security of the soul does not depend upon good works.
Rather, the testimony of the saint has fallen, and must be uplifted.
The apostle Paul was fearful that when he had preached to others he should be disqualified.
“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” (1 Cor. 9:27).
It is a great tragedy not to be useful to the Lord because the light of our life’s testimony has been extinguished.
If a local church is not careful, the Lord will stamp “Ichabod” across its door, and remove its light, its testimony, from the community. Study 1 Samuel 4:21, 22
7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
What is promised to those who overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil is that they shall eat of the Tree of Life, which is in the Paradise of God.
What is in view is that perfection of holiness which Adam would have had if he had not sinned.
Had Adam eaten of the Tree of Life, he and his posterity would have been confirmed in a state of holiness and happiness.
Though the First Adam failed, and doomed his posterity to death, hope lives.
A new promise is given because of the redemptive work of the Last Adam, Jesus Christ our Lord.
“To him that overcometh [in Christ] will I give to eat of the Tree of Life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.”
The Divine commitment is that those who persevere in their Christian walk and spiritual warfare shall be nourished by Jesus, as the true Tree of Life.
The victorious believer will yet find “perfection and confirmation in holiness and happiness in the paradise of God; not in the earthly paradise, but the heavenly, (Rev 22:1-2)” (Matthew Henry).
As a Church, let us read this, believe it, and be blessed.
Herein is the message of the first Letter of Love from the Lord to the Church.
