EPHESUS: THE CHURCH THAT LOST ITS LOVE (REVELATION 2:1-7) The church in Ephesus was a very important church in the first century. It was established by Paul during his third missionary journey. He was there for about three years and used the location as the centre of evangelistic missions to the surrounding towns and cities, perhaps to some of the places mentioned in the list of seven churches. Over thirty years have passed since then. Timothy was there for some years, because he was in Ephesus when Paul wrote 1 Timothy. Later, the apostle John lived there and his letters are connected initially to the surrounding area. So it was a church that had received a great deal of spiritual input. Each of the letters to the seven churches follows the same basic framework: character of Christ, commendation by Christ, criticism by Christ, counsel of Christ and comfort from Christ. Exceptions are the letters to Smyrna and Philadelphia for neither of these churches received criticism, and the church of Laodicea, which received no praise. These letters were sent to churches facing trouble from the outside, from persecution by the Roman authorities. Although that was a painful trouble, it was not life-threatening. Other troubles came from inside the church, caused by false doctrine and sinful practices. Unlike persecution, these dangers were life-threatening, as we can see from the warnings One issue that needs to be clarified is the identity of the angels to whom each letter is addressed. Various suggestions are offered: the pastor of the congregation, the person in each congregation who delivered the letter to the church (the word angel means messenger), the guardian angel of each church. It is likely to be a real angel, and elsewhere in the Bible they are depicted as functioning as witnesses for God. They observe public worship (1 Cor. 11:10). The character of Christ
Jesus describes himself in two ways: first, he holds the seven stars in his right hand, and second he walks among the churches (the lamp stands). The first image is that of a protecting Christ. The word translated holds is a stronger word than the one in 1:16 and indicates that Jesus has his people in his grip; it does not mean to hold by the hand but to hold within the hand. Since he holds the representative angels in his hand, he therefore holds each of the churches in his hand. This would be an encouragement to a church facing persecution. The second image is of a Christ who is present with his people to empower them by giving them divine light (as the priests of Israel lit the lampstands in the temple). Again, this is a reminder that opposition from outside does not put out the light of a church. What does this image suggest? Light is a picture of holiness, of warmth, of witness, factors that this church was in need of, as we shall see. Why is he depicted as holding the seven stars, which depicts all the churches? One commentator suggests that Ephesus had come to look on itself as the protector of the other churches from heresy, but she had to learn that it is Jesus who protects his people from all dangers. In any case, what we have here are details of the suitability of Christ as the help of his people. The commendation of Christ Jesus commendation reveals that the church in Ephesus had several apparently healthy features. It was a dynamic church, which gave much effort and time to its activities. Further, it was a doctrinal church, able to discern who were false teachers, and this feature of the church continued into the next century because they are commended for it by the early church father, Ignatius. It was a church marked by determination to endure through times of trouble. At first glance, this is a very impressive church. But in reality, if we were to use biblical verses to describe it, it would be 1 Corinthians 13:2-3: And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove
mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Despite their good features, they received a strong rebuke by Christ. The criticism of Jesus The one who has the eyes of fire as he moves around the churches does not need to search long before finding a defect that was life-threatening. The church in Ephesus had lost its first love. This would include love for God, love for fellow-christians and love for other people, because in a Christian sense, the one cannot exist without the other. We already mentioned 1 Corinthians 13, the beautiful poem of love. But it is also a stark reminder that a church can function without love. When we think of love to God or to Jesus, it is a responsive love, for we love him because he first loved us. It is also a repentant love because we realise our sins are against love. Further, it is a righteous love because it expresses itself in obedience to his commands. Love to fellow Christians is a love that reflects God s love to us. Therefore, it is a love that takes the initiative, that is not put off by rebuttals, that persists in valuing other Christians by praying for them, encouraging them, and anticipating the day when they will be like Jesus. Love to unbelievers is a love that reaches out to them, expressed in a concern for both their temporal welfare and their eternal destiny. Christian love for the world includes care for the body and the soul The church in Ephesus had lost their love and were in danger of ceasing to be a church. The counsel of Jesus
Jesus, out of his love and in his grace, tells them what to do. They may have lost their love for him, but he has not lost his love for them. He explains in detail the necessary response: recollection, repentance and replication. Memory is a tonic for faith (Marcus Loane). They were to think back to the days when they first heard the gospel. How delighted they were with the message and how grateful they were to God for his grace to them. As they heard the story of the Saviour s love they responded with love to him. They felt that they would be devoted to him all their days. Perhaps some of us who should be professing were in this situation but lost it for one reason or another. You look back and recall such an experience but because you do not have it now you think it was only a temporary interest. But it may be that what you lost was that first love experience. Of course, those of us who are believers often lose their passion for Christ. It is good for us to sit down and recall the days of our first love, when our hearts were warm for Jesus. Not only are we to remember, but we are to repent. The reason why our love has grown dim is because of sin. Repentance involves a recognition that we have sinned, a regret that we have sinned, and a resolve to turn from our sins. It involves our whole inner man of mind, emotions and will. The mind recognises, the heart regrets, and the will resolves. Repentance is the essential link between recollection and repeating the former days. We may attempt to recover the old passion by mere recollection, but that will not work. There has to be repentance. We have to come to our Father and to our Saviour in a penitent attitude and say, I have sinned. Please give me restoring grace.
A penitent person receives grace from Jesus to do the first works. Repentance is an unburdening of the soul in the presence of God. This is when Jesus removes the loads that have hindered our spiritual progress. We will never get rid of the oppression caused by specific sins or by sins in general until we confess them with sorrow and shame in the presence of God. This is not a belittling exercise; rather it is the ropes by which we can climb out of the dungeon. Sometimes we are surprised at the progress a backsliding Christian makes after his recovery. The secret is his repentance, and we should not be taken aback; rather we should expect it. John Bunyan, in his book on the Intercession of Christ, comments that a restored backslider is a double object of mercy from his sins before conversion and from his backsliding after conversion. It was repentance that enabled us to have our first love, and it is repentance that enables us to recover it. So only a penitent person loves in a Christian manner. The comfort of Jesus Jesus then gives a promise to those who trust in him. He will give them the right to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. Obviously there is an allusion to the Garden of Eden. Adam lost his right to the original tree of life by his sin. But Jesus has come as the second Adam and by his life, death, resurrection and ascension he recovered the right for all who trust in him. The tree of life is a symbol of Jesus himself. He is the source of life for the inhabitants of heaven. There will a surplus of life, an endless supply, for all of them to experience throughout the endless ages. It will be a life that will increase in satisfaction. Our minds will know great things, our hearts will experience wonderful things, and our wills will desire and attain magnificent things. We will know God, enjoy his love, peace and joy, and engage in his service for ever. We will have life.
Application The first point is one I would address to those of us who are Christians. Striving for purity can result in loss of love, indeed it can be a substitute for love. Is this the explanation why large orthodox congregations diminish and disappear? Life is promised to the overcomer. Who is an overcomer? Evidently, it is not those who had the features of the church in Ephesus, features of activity, perseverance and orthodoxy. The overcomer is the person who lives by faith in Jesus: For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (1 John 5:4-5). In addition to having lost their first love, the church had ceased to live by faith. These two go together. Jesus rejected the works of the church in Ephesus, preferring their first works. What matters is faith that works by love. The fact that the Christian life is to be marked by repentance, faith and love means that it continues the way it began, for a person enters the kingdom of Christ through repentance and faith. Therefore, those of us who are not Christians, this promise of life is held before you. If you repent of your sins and trust in Jesus Christ, he will take you to heaven where you will enjoy eternal life. Ask yourself, why am I not a Christian? There is no barrier on the side of Jesus. He invites you, indeed, he commands you to trust in him and experience his grace. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and they sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all, according as any man had need. And day by day, continuing stedfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to them day by day those that were saved (Acts 2:42-47).
Thus we have the description of the early church in Jerusalem, a truly dynamic group that saw its numbers nearly double over a period of a few weeks, and eventually reach into the tens of thousands (cf. Acts 21:20). But how? Why do we not see the Gospel having the same attraction today as it did then? Perhaps a good part of the difference may be found within the group in Jerusalem itself. Notice verse 42: they devoted themselves to the doctrines of the Apostles, the fellowship, the breaking of bread, and the prayers. We see here four avenues of the Christian path that are quite essential for growth: studying God's Word, associating with the saints, the Lord's Supper and/or hospitality with other saints, and communication with God. Verse 46 provides more insight: they continued daily in the Temple, together and with one accord, and they also "broke bread" from house to house. They are also known for "praising God". But look here in verse 47: they had favor with all the people. Why was that? Because the teachings of the Gospel were socially acceptable? Hardly; such teachings led to Jesus' recent crucifixion, and their promotion led the Apostles to be thrown before the Sanhedrin, and many other Christians into trouble with the authorities later (Acts 7-8:2). We have no reason to believe that the order from the life of Jesus in John 9:22: any who professes Jesus to be the Christ would be put out of the synagogue and essentially ostracized from the Jewish nation. It wasn't because of social acceptability. Because the teachings of the Gospel were easy for Jews? Again, hardly; Jesus demanded much more of them than did the Law (Matthew 5:20-48). Jesus demanded true adherence to the principles that God set down, not mere lip observance as so many Jews were wont to give. Commandments demanding such persons to "take up their cross and follow Him" and to "lose their lives for Him" (cf. Matthew 16:24-25) would be as challenging for them as anyone else. It was not because the teachings were easy. The Gospel was not socially acceptable, nor was it any easier for Jews of the first century than anyone else. Why, then, did the church grow? How did it have favor with all the people? The answer, in reality, is reflected within the passage itself: the community which they developed. They were always together. They were sharing meals with simplicity and gladness of heart. They were in the Temple, learning of God and proclaiming what He had done. They were selling what they had so that all would have their needs met. And everyone around them saw such things and saw that it was something special, something worth one's participation.
As can be understood from 1 John 4:7-11, Christians, above all things, must be a peculiar people on account of their love for each other and for all men. And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing (1 Corinthians 13:2). We often talk about the "distinctives" of the faith, and when such a conversation takes place, various doctrinal matters get brought up. While we should certainly teach the truth, note how Paul says that without love, it simply doesn't matter. We can teach "the truth" day and night, but if we don't manifest love to each other and to those without, we won't get anywhere. Love is to be the distinctive mark of the Christian and also the church, as seen in Acts 2. They loved each other in the faith, and they manifested that love by studying the truth of God together, associating with each other, breaking bread together, and praying together. And when other Jews saw this in the Temple, they were at least somewhat interested in the concept. In a world where there are many who are interested in Jesus but not in "church", the best form of evangelism is a community of Christians truly serving God-- not just according to the external observances that are quantifiable, but also in heart and soul, and most especially in love. When a group of Christians have the love for the Lord, each other, and those without that they ought to have, there you will find a dynamic and growing church! The fate of Jerusalem and Ephesus are before us: what shall we choose? Ethan R. Longhenry A evangelist working with the church of Christ in Norwalk, Ohio. CHURCH OF EPHESUS: Now understanding a little background about the Church at Ephesus, let s consider the letter they received from Jesus.
1. THE DAILY LIFE OF THE CHURCH THAT WAS THRILLING The Lord begins His letter with words of praise. He compliments them for several things that were true about the daily workings and life of the Church. Notice the things Jesus commended and praised in the Church at Ephesus. First, we see: A. How Fervent They Were In Service In verse 2, Jesus spoke of "thy labor. The Church at Ephesus was more than a building where people gathered. It was a body that worshipped on the first day of the week and worked the rest of the week. The word labor describes the kind of working congregation they were. The word describes "toiling to the point of exhaustion." It speaks of a "strenuous and exhausting labor." They were such hard workers they were completely exhausting themselves in the work of God. John R. Stott said of the Church at Ephesus that it was a veritable beehive of industry. This was a membership made up of working people who were praised by the Lord. They were a lot like John Wesley. It is said that Wesley traveled 250,000 miles by horseback over 40 years of ministry. He preached more than 40,000 sermons, produced more than 400 books, and learned 10 languages. At 83 he was annoyed that he could not write more than 15 hours a day and at the age of 86 he was ashamed that he could not preach more than twice a day. He complained in his diary that there was an increasing tendency to lie in bed until 5:30 in the morning. I am afraid that many Christians are "lily" Christians. They neither toil nor spin. It is estimated that in the average Church, 20% of the congregation will give 80% of the time, talent, and money necessary to carry on the work of the Church. Another 40% will supply the remaining 20% and the remaining 60% will do little or nothing. Jesus not only praised them for their work but also for their faithfulness. Notice secondly: B. How Faithful They Were In Suffering Jesus praised them for their patience (Vs.2). The word means endurance under trial. For these Ephesian believers, it was not easy being Christians. They found themselves exposed to fierce opposition. Much of their persecution came from the many false religions that existed in the city. It was one of the great centers for emperor worship. Many practiced the magical arts from the Orient. There was profound reverence for Diana. All religions except Christianity were accepted, thus the Christians found themselves snubbed in public and maligned in practice. In our day, it is sometimes beneficial to be Christians. We often use our Christianity as an advantage. But these believers were finding business hard for they were losing their customers. Nobody wanted to buy from a Christian. Others found shopping difficult since many merchants would not sell to Christians. Instead of Christians doing the boycotting as so often is the case, the Christians were ones being boycotted. Yet these believers did not give up, bail out, or fall back. They pressed on in patience. Probably no book has had greater influence on the Church apart from the Bible as John Bunyan s Pilgrim s Progress. It was written while Bunyan was a prisoner in the Bedford jail. He was preaching to a crowd outdoors when officers broke up the meeting and carried him
to jail. His crime was simply preaching without a license. He spent the next 13 years in jail. When his trial came up, he was given a sentence of 3 months. After that time, he was told if he would promise never to preach again, they would release him. Bunyan replied, If I were out of prison today, I would preach again tomorrow, so help me God! That s the kind of patience and endurance we need. How easy we let things get us down in our life. The least amount of persecution or difficulty and we are ready to call it quits. We need a faith that will endure under trial. The kind Jesus praised. We also see: C. How Firm They Were In Separation Thirdly, we see that Jesus praised them in how thou canst not bear them which are evil, and hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars (Vs.2). Also we read, But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate (Vs.6). It seems that there were those in the Church that were teaching false doctrine. They were called Nicolaitanes. No one knows for sure who they were, but the name means destroyer of the people. The name itself indicates they were false teachers who were destructive in their behavior and belief. Yet these believers were well grounded in truth and would not tolerate false doctrine in any form or fashion. They had tried those who were false in doctrine and had so marked them. Jesus praised them for their ecclesiastical separation and doctrinal stand. Jesus never intended for His Church to be hodgepodge of ideals, theories, and doctrines. He intends for His Church to be doctrinally sound, biblically settled, and theologically straight. Liberalism and modernism must never be tolerated by the Church. Jesus praised this Church for their stand for truth and on truth. The things Jesus praised about this Church should be important to each congregation. If Jesus wrote your Church or mine, would and could He praise us for the same? Secondly, we see: 2. THE DYING LOVE OF THE CHURCH THAT WAS TROUBLING Jesus not only rejoiced in certain things about the Church at Ephesus, but He also reproved them for a certain matter. First He commended them and then He condemned them. Jesus said, Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee (Vs.4). What was it that Jesus had against this Church? First, we notice: A. The Exciting Life Of The Church In The Past
Jesus spoke of their first love (Vs.4). The words describe a devotion to Christ that is full of passion, excitement, and fervency that is openly displayed and uninhibited. Warren Wiersbe describes it as the honeymoon love of a husband and wife. Do you remember when you first were saved? Everything you learned was so thrilling. You wanted to read your Bible and pray each day. You could not wait to get back to Church. You wanted everyone to know that you had been saved. Being a Christian was the greatest thing in the world. You were so excited about being saved and the Lord meant everything to you. That is what is meant by first love. These believers in the past had been so excited about being saved. Serving the Lord was a blessing not a burden. Sharing their faith with others was a joy and not just a job. They were in love with Jesus and not ashamed of it. The words of A.J. Gordon are descriptive of the love and zeal they had for Christ. My Jesus I love thee, I know Thou art mine; If ever I loved Thee, My Jesus tis now. However, what had been true about the past was not true in the present for there was: B. The Evident Lethargy Of The Church In The Present The complaint Jesus had against the Church was, thou hast left thy first love (Vs.4). Jesus was saying, You are a hard working group of people, you are strong, endure persecution, and are doctrinally sound. But you have lost that excitement, passion, and zeal that you once had. Paul, when writing to the Church at Ephesus, closed the letter by saying, Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus in sincerity. Amen (Eph.6:24). The word sincerity speaks of an undying love. Paul s charge was to let nothing cool their love for Christ. Now thirty years later the one complaint Jesus had was that their love for Him had cooled, their devotion had chilled, and their hearts had grown cold. They had lost that honeymoon love. I can imagine that the services were dead. The music was drab and uninspiring. The preaching was gun barrel straight but just as empty. Their zeal, passion, and excitement were gone. They went through all the motions, but it lacked life. They had lost the wonder of their salvation. Albert Schweitzer, missionary-physician to Africa once wrote: For the tragedy of life is not in the hurt to a man s name, or even in the fact of death itself. The tragedy of life is what dies inside a man while he lives, the death of genuine feeling; the death of inspired response. Thomas Carlyle put it this way: Soul dead, stomach well alive. Many believers could thus be described. The soul is dead. Something on the inside has died. The passion has gone out of worship. Zeal has gone out of service. Joy has gone out of the heart.
J.H. Jowett said, The alluring wonder is largely absent from the Church... What then do we need? We need the return of wonder, the arresting marvel of a transformed Church, the phenomenon of a miraculous life. To that we all must say, Amen! The third thing we notice about this Church is: 3. THE DEVASTATING LOSS OF THE CHURCH THAT WAS THREATENING Our Lord first commends the Church and then condemns them. Finally He commands them to take certain steps in their life. Notice the instructions Jesus gave to the Church. First, we see: A. The Conditions Jesus Declared There were three things Jesus commanded them to do. First they were to consider their former devotion. Jesus said remember therefore from whence thou art fallen (Vs.5). The word remember means to keep on remembering. They were to recall and reflect on the days when their heart was white hot. They were to think often on the days when the Lord was near and His presence real in their hearts. They were to remember how it used to be in their life. Secondly, they were to confess their fateful decline. Jesus said repent (Vs.5). They were to confess their spiritual decline and deadness. They were to come before God in repentance that they had allowed their hearts to get in the state it was. Finally, they were to change their future direction. They were to do the first works (Vs.5). They were to once again work and serve with a honeymoon love. Once again their life was to be filled with passion, zeal, and excitement. The Lord expects nothing less of us if we have left our first love. If our hearts have grown cold, we ought to fall on our faces and ask God to forgive us and to fill our hearts with a burning love. He demands nothing less and deserves nothing less. Also, there were: B. The Consequences Jesus Described There are two words Jesus said that ought to grip our hearts and get our attention. Those two words are or else (Vs.5. Jesus was saying if there is going to be survival there must be revival. Jesus told the Church to remember, repent, and return or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place (Vs.5). If there is no life there will be no light. Jesus was saying that the glory would depart and that He would remove His hand of blessing if they did not heed His commands. We all know of places where the candlestick has been removed. I recently was taken a tour through a Church by its pastor. He has only been there for a short time and has a great vision for the Church. As we walked through the impressive buildings and beautiful auditorium, he told me a shocking story. Years ago the Church was one of the largest in the city. Its history included large crowds and pastors of reputation and influence. Yet, in a business meeting the Church voted not to do any more evangelistic work in their community
because of the kind of people that were moving into their area. One man stood up with tears in his eyes and told them they had made the worst mistake in the history of the Church. He was exactly right, for the Church now consists of buildings that a small handful of older people are struggling to maintain. It is nothing but a memorial of a great past. The light was removed and woe be unto any Church when the light is removed. History tells us that after the Church at Ephesus received their letter from Jesus, it rallied for a while. But later it lapsed again and by the middle ages it testimony had been obliterated. This Church with such a glorious history ceased to exist. One traveler in that time tells about visiting Ephesus and found only three Christians there and these had sunken in such ignorance and apathy as scarcely to have heard the names of Saint Paul or Saint Peter. Jesus warned them such a thing would happen if they did not remember, repent, and return. The Lord by their example warns us that the same thing could happen to our Churches. If the life is gone the removal of the light is next. When the honeymoon is over a divorce will soon follow. May God speak to our hearts and keep our hearts burning with a honeymoon love.