Ephesus: The Loveless Church

Recap:

Introduction:

v. 1a) Context: Ephesus

To the Angel: As we have discussed last week, could mean the pastor of the church or an angelic being. In some way we are not to interpret these seven verses as only for this representative but for the whole church in Ephesus.

Ephesus: This was a popular city in the ancient world, with an equally famous church. Paul ministered in Ephesus for three year:

Acts 19:1 NKJV

1 And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples

Acts 19:10 NKJV

10 And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

Acts 20:31 NKJV

31 Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.

Aquila and Priscilla, with Apollos served there too:

Acts 18:24–28 NKJV

24 Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. 27 And when he desired to cross to Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him; and when he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace; 28 for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.

Paul’s “son in the faith” Timothy was their pastor:

1 Timothy 1:3 NKJV

3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine,

Other who served this church: It is possible that the once useless slave Onesimus became their pastor some time after Timothy. Also, according to strong and consistent historic tradition, John himself also ministered there. Talk about a legacy.

Ephesus: This was truly a great port city and it was world-famous as a religious, cultural, and economic center of the region. Ephesus had the notable temple to Artemis, a fertility goddess worshipped with sexual immorality.

The temple was regarded as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. It was supported by 127 pillars, each pillar 60 feet tall, and it was adorned with great sculptures.

Acts 19:27 NKJV

27 So not only is this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana may be despised and her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worship.”

As Revelation was penned, the city of Ephesus probably boasted a population of somewhere between 100,000 and 250,000.

v. 1b) Description of Jesus

In each of the letters to the seven churches, Jesus Christ identifies Himself in a particular way.

Why do you suppose Jesus gives this description of Himself?

Since the discussion in 1:20 has already identified the seven stars as the angels, whoever they may be, are firmly in the control of the Lord. Furthermore, he walks about in the midst of the seven lamps, which are the seven churches.

He is fully cognizant of all that is transpiring in the churches, and there is nothing hid from his view.

The emphasize is on Christ’s authority over the church and the angels. You see this introduction stresses that Jesus is the central to the church, and should be recognized as such.

The word “hold” is κρατων. Which indicates that the action of the Lord here is continual. Jesus has these churches, and holds them securely. The churches belong to Jesus, not to the leaders of the churches or to the people of the churches. He holds them.

vv. 2-3) The Omniscience of Christ

I know your works: I find these two verses really assuring and here’s why. John is assuring the church that the omniscient Lord is fully aware of their works, since after all he walks up and dow nin the midst of the seven golden lampstands, he goes on to describe precisely the nature of the work that he comments.

What are the four affirmations Christ gives to Ephesus in verse 2?

The church is commended for its:

Labor

“Labored:” refers to strenuous labor that induces weariness. However, the Ephesian church, in Jesus’ name, had “endured hardships” but had not “grown weary.”

“There are also working Christians who do not approach to laboring; yet a lifetime of such work as theirs would not exhaust a butterfly. Now, when a man works for Christ he should work with all his might.”—Spurgeon

Patience

This is what we might call constructive criticism. Telling the church that He see what they are doing right. They worked hard for the Lord and they had godly endurance. Patience meaning here, steadfast endurance. Essential the church in Ephesus was rock-solid.

Purity: The inability to bear those that were evil, and for the fact that it had put to a test certain ones who claimed to be apostles and had found them to be liars.

This church pursued doctrinal purity. Paul warned the Ephesians in Acts 20:29-31

Acts 20:29–31 NKJV

29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. 31 Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.

The church today, like the Ephesian church then, must vigorously test those who claim to be messengers from God—especially those who say they are apostles, because deceivers will speak well of themselves. The greater the evil, the more deceptive its cloak.

“This was grand of them: it showed a backbone of truth. I wish of the churches of this age had a little of this holy decision about them; for nowadays, if a man be cleaver; he may preach the vilest lie was ever vomited from the mouth of hell, and it will go down with some.”—Spurgeon

Ephesians 5:27 NKJV

27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

Purity is a person matter: 1 Corinthians 7:1

1 Corinthians 7:1 NKJV

1 Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

Only the Lord has the power to cleanse, yet only man has the choice of allowing God to cleanse him.

v. 4) Rebuke

“Nevertheless:” means that all the good the Ephesian church did not cancel out the bad Jesus is about to describe. They had a lot of good going for this church yet there was something seriously wrong.

They once had a love that they don’t have anymore. This can be described as a definite and sad departure.

The distinction between leaving and losing is important. Something can be lost quite by accident, but leaving is a deliberate act, though it may not happen suddenly. As well, when we lose something we don’t know where to find it; but when we leave something, we know where to find it.

They left their first love, while everything looks great on the outside. This problem was serious. Without love, all is vain.

“A church has no reason for being a church when she has no love within her heart, or when that love grows cold. Lose love, lose all.”—Spurgeon

What love did they leave?

As Christians we are told to love God and to love one another.

Did they leave their love for God? Did they leave their love for one another?

Probably both are in mind, because the two loves go together. You cannot say love God and not love His family, and you cannot love His family without loving Him first.

The Ephesian church was a working church. Sometimes a focus on working for Jesus will eclipse a love relationship with Him. We can put what we do for Jesus before who we are in Him. We can leave Jesus in the temple, just as the parents of Jesus did.

The Ephesian church was a doctrinally pure church. Sometimes a focus on doctrinal purity will make a congregation cold, suspicious, and intolerant of diversity.

Theology without doxology = cold dead orthodoxy

Doxology without theology = idolatry

“When love dies orthodox doctrine becomes a corpse, a powerless formalism. Adhesion to the truth sours into bigotry when the sweetness and light of love to Jesus depart.”—Spurgeon

vv. 5-6) Repentance

What is the first step for this church to be restored?

They need to first remember. They needed to remember from where they had fallen. This means remembering where they used to be in their love for the Lord and for one another.

When the Prodigal Son was in the pigpen, the first step in restoration was remembering what life was like back in his father’s house: Luke 15:17-19

Luke 15:17–19 NKJV

17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’

This is always the first step in getting back to where we should be with the Lord.

What is the second step?

Repent… repentance is so much more than being sorry. Repent is not a command to feel sorry, or really to feel anything. It means to change your direction, to go a different way.

What is the third step?

Going back to the basics, to the very first things they did when you first fell in love with Jesus. These are the things that we never grow beyond.

What are these things for us?

Remember how you used to spend time in His Word?

Remember how you used to pray?

Remember the joy of getting together with other Christians?

Remember how excited you were about telling others about Jesus?

Something I’ve noticed, is that Satan does a masterful job creating a sense of general dissatisfaction with these first works. Christians will run after almost every new, strange method or program for growth and stability. Our shortened attention spans make us easily bored with the truest excitement . Sometimes we will do almost anything except the first works.

Remove your lampstand: There is a severe warning. Unless they repent, He will remove their light and His presence. When their lampstand was removed, they could continue as an organization, but no longer as a church of Jesus Christ. it would be the church of Ichabod, where the glory had departed: 1 Samuel 4:21

1 Samuel 4:21 NKJV

21 Then she named the child Ichabod, saying, “The glory has departed from Israel!” because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband.

From what Ignatius wrote: it seems that the Ephesians returned to their first love without compromising doctrinal purity. That isn’t always an easy balance to keep, but they did it, at least for a time.

But this you have: So to not overly discourage them Jesus gave this church another compliment.

What were the deeds of the Nicolaitans?

The doctrine of the Nicolaitans is also condemned in Revelation 2:15, and in that passage it is related to immorality and idolatry.

Irenaeus (writing in the late second century) described what he knew of them: “The Nicolaitanes are the followers of that Nicolas who was one of the seven first ordained to the diaconate by the apostles. They lead lives of unrestrained indulgence. The character of these men is plainly pointed out in Apocalypse of John, as teaching that it is a matter of indifference to practice adultery, and to eat things sacrificed to idols.”

Which I also hate: These are powerful words, in that they came from our savior who is so rich in love. Whoever exactly these people were, and whatever exactly they did and taught, we learn something from Jesus’ opinion of them. We learn that the God of love hates sin, and wants His people to hate sin.

v. 7) Remembrance & Exaltation

He who has an ear: This qualifies everyone—or at least everyone who will listen. Not only was this portion of the letter written to the church at Ephesus. This is written to us, and all Christians throughout the centuries.

Each one of these seven letters apply to all churches. We must hear what the Spirit says to the churches—not just one church. These sections—each of them—were meant to speak to you, if you will only have an ear to hear what the Spirit says.

To him who overcomes: What does this overcomer overcome? We usually think of overcoming in dramatic terms of overcoming sin and in spiritual warfare, but here Jesus seems to speak of overcoming of their coldness of heart and lack of love marked by leaving their first love.

The promise for these overcomers was a return to Eden, a restoration, and eternal life. This was meant first in the eternal sense of making it to heaven, which was no small promise to a church threatened with the removal of Jesus’ presence. It is also meant in the sense of seeing the effects of the curse rolled back in our own lives though walking with Jesus’ redeeming love.

HW:

Benediction:

Numbers 6:24–26 NKJV

24 “The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; 26 The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” ’