The Epistle of Jesus Christ to the church of Ephesus: You have Left Your First Love

Introduction

Tuesday is Valentine’s Day and the stores have been filled with special cards, flowers, and candy to celebrate love. In the New Testament there are three Koine Greek words out of four Koine Greek words that we would translate as “love” in English. The common Greek word is Agape which we could translate as unconditional love, or high esteem, affection, and the King James translators sometimes translated it as charity. Today, I want us to an epistle or letter from Jesus Christ to the church in Ephesus. Not the epistle or letter from Paul to Ephesus. This letter or epistle is found in the book of Revelation and the book of Revelation has seven letters to seven churches in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey) and the first of these letters is to the church in Ephesus. Turn to Revelation 2. The last book of the Bible.

Letter from Jesus to the Church in Ephesus

The Apostle John is exiled on the island of Patmos when he sees his Lord, Savior, and friend Jesus Christ for the first time in around 60 years! In His glorified state. Before we get back to this first letter let us read the context in verses 9-20 of chapter 1.

Revelation 1:9–20 NKJV

I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.” Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.

So, Jesus Christ has appeared to His disciple, child, and friend John to write to these seven churches in Asia Minor and the first one is Ephesus.

Revelation 2:1–7 NKJV

“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.” ’

Imagine getting a letter from Jesus Christ Himself about your church.

What are you doing right?

What needs to change?

You have left your first love.

Do we get caught up in all the stuff that we forget to love Jesus Christ. The joy of when we first came to Jesus Christ.