Where's the Love? Rev 2:1-7

In the early church, the gathered church would have love feasts, which were essentially massive pot luck meals, which many people take as proof that baptists really were the first denomination.

Because of the name of these feasts, opponents of Christianity spread false rumors that Christians were gathering for large group amorous activity, if you understand my meaning, and Christians were heavily persecuted partly because of these false accusations.

Today the concept of love, what it means that God is a loving God, and how that should be seen working itself out in our lives, all these things are under sever attack, and the evil one has so polluted the message that

A few things about how the letters to the churches.

Some have argued that these churches represent different church ages. This was a popular view in different places throughout history, and some dispensationalists have held to this view, Clarence Larkin being one of the more prominent voices in that regard. It’s not a very popular view today, but interestingly enough, William Branham taught this, as did Sister Hicks, so we have local representation of this view. Branham almost certainly got his views from Larkin’s books.

The reasons this view is largely rejected today include

one, this model has had to be continually adjusted over time, and different individuals disagree about which period of time lines up with each church. The criteria for how or why a certain period lines up with the description of an individual church is subjective at best.

Consistent hermeneutics doesn’t allow for this theory.

These don’t read like prophecy. Jesus told John to write what he had seen, the things which are, and the things which are to take place. Chapter four begins with John being told about things about to take place, so it only makes sense to see Chapters 2-3, the letters, as the things which are, and not things of prophecy.

There were seven real churches at the time John wrote, and the descriptions that we have in Revelation fit the data we have of theses churches from other sources, limited as that data may be.

The best way to understand these letters are to take them at face value: Jesus is writing to seven real churches facing real world issues and issuing his warnings, encouragements, and promises. Those church are providentially representative of the potential spiritual states of any church throughout history, so while these were real churches in real places dealing with real things in their time, the truth that is present here is universally applicable and beneficial for us to consider here and now in the year 2025, Just like if we were reading Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, for example.

2. Each letter is structure in a nearly identical pattern, with a few variations.

Each letter has the same opening formula: to the angel of the church in _______, write:

Each letter has some description of Christ that has relevance to their specific scenario.

Each letter Christ makes some statement either commending the church or acknowledging their condition or plight.

Each letter Christ makes known a sin or problem that needs to be addressed, except in the case of Smyrna and Philadelphia.

Each letter contains some command from Christ, be that in the form of a charge to repent, or in the form of an encouragement to press forward.

Those who must repent are also faced with consequences if they don’t

Each letter contains a promise to the ones who overcome, or the ones who conquer.

Each letter has a universal charge to all believers everywhere: “he who has an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches”

I was working on a handy dandy chart to help display this information. I feel as though it is some kind of dispensational rite of passage to create a chart on the seven churches. Lord willing, I’ll bring that in next week. I need to fine tune it a little.

Each letter follows the same pattern with slight variation.

That’s the introductory material. Let’s read today’s letter and consider the meaning and application to us today.

Revelation 2:1–7 LSB

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: This is what the One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says: ‘I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot bear with those who are evil, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured for My name’s sake, you also have not grown weary. ‘But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. ‘Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first. But if not, I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place, unless you repent. ‘Yet this you do 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 grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.’

A few things about the city of Ephesus itself.

Ephesus was a very important city. Accessible through the harbor on the coast and the highways by land, Ephesus was a cosmopolitan city and the largest city of the Asian Roman province.

Paul had visited Ephesus in his missionary travels, and at one point spent over two years there. Gospel ministry was so effective there that it caused the silversmiths to fear losing their idol-crafting livelihood.

Ephesus was home to the Temple of Artimis, and this temple was considered one of the Seven wonders of the ancient world. When so many people began to convert to Christianity they were putting away their idols, and the silversmiths manufactured a riot and they called out “Great is Artimis of the Ephesians”

The church at Ephesus had a special place in Paul’s heart.

Not only did he write the letter to the Ephesians while in prison, but as he was anticipating returning to Jerusalem he specifically called the Ephesian elders together to warn them about what they could expect in the coming days in his absence:

Acts 20:28–30 LSB

“Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. “I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.

Timothy pastored in Ephesus, and later on the Apostle John ministered there as well before he was exiled to Patmos.

This city and its church was a significant city for the early church, and it is fitting that it is the first church addressed by our Lord.

As we move though this letter we will note how Christ refers to Himself, the condition of the church, for better or for worse, Christ’s command to the church, and then His commitment to those who reject or embrace his commands.

Christ

Condition

Command

Commitment

Christ: The One Over and Near the Churches

First, in 2:1, it isn’t really clear in English, but where it says “This is what the one....” and then the verse ends with “says”. In the original, the “this” and the “says” are back to back words to lead off the sentence.

We might better translate it as “thus says the one who holds the the seven stars...”

This is an emphatic declaration of the one speaking, and it parallels the prophetic “Thus says the Lord” from the OT.

Christ is speaking now, and he wants you to hear it.

How does he Describe himself?

The one who holds the seven stars in His right hand

The one who walks among the seven golden lampstands.

in chapter 1: “has” the seven starts. here “holds” which communicates the idea in a stronger way: firmly holds, grasps.

Idea: Authority, ownership.

Golden lampstands = churches. Christ walks among them. He is near. He presides over them.

Overall idea: This is Christ’s Church. He is the head of the body. Is not far off, but stands near.

What is the condition of the church?

Condition: Zealous for Truth

I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot bear with those who are evil, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and found them to be false, and you have perseverance and have endured for my name’s sake, you also have not grown weary. Down in verse 6 you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Ephesus was a church that by and large fought for truth. Christ commended them for this. They had seen their fair share of persecution and had endured. They had labored and persevered.

They did not tolerate evil people.

They did not accept false apostles.

Paul had warned them that savage wolves would come in, the Ephesians seem to have taken that warning seriously, and they were successful in guarding the flock. They sniffed out the false apostles and rejected them.

All the while, they did not grow weary in their faith, and they hate what God hates about the Nicolaitans.

Who are the Nicolaitans? The short answer is we simply do not know. It seems that there was a man named Nicolaus, a man of some influence who gathered a following after himself. We don’t know the precise nature of the error he taught, be it practical, doctrinal, or whatever else. All we know is that Jesus hates their work, and the Ephesians did so as well, and they were commended for it.

Ephesus was a city clearly zealous for truth!

If only more churches were equally zealous for truth as they were!

Today there is so much error in the world, so much error taught by places claiming to be churches, and many are led away! There were false apostles in the first century, there are false apostles today!

There were false gospels then, there are false Gospel now.

Ephesus was a discerning church, and Jesus commends them for it.

Brothers and sister, we too much be a discerning church!

We must be well-versed in sound theology so that we can identify false teaching when we hear it.

We should hate the works of those who lead others astray and desire to see people rescued from these aberrant groups!

Ephesus was a church zealous for truth.

But they were not a perfect church.

Condition: Loveless

I have this against you: you have left your first love.

The word for “left” could have the connotation of neglect, or possibly abandonment.

A church zealous for the truth! A church lacking love.

There is debate about what kind of love is lacking. Love for God? love for others?

Considering that love for others flows from love for God, the answer is probably an element of both, but it has to begin with Love for God. Love for Jesus.

A church that lacks love for Jesus is church is a church in serious error and in serious danger.

Love for God is the most fundamental aspect of what it means to be a Christian.

Jesus Himself said that the first and greatest commandment is what?

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength!

That’s the basics. That’s the bedrock, if you aren’t doing that, everything else you do is going to be out of place!

Everything must begin with Loving God!

Our love for God is a response to his love for us.

Romans 5:8 LSB

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

1 John 3:1 LSB

See how great a love the Father has given to us, that we would be called children of God; and we are.

1 John 3:16 LSB

By this we have known love, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

1 John 5:2–3 LSB

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and do His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.

John wrote extensively about what it means and looks like for us to love God and love others, and if that love is missing it speaks of something deeply wrong with our hearts before the Lord!

How can a church so zealous for the truth, so seemingly in tune with the word of God, be so far from the love of God?

Apparently a church can be so focused on sound doctrine, biblical theology, fighting off false teachers, exposing error, that they neglect their personal walk with their savior.

Brothers and sisters. please listen carefully. I believe this is one of the most likely ways that a church like ours, a church like Pillar Fellowship, is likely to fall.

Here at Pillar we strongly emphasis sound doctrine. We educate and instruct in biblical theology. We have our doctrinal statement. Our core values. We do Sunday School classes on cults and seek to expose false teaching. We talk about Hermeneutics. We’ve taught Bible study classes.

All the things that Ephesus was commanded for, I hope that Pillar Fellowship would be commended for!

One of the risks in emphasizing theology is that we get so focused on correct theology that we forget the one who has revealed Himself in the theology.

I’m not saying we shouldn’t emphasize theology. It is good, the Ephesians were commended for sniffing out error, they could only do that because they were on guard, they knew their Bibles, they had a handle on sound theology.

I’m saying that one of the biggest risks in a church like ours is that we get so focused on the theological battles that we forget that Jesus Christ isn’t merely the subject of Christology. He’s a PERSON! He holds the seven the stars. He walks among the lampstands! He hears our prayers. He is the one who promised to never leave nor forsake us, that he is with us to the end of the age!

We get so focused on parsing theology that we forget that God is a real person.

What might it look like if we were guilty of this? If you left your first love, how would you know?

Is your spiritual life marked by mere intellectual pursuit of information, or of personal devotion?

What does your prayer life look like? Are you merely reading about Jesus or are you talking to him like the friend that He is?

Is your spiritual life marked by duty or delight?

There is a famous preacher who uses the illustration of bringing flowers home to his wife. She opens the door and her face lights up as she sees the roses “oh honey, what are these for”. and the husband responds, It’s my duty. Her smile is going to fade really quickly.

The husband should delight to please his wife, it’s not a duty, it’s a delight!

Do you have delight in your spritual walk? Do you pick up your Bible and read expecting to encounter truth from almighty God? Or are you just plowing through a reading plan because its your duty?

Is corporate worship a priority? Do you desire and long for the fellowship of God’s people as you worship the great savior together? Or is church a chore? a duty, that you’d just as soon skip out on as attend?

Parents, do you model love for the Lord in your home? Do you pray together as a family? Do you lead your family in family worship? Do you demonstrate to your children that Jesus is a real person that we get to communicate with, not just the subject of theology.

Children. Your parents can teach you theology. They can teach you about the Bible. They cannot make you love Jesus, because that comes from the heart. Do you love Jesus?

Churches that lose their love lose their mission. The Gospel gets neglected. Infighting occurs. Losing love for God inevitable reflects in a lack of love for others.

I remember being in church business meetings with shouting matches, accusations of betrayals, and a variety of other awful things. That’s not a church marked by love, and today that church is a shell of its former self and has been on the verge of closing down for many years.

When love for Christ is lost, love of others follows and people will leave. Christ will remove the lampstand, as we will see in a moment.

The love that should have, the devotion, our actions, all of it should flow from the recognition that we love God because he first loved us.

Greater love has no one than this, that man lay down his life for his friends. That’s what Jesus did for us! Do you delight in him, or merely work to satisfy intellectual itches about him.

We ought to study theology. We ought to be discerning about false teachers. We ought to hate the works of those who lead people away from the truth.

But if we let our love grow cold, we are gaining very little.

1 Corinthians 13:1–3 “If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 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 do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.”

This was the condition of the Ephesian church. they left their first love. So Jesus commands them:

Command: Repent and Return

Remember from where you have fallen.

Remember.

Remember what it was like when you first trusted Christ. Remember how much passion you had. Remember what it was like to feel the weight of guilt roll off your back. Remember how you felt when you realize for the first time that your sins were forgiven! That you had been given new life! Remember that!

Repent. Turn away from your loveless approach to the faith. Do the deeds you did at first.

The Ephesian church in Acts 19 was so zealous in their early life that Luke records that all Asia heard the word of God.

Jesus says come back to me. Show me your love once again.

There is a warning here: if you don’t I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place, unless you repent.

Jesus gives an ultimatum.

What does it mean to have the lampstand removed? A lampstand is designed to produce light. I believe we are talking about losing one’s public witness. I believe we are talking about Jesus Christ closing the church.

Countless churches throughout history have closed their doors. They lost their public witness. Today Ephesus as a city lies in ruins. There is no church in Ephesus at all.

Every local church, humanly speaking, is just one generation from extinction. If the faith is not passed one, if the Love of God grows cold, we are one generation from losing our witness.

This is not to suggest that this is the only reason why a church might close down. But it is the clear warning from Christ.

The church that loses its love loses its witness.

What about those who overcome?

Commitment: Tree of life

vs 7.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says. This is an important phrase, because even though this was written to Ephesus, this phrase broadens the application to all churches. What Christ says to them he says to all.

There is a promise now to the one who overcomes.

The word here over come can also have the idea to conquer. There is some temptation and you have conquered it, you have overcome the challenge in front of you.

The one who overcomes the temptation of lovelessness:

I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.

The tree of life!

This was the tree that was initially in the garden of Eden! This is the tree that will once again be accessible to those who have trusted Christ! If we were read ahead to chapter 22 we would see this\

Revelation 22:1–2 LSB

Then he showed me a river of the water of life, bright as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

This is what awaits those who endure. who persevere. who remain strong in their love for God!

An incredible promise.

This is the Ephesian church. A church zealous for truth in an exemplary way.

A church that lost it’s love.

Do you love your God today?

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