Among the Lampstands

Translation

To the angel of the church in Ephesus, write:

Thus says the one holding the seven stars in his right hand, the one walking about in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: I know your deeds, your labor, and your endurance, and that you are not able to bear evil, and you tested the ones calling themselves apostles but who are not, and found them to be false. You have endurance and carry on because of my name, and you have not become weary.

But I have this against you: You left your first love. So you must remember from where you have fallen and repent and do your former deeds. But if not, I am coming to you, and I will remove your lampstand from its place, if you do not repent. But you have this in your favor: that you hate the deeds of the Nikolaites, which I also hate. Let the one who has ears hear what the Spirit says to the churches. I will give to the conqueror the right to eat from the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.

Jesus Knows

Jesus Dog Joke

Sunday school theology “Jesus is watching”- not too bad!

God is not indifferent towards his Church

Each church has an angel watching over it

Christ knows each church personally. He “walks in the midst of the lampstands”. He Holds the “seven stars in his right hand”.

What does this mean for us, that Christ knows His Church?

He knows about the good we do

He knows about the bad we do

But, perhaps more importantly, it means Christ cannot be seen without his church

Jesus is to be found “walking amongst the lampstands.

Christ knows about all the good, and about all the bad the Church does. But it’s his church nevertheless.

We may wish we could see Jesus, or go on to see Heaven without the Church, but Revelation will not allow it. The only way from Christ to Heaven and Battles against dragons, wickedness, and sin is through the Church

Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus

Not “church” as in a building, but as in the people of Christ

We are saved as a family, not as individuals.

But take heed: while we need the Church and the Church needs Christ, Christ needs neither.

Jesus calls these churches toward repentance, and if they do not repent, their lampstand will be removed

The purpose of a lampstand is to hold the light. A lampstand whose fire has gone out will be taken away from Jesus.

So it is not enough to just be a lampstand, i.e. to call ourselves “church”. We must be a church that holds the light of Jesus.

Of note, none of the seven churches John writes to stand today. Their lampstands were all removed at one point or another.

But what precisely makes the kind of Church Jesus is looking for?

Right Doctrine

Right belief is at the forefront of John’s mind as he relays his vision to the Church

Several false teachers, called the Nikolaites and a prophetess (perhaps a Nikolaite herself) named “Jezebel”

But Jesus commends this church in Ephesus for having discernment about right teaching.

Right belief is important, because those who don’t understand God and Christ are easily led astray

Not everyone has to be a seminary student, however, they must understand the basics.

Right teaching is commanded by Jesus (Matt 28)

Jesus warns about false Messiahs and prophets, and calls us to have understanding enough to tell the real from the false

There were an abundance of false apostles then, and an abundance now:

Prosperity Gospel

A God with no love

A God with no Justice or power

The God of America

Magic Prayer Gospel

Sound doctrine and good theology are necessary to follow the right path that Jesus has laid before us.

Right Practice

Good doctrine is of no use, however, if we do not put it into practice.

Jesus is at least as concerned that we live out our theology as he is that we have good theology

The Pharisees were theologically very sound. Jesus was not concerned with their teaching, but their doing (Matt 23)

The New Revised Standard Version Jesus Denounces Scribes and Pharisees

“The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; 3 therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach.

This is why he praises the church in Ephesus for their deeds and labor.

There is no Magic Prayer Gospel

It is not enough to think fondly of Jesus, to say a prayer in his name, or to go to worship and call ourselves “church” and “christian”.

We must serve Christ in truth and deed, not just by words.

Even Paul does not teach a gospel of faith without works. Indeed, he tells us we must: (Phil 2.12)

The New Revised Standard Version Shining as Lights in the World

work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;

Right Heart

So we must have sound doctrine, at least enough to test those who claim to speak in Christ’s name and discern whether they are true or false.

And our doctrine and theology must be accompanied by good practice: caring for the poor, feeding the hungry, becoming holy people of love

But Ephesus had both of these qualities. So what did Jesus have against them? What more does a good church need?

Obviously both of these are important.

Several other churches John writes to have been lead astray, and Jesus calls them out on it.

Jesus and scripture continuously emphasize the importance of living out our faith.

But Jesus is not only concerned that we know and do the right things, but that we also love the right things.

While Ephesus had avoided false apostles and had worked and toiled in Christ’s name, they had nevertheless “left their first love”, Jesus.

To believe and do the right things is meaningless if we do not do them out of love and reverence for Jesus

The Church in Ephesus had grown too comfortable.

Likely they had been getting too comfortable with the culture and world they lived in.

Cycles of the Church

Ephesus, like all of the churches written to here, had only been around for about 40-50 years. How had it already lost its fire and heart for Jesus?

Every church is in danger of doing this, and in fact, most churches eventually do become like Ephesus.

Churches begin with a spirit-filled vigor and fire in their hearts, but after a few decades, they tend to start going through the religious motions.

The Christians who founded the church have all passed away, and the Second and third generation Christians remaining don’t have the same love, vision, or relationship to Jesus as those who came before.

Every generation the church must start over. The next wave of Christians must learn not only to believe the things those who came before believed, nor only to do the things that were done before, but to love Jesus.

Jesus loves this Church, but the Church must learn to love Jesus too.