Ephesus - The Forgetful Church

Over the next several weeks we are going to dive into seven letters to seven churches that lived in a time that was difficult, hostile, and prone to pushing people past what God has called them.

In a culture that is increasingly hostile to or pushing against the Christian faith, people often ask if the Bible is still relevant for today? Is God still speaking? Of course He is. The real question is: Are we listening? Imagine if our church received a letter from Jesus Himself. What would He say about our love for God? Endurance in trials? Faithful service for His Kingdom?

Would His words bring commendation… or condemnation?

(S) We do, in fact, have such a letter. In Revelation, the last book of the Bible, Jesus’ words to 7 churches are as relevant today as they were in the 1st century.

As we will see with the letter to the people at Ephesus: Has your faith/love grown cold or complacent? It’s never too late for the H.S. to jumpstart & ignite your heart!

READ TEXT (1089-pew bible)

Revelation 2:1–7 CSB

1 “Write to the angel of the church in Ephesus: Thus says the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and who walks among the seven golden lampstands: 2 I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil people. You have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and you have found them to be liars. 3 I know that you have persevered and endured hardships for the sake of my name, and you have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. 6 Yet you do have this: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

As we hear these words today we will dive into The Good, The Bad, The Ugly, and the Grace/Promise that Jesus is writing to us today.

The Good:

Rev 2:2-3 “2 I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil people. You have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and you have found them to be liars. 3 I know that you have persevered and endured hardships for the sake of my name, and you have not grown weary.”

Them:

2:2 The church is commended for its perseverance and discernment (vv. 2–3). The Ephesian church stands out for its works, its toil, and endurance. These Ephesian Christians did not only agree verbally with the Christian faith; they applied it practically to their everyday lives. Their works demonstrated the reality and concreteness of their commitment. Indeed, their work was marked by “toil” (kopon), meaning that they toiled and slogged even when weary. They were characterized by perseverance and endurance, continuing to labor and work even in adverse circumstances.

The church is commended not only for its labor but also for its spiritual discernment. They didn’t suffer from naivete but refused to tolerate so-called Christians who participated in evil. They didn’t blithely accept those who called themselves apostles. (those who were sent out as missionaries, as emissaries, as ambassadors of the churches (cf. Rom. 16:7; Phil. 2:25). The Ephesian church carefully assessed those who claimed to be messengers of Christ, exposing those who were not truly his disciples (cf. Matt. 7:15–20; 1 Thess. 5:21; 1 John 4:1–6).

It is sometimes said that the Ephesian church is commended for doctrinal orthodoxy, which is certainly true. They would not accept teaching contrary to the gospel of Jesus Christ. But it would be a mistake to limit their discernment to doctrinal orthodoxy. They were also perceptive enough to identify behavioral deficiencies of false apostles. In other words, it is likely these false apostles recommended living in a way contrary to the way of Christ. Neither their teaching nor their works was pleasing to God. This makes perfect sense, for doctrine and life, teaching and behavior, cannot ultimately be separated.

2:3 John underscores further the endurance and perseverance of the saints in Ephesus. Their endurance is truly remarkable, for, humanly speaking, they had every reason to grow tired and weary. Nor can it be said that their endurance is merely an example of human strength and fortitude. On the contrary, they have endured for the sake of Jesus’ name.

Jesus said this would happen in Matthew 5:11-12 “11 “You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me. 12 Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

US:

What are we characterized by?

We worship our Lord, attend bible studies, volunteer (work) for stuff, do different community outreach things | people are doing many things in our community… we endure when tested (covid time)…

So we should feel good that we are commended by the Lord Jesus at toiling forward, and persevering… but wait for it — there’s bad yet…

The Bad:

Rev 2:4-5 “4 But I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.”

2:4 All is not well, however, in the Ephesian church. Jesus presents a complaint and reproves the church for a significant failing. They are persevering and discerning, but they have forsaken their first love.

This should draw us to Matthew 24:12, where Jesus warns that the pressures of the evil age will cause the love of many to grow cold.

Is John referring to a failure to love God, or a failure to love one another?

The expression itself doesn’t answer this question. But we have in 1 John where it says: “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen” (1 John 4:20; cf. also Mark 12:29–31; 1 John 2:9–10).

Abandoning one’s first love means, then, that one has strayed from both love of God and love of fellow believers. The two are inseparable.

The church at Ephesus was persistent and orthodox, but a hardness, a callousness had arisen in its ranks. They needed a renewed fervency, a renewed fire for the Lord and for one another.

They were too focused on how things should be and how one must live that they were forsaking the joy and beauty that comes by God’s redemptive power of LOVE!

By the Ephesians desiring sound teaching when (we could say walking thru the doors) and excluding anyone that would seem to be “posers” or “imposters”, they ended up creating a climate of suspicion where familial love could no longer exist.

GOOD WORKS AND PURE DOCTRINE ARE NOT ADEQUATE SUBSTITUTES FOR THAT RICH RELATIONSHIP OF MUTUAL LOVE SHARED BY PERSONS WHO HAVE JUST EXPERIENCED THE REDEMPTIVE LOVE OF GOD!

Think of it this way:

their first love ( our first love ) is the devotion to Christ that so often characterizes the new believer: fervent, personal, uninhibited, excited, on fire, openly displayed.

It is the “honeymoon love” like between a husband and wife.

While it is true that mature married love deepens and grows richer, it is also true that it should never lose the excitement and wonder of those “honeymoon days”.

When a husband and wife take each other for granted, and life becomes routine, then marriage is in danger…

Just think:

It is possible to serve, sacrifice, and suffer for Christ’s name sake, and yet not really love Jesus at all.

If we become so busy maintaining rather than adoring, then we are in danger of the ugly!

Good works is no substitute for love!

And perfectness (or doing things rightness) is not substitute for passion/fire...

We need a turn around if we are to experience the true joys of what it means to be in God’s Holy family… otherwise it will end up ugly…

The Ugly:

Rev. 2:5 “5 Remember; repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.”

“FIRST LOVE” can always be restored if we hear the invited/encouraging words of Jesus:

Remember

Repent

Repeat

prayer/adoration, diving into His Word and not when it is “convenient”, worship, relationship — the works you did at first is nothing other than going on in on Jesus and His beloved people!

Put Jesus first and see what happens! Let His light burn bright… He warns if not, he will take it all away — no more lampstand (the church body)

Here’s the deal: Jesus/God the Father/the H.S. will always do what is best for His family, His Kingdom, His light — that is why this letter isn’t a condemning letter but a commending letter — the build ups in this letter far outweigh the correction — the correction is serious but that is how love works!

Because bringing us through the Good, the Bad, and avoiding the Ugly, we enter into His abounding GRACE!

The Grace/Promise:

Rev. 2:6-7 “6 Yet you do have this: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.”

Define: Nicolaitans — The Nicolaitans probably tolerated such things as sexual immorality and eating food offered to idols. Perhaps they did this in the name of love and acceptance. But rather than falling for such wrongful compromise, the Ephesian believers followed Christ’s example (“… which I also hate”) and hated what the Nicolaitans were doing. Hate is not incompatible with love, if it is evil that is hated and rejected

This happens today when it comes to being in tolerance… and if you go against the grain of culture you become intolerant and it is lorded over you (meaning of nicolaitans).

But Jesus gives this grace and promise: “the one who conquers, is given the right to eat from the tree of life in the paradise of God!”

νικάω — victor

(S) Nike — the goddess of victory statue (they would have walked by this alot)

wreath — victory

palm branch — being in the presence of God.

The Grace is the unending love of God poured to you through Jesus and He is enough to carry you through to the end! We fight, claw and persevere in the race of life knowing we already have the victory (we are conquerers) in Christ Jesus!

Why are you here this morning?

Maybe now, your answer is different that earlier — if not may I encourage you:

You do have this: Jesus Christ — crucified, risen, and burning for you — receive His love this morning, His forgiveness, and His new mercies to you as victor…

Revelation 2:7 CSB

7 “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

Conquer by His power in you, His grace towards you, His presence here right now!