Ephesus: The Church That Lost Its Love (Revelation 2:1-7)

The church in Ephesus was a very important church in the first century. It was established by Paul during his third missionary journey. He was there for about three years and used the location as the centre of evangelistic missions to the surrounding towns and cities, perhaps to some of the places mentioned in the list of seven churches. Over thirty years have passed since then. Timothy was there for some years, because he was in Ephesus when Paul wrote 1 Timothy. Later, the apostle John lived there and his letters are connected initially to the surrounding area. So it was a church that had received a great deal of spiritual input.

Each of the letters to the seven churches follows the same basic framework: character of Christ, commendation by Christ, criticism by Christ, counsel of Christ and comfort from Christ. Exceptions are the letters to Smyrna and Philadelphia for neither of these churches received criticism, and the church of Laodicea, which received no praise.

These letters were sent to churches facing trouble from the outside, from persecution by the Roman authorities. Although that was a painful trouble, it was not life-threatening. Other troubles came from inside the church, caused by false doctrine and sinful practices. Unlike persecution, these dangers were life-threatening, as we can see from the warnings

One issue that needs to be clarified is the identity of the angels to whom each letter is addressed. Various suggestions are offered: the pastor of the congregation, the person in each congregation who delivered the letter to the church (the word ‘angel’ means messenger), the guardian angel of each church. It is likely to be a real angel, and elsewhere in the Bible they are depicted as functioning as witnesses for God. They observe public worship (1 Cor. 11:10).

The character of Christ

Jesus describes himself in two ways: first, he holds the seven stars in his right hand, and second he walks among the churches (the lamp stands). The first image is that of a protecting Christ. The word translated ‘holds’ is a stronger word than the one in 1:16 and indicates that Jesus has his people in his grip; it does not mean to hold by the hand but to hold within the hand. Since he holds the representative angels in his hand, he therefore holds each of the churches in his hand. This would be an encouragement to a church facing persecution.

The second image is of a Christ who is present with his people to empower them by giving them divine light (as the priests of Israel lit the lampstands in the temple). Again, this is a reminder that opposition from outside does not put out the light of a church. What does this image suggest? Light is a picture of holiness, of warmth, of witness, factors that this church was in need of, as we shall see.

Why is he depicted as holding the seven stars, which depicts all the churches? One commentator suggests that Ephesus had come to look on itself as the protector of the other churches from heresy, but she had to learn that it is Jesus who protects his people from all dangers. In any case, what we have here are details of the suitability of Christ as the help of his people.

The commendation of Christ

Jesus’ commendation reveals that the church in Ephesus had several apparently healthy features. It was a dynamic church, which gave much effort and time to its activities. Further, it was a doctrinal church, able to discern who were false teachers, and this feature of the church continued into the next century because they are commended for it by the early church father, Ignatius. It was a church marked by determination to endure through times of trouble.

At first glance, this is a very impressive church. But in reality, if we were to use biblical verses to describe it, it would be 1 Corinthians 13:2-3: ‘And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.’ Despite their good features, they received a strong rebuke by Christ.

The criticism of Jesus

The one who has the eyes of fire as he moves around the churches does not need to search long before finding a defect that was life-threatening. The church in Ephesus had lost its first love. This would include love for God, love for fellow-Christians and love for other people, because in a Christian sense, the one cannot exist without the other. We already mentioned 1 Corinthians 13, the beautiful poem of love. But it is also a stark reminder that a church can function without love.

When we think of love to God or to Jesus, it is a responsive love, for we love him because he first loved us. It is also a repentant love because we realise our sins are against love. Further, it is a righteous love because it expresses itself in obedience to his commands.

Love to fellow Christians is a love that reflects God’s love to us. Therefore, it is a love that takes the initiative, that is not put off by rebuttals, that persists in valuing other Christians by praying for them, encouraging them, and anticipating the day when they will be like Jesus.

Love to unbelievers is a love that reaches out to them, expressed in a concern for both their temporal welfare and their eternal destiny. Christian love for the world includes care for the body and the soul

The church in Ephesus had lost their love and were in danger of ceasing to be a church.

The counsel of Jesus

Jesus, out of his love and in his grace, tells them what to do. They may have lost their love for him, but he has not lost his love for them. He explains in detail the necessary response: recollection, repentance and replication. ‘Memory is a tonic for faith’ (Marcus Loane).

They were to think back to the days when they first heard the gospel. How delighted they were with the message and how grateful they were to God for his grace to them. As they heard the story of the Saviour’s love they responded with love to him. They felt that they would be devoted to him all their days.

Perhaps some of us who should be professing were in this situation but lost it for one reason or another. You look back and recall such an experience but because you do not have it now you think it was only a temporary interest. But it may be that what you lost was that first love experience.

Of course, those of us who are believers often lose their passion for Christ. It is good for us to sit down and recall the days of our first love, when our hearts were warm for Jesus.

Not only are we to remember, but we are to repent. The reason why our love has grown dim is because of sin. Repentance involves a recognition that we have sinned, a regret that we have sinned, and a resolve to turn from our sins. It involves our whole inner man of mind, emotions and will. The mind recognises, the heart regrets, and the will resolves.

Repentance is the essential link between recollection and repeating the former days. We may attempt to recover the old passion by mere recollection, but that will not work. There has to be repentance. We have to come to our Father and to our Saviour in a penitent attitude and say, ‘I have sinned. Please give me restoring grace.’

A penitent person receives grace from Jesus to do the first works. Repentance is an unburdening of the soul in the presence of God. This is when Jesus removes the loads that have hindered our spiritual progress. We will never get rid of the oppression caused by specific sins or by sins in general until we confess them with sorrow and shame in the presence of God. This is not a belittling exercise; rather it is the ropes by which we can climb out of the dungeon.

Sometimes we are surprised at the progress a backsliding Christian makes after his recovery. The secret is his repentance, and we should not be taken aback; rather we should expect it. John Bunyan, in his book on the Intercession of Christ, comments that a restored backslider is a double object of mercy – from his sins before conversion and from his backsliding after conversion.

It was repentance that enabled us to have our first love, and it is repentance that enables us to recover it. So only a penitent person loves in a Christian manner.

The comfort of Jesus

Jesus then gives a promise to those who trust in him. He will give them the right to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. Obviously there is an allusion to the Garden of Eden. Adam lost his right to the original tree of life by his sin. But Jesus has come as the second Adam and by his life, death, resurrection and ascension he recovered the right for all who trust in him.

The tree of life is a symbol of Jesus himself. He is the source of life for the inhabitants of heaven. There will a surplus of life, an endless supply, for all of them to experience throughout the endless ages. It will be a life that will increase in satisfaction. Our minds will know great things, our hearts will experience wonderful things, and our wills will desire and attain magnificent things. We will know God, enjoy his love, peace and joy, and engage in his service for ever. We will have life.

Application

The first point is one I would address to those of us who are Christians. Striving for purity can result in loss of love, indeed it can be a substitute for love. Is this the explanation why large orthodox congregations diminish and disappear?

Life is promised to the overcomer. Who is an overcomer? Evidently, it is not those who had the features of the church in Ephesus, features of activity, perseverance and orthodoxy. The overcomer is the person who lives by faith in Jesus: ‘For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?’ (1 John 5:4-5). In addition to having lost their first love, the church had ceased to live by faith. These two go together. Jesus rejected the works of the church in Ephesus, preferring their first works. What matters is faith that works by love.

The fact that the Christian life is to be marked by repentance, faith and love means that it continues the way it began, for a person enters the kingdom of Christ through repentance and faith. Therefore, those of us who are not Christians, this promise of life is held before you. If you repent of your sins and trust in Jesus Christ, he will take you to heaven where you will enjoy eternal life. Ask yourself, why am I not a Christian? There is no barrier on the side of Jesus. He invites you, indeed, he commands you to trust in him and experience his grace.