Return to Your First Love
1. Jesus Writes to His Church
The letters to the seven churches are pastoral-prophetic letters. Jesus speaks as prophet and pastor to comfort and challenge the churches. The letters follow the same pattern:
Instruction to write to the angel of a church
This is what the One says
Christ presents himself with certain attributes from the opening vision, attributes that are relevant to the situation of each church.
“I know …” — introduces the situation and/or problems in the church followed by …
Commendations — for what they have been doing well (except Laodicea)
Accusations/condemnations — because of some sin(s) (except Smyrna and Philadelphia)
Challenge — a warning of judgment, a call to repent, and/or an encouragement
Exhortation to listen to the Spirit (“he who has an ear hear …”)
Promised blessing to those who conquer that connects to the final salvation in the new creation.
Although the letters address unique situations in each church, they are intended for all the churches as we see in the closing exhortation of each letter that they should hear what the Spirit says to the churches. All the warnings and all the promises are for all the churches, also for us today. Churches like these are still being found in all places. We must listen to what the Spirit says.
These churches were living in a culture and society where the gods, goddesses, their temples, and cults controlled the social, political, and economic systems. There was also the emperor cult that acknowledged and worshipped Ceasar as lord and god. So, if you wanted to participate in the broader society you had to play the game. Participating in the cults, the festivals, and eating food sacrificed to the idols were the cultural norm and expectation. This is how you demonstrated support for the political and social status quo.
The Christians were in the minority and the odd ones out. They had no temples, images, or altars. They claimed Jesus as Lord and God, not Ceasar. Because of their faith, they experienced various kinds of persecution. They were harassed and slandered for being Christian. They lost social and economic opportunities resulting in social and economic deprivation. When the pagan worshippers or Jews filed complaints against the Christians saying that they were disturbing the peace and social order, the local authorities had to investigate. This led to harassments, arrests, penalties, and punishments, even violent death. How would the Christians survive the pressures “to toe the line” culturally, politically, and religiously? To give in would make life easy, stop or avoid persecution.
2. Living in A Pressure Cooker
Talking about these pressures, the Christians in Ephesus were living in a pressure cooker. Ephesus was the largest and most important city in Asia. The Asian proconsul, the Roman governor, resided there. It was truly a cosmopolitan city, the commercial, political, religious, and tourist center of Asia. All the land and sea trade routes went through it. If all roads led to Rome, Ephesus was a major intersection and hub on the way. It had the largest library in Asia. [PHOTO] There were 14 temples in Ephesus. The two important ones were the temples of Artemis and the emperor Domitian.
Artemis was the goddess of life and fertility. [PHOTO] Her massive temple was one of the wonders of the ancient world. It was 425 ft by 225 ft and had 127 columns each 60 ft high. [PHOTO] Today, not much remains of this temple. [PHOTO] One month every year was devoted to a huge festival to honor Artemis. No work was done during this month. There were impressive ceremonies, athletic games, concerts, and plays. People made offerings, gave great banquets, sang, danced in the streets, and participated in wild and unrestrained sexual activities. The temple served also as a bank. It had a large, beautiful garden with a very large tree that served as a sacred shrine. Sick people would come to touch the tree and hope for healing. Pregnant women came to the tree to be blessed. Criminals who came to the tree would be free from capture and punishment. It is no accident then, that this letter finishes with the promise of the tree of life in the paradise, the garden of God.
The temple of Domitian was built on a hill overlooking the city and could be seen from nearly everywhere in Ephesus. [PHOTO] Inside was a large statue of Domitian estimated to be 27 feet tall. [PHOTO] The Ephesians pressured the citizens to honor the emperor as “Lord and God.” There were two large markets in Ephesus. The Commercial market is close to the harbor and the State market is next to Domitian’s temple. To do business there you must burn incense on the altar at the entrance to honor the emperor as lord.
Imagine the tremendous pressure pushing in from all sides on the church in Ephesus. On top of that, they had to deal with false apostles and teachers within their own ranks. Ephesus was a hotbed for false teaching from the early days as we see in Acts 20 and 1 Timothy. To this church living in the pressure cooker of Ephesus, Jesus writes — To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. ‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. … (v6) Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
Jesus is the Lord of His Church who holds them in his right hand, the mighty, powerful right hand and arm of the Lord God Almighty that rules, protects, and judges. He walks among the lampstands. He is in control and powerfully present with his church.
3. Well done …
Jesus commends the Ephesians, saying “Well done” for their deeds, hard work, and patient endurance. They did not give in to the pressures around them. They stood strong for the truth of the faith and worked hard to maintain doctrinal purity. They did not tolerate evil people. They critically examined the false apostles and teachers. They bore much for Christ’s Name. Remaining true to the faith and confronting false teachers was exhausting work but they did not give up. They tested those who called themselves apostles and found them to be liars. Self-appointed, self-authorized apostles have no authority backing them because they have not been sent by a higher authority, by the Lord. They are just looking out for themselves.
The Ephesians hated a group called the Nicolaitans. We do not know their identity. It could also be a word play in Greek with the word nikao (νικάω) meaning to conquer. Nicolaitans means “conquer the people” — victory people. It could describe their teachings. With the other false teachers in the other churches (Balaam and Jezebel), they were redefining the faith to allow Christians to fit in with the surrounding culture. It’s okay to participate in its idolatry, immorality, deceit, and false worship. Their teachings of compromise would enable Christians to be successful in pagan society. They claim to show a way of victory, which in fact is a way of destruction. The main point is that the church must always be on the lookout for individuals or groups who try to teach ideas or practices which are counter to God’s Word.
False apostles, false prophets, and liars appear throughout the book of Revelation. The conflict is between the true and false witnesses. Liars are those who claim to be things they are not, who do not bear faithful witness of Jesus to the end, and who love their own lives more than Jesus. This conflict happened in Ephesus and the other churches. It continues in our churches today.
Therefore, we must not be complacent. Our deeds and hard work to contend for the truth of the faith are important. We are also living in a pressure cooker, in a pluralistic and secular culture, in a post-truth, immoral, and idolatrous society. The pressure is on. To combat false teachings and false teachers is spiritual warfare. Bad and wrong theology abuses and hurts people. As a people of truth, we must test every spirit, every teacher, every leader, every claim and statement. We should not believe something just because it is taught by a well-known theologian, scholar, or a famous pastor. Test the spirits and discern the truth. We do not follow Billy Graham, John Piper, John MacArthur, Paul Tripp, or Francis Chan. We follow only one Lord and Teacher, Jesus Christ.
4. But …
Jesus tells them well done. However, there is a but — But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. … He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’
What happened here? They were doing the right things but not doing them right. They became so focused on the right teachings and so zealous to defend the truth that they stopped loving others. They were rightly concerned for the truth of the gospel but forgot that the very heart of the gospel is love. The hard and exhausting work of battling for a pure faith has caused their hearts to grow cold. They did not give in to the pressures and temptations. They became focused on having the right behavior, being perfect and holy. Perhaps they became so proud of not being like the other sinners that they prayed like the Pharisee, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people …” (Lk 18:11). As they focused on the sins of others they became legalistic, judgmental, and condemned others. They forgot that we should hate the sin but love the sinner. They were no longer speaking the truth in love, no longer living out grace.
Jesus condemns the pursuit of truth when it abandons love. Truth and love are woven together. Truth without love becomes a cold demonstration of power. Love without truth ceases to be genuine love. True love for God shows in love for others. “Anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness … Let us not love in words or speech but with actions and in truth … let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 Jn 2:11; 3:18; 4:7-8). Love in action shows hospitality, gives practical help, and cares for the poor, sick, hungry, oppressed, refugees, widows, and orphans, even if they are sinners or our enemies. Love in action is to act justly and love mercy and walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8).
This biblical, godly love has been the distinctive identity of His Church throughout the ages. This love has been the powerful witness of the church to the love of Jesus Christ. However, in the process of doing the right things, the Ephesians became so so focused on themselves and their survival that they were no longer witnessing to Christ. Witnessing is how we express our first love for Jesus. Without love, and without witnessing the church ceases to be a church. And that’s why Jesus says …
5. Remember, Repent, Return, & Do
Remember, repent, return, and do your first works, love, and witness! If not, He will remove their lampstand. A church where love ceases, a church where enduring faithful witness ceases, such a church can no longer function as a lamp stand for Jesus. Love and witness are the essence of the church’s existence and mission in this world. This is a serious warning that we should not ignore. This has happened many times in history. Where the church failed to love and witness, it was removed and Christ moved his lampstands to other places, cultures, and peoples who are enduring faithfully in their witness and love.
Remember — Remember where and who we were before Christ. Remember how in love and grace God saved us. Remember how the Holy Spirit worked in our hearts and changed us. Remember how God’s love overwhelmed us and filled us with love for Him and others. Remembering this will bring us to … Repentance — We will then realize how far we have fallen and strayed from our Lord’s commands. We will repent and return to our first love and … Do — And we will do our first deeds. We will love God and others. We will resume with passion our witnessing to Jesus.
And to those who conquer, Jesus will give us the fruit of the tree of life and we will live forever with Him in his new creation. “On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. … Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city” (Rev 22:2,14). Because Jesus died on the cross, on a tree for us, He gives us the right to eat from the tree of life.
How do we conquer? Not through violence, not by might or power, not by taking up guns to fight the world. We are victorious when we persevere in our faithful witness to Jesus. We are victorious when we patiently endure persecution, suffering, and even death for our Lord. We are victorious when we work hard, without giving up, to love others in actions and in truth, and so love God. We must return to and endure in our first love.