EPHESUS – THE LOVELESS CHURCH - Revelation 2:1-7

 

Ephesus – The Loveless Church

Revelation 2:1-7

 

EPHESUS – A.D. 30 – 100.

THE SALUTATION

“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write,

‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands (2:1).

 

This was John’s third command to write.

He (the One) – The description of Christ taken from Revelation 1:13, 16 reinforces the truth that He is the author of these letters and that they are His direct Word. Christ identifies Himself to each of the first 5 churches by using phrases from the vision in Revelation, chapter 1.

7 stars –These are identified as the angels (ἄγγελος ággelos, Gk.), better rendered as “a messenger, one who is sent in order to announce, teach, perform, or explore anything” (Matthew 11:10; Luke 7:24; 9:52; Galatians 4:14; James 2:25; Joshua 6:17; Malachi 2:7). The angels of the seven churches are identified as the elders or pastors of those churches; the delegates or messengers of the churches of God (Revelation 1:20; 2:1, 8, 12, 18; 3:1, 7, 14). Christ holds His ministers in His right hand, under His power, as He mediates His sovereign rule in the church. Hebrews 13:2 may have reference to itinerate preachers rather than angels. They are to be instruments through which Christ, the head of the church, mediates His rule (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9).

7 golden lampstands – The lampstands are symbolic of churches as lights of the world (Philippians 2:15). Christ is the light, but He uses the churches and the children of God in the churches as lampstands to convey this light (Matthew 5:14). The only limitation placed on the brilliance of the light is the lampstand (church) being yielded to Christ. He walks among the churches scrutinizing, examining, assessing, and evaluating them. Salvation is no longer coming out of Judaism; It is for all.

THE COMMENDATION

I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars (2:2)

 

Know (εἴδω eídō, Gk) - This refers to the sense of “to perceive, be aware of, and understand.”  It expresses the knowledge which comes from one’s state of being, intuitive knowledge, and refers to the absolute knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. He knows everything about the church, both good and bad.

Labor (κόπος kópos, Gk.) – It denotes labor to the point of sweat and exhaustion, physically, mentally, and emotionally. It was an all-out effort that the person had to give. It was used to denote not so much the actual exertion which a man makes, but the weariness which he experiences from that exertion, and designates that which we as Christians ought to render to the Lord as labor in the Christian ministry - a “labor of love,” meaning work of beneficence. The Ephesians’ were diligent workers for Christ.

Patience (ὑπομονή hupomonḗ, Gk.) – This word means “A bearing up under, patience, endurance as to things or circumstances.” This is in contrast to makrothumía, long–suffering or endurance toward people. Hupomonḗ is associated with hope (1 Thessalonians 1:3) and refers to that quality of character which does not allow one to surrender to circumstances or succumb under trial. It refers to patience in trying circumstances, a courageous acceptance of hardship, suffering, and loss. Despite their difficult circumstances, the Ephesian believers remained faithful to the Lord. It is the precept of constancy toward God.

In 1 Thessalonians 1:3 Paul wrote “Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father.” In 1 Corinthians 13:13 he writes “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” Faith, love, and hope should abide in a church, or it will eventually die, no matter how great its zeal.

Those who are evil – They held to a high, holy standard of behavior and were sensitive to sin (Matthew 18:15; Ephesians 4:27). Despite their difficult circumstances, the Ephesian believers remained faithful to the Lord.

Who say they are apostles – False teachers pose a constant danger to the church (Matthew 7:15; 2 John 7, 10; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15).

And you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary (2:3).

For my name’s sake – They had not yielded to disappointment, ingratitude, or criticism. They remained faithful to the Lord, loyal to His word and to the work to which He had called them (Galatians 6:9).

THE COMPLAINT

Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love (2:4)

 

Though they maintained their doctrinal orthodoxy and continued to serve Christ; that service had degenerated and become mechanical orthodoxy. This could include love for God and Christ, love for each other, and love for the lost. They had sunk to the place where they were carrying out their Christian responsibility with diminishing love for their Lord and others (Ephesians 1:15; 3:17-19; 6:23; Jeremiah 2:13; Ezekiel 16:15). This loss of a love relationship with Christ opened the doors to spiritual apathy, indifference to others, and love for the world, compromise with evil, judgment, and eventually, the death of the Ephesian church.

A “first love” (or chief love,” or “best love”) is a sincere love – Henry M. Morris.

THE WARNING

Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent (2:5)

Remember – Keep on remembering from where you have fallen. Forgetfulness is frequently the initial cause of spiritual decline.

Repent – Deliberately reject their sins (Mark 12:30).

Do the first works – They needed to recapture the richness of Bible study, devotion to prayer, and passion for worship.

THE PRAISE

But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate (2:6)

The Nicolaitans – Derived from two Greek words, (νικάω nikáō, Gk) meaning “to conquer, overthrow” and (λαός laós, Gk) meaning “the people, laity.” In the early days of the church the followers of Nicolai held two serious heretical views: They practiced sensuality by completely separating one’s spiritual and physical nature, thus giving them license to sin. In the second heretical view, they also tried to establish an ecclesiastical order, which is known as “Nicolaitanism.” The few references to the first heresy in the writings of the church fathers link it to Nicolas, one of the seven men appointed to oversee the distribution of food in Acts 6:5. The church fathers accused Nicolas of denying the true Christian faith and founding this heretical sect. This led people into immorality and wickedness. Nicolaitanism involved sensual temptations, leading to sexual immorality, and eating things sacrificed to idols; without regard for the offense of such behavior – all in the name of Christian liberty (Romans 14:12-15; 15:1-3).

Irenaeus wrote that they “lived lives of unrestrained indulgence.”

William Barclay writes that they “abandon themselves to pleasure like goats…leading a life of self-indulgence.”

THE COUNSEL

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” ’ (2:7).

Let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches – Emphasizes the sober responsibility believers have to heed God’s voice in Scripture. Christ and the Holy Spirit are so much “one” that what one says the other says. (John 17:17)

Him who overcomes – We overcome by repenting, when we have backslidden from Christ, our first love.

Tree of life – The Heavenly Tree of Life will last throughout eternity, and thus symbolizes eternal life (Genesis 2:9; 3:22; Revelation 22:2, 14, 19).

Paradise of God – This refers to Heaven (Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 12:4).

Christ confronts the Ephesian church:

1. Confronting was done with love and the goal of restoration (Ephesians 2:4-5).

2. Encouragement preceded correction (Ephesians 2:2-3, 6).

3. Christ openly and concisely stated the problem (Ephesians 2:4-5)

4. He told them how to be restored (Ephesians 2:5): remember your past, repent of your error, and return to your best.

5. Christ clearly laid out the consequences if they did not obey (Ephesians 2:5).

6. He wrote with the expectation that they would respond positively (Ephesians 2:7).

 

The character of the church at Ephesus is a fair outline of the church period from A.D. 30 - 100. This is referred to as the beginning of the Apostolic Period. Of the seven churches mentioned in Revelation 2 and 3, this is the only one where reference is made to the apostles. This was the most desirable of all the churches or church ages. It was characterized by fervent evangelism. There is strong scriptural indication that the early church preached the gospel around the world. (Romans 10:18, 16:26; Colossians 1:6, 23). It was generally praiseworthy, but ecclesiastical pretension and departure from first love characterized the close of the Apostolic Period.

THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER (Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23)

There will be a time of sowing of the Word, organization, and evangelism throughout the age. The disciples are warned in this parable against the three great antagonists of the gospel:

1. The Devil (the birds – the evil one).

2. The Flesh (the scorching sun – tribulation or persecution).

3. The World (the thorns – cares of the world and the delight in riches).

MYSTERY OF GODLINESS (1 Timothy 3:16)

Godliness springs from the knowledge of the incarnation, death, resurrection and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ….This is how God is known; and from abiding in this flows godliness – J.N. Darby

It is the manifestation of true and perfect righteousness in Jesus Christ.

 

©2012 Kenute P. Curry. All rights reserved.