1. THE CHURCH OF EPHESUS

 THE CHURCH OF EPHESUS

1.        1. Ephesus – The Loveless Church (Revelation 2:1-7) -- the church that had forsaken its first love (2:4).

History of the City:

The first church mentioned was in Ephesus. Ephesus was an ancient port city whose well-preserved ruins are in modern-day Turkey. The city was once considered the most important Greek city and the most important trading center in the Mediterranean region. Throughout history, Ephesus survived multiple attacks and changed hands many times between conquerors. Ephesus still remains an important archaeological site. It was a popular place of early Christian evangelism and a place that most Christians journey to today. 

Ephesus played a vital role in the spread of Christianity. Starting in the first century A.D., notable Christians such as the apostles Paul and John visited and rebuked the cults of Artemis, winning many Christian converts in the process.

Ephesus is mentioned multiple times in the New Testament, and the biblical book of Ephesians, written around 60 A.D., is thought to be a letter from Paul to the church in Ephesus. 

Not every Ephesian was open to Paul’s Christian message. Chapter 19 in the book of Acts tells of a riot started by a man named Demetrius. Demetrius made silver coins featuring the likeness of Artemis. Tired of the attacks on the goddess he worshipped, and worried that the spread of Christianity would ruin his trade, Demetrius plotted a riot and enticed a large crowd to turn against Paul and his disciples. Ephesian officials, however, protected Paul and his followers and eventually Christianity became the city’s official religion.  

(Revelation 2:1) “Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;”

(Revelation 2:2-3) “I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast labored, and hast not fainted.” The church of Ephesus had many positive qualities; Christ commended them in five specific ways—they were dynamic, dedicated, determined, disciplined, and discerning. But verse 4 reveals where they went wrong. “Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left your first love.” Everything about the Ephesian church looked good on the outside, but inwardly they had heart trouble. Their devotion to Christ was waning. 

If you find yourself in this place with your relationship with Christ, here is a three-part formula on how to return to your first love: 

 Remember

(Revelation 2:5) “Remember therefore from whence thou are fallen,…” If we have left something or someone, the first step is to remember where we started. 

Repent 

“…and repent,…” The next logical step after remembering where we started and realizing where we are now is to repent. This means to reverse course and go in the opposite direction. “. . . repent . . .” 

Repeat 

“…and do the first works;” Repeating the original good works you started with will help you get back to the place where you began. Return to what you did when you first became a Christian—the spiritual disciplines that kept you close to Christ and motivated you to follow Him. 

Warning

(Revelation 2:5) “…or else I will come unto thee quickly, and remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.”

(Revelation 2:6) “But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deed of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.” After the stern warning to the church of Ephesus, Jesus includes this encouragement that is notoriously difficult to understand. To better understand this, we must consult the letter to the congregation in Pergamum as well, since this is the only other place that the Nicolaitans are mentioned (Revelation 2:14); “…because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.” It is clear that whoever the Nicolaitans were, they were guilty of these same kinds of sins. (More study on the doctrine of Balaam will be discussed in the church of Pergamum.)

Promise

(Revelation 2:7) “HE THAT HATH AN EAR, LET HIM HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT SAITH UNTO THE CHURCHES; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.”

The Tree of Life

An account of the tree of life is first mentioned in the book of Genesis 2:9 where God placed it in the Garden of Eden. Once Adam and Eve sinned and ate of the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they were driven from the Garden, and God placed an angel with a flaming sword to guard the tree of life so they would no longer have access to it (Genesis 3:24). 

Eternal life was now no longer theirs. Physical death began to enter the human race. Adam and Eve began to die. Mercifully God did not allow them to live in their fallen sinful state. Just as God had warned, they died, and through Adam all men after him would die (Romans 5:12).

Because God knew that Adam would fail the conditions of his immortality, He provided for One who would redeem fallen mankind. The last Adam (Christ) later came to earth to die so that through faith in Jesus, we may now inherit the eternal life Adam forfeited (Romans 5:19:21). Now through Jesus Christ, redemption through the forgiveness of sin is available to all (Romans 5:17-21).

The Genesis account of the tree of life reminds us there is only one way we can gain access to eternal life. That is through His Son, the Creator of heaven and earth – the Lord Jesus Christ! 

Jesus says to those who persevere in faith, “To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God” (Revelation 2:7).

It is Jesus alone who can say, “I am the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6). Symbolically Jesus is the Tree of Life. 

LESSONS FOR US:

The Holy Ghost creates the passion of God in our hearts. John the Baptist spoke of this Holy Ghost and fire in Matthew 3:11. When a person is filled with the Holy Ghost (and fire), they are literally on fire for Jesus! They are dynamic, dedicated, and determined! But overtime, with the cares of this life and opposition from others some find themselves, well not so hot anymore. If you find yourself in this position remember your first love, the time you first fell in love with this wonderful truth. Repent and ask God to refresh you with His spirit and fire. Repeat the original good works you started with to help you get back to where you began.