## INTRODUCTION — THE CHRIST WHO HOLDS AND WALKS WITH HIS CHURCH
The last time we met, we began our study of the seven churches that are found in the first three chapters of Revelation. As we started, we listened before we evaluated.
Before Jesus says anything to His church, He reveals something about Himself.
We saw Jesus in Revelation chapter 1—not distant, not silent, not absent—but present. Walking among the lampstands. Holding the church securely in His hand.
We said last week that the church is not the light. The church is the lampstand. Jesus is the light.
And we learned that these letters were not written just to seven churches long ago. They were written for the whole church—then and now.
That is why the repeated call of this series matters so much:
The question is not, “What kind of church are we?”
The question is, “Are we listening to what Jesus is saying to His church?”
Today, Jesus begins speaking directly.
He starts with a church that looks strong from the outside. A church that works hard. A church that stands for truth. A church that does not tolerate error.
If there were a “model church” in the early Christian world, Ephesus would have been on the list.
And yet, this is the first church Jesus addresses.
Not because they failed dramatically. Not because they abandoned doctrine. But because something far more dangerous had happened quietly.
Before we get into scripture, I want to take a moment for us to learn more about the city of Ephesus and the church that met there. I will be sharing each week a video from a series by Lineage Journey that give us some historical background and modern day information about the churches we are studying. Each video walks us through the ancient town and then has a unique twist, sharing how the prophecy from each church’s letter might relate to the history of the church over the centuries down to today.
Video Ill.: Ephesus — The Loveless Church by Lineage Journey.
They were doing many things for Jesus— But they were no longer doing them out of love for Jesus.
If you have your Bible, turn with me to Revelation chapter 2, as we read exactly what Jesus said to the church at Ephesus.
1 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. 2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your || perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. 5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. 6 But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the || Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. (Revelation 2, NIV)
Let’s take a look at the different parts of this letter this morning, and see what Jesus is saying to us today.
## 1. A FAITHFUL CHURCH THAT WORKED HARD AND ENDURED MUCH
Just to refresh, Jesus said these words to the church.
2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. (Revelation 2, NIV)
This was certainly a hard working church. They knew how to put in a hard day’s labor. What John describes as “hard work” is the kind of work that makes you sweat. It’s the kind of work that wears you out by the end of the day. Like you know you’ve actually done something.
Like push-mowing the entire yard — not riding, not coasting, but pushing until your arms and legs ache.
Like weeding the entire garden by hand — bent over for hours, dirt under your fingernails, back sore when you go to stand up.
Like building a house — not just drawing plans, but lifting lumber, driving nails, carrying weight day after day.
Like cleaning out a garage that has been neglected for years — moving piles, organizing and putting things back away where it now belongs.
Like working a double shift, and still showing up the next morning for the regular shift.
Like setting up tables and chairs for fellowship meals.
Like serving faithfully even when no one says “thanks” or even seems to notice.
That is the kind of work Jesus is praising here. Not flashy work. Not easy work. Faithful, exhausting, unnoticed work done for His name.
They were going all out, conquering the world, so to speak, for Jesus’ name.
Jesus is not dismissing their effort. He sees it. He knows it. He affirms it.
They were a church marked by effort, service, and sacrifice.
It was certainly a church that also had a courageous endurance.
Most scholars believe that Revelation was written during the reign of Domitian, a time when loyalty to Rome was increasingly tied to emperor worship.
Domitian demanded to be addressed as “Lord and God.” For Christians, that created an unavoidable conflict.
To confess “Jesus is Lord” meant refusing to say “Caesar is Lord.”
That refusal carried consequences.
Christians could lose their livelihoods, be excluded from society, face imprisonment, or have their property taken. John himself had experienced these consequences — being exiled on the Island of Patmos when he receives this revelation.
So when Jesus says, “I know your perseverance. I know that you have endured hardships for My name,” He is not offering polite encouragement.
He is recognizing the Ephesians’ costly faithfulness.
**Key Truth:**
Jesus sees and affirms faithfulness, effort, and perseverance.
## 2. A DISCERNING CHURCH THAT DEFENDED TRUTH BUT LOST LOVE
Jesus said to the church:
2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false…. 4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. (Revelation 2, NIV)
One of the commendations Jesus had for the church was that they tested false teachers and wicked people. They were continuing to do what Paul had instructed them back in the book of Acts.
You see, during one of his missionary trips, Paul had stopped for one last visit with the Ephesian elders before he would make his way to Rome. He gave them many encouragements, including looking out for the flock. Listen to what he told them in Acts 20:
28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also || from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. 31 Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. (Acts 20, NIV)
They remembered this and were still doing a great job of looking out for false teachers and savage wolves.
After all, not only had Paul reminded them of this. Jesus had already prepared His church for this kind of discernment. He warned that false teachers would not always look dangerous. They would appear harmless, even spiritual, but their true nature would eventually be revealed. The test was not how persuasive they sounded or how impressive they appeared, but what their lives and influence produced. Character, conduct, and spiritual fruit would always tell the truth.
That is why Jesus could say in Matthew 7:20:
“Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” (Matthew 7:20, NIV)
And by their fruit, the Ephesian leaders had been able to guard the church from false teachers.
But this protection of the church came at a cost. Neglected love.
William Barclay in his commentary said, “The eagerness to root out error ended in sour and rigid orthodoxy.”
They became so focused on guarding truth that obedience slowly replaced affection. Their love had cooled. Their devotion had become mechanical.
They loved right doctrine without relational devotion. And love was sacrificed in the process. They did not love each other or even Jesus the way the should.
Truth was protected. Love, however, was neglected.
They were busy—but no longer close to the Bridegroom they once loved first.
## 3. A COMPROMISING THREAT FROM WITHIN — THE NICOLAITANS
In verse six, Jesus said to the church:
6 But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. (Revelation 2, NIV)
Who were these Nicolaitans?
We learn more about them from the letter to the church a Pergamum — they are a group of people who were very similar in doctrine to those who held to the teaching of Balaam.
We read about Balaam in Numbers 22-25. Balaam was a prophet-for-hire, and had been hired by the king of Moab to curse God’s people. God did not allow that to happen as the king of Moab hoped. Instead, the people of Israel began inappropriate, sinful behavior with the women of Moab. They even began idol worship, again. This caused a plague to go through the Israelite camp. The plague only ended when the one of Aaron’s grandsons killed an Israelite man who flaunted his sin in front of the whole Israeli camp.
Later in Numbers 31, we discover that this sin was perpetuated by those who followed Balaam. He had convinced the women to infiltrate Israel and bring about God’s wrath and judgment on His people. He could not curse Israel externally, so he corrupted Israel internally.
What Balaam could not accomplish through curses, he achieved through compromise—and the Nicolaitans walked the same path. They too were a people who would seduce believers with heresy and false teachings.
Early church historians tell us that these Nicolaitans were followers of Nicolaus, a convert to Judaism from Antioch. He was originally called as one of the seven deacons found in Acts 6.
However, something happened which turned Nicolaus away from correct doctrine, and began teaching a new, modernized and improved version of the gospel.
They taught that it does not matter what you do in the body. Only the soul matters. And, the soul is defended and protected by grace. It does not matter what sin you do, because that is just your body. It’s not your soul.
Their teaching boiled down to this: there’s really no difference between a Christian and a non-believer. Both can live the exact same lives. Only the Christian has grace that saves his soul.
In their view, Christians really got the best of both worlds — the sin of the world with the salvation of Heaven!
It was spiritual language masking moral compromise.
And sadly, this teaching was not coming from outside the church, but from within the very walls the elders and leaders of the church in Ephesus were trying to protect! It was an ingrown, painful problem they were fighting.
But we see that in the church today. The church in our world does not look different than the world. Moral compromise. Not as bluntly taught. But certainly lived. Sunday only Christians. Living however we want Monday through Saturday. Do whatever you want through the week. Gambling. Pornography. Sexual immorality. It’s all OK as long as we make sure to dress up, clean up and get to church occasionally on Sundays.
Think of all of the sin that the denominational world accepts — even champions. And yet, they profess to be Christians, all the while turning a blind eye to the truth of Scripture.
The church in Ephesus, though, did not allow this kind of behavior to go on in the church. Jesus praises them because they detested and disallowed this kind of ungodly behavior.
The church opposed false teaching. But they still lost their first love.
There’s a warning in there for us:
Love fades when doctrine becomes more important than Jesus.
And when love fades, compromise never stays far behind.
We certainly need to heed the warning Jesus gave to the church in Ephesus.
## CONCLUSION — THE PATH TO RENEWAL
This morning, Jesus has commended the church in Ephesus because they fought the good fight, they have stood their ground, they have labored tirelessly for the Lord.
However, in all that they were doing, their focus had slowly shifted from Jesus to enforcing sound doctrine.
Let me be clear: sound doctrine, knowing what the Bible does and does not teach, is extremely important. Without knowing God’s word to us, we can be led astray.
But sound doctrine without a relationship with Jesus does us no good. Without God’s love in our lives, we cannot work or earn our way to Heaven.
Thus, Jesus encourages the church in Ephesus this way:
5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
7 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat || from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. (Revelation 2, NIV)
Three things Jesus says:
### **Remember**
First, remember. Remember the excitement we had when we first gave our lives to Him. Remember how much time we would spend in prayer and Bible reading. Remember how we felt, knowing that God really loved us.
Remember that there is a God — a Father — who loves you, no matter how far we have strayed.
Just like when the Prodigal Son in the swine mud pits remembered how wonderful home was, we too can remember. And we too can run home to a Father who is standing there with open arms, ready to receive us back.
Remember our first love.
### **Repent**
Second, repent.
Remembrance can cause hopelessness.
Remembrance can cause anger and bitterness.
But remembrance can cause repentance.
Repentance is not about shaming us. Repentance is not about beating us down with our mistakes. Repentance is a turning of the heart. The decision to go the other direction. To turn around.
Folks, in the church, we need that same recognition. We need to be on the lookout that activity — that doctrine — that rules do not replace affection. There is room for both.
### **Do**
And finally Jesus calls us to do.
Return to grace-filled obedience.
Return to a love that is restored through action rooted in our relationship with Him.
You can think of it this way:
**Memory ? Repentance ? Action**
## FINAL PROMISE & CALL
This morning, Jesus gives a promise: to those who overcome, to those who remember, who repent, and those who return to their first love, there will be access to the tree of life.
What was lost in Eden is restored in Jesus.
This morning may we hear. May we reflect. May we examine our lives — and our church. May we ensure that we have not forgotten our first love.
And if we have, the promise is that renewal is possible if we listen.
Renewal begins not when we do more for Jesus, but when we return to loving Jesus first.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
