Churches That Leave Their First Love

Revelation 2:1-7

It is striking to me to consider the fall of Ephesus in light of all they were doing right. This church had a lot going for it, they were doing a great many good works in the name of our Lord Jesus. From the outside, they looked like the model church, but Jesus, the Great Physician, diagnosed a problem. They had left their first love. I believe that churches today are in danger of this very same sin. I don’t believe the “age” of Ephesus is past, because there are churches today that have left their first love. Every true church in existence could leave it’s first love and fall into this terrible sin. Many hold to different opinions as to what is meant by first love, but by looking at Ephesus, we can determine what it is, exactly to leave your first love. By eliminating what is NOT meant, we can more clearly see what is meant by leaving your first love and how to correct this sinful behavior. It is hard to repent from something you don’t know that you are doing, and the message from our Lord was clear to Ephesus, and it should be clear to us as well. From this passage, God shows us what they were doing good, so from that we see what is not meant by leaving their first love. Next we will look at what remains, and it will show us how they left their first love, and then God tells us what they had to do to be restored.
Without question, Ephesus had left her first love. Rev 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. Jesus Christ, who walked in the midst of His assemblies, who held those seven stars in His hands had a message for this church. The Lord looked upon this church, of which He is the only Head, and saw some things they were doing right, but rightly and justly diagnosed Ephesus with a terrible, and potentially fatal problem, leaving their first love. How did Jesus communicate this message to the church? Through the preaching of His word, by the pastor of the church. The message was sent to the messenger, not the deacon, not Sister So and So, but unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write. When the man of God preaches the truth of God’s word, the people of God should heed the message.
The message was to be preached, and they were to be rebuked for leaving their first love. God was not unclear on what was going on here, and by reading the text we see what it is to leave your first love.
The church did not leave it’s first love by going away doctrinally. They were a strong church. Rev 2:6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. The bible does not tell us what the deeds of the Nicolaitians are for sure. There are many different ideas as to what it could be. EG Cook says “nikao which means to conquer and Laos which means the people. The deeds of the Nicolaitans simply means to me that some of the big shot preachers began to lord it over the little ones.” Others say it was a teaching of antinomianism, others say it was a sect started by one of the original deacons at Jerusalem. The Lord didn’t give us specifics to this group, and knowing that it is false doctrine is enough. What we need to glean, is the attitude of the false doctrine. Some falsehood was coming into or attacking the church. The deeds of this sect was odious to our Lord, and Ephesus hated it as well. This is a far cry from men today who cry “unity” at all cost.
The church was an intolerant church, but they didn’t leave their first love by being intolerant, but, in fact, were commended for their intolerance. Rev 2:2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil. This church took a strong stand against sin. They couldn’t stand them which are evil. They were a separated people unto God, not putting up with wickedness and wicked behavior. The church did not slide into evil, or tolerate evil among them. Leaving one’s first love is not a church that deals with sin, or one that disciplines sin. The first love is not a love for everyone and everything. Men cry for love and compassion toward evil, and claim that anyone who takes a stand against sinful behavior has no love in their heart. Many think that way, Jesus is not one of them. Jesus commended Ephesus for not bearing them which are evil. The bible is clear on church disciple, and in fact, those who oppose discipline harbor more hatred for the offender. If you saw a very young child walking out into a busy street, would you stop them? Would you be compassionate by ignoring the danger, or would you do all you could for them? If you knew that the church building had severe structural damage, and at any moment could fall, would you do all you could to protect the members from going inside the building? Our Lord gave us a particular pattern for protecting HIS church, and the members of it, viz. church discipline. Ephesus did not leave it’s first love by not bearing with evil.
Ephesus did not leave it’s first love by allowing false preachers a foothold in the church. Thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars. False doctrine tried to get a hold in the church, but being the intolerant church they were, they actually examined what was trying to be presented to them. Oh that we would be so today. How many of our brothers and sisters are being led astray from truth by slick-tongued charlatan wolves. The men at Ephesus would have none of it, and would to God that we would not have any of it either. Churches today are under attack, and sadly, some falling away because they did not try them that preached to them. Self-constitution, priesthood, hardshellism, preterism, antinomianism all trying to gain hold of the Lord’s churches from within. The church examined the teaching of these men, the church compared it to the scriptures, the church judged it, then churched ruled on it’s findings. What was the verdict? These men who said they were apostles, said they were the men of God, said they were Baptist, said they were just like Paul, Peter, James, John, said they held to these Landmarks, were in fact liars. Some think that we must accept everyone and everything that comes our way, but the Lord’s church doesn’t operate like Little League, letting everyone bat and play the field. They either didn’t let these liars in the church or they excluded some among them, teaching heresy. Leaving your first love is not examining lies, and calling those who promote it liars. God didn’t rebuke them for truth, and didn’t rebuke them for standing for the truth. They were NOT rebuked for separating themselves from the evil in the world, and not bearing with evil in the church. They were not rebuked as not being loving for allowing liars to preach in their church. Rather commended them for those very actions. We can follow the example of Ephesus here.
Ephesus did not leave her first love by a lack of works, as they were a working church. Rev 2:2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience… Rev 2:3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Christ Knows the church, and her works. Christ knows every work done in His name. He knows the works that are unknown to everyone else. Take comfort that Jesus knows you who labor for Him. They had patience, godly endurance and perseverance in trials and temptations. They worked hard in the church, they were toiling, the idea of heavy work, manual labor. They didn’t faint in the work of Christ, in His name. No matter the cost, the kept on in the work and did as they were commanded by their Lord. We today could learn from their example, to labor with out fainting for the cause of Christ. Their first love was not left by a lack of work. Ephesus did not leave her first love by not standing up for what was right. They were a bold, earnestly contending church. They labored without fainting. They were a strong church, and didn’t give up in the face of problems. They quit themselves like men, and took a stand and hung in the fight. In hopeful endurance and steadfast constancy, Ephesus did not lay down when the going got tough in the service of our great God and Glorious Saviour Jesus Christ. There was something that was going on with them, they were facing some trial it seems, that was not a ‘here and it’s gone’ type of trial, but since they were currently bearing something, and currently having patience, it was there before, and is still there. They were commended for their continual stand.
What a great church! Who would not like to be a part of this? They were a doctrinally strong church, they were an intolerant church where it came to falsehood, they were a working church, they were a sanctified church, and they were a bold, and earnestly contending church. But as Jesus said nevertheless I have somewhat against thee. Doing all these things right, Christ had some what against them. Falling from any of these things could be the RESULT of leaving your first love, but Ephesus did all these things RIGHT, and yet still had left their first love.
What is the first love? Who did you love first after salvation? Who is (should be) your primary love since? The answer is Christ. Mat 22:36-39 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. Our love for God is our primary love, and it should be above everything else. How did they leave it? They were a true church of true Christians, a doctrinally sound group, but their love had waxed cold. A love of truth without a love for “the Truth” is not pleasing unto God. A love for the church without a fiery love for the HEAD of the church. They held to doctrine, but it had become simply a teaching to them If they loved the truth, stood against error, hated those things that were against truth, how did they leave their love? A man meets a girl and falls head of heels in love with this girl. He can’t sleep, he thinks about her all day long, can’t stand to be away from her. Buys here gifts he can’t afford, go places that he wouldn’t normally go, because she likes it, says things he wouldn’t have thought he would ever say, because he loves her. They get married, and his love for the woman grows stronger and stronger. After years of marriage, the man wants to get her a big house because he loved her so much. He gets a job, then another, working 60 hrs a week to pay for the house he bought her. Now, he doesn’t have time to think about her, doesn’t have time to talk to her, and now doesn’t really want to go places with her and when he does, he just ‘goes through the motions’, his heart really isn’t in it. Ask him why he is working so hard?, ‘I love my wife’, but in his heart, he has left his first love. Now providing for her has superceded his wife, the work was the most important thing, not the wife. He was doing what he should have been doing, providing, but the providing became his first love. His work, which started because of his love, had become his love. His love for his wife had gone cold. He was faithful to her, didn’t cheat on her, protected her, but his zeal was no longer for the person of his wife, but in working for her. There was nothing wrong with WHAT they were doing or HOW, but WHY. Jesus is their first and primary love, and if He is not, you have fallen. If Jesus is not the primary love in the church, the church has left it’s first love. If you are serving God, don’t stop, but consider your motives and don’t leave the other undone. Some say that it was the preaching of strong doctrine that led the church here, but I don't believe that preaching the doctrines of grace makes churches cold, and unfaithful, otherwise, it would have been condemned. They left Him in their heart. Not in works, nor doctrine, nor truth or sin. They had a potentially fatal heart problem. Election should lift your heart to praising Christ, not John Calvin. Landmarkism should be held to because of Christ, not JR Graves. They problem with those who have left us, they hold fast to men, rather than the word of God. We should love the Church because Christ loves it, and not for any other reason. We can’t love the work more than the one we are working for. Witness to the lost because you love Christ, not because you have to do it. Don’t stand for the truth because I’m right, but it is the very word of our loving Saviour and King. Don’t bear them that are evil because you are thinking about what others say, but because we LOVE CHRIST, and since we love HIM, we keep HIS commandments. Don’t stand in persecution as a feat of strength, but because you love Jesus Christ.
The way to repent gives us a clue as to where they fell, and what state they were in. Rev 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen. A very Serious charge! Jesus said they were FALLEN, not about to fall. Where did they fall from? That first love. Ephesus was known for their love unto the saints, and their faith in Jesus Christ. Eph 1:15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, and they truly loved Jesus our Lord, Eph 6:24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Reading the book of Ephesus, the topic of love comes up again and again. Husbands were to love their wives as Christ loved the church, they were exhorted that the body would grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ and also of the edifying of itself in love. The Holy Spirit inspired prayer of Paul included the exhortation that the church would be rooted and grounded in love, and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. This was the state of the church, this is the place where they had fallen. Many times we are, as it were, on a mountain top serving God, and nothing can defeat us, we are close to the Lord, we see His blessings in our lives, and we are full of love for our God, but other times, our love may wax cold. It may be from un-repented sin, but with Ephesus, it wasn’t the case. They had forgotten WHY they were serving the Lord. What was the remedy? To repent, turn from your sin, stop on the path you are going, and go back to where you were. Jesus said that they needed to amend their ways, hate their current way and go back from whence they fell. To be followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. Not just followers of doctrine, or men, but Christ. We can’t just do the right thing, but do the right thing, for the right Person, and right reason. We are to do the first works. Rev 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first work. Ephesus had to go back to the primary work, for their first love. Mat 22:36-39 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. Love Christ, love His church, serve Him in it, that is the first work. Do the work, the primary work, the first work, do it with love.
Jesus mercifully gave this message to the pastor, and told them the problem, and gave them the remedy. He also told of the punishment if did not repent (Rev 2:5) or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. Jesus told them, he would come unto thee quickly. He was not speaking of His pre-tribluational coming in the clouds, but He would come unto this church, and come in judgment. Dear reader, consider yourself in your church service, and read the first chapter of the book of Revelation, meditate on the description of Jesus Christ, and recall the great price He paid for it, the shedding of His own precious blood, and the promise for continuing on in sin, is a quick coming. He told them they did not have lot of time to change, here is the problem, here is how to fix it, now do it, do it or else. We can remember as children, or saying to your own children, “or else”. What followed “or else” usually wasn’t very pleasant. “Or else” is the consequences for not obeying the warning given. Change, repent, go back to your first works, quickly or else I will Remove thy candlestick. The severity of the punishment should show us the seriousness of the crime. We must guard ourselves against leaving our first love. You can backslide by falling, or diving into sin, and going were you thought you would never go, and be stuck in a place you never wanted to be, you can be beaten, tattered, broken, blind, not being able to see afar off, forgetting even the fact you were purged from your old sins, oh the awful condition of the backslider! But, you can also backslide sitting in the pew every Sunday, teaching a class, from behind the pulpit, if the heart is not toward loving Jesus Christ. The consequence of failure to turn is they will no longer be a church. The designation of church is not based upon the sign in the yard, it is the Lord’s church. This is not a game we can play, this is serious. Think for a moment, unfaithfulness in our solemn duty to God results in Him removing the candlestick. It removes protection, guidance by the Holy Spirit, true worship, we would become a religious society instead of a called assembly, and ultimately no different than another protestant group, if Christ removes the candlestick. God will not forever be longsuffering with churches who will not follow or obey.
I don’t know what happened to Ephesus, but they are not in existence today. Perhaps they repented, perhaps not. I urge you, to consider your ways. Some of the other churches in Asia had some big problems. Pergamos held to the doctrine of Balaam, and in idolatry, some held to the doctrines that Ephesus rejected. The members at Thyatira came to church and was led by a Jezebel, a prophetess. The Laodiceans were lukewarm, so they had their problems too, and those problems could be seen by all. Here is the deceitfulness of sin. The church at Ephesus, from the outside, and the inside looked like the model church. Search your heart, and consider why you do, what you do, in the service of our Lord. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.