Letter to Ephesus: A warning for Today’s Church

When I first started this blog, I wrote some short posts about the Seven letters to the Churches from Jesus in Revelation. Today I thought I would go back to the letters and expound on it a bit. I believe that we are getting closer and closer to Jesus’ return, and it is more important than ever to pay attention to what Christ has to say here.

Revelation 2:1-7

“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: “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; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 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. But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

“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.” ‘

Jesus starts with commending the church for the work they do. As James says, faith without works is dead. But we cannot be so busy with our works and ministries, that we forget to show love for others. Jesus also says they left their first love. What was their first love? Let us see what Paul says to the Ephesians after starting that church.

Ephesians 1:7-16

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.

In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers

Paul reminds the Ephesians of their faith in Christ (their first love). He reminds them that as they first trusted Jesus Christ, they were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, because as we trust in Jesus, we are guaranteed an inheritance in heaven. Paul also commends them of their love for all the saints. Jesus tells them that they need to return to that and remember their first love and why the church was there in the first place. As you look at churches today, do we need to return to our first love? Is Christ the focus in our lives and in the ministries and services at our churches? Are our lampstands shining brightly or are they getting snuffed out by churches trying to make us feel comfortable and even entertained. Church is not there to make you feel good and have a positive attitude. It is to draw us closer to God and to worship our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Are we doing that? Do we go to church expecting to be fed or do we go to church to worship and to serve? Am I guilty of this? For sure. How can we change and get back to our first love? How can we honor God?

1 Corinthians 3:9-17

For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

Jesus commends the Ephesian church of their good works. May our good works always be about God’s glory not ourselves. As Paul says in Romans 12, we should offer ourselves as a living sacrifice. Ephesians 2 says that we are God’s Masterpiece created to do good works as a result of our salvation by grace through faith. We should be sharing the love of Christ to others and live in a way that honors Him. And we should always remember from where we came and be gracious to others and show gratitude for God and may our foundation always be Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5:1-11

Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them.

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.

Jesus also commends the church for discerning against false teachers and not giving in to their ways or former traditions. We need to be in the scriptures and be discerning of what we hear and what our church is teaching. False teachers were trying to teach the Ephesians and other churches of the day that they need to follow in the Jewish traditions or combine following Christ with other religions as was the case with the Nicolaitans. From what I read, the Nicolaitans were trying to combine Christianity with idol worship, even including sexual immorality in their rituals. Today, some churches compromise by blending Christianity with worldly views. This should not be. We need to not allow our church to fall into that and if it does, find a church that teaches only God’s truth (and all of God’s truth).

1 John 4:1-6

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

As we are part of the church, let us return to our first love. May others see the love of Christ in us. As we worship let us lay aside all of our own desires and truly worship God. Let us also be discerning. Always look to God’s word and be sure what you are being taught aligns with it. As we look at the next letter, the church of Smyrna is being persecuted for not allowing those who are teaching their lies to seep into the church. Let us know The Word and not let the devil get a foothold in our church.