Today we continue our teaching series called “The Seven Churches of Revelation”

Over the next several weeks we will seek to understand the importance and relevance of this text in our lives today.

Just like the rest of our bible, we believe that Revelation is valuable and integral to our faith- It’s there for a reason

Through this study we want to hear and understand the warnings and instructions to these churches. As we do that, we also want to discern how we can learn from these warnings in our lives and through our local church.

Our desire is to renew and refine our vision of life and what the church should be.

Our series is specifically focused on Jesus words to the 7 Churches in Asia minor

Today we begin with the Church in Ephesus, found in Revelation 2:1-7

Already in our teaching we have said that revelation is a Jesus focused letter. As we begin chapter 2, we are reminded that these words are from Jesus, for his church.

The imagery we read in verse 1 takes us back to the vision that John gave us in Chapter 1. This is the revealing, the revelation of Jesus. Don’t lose focus on him.

With verse 2, his message begins.

Ephesus was one of the most influential cities in the Roman world. It was a melting pot of cultural and religious influences.

The Apostle Paul had founded the church some 40 years earlier, spending a significant amount of time there. And late in the first century, the resurrected Jesus commends them on how they have held firm.

Here we are faced with perhaps the hardest question of this text: What does it mean that they have forsaken the love they had at first?

For our understanding of this warning, it’s really the pivotal matter. As with so many things in revelation we are left without the details we would like to have.

First, I want us to notice- they did not lose their first love- they left it. The word here is to give up or abandon.

They didn’t lose their first love haphazardly- they left it.

Next, and perhaps most challenging for us today is that New Testament Scholars disagree on what is meant by “First love”- there is not a universal view on this text.

Generally, two thoughts are regarded as the best possibilities for interpreting the text.

First- The love that they have forsaken is their love for God.
The church had done all these great things FOR God, but they had lost sight of their love and connection with God the Father.
They were helping others, doing the bible studies, the work of the church to keep it going- but it was all empty of true love for God.

The other popular view is that the church had lost their love for others.
Perhaps in their fervency to keep correct doctrines, to keep things in order and comfortable in the church- they had lost the passionate heart of Jesus for the lost.
Their passion had shifted to preservation rather than mission

While these two views are a little different, I think the exhortation of Jesus brings resolution to both. (And don’t forget this message is just as much about our church in 2023 as it was for the church at Ephesus in the year 95).

Whatever is happening in the church- it’s no light matter to Jesus.

What was required was no small course correction- this was a radical re-direction back to the love they held in the past.

Revelation at its core is a Jesus letter- and in that there is great hope. To those who will head his voice and obey- there is the promise of new creation, of eternity ahead in paradise.

This exhortation began with Jesus, and it ends in hope for those who live in relationship with him, a good reminder that Revelation is a book of hope!

Even in our short study of this book, it is easy to tell that it is no easy task. There are so many questions, so many images, so many details we would love to have.

For us today- I want us to commit to holding our view with humility. With an openness and charity to those who see it differently than we do.

Today i am leaving it open to your interpretation with the Holy Spirit-

Whether it’s a lost love of God they are called back to, or a lost love of neighbor and the mission to reach others for Christ.

Will you return to your first love?
Will you seek the heart of God passionately and allow your love to thrive through relationship with him?

There is a great hope and promise ahead for those who are victorious in Christ!