Fellow-Redeemed in Christ Jesus,
The risen and ascended Christ had an important mission for the apostle John. The last of the original twelve, John was an exile on the island of Patmos in the Aegean Sea. John was to record Jesus’ Revelation about what was to come in the future for the church. First, John was to write a series of letters to seven congregations spread across Asia Minor, today’s Turkey.
In this Revelation, roughly 100AD, Jesus dictated the content of those letters. The pattern with some exceptions included a word of commendation, a word of criticism, an admonition, a call to hear and finally, a promise. These congregations benefitted from the Savior’s care for them through John. We benefit as we look to these groups of Christians as examples of what to be and do, as well as what to be avoid and repent of where we sin.
This morning we begin a sermon series on the seven churches the Holy Spirit listed in Revelation 2-3. We begin with Jesus’ command, “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write…” There is a commendation for their patience in faith. There is a criticism for forsaking their first love.
Jesus began each letter with a description of himself unique to that letter. To the Ephesians Jesus says he is “the one who holds the seven stars in his hand, the one who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands.” Did you know your pastor is a star? This is not of course a star in the sense of a football star or a movie star. Jesus calls his pastors stars because we shine out the radiance of Christ. Jesus holds in his right hand, in his protection, those who preach his name for salvation.
In vivid picture language, Jesus described holding his spokesmen as well as all Christians safely in his power. He also describes the fulfillment of his promise that “where two or three come together in my name,” he is in our midst. The golden lampstands are the churches. We Christians hold the light of the Word of God as a golden lampstand holds a burning candle.
These letters to the churches are one place we may think of verbal inspiration as direct dictation. Jesus told John to write what he said to write. To the angel, the pastor who is God’s messenger, of the church in Ephesus our Savior told John to write this commendation for their faith. “I know you deeds, you hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, but that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name and have not grown weary.”
Christians in Ephesus lived in a city known for its idols and their cults. The Temple of Diana was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Pagans outnumbered Christians and persecuted them because they worshipped Christ. Jesus commended the believers for their perseverance in faith under the burden of these crosses.
He knew what they suffered and how they faithfully handled it.
The congregation also was active in exposing false teachers and their errors in their midst. They would not tolerate false doctrine. They loved God’s Word, studied it, and took it to heart. They used the Word of God as the measuring rod, the scale balance that exposed wicked men who perverted the Word.
This is a good reminder that our mission statement, “We teach and preach God’s Word in its truth and purity,” is not self-congratulatory backslapping. It is a confession that we too will test and know by the Spirit’s blessing what God’s Word is. Unity in the church apart from doctrinal agreement in the name of “love” and “peace” is a false unity and not pleasing to Christ.
Jesus also had John write to the angel in the church of Ephesus in order to expose a sin that had taken root in the congregation. It could grow into a chocking vine if not pulled out in repentance. “You have forsaken your first love.” The Christians in Ephesus had begun to take for granted the Word of Christ, the good news that Jesus had paid completely the debt of their sins.
At first, after Paul had established the congregation on his third missionary journey, the Ephesians love for Christ had been very strong. They had fully realized and appreciated the great depth of the chasm of their unbelief in idolatry. They knew how far up the Father had exalted them in Christ. John’s letter was to wake them up through Jesus words, “Remember the height from which you have fallen. Repent and do the things you did at first.”
What a good warning for all of us Christians. How easy it can be to take God’s love for granted as if it were a small thing Christ has done for me. It is not small thing at all but a great thing to lift me up from hell and exalt me to the right hand of his Father in heaven. It can become habit to take sin but lightly in my life, or offer temptation to sin fertile soil in my heart to sprout and take root and grow into sinful actions against God or my neighbor.
Jesus says to us, “He who has ears, let him hear.” Pay attention to Christ’s call to daily repentance by which we overcome our Old Adam so that our New Man can arise in our hearts. Recognize that lack of interest in God’s Word, a careless attitude toward prayer and worship, hesitancy in giving are obstacles to make us fall from the heights to which God’s grace has taken us.
My temper, my lust of the flesh, my razor sharp tongue want to become my new loves to replace my first love-Christ and his sacrifice that releases me from the power of these and all my transgressions of his holy will.
Jesus had John give a promise as we repent and return daily to our first love, Christ who loved us first. “To him who overcomes I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” Jesus alluded to the tree of life in Eden from which Adam and Eve could eat before the fall. After the fall, they would have eternal life as we do, through faith in the Savior who would crush Satan’s head on his cross. The risen and ascended Christ promises eternal life to all who persevere in faith, avoid false doctrine, and love Christ more than sin.
Jesus does not base this promise on our actions in those areas but in his victory over all our enemies. This promise is certain because the one who makes it is the one who walks among the golden lampstands holding us secure in the palm of his right hand. Amen. <SDG>