Introduction:

The church had matured through the great ministries of Apollos, Priscilla, Aquilla early on and they had laid the ground work for Paul. Then Paul came and lived with them teaching them further the doctrines of truth and the true gospel. Later, Paul sent Timothy to minister there in his absence. Timothy continued instructing this young church to stand firm in the face of evil and fight the good fight of faith. While Paul was in prison he sent to this church the Book of Ephesians. It was while in Ephesus that Timothy received First and Second Timothy. Finally, they profited from the ministry of the Apostle John. The church had a great heritage of godly men and accurate doctrine. Paul and the others were dead now. Rather than engaging in battle with Satan and his followers, the church became side tracked with the idea that simply agreeing with right doctrine and doing the right things meant it had a right relationship with the Lord.

He writes to the messenger or the overseer or elder of the church. Today we might say, to the pastor of the church. This letter was to be hand delivered to the current pastor/elder of the Church in Ephesus.

2. Christ’s Commendation (2:2-3 & 6)

It seems as if this church was perfect.

'I know your works…Jesus the One walking among the churches, the One with the penetrating eyes of fire knows, the truth about every church and about every person.

Jesus says I know that you are…

A. Faithful in Endurance

Paganism was everywhere and they were still enduring for Christ. They were standing strong against the opposition.

B. Faithful in Doctrine

This church was standing strong in correct doctrine. Their gospel was the real gospel. Their belief was orthodox. They believed the writings of the Scriptures. They promoted sound doctrine among the members. On the outside, they looked like a good church. But Christ looks on the inside.

C. Faithful in Discipline

This church practiced church discipline. Forty years before this letter, Paul had told them…

and give no opportunity to the devil(Ephes. 4:27). They were still faithful in obeying that command (cf. Acts 20:29-31)

We even get a sense of the effect John’s ministry had on the church (2 John 1:7-11).

3. Christ’s Condemnation (2:4)

Many speculate as to the cause of this lack of love for Christ. It may have something to do with the second generation believers. Perhaps it had to do with the fact that many who had first heard of Christ through Paul and the others were dead. Maybe the church did what it always did without knowing why she did it. Jesus told them that they were doing the right things but without a right love for Him.

As important as proper doctrine and proper works are, they in themselves are not the end. Christ is the end. We exist for His glory. To do good deeds with wrong motives is to be guilty of idolatry. A self-centered hypocrite does good deeds with a bad heart. When a church like this loves truth more than it loves the Lord. Truth has even become an idol.

When our motivation is duty rather than privilege, it does not take long for a people to forget. When the next generation comes along they see the actions of the previous generation but they don’t know why they do what they do. It’s the same thing that happened over and over with Israel. At the time of Joshua’s death we see that the next generation didn’t know the Lord (Judges 2:6-10).

What’s the remedy for a church that has lost its love for Christ, whether it is the people becoming dull in their love or a whole new generation that doesn’t know? What is the remedy for you if you’ve lost your first love?

4. Christ’s Cure (2:5)

A. Remember

Literally in the original, keep on remembering. The church, as a whole, had forgotten its foundation.

B. Repent

They needed to acknowledge their sin and then repent. They needed to turn from their evil deeds and turn to their Lord. In loosing their first love they had committed the worst sin of all. They had broken the greatest commandment thus committing the greatest sin (Matthew 22:36-38).

C. Return

Return to your first works. The first works of the early church were characterized by a zealous commitment to the Lord (Acts 2:42-47).

5. Christ’s Encouragement (2:7)

The one who conquers or overcomes means the one in Christ (1 John 5:4-5).