Introduction
Well, it's good to be back with you, but I want to especially thank Sherry Dixon for speaking last Sunday. I got to listen to the message online, and it was a wonderful message—really good information—and she spoke with such clarity. I hope that it was helpful to you.
Thank you, Sherry, for taking the time to prepare and present that. If you missed her message, you should really go and check it out. She talks about the different kinds of judgment found in Scripture. Even people who have been studying the Bible for a long time don't always have clarity about what the Bible means when it talks about judgment.
There are different kinds of judgment, and they affect us in different ways depending on the context and our relationship with Christ. We need to know that. I encourage you to go on Facebook and find the message—it’s on the church page. You can read it, listen to it, or watch the video.
It goes along well with the series we started a couple of weeks ago on the Seven Churches of Revelation. (Remember, “Revelation” has no “s” at the end—it’s one Revelation.)
The book of Revelation was written by the Apostle John—the beloved apostle—while he was in exile on the island of Patmos. The Lord gave him a vision and told him to write it down and share it. Part of what he shared were seven letters to seven churches—churches full of persecuted Christians living in the first century. These were words meant to encourage them and to correct them when they were going astray.
Today we’ll read the first letter, written to the church in Ephesus. But before we read it, let’s review a few important symbols from Revelation so we understand what we’re reading.
Review Symbolism
First: The Seven Lampstands. In the vision, Jesus showed John seven golden lampstands. These represent the seven churches He was addressing—churches meant to shine God’s light in a dark world. Despite the persecution and evil happening all around them, they were called to burn brightly for Christ.
Second: The Son of Man walking among the lampstands. This figure represents Jesus Himself. He is not far off—He is walking among His people, among His churches.
And remember, “church” here doesn’t mean a building. These first-century churches often didn’t even have a building. The church is the people—the body of believers. If something happened and this building we’re in were washed away, God forbid, we would still be the church.
Third: The Seven Stars. These are held in Jesus' right hand and represent the “angels” of the churches—likely meaning the pastors or spiritual leaders. Jesus holds these leaders in His hand, meaning He protects, shelters, and guides them.
Revelation 2:1-7
1 “To the angel[a] of the church in Ephesus write: [I think the angel in this case, is the
leader(s)]
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right
hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. 2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I
know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those
who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my
name, and have not grown weary.
4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the
love you had at first. 5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do
the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and
remove your lampstand from its place. 6 But you have this in your favor: You hate the
practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit
says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right
to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
Ephesus was a major port city in what is today modern-day Turkey—one of the largest and most influential cities in the Roman Empire. It was a commercial hub, wealthy, and bustling with trade. It was also home to the Temple of Artemis, which was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
But Ephesus was also a city full of idol worship, immorality, and spiritual darkness. Yet in that same city, there was a strong Christian presence.
Paul the Apostle planted the church in Ephesus and stayed there for two years, shepherding and teaching the new believers. Later, Timothy—Paul’s young protégé—served as pastor of that church. Paul wrote two New Testament letters to Timothy while he was there.
According to tradition, the Apostle John—the same John who received and recorded the Revelation—also lived in Ephesus. Remember, John was the disciple to whom Jesus entrusted the care of His mother, Mary. Many believe John cared for Mary in Ephesus until he was exiled to Patmos. Some traditions even say Mary died there.
So this letter is written to a spiritually rich and well-established church, but also a church surrounded by intense pressure and cultural compromise.
Jesus Commends Ephesus
Jesus praises the believers in Ephesus for several things:
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Hard work and perseverance – They stayed faithful even under persecution.
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Rejecting wickedness and false teachers – They held tightly to truth and doctrine.
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Enduring hardship for Christ – They didn’t give up when things got difficult.
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Hating the practices of the Nicolaitans – A group who claimed to be Christian but lived immorally.
The Nicolaitans were known for:
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Sexual immorality
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Eating food sacrificed to idols
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Blending Christianity with the surrounding pagan culture
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Using God’s grace as an excuse to sin
They wanted to enjoy the prosperity of the city while still calling themselves followers of Christ. Jesus says, “You hate their practices—which I also hate.”
And let’s be clear: Jesus doesn’t say He hates the people. He hates their practices. There’s a big difference. As followers of Christ, we don’t hate people. We may hate sin, but we love the sinner—because that’s how Jesus treated us.
Jesus Corrects Ephesus
Jesus then offers a strong correction: “Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.”
What was that first love?
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Joyful, wholehearted devotion to Christ
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A personal relationship—not just head knowledge or doctrine
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Love that overflowed in worship, witness, and daily life
Jesus is saying, “You’re doing all the right things, but your heart’s not in it anymore.”
And that happens sometimes, doesn’t it?
Maybe you remember a time in your walk with Christ when your heart burned for Him—when worship was your favorite part of the week. When prayer felt natural, like talking to your best friend. When telling others about Jesus wasn’t a duty—it just came out of your life because He was changing you.
But now… maybe it’s different. Maybe it’s become routine. Maybe your faith has gotten cold. Maybe your love for Jesus has faded.
If that’s you, Jesus says: “Remember. Repent. Return.”
The Seriousness of Their Sin
Jesus says in verse 5:
“Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.”
What does it mean to “remove your lampstand”?
It doesn’t mean they would lose their salvation. It means their church would lose its place as a light-bearing witness for Christ. It would:
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Cease to exist in its God-given role
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Lose its influence and spiritual power
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Continue in form, but without the presence and blessing of Christ
This still happens today. Some churches keep going long after the Holy Spirit has left the building. They may hold services, sing songs, and do ministry—but there’s no fire, no light, no love. They’re still a church in name, but not in Spirit.
Jesus is saying, “If you don’t return to love, I will no longer recognize you as My church.”
Our American Context
As we celebrate freedom this Fourth of July weekend, we’re reminded of how richly blessed we are to live in a prosperous and free nation. But prosperity comes with its own challenges.
The Ephesian Christians faced hostility and persecution. We, in America, face the temptation of comfort and compromise. Just like the Nicolaitans, there’s a danger that we’ll try to blend in—watering down our convictions for the sake of being accepted or enjoying worldly benefits.
But Jesus calls us to something higher.
The Takeaway
Jesus won’t let a church shine for Him if it doesn’t love like Him.
It’s not enough to be doctrinally right, or to have a full calendar of ministry activities. Jesus wants your heart. He wants you to love Him like you did at first—or even more.
If your faith has grown cold…
If you’ve gotten too good at guarding the gates and forgotten how to open your heart…
If you’re just going through the motions…
Then hear His voice today:
“Remember the love you had at first.
Repent, and return.”
Invitation to Communion
As we come to the Lord’s Table, we remember the greatest act of love the world has ever known:
Jesus giving Himself for us.
And maybe—just maybe—this table is your invitation to come back to your first love.
Come not out of routine, but out of repentance.
Come not because you’ve got it all figured out, but because you are deeply loved.
Come because the One who walks among the lampstands is here now—walking among us.
As you kneel at this altar, it may be that the risen Christ is kneeling beside you, placing His hand on your shoulder, and whispering,
“Welcome back. I’ve missed you. Let’s walk together again.”