This evening I preached on Revelation 2:1-7, the Letter to Ephesus:
Paul spent 2½ years at Ephesus on his third missionary journey. Through public
preaching and private teaching many were saved. The trade in silver shrines to
Diana dried up, causing a riot (Acts 19). Paul put Timothy in charge of the
Church at Ephesus, and wrote three times: once to the Church, and twice to
Timothy. The apostle John took over after Timothy, and maybe the Epistle 1
John was directed to the church at Ephesus. Now from Patmos, John is writing
another brief message to his beloved in Ephesus. Jesus Christ tells John what
He thinks of the Church at Ephesus. These things all apply to the Church of
England too!
1. THREE BOUQUETS AND A BRICKBAT
a. I Know your Works 2a
The fame of their works had spread abroad. The church was a hive of activity
for the Lord and the Gospel. They looked after the sick, the widows and the
orphans. They witnessed boldly and won converts to the Faith. Everyone was
doing something for Christ. They spent their money, their time and their
talents for Christ. They toiled for the Lord.
b. I know your Endurance 2b, 3
There was much persecution in Ephesus, and competition from the great Temple
of Diana, the Artemision. Diana was "the goddess who fell out of heaven" (Acts
19:35), the female goddess of sex and fertility. They were taken to court by
Demetrius and the silversmiths' guild; yet they neither robbed the temple nor
blasphemed the goddess. They dethroned the false by enthroning the True. There
was also opposition from the various Mystery religions and sects like the
Nicolaitans. Known Christians were ostracised, and some shopkeepers would not
sell to them. Those in business were boycotted and found no customers. Mobs of
youths attacked them and the church buildings (as in Thessalonica, Acts 17:5).
John was sent to Patmos by Domitian, 90 AD (or Nero, 67; or Vespasian, 85)
because of persecution.
c. I know your Orthodoxy 2c, 6
Nicolas of Antioch, a convert to Judaism and one of the Seven (Acts 6:5), was
one of the false Judaizers who followed Paul around and attacked the orthodoxy
of the churches he founded. Paul specifically warned the Ephesians of the
problems ahead: "I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among
you and not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and
distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them" (Acts 20:29-30).
The Ephesian Christians heard Nicolas' message, and tested it to see if it
were of the Lord (1 John 4:1). They rejected it. Their leader Nicolas who
claimed to be an Apostle was found to be an impostor was rejected. Not only
his teachings, but his practices were rejected (verse 6).
d. I have one thing against you 4
They were a Pure Church, but they had left their First Love. They were busy in
their service, patient in their sufferings, and orthodox in their beliefs. But
one thing was lacking. Their love for the Lord Jesus had grown lukewarm. Jesus
had warned "the love of many will grow cold" (Matthew 24:12). The Church is
the Bride of Christ. Jesus had wooed his Bride so gently and so lovingly; now
they were taking his love for granted. The Heavenly Bridegroom is complaining
that his Bride has left her first love: her affection has grown cold. Their
works, their endurance, and their orthodoxy were still there, but they were
running on "auto pilot" whilst thinking of other things. They responded to
this rebuke. Ignatius wrote to them on his way to martyrdom in 115 AD "You all
live according to Truth, and no heresy has a home among you; indeed, you do
not so much as listen to anyone if they speak of anything except concerning
Jesus Christ in truth". But later on, apostasy overtook them again.
2. THREE ULTIMATUMS AND A BLESSING 5a, 7
a. Remember the height from which you have fallen!
The higher they are, the harder they fall. William Cowper puts this well in
his hymn /O for a closer walk with God/. "What peaceful hours I once enjoyed!
How sweet their memory still! But they have left an aching void the world can
never fill". The way of backsliders is hard. The CofE reached a peak in about
1901. Since then it has increasingly declined.
b. Repent of your sin!
Have you fallen down on the job? then get up again! We need to repent of
doctrinal pluralism and moral depravity, and urge the Church to do likewise.
c. Resume the things you did at first!
Carry on with the good works and be not weary in well-doing. It is all for the
love of Christ. For his sake worship on Sunday. For his sake go to the Prayer
Meeting. For his sake go to the Bible Study. For his sake teach in the Sunday
school, lead activities, witness in the community...
d. There remains a Blessing. 5b, 7
The church at Ephesus took the message seriously, and Ignatius was able to
praise them fulsomely. But they grew lukewarm and then cold again. The Turkish
invasion swept away the church at Ephesus in 1074. All that is left today are
the ruins of the double basilica and its baptistry, and the tomb of the
Apostle John awaiting the Resurrection and Rapture. Full and free access to
the Paradise of God and the Tree of Life are guaranteed to those who are
faithful to the end. Nobody serves the Lord for nothing!
__________________________________________________________________________
Ben
--
Revd Ben Crick BA CF, and Mrs Joanna (Goodwin) Crick
<ben.crick@argonet.co.uk>
232 Canterbury Road, Birchington, Kent, CT7 9TD (UK)
http://www.cnetwork.co.uk/crick.htm
