The Church in Prophetic Perspective

Falling Out of Love with Jesus

Revelation 2:1-7

In Revelation 2--3, while the Apostle John was exiled on the isle of Patmos, he penned seven different letters to seven different churches in Asia Minor to inform them about what God expected. As we study those churches, we will be considering what God expects His church to be. Those two chapters in Revelation deal primarily with Christ ministering to His churches. The vision in Revelation 1:12-16 showed Christ moving among and ministering to His churches. Each church was pictured as a lampstand. In these seven letters, Christ ministers to the church.

Each of the seven churches represents a particular church in a real place in Asia Minor. They also represent a different type of church throughout the history of the church. One of the churches is a dead church. Many dead churches exist today. Another church is a missionary church. Such churches exist today. Another church is a church where love grew cold. There are many churches today where love has grown cold. Each of those churches is characteristic of particular types of churches in any age. These churches are also characteristic of particular types of Christians. There are Christians whose love has grown cold, and--as far as God is concerned--might as well be dead since they do nothing. Also, there are Christians who are zealous missionaries.

The seven churches are historical, but they have tremendous importance for the church of Christ today because they reveal the qualities that make up the church. They represent all types of churches and Christians.

We are going to begin our study of the seven churches with the church at Ephesus in Revelation 2:1-7. In most cases, we will find seven aspects of each church because most of these letters take on the same characteristics. There are seven ingredients in the letter to the church at Ephesus: The Correspondent, the one who is writing the letter; The Church, the one He is writing to; The City, where the church existed; The Commendation, what is good about the church; The Condemnation, what is bad about the church; The Command, what should be done about the church; and The Counsel, instruction to anyone who will heed it. First, we are introduced to...

I. THE CORRESPONDENT (v. 1)

A. His Introduction

Who is the writer? You say, "The Apostle John." No, John is simply the scribe--the one who writes the words. The writer of the message is not mentioned by name, but He is introduced in verse 1: "Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write: These things saith He that holdeth the seven stars in His right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden lampstands." His description can be compared to Revelation 1:12-13: "And I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands one like the Son of man ...." The writer to the church at Ephesus is the Son of man--Jesus Christ.

The Pattern of Introduction

In the first five letters to the churches in Revelation 2:1--3:6, the writer is introduced by reference to part of His description in Revelation 1:12-18.

1. THE LETTER TO SMYRNA

Revelation 2:8 introduces the letter to Smyrna: "... These things saith the first and the last, who was dead, and is alive." Compare that with Revelation 1:18: "I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive ...." The characteristics of Christ recorded in Revelation 1 were used in most of the introductions of the letters.

2. THE LETTER TO PERGAMUM

Revelation 2:12 introduces the letter to Pergamum: "... These things saith He who hath the sharp sword with two edges." That reflects Revelation 1:16, where Christ is pictured with a sharp sword.

3. THE LETTER TO THYATIRA

The message to Thyatira begins in Revelation 2:18: "These things saith the Son of God, who hath His eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are like fine bronze." That reflects Revelation 1:15.

B. His Glory

The description of the writer to the church at Ephesus is taken from Revelation 1:12-18, where John gave a glorious description of the Son of God: Jesus Christ. In the entire book of Revelation, John presents the Son of God in all of His glory. The first time Christ came, He was humbled: He was spit on, nailed to a cross, despised and hated of men. But the second time, He will come in glory. In describing Christ, John doesn't say, "I want you to know that the Author has pierced hands, and a brow crushed with thorns." He is the glorified Christ. John says, "The Author holds the seven stars in His hands." The seven stars represent the ministers of the churches. Christ is in control of those who truly minister for Him. He walks in the midst of the seven lampstands, which are the churches. That is the picture Revelation presents of Christ ministering to His church.

The correspondent is Christ. Since the letter contains His words to the church, it demands our attention. The words are from the One who is in charge of the church: Jesus Christ, the glorified Son of God and the head of the body of Christ. He alone has the power and the authority to speak. When He speaks, we need to listen.

Second, let's look at...

 

II. THE CHURCH (v. 1)

Revelation 2:1 says, "Unto the angel [minister] of the church of Ephesus...." John is writing to the church in the city of Ephesus.

1. SPIRITUAL STRENGTH

This church was founded by the Apostle Paul and taught solid doctrine. Their first pastor after Paul was Timothy. Other outstanding Christians who ministered to that assembly included Apollos, and Aquila and Priscilla. The combination of that kind of ministry made the church at Ephesus tremendously strong. It was a Christ-honoring church.

2. ZEAL

Like the majority of churches in its day, Ephesus had a dominant, earnest zeal for evangelism. It was aggressive.

B. Its Foundation

The church at Ephesus was founded by Paul on his third missionary journey. Acts 19 describes what happened when that church was founded:

1. THE REJECTION OF PAUL'S PREACHING

There was already a small group of disciples present in Ephesus who loved Christ when Paul arrived. Verse 1 says, "And it came to pass that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper borders came to Ephesus and, finding certain disciples." Then verses 8-9 say, "And he [Paul] went into the synagogue, and spoke boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. But when some were hardened, and believed not, but spoke evil of that way ...." What "way" is Paul referring to? Jesus said, "I am the way ..." (Jn. 14:6). That was Paul's message, but there were some people who didn't like it. They were hardened and "spoke evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one, Tyrannus" (Ac. 19:9). Paul was finally thrown out of the synagogue. Verse 10 adds, "And this continued for the space of two years ...." For two years Paul stayed in Ephesus to get that church grounded.

2. THE RESULT OF PAUL'S PREACHING

a. Receptivity

As a result of Paul's tremendous ministry, "all they who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks" (v. 10). What a great beginning!

b. Reinforcement

Verse 11 says, "And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul." God performed miracles in the founding of Ephesus.

c. Revival

Verse 18 says, "And many that believed came, and confessed, and showed their deeds." A revival took place.

d. Repentance

Verse 19 says, "Many of those also who used magical arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men; and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver." That was the worth of the books that were thrown into the fire when those people came to know Jesus Christ. Verse 20 is the key to the church at Ephesus: "So mightily grew the word of God ...." That is the foundation and strength of any church that fulfills what God wants. It grew and prevailed because the Word of God was its foundation--not someone's ideas, but solid teaching of the Word of God.

e. Revolution

Christianity has a way of creating chaos. People were falling in love with Jesus Christ. All of Asia was buzzing because of what was going on in Ephesus. Verse 23 says, "And at the same time there arose no small stir about that way." Christianity was becoming a big problem. Idol sales were a major business in Ephesus. But the conversions were cutting into that business. The silversmiths were starting a revolution because no one was buying their idols.

Christianity had a controversial beginning in Ephesus. It threw the entire city into confusion.

 

III. THE CITY (v. 1)

What kind of a city was Ephesus? If I had lived in Christ's day, I would have loved to live in Ephesus because there existed a great challenge to reach people for Christ. Paul converted much of Thessalonica in three Sabbaths so that the Word of the Lord went out from the Thessalonians almost immediately. But when Paul went to Ephesus, he had to stay three whole years (Ac. 20:31).

Pergamum was the official capital of Asia Minor, but Ephesus was its greatest city. A Roman writer called it "Lumen Asiae," which means, "the light of Asia." It was prominent for many reasons.

1. EPHESUS HAD THE GREATEST HARBOR IN ASIA MINOR

a. The Center of Commerce

Ephesus was located on the Cayster River, which flowed directly into the Aegean Sea. Three miles up the river was the Cayster River valley. Located on the slopes of that valley was the great city of Ephesus. There were very sophisticated systems of docks and levels located on the river so that ships could travel up the valley and then later turn around and go back to sea. It was a very important place for commerce. Some merchandise came from the east and went out from Ephesus to the sea. Some merchandise came into Ephesus from the sea, and was disseminated throughout all the known world.

b. The Hub of Four Main Roads

In addition, Ephesus was an important harbor because four important highways led into Ephesus. One came from from Pergamum and Smyrna in the north. One came from Sardis, Galatia, and Phrygia in the northeast. Another came from the southeast--it was the great trade route that brought wealth from the Euphrates valley through Colosse and Laodicea. There was another important road that ran directly to Ephesus from the Maeander valley in the south.

c. A City of Many Names

Ephesus was called "The Marketplace of Asia" by historians. In later times, when martyrs were brought from Asia so they could be thrown to lions in the arena in Rome, they were usually brought through Ephesus. As a result, it acquired the name of "The Highway of Martyrs." Some, alluding to John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, have said it could be called, "The Vanity Fair of the Ancient World."

2. EPHESUS HAD POLITICAL FREEDOM

Politically speaking, Ephesus was referred to in Rome as "a free city." Most of the cities in Rome were not free; they were occupied by Roman garrisons. That could be quite intimidating. But Ephesus was a free city with no garrison or soldiers. Rome had deemed Ephesus responsible to govern itself without any assistance. It was a city of free thinking and activities.

Every year, games were held in Ephesus that were comparable to the Olympics. Athletes came from all over the area to compete in various types of sports. In addition to sporting events, there was a tremendous amount of pageantry, parades, and drama. The games usually occurred in May, and brought many people into the city from neighboring areas.

3. EPHESUS WAS THE CENTER OF THE WORSHIP OF DIANA

a. Characteristics of the Temple

The Roman name for the Greek name Artemis is Diana. Diana was one of the most sacred goddess in the ancient civilized Greco-Roman world. Her temple was located in Ephesus. It was made out of glittering Persian marble. It was four hundred and twenty-five feet long (one and a half blocks), and two hundred and sixty feet wide. The one hundred and thirty hand-carved columns stood sixty feet high. Thirty-seven of them were studded with jewels and gold. The altar within the temple of Artemis was beautiful beyond words. It was created by the famous Greek sculptor Praxiteles.

1) It Was a MuseumCollections of great works of art from all over the world had been brought to Diana's temple.

2) It Was a Sanctuary for CriminalsAnyone who was inside the temple was free from the penalty of the law. He couldn't be prosecuted. Interestingly enough, there were so many criminals that the boundaries of the temple had to be expanded. As the years went by, if a criminal was found in the district of Ephesus, he was safe.

3) It Was a BankThe inner sanctuary of the temple of Artemis was so sacred that no one dared to violate it. The people deposited their money there since it was so safe.

4) It Was a Center of Commerce

The temple was a center for business because of its idolatrous system of religion. In Acts 19, Demetrius the silversmith made a fortune making little gods that could be put any place. That is why the economy was thrown into chaos when Paul arrived.

b. Characteristics of the Worship

You say, "What was the worship of Diana?" Scores of eunuchs, thousands of priestesses and prostitutes, unnumbered heralds, and many singers, flute players, and dancers participated in one giant orgy in the temple. And it was a popular religion. The same thing is happening today only under a different name. Ephesians were involved in all kinds of indescribable activities of sexual perversion and self- mutilation. Heraclitus, a Greek philosopher of Ephesus, said that the morals of the temple were worse than the morals of animals, because even dogs do not mutilate each other.

B. The Proclamation of Christ

Right in the middle of the city of Ephesus was a group of people in love with Jesus Christ, proclaiming His message in Satan's backyard. It is just like the grace of God to go into Satan's backyard and win the greatest victories--and that's what happened! The preaching of Jesus Christ had so affected the worship that the economy was thrown into chaos, a revival was started, and the church at Ephesus began to grow. That little flock came on strong for Jesus Christ. They gave up their old life--they burned all their books about magic, threw away their idols, and began to live for Jesus Christ. It was a whole new life for them.

Next, it is the character of each letter to give ...

 

IV. THE COMMENDATION (vv. 2-3, 6)

A. The Manifestation of the Work (vv. 2, 6)

1. THE GENERAL COMMENDATION (v. 2a)"I know thy works ..."

Jesus is saying through John, "I know that you have done some great things." Then He names their work: labor, patience, suppression of evil, and spiritual discernment (vv. 2-3).

2. THE SPECIFIC COMMENDATIONS (vv. 2b-e, 6)

Jesus commends them first for ...

a. Their Service (v. 2b)"... and thy labor ..."

1) The Toil of Exhaustion

The Greek word for service is kopos, which means "toil." The Ephesians were commended for their sweat in their service for Christ. The service of many Christians wouldn't exhaust a butterfly! But Christ commended the church at Ephesus because they were serving Him totally. Characteristic of the word kopos is that it describes labor to the point of exhaustion. It is the kind of toil that takes all the mind and muscle of a man. The Christian's labor for Christ is not for the dilettante. If your service to Christ is just an addition to your life, then it is meaningless. The Christian is to spend his life for Christ, not hang on to it. People say, "I would certainly like to get involved, but I've been feeling out of sorts." We are to toil for Christ. Service for Him is no bed of roses. You say, "That sounds like legalism!" But there's no legalism involved: You love Christ enough so you don't care about the consequences.

2) The Toil of the Ephesians

The Ephesians were busy toiling for Christ. Many Christians want to be entertained--they don't want to work. They want to eat the fruit of the harvest, but they don't want to get their hands dirty in the cultivation process. But not the Christians in Ephesus! They were working, planning, sharing Christ, and helping people who had physical needs as well as spiritual needs. It was not a church that offered weekly solace for the boredom of life. They were under a yoke and were plowing--and loved every minute of it! Service to Christ is the greatest thrill in the world!

b. Their Steadfastness (v. 2c)

"... and thy patience ..."

The word for "patience" in the Greek text is hupomon^e. It means "steadfast endurance." One who suffers persecution endures. He doesn't have the attitude of enduring but hating every minute of it; he expresses courageous gallantry by saying, "I don't care what's going on--I love every minute of it!"

It is so easy to give up, to quit serving Christ and say, "I'm overworked." I doubt very seriously that your service to Christ means very much if it doesn't involve toil. The church at Ephesus was existing in the midst of a pagan city and remained steadfast.

c. Their Suppression of Evil (v. 2d)

"... and how thou canst not bear them who are evil ..."

They could not tolerate sin. When sin appeared, they put it out of the church. Being sensitive to sin is important for a church because Christians have a sweet fellowship. We want to include others who we can reach in our fellowship. We want everyone we can reach to know Christ. We want to maintain the kind of fellowship that will have a testimony in the world. But Satan would love to destroy our testimony by putting sin into the fellowship in order to tear it apart. Paul told the Corinthians to watch out for sin because "a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump" (1 Cor. 5:6). When sin appears, it needs to be eliminated. The Ephesians were doing that, so Jesus says, "I know ... how thou canst not bear them who are evil ..." (Rev. 2:2).

The Ephesians were following Paul's instruction. In Ephesians 4:27, Paul said, "Neither give place to the devil." When Paul left Ephesus and met for the last time with the elders, he said, "God is with you, but don't forget that wolves will try to enter your fellowship seeking to ruin you. Satan will try to destroy your testimony" (Ac. 20:28-29). Everything God does, Satan wants to destroy. The Ephesians hated moral evil, and they eliminated it.

d. Their Spiritual Discernment (v. 2e)

"... thou hast tried them who say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars."

When someone would say, "I'm an apostle. I have a message," the Ephesians would say, "We want to talk to you to find out if that's true." False teachers came to Ephesus just like Paul said they would, but the Ephesian church knew how to deal with them.

The only way to stand against false teaching is to know the truth. That's why the true church has a foundation in doctrine. When a Christian knows what the Word of God teaches, he can compare any teaching in light of what the Bible teaches.

The church at Ephesus stood true despite the evil men who tried to destroy it: Emissaries of legalism came in and tried to put the Ephesians under bondage; Libertines told them that they were free to do whatever they wanted; and professional beggars tried to take away all of their resources. But the Ephesians tested them all to find out which ones were of God.

e. Their Stand Against the Nicolaitans (v. 6)

"But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate."

Christ hated the Nicolaitans. You say, "Who were they?"

1) The Characteristics of the Nicolaitans

The Nicolaitans were a group of heretics who also became involved in the church at Pergamum. It is very possible that they showed up in many places. One of the deacons initiated in Acts 6 was named Nicolas. As best as can be determined, Nicolas became a heretic. He pushed liberty to an extreme and his sect was characterized by extreme indulgence and uncleanness. Some people have said that Nicolas started the heresy; others have said that Nicolas made a statement that some people misinterpreted and used as the basis of their cult. Clement of Alexandria, who lived during that time, said that the Nicolaitans "abandon themselves to pleasure like goats...leading a life of self-indulgence" (The Miscellanies 2:20). They replaced liberty with license and perverted grace (Gal. 5:13).

2) The Confrontation by the Ephesians

Evidently the Nicolaitans had come to Ephesus, but the Ephesians spotted them and sent them away because they hated their deeds. They could not bear sin or the false doctrine propagated by the Nicolaitans. The only way that you can perceive false doctrine is to know true doctrine. That's why Peter says, "... be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you ..." (1 Pet. 3:15). You need to understand doctrine.

B. The Magnitude of the Work (v. 3a, c)

"And hast borne, and hast patience and ... hast labored, and hast not fainted."

They had endured good and bad. They had been patient; they labored and didn't faint. The church at Ephesus was strong, spiritual, steadfast, working, toiling, and serving. You say, "Why did they do that? What was their motive?"

C. The Motive of the Work (v. 3b)

"... for My name's sake ..."

The primary reason for serving God is that you love His name. You don't serve Jesus Christ because you have to, but because you love to. The Ephesians served Him for the sake of His name. God and Jesus Christ deserve the praise of men. The Ephesians were serving Christ to give honor where honor was due. They loved the name of Christ. Loving the name of Christ has nothing to do with a sentimental attachment to Jesus; it is a passionate desire to see Christ exalted to His rightful place. The Ephesians loved Jesus Christ: They had a passionate desire that He be exalted, and they served Him for the sake of His name.

We have looked at Christ's commendation. Now we turn to ...

 

V. THE CONDEMNATION (v. 4)

"Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love."Based on Revelation 2:2-3 and 6, you would have to conclude that the church at Ephesus was fantastic. There was a church that was based on sound doctrine. They knew what they believed. They could spot sin. They had established strong roots. They had even loved Jesus, but now Jesus said that they had fallen out of love with Him. Their first love had grown cold. The church at Ephesus was one of the best churches in history, but their hot hearts had cooled down. Their labor of love and passion had become a service of performance. They had left the heat of their first love and their service had become mechanical. That is tragic!

That was tragic because the one thing that Christ wanted in His church more than anything else was love. He demanded it. John 21:15-17 says, "So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonah, lovest thou Me more than these? He saith unto Him, Yea, Lord; Thou knowest that I love Thee. He saith unto him, Feed My lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonah, lovest thou Me? He saith unto Him, Yea, Lord; Thou knowest that I love Thee. He saith unto him, Feed My sheep. He saith unto him the third time ...." When love toward Him grew cold, it broke His heart. That is why He said, "Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love" (Rev. 2:4).

You say, "What do you mean by first love?" It is the love that first springs up in an individual's heart.

1. FOR CHRIST

Perhaps you have met Christians who, at the time that Christ came into their life, were greatly in love with Him. But as the years went by, they got all of their doctrine into the right slots and became mechanical Christians. They knew what they believed; they just didn't have any love. Paul says, "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am become as sounding bronze, or a tinkling cymbal" (1 Cor. 13:1). Love is the message of the church. The world is dying to be loved and we have the message.

2. FOR EACH OTHER

Once you lose your love for Jesus Christ, you cease loving one another because horizontal relationships depend upon your vertical relationship with God. If you find that there is someone you can't seem to love, then you may have left your first love for Christ. A warm, expressive, vital love for Jesus Christ translates into love for people. In 1 John 3:14-17 the Apostle John essentially says, "If you say you love God, but don't love your brother, you are a liar, because only the love you have for your brother proves that you love God."

3. FOR EPHESUS

The first thing that happened in Ephesus was that they became cold in their love for Christ. As a result, they didn't love each other like they had before. The church at Ephesus was doctrinally correct, but they had lost their first love. The honeymoon was over in Ephesus. I pray to God with all my heart that the love we have for Christ will never die. Consequently, we will continue to love each other.

Is coldness a fair description of your Christian life? Is your first love of Christ gone? If so, you have fallen out of love with Jesus Christ. You say, "How far can I fall?" You will be His child for eternity, but the warmth of your relationship with Jesus Christ will surely make the difference in your Christian service and your relationships to other Christians. The honeymoon ended in Ephesus. If you travel to where Ephesus had been located, the church is gone. When the honeymoon is over, the church is over. You say, "How do you know that?" Let's look at ...

 

VI. THE COMMAND (v. 5)

"Remember, therefore, from where thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works, or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy lampstand out of its place, except thou repent."

Christ says that losing your first love is the first step to eventual destruction. You say, "Does that mean everyone in Ephesus lost their salvation?" No, it means that the testimony of the church is lost. When a church begins to fall out of love with Jesus Christ, that is the first step in the downward progression. Ultimately, the light goes out. The physical lights may still be on, and someone may be speaking in the pulpit, but the spiritual light of the church is out.

Jesus asks the church at Ephesus to do three things: remember, repent, and repeat. In verse 5, Jesus says, "Remember, therefore, from where thou art fallen, and repent, and do [repeat] the first works ...." In other words, go back and start warming up that love relationship with Christ.

1. REMEMBER

First, Jesus says that they should remember what they had. Men, have you ever had your wife say, "You take me for granted. You didn't before. Remember how you used to treat me?" In other words, "Where is that first love?" In like manner, Christ says to Ephesus, "Remember the warmth of that exciting love we had at the beginning?" If your Christianity is cold orthodoxy, will you remember the warmth and thrill that you had when Christ first became real in your life? The first time Paul went to Ephesus he told the people how real Christ was. Now Jesus says, "Remember those days."

Next, Jesus asks the Ephesians to...

2. REPENT

He wanted the Ephesians to say, "God, I'm sorry. I want that warm love again." Then Jesus tells how to get it back.

3. REPEAT

The Ephesians were to go back and do what they did at the beginning. They were to study God's Word, get together with Christians and pray, share Christ, and warm up the fellowship.

C. The Removal of Ephesus

Jesus said that if they didn't do those things, He would turn the light off. Unless it repents, a cold church will become a dead church. Since a dead church is worthless to Christ, He will remove the candle. You say, "Did that happen to Ephesus?" It did. Their first love cooled, then love for the world replaced their love for Christ. They compromised and the church became corrupt. Finally, they departed from the faith and lost their testimony. At that point, the light went out. The descent began the moment their love cooled. So Christ asks them to repent.

Perhaps we could offer a prayer like this: "O God, so much of our labor is mechanical. We have lost our joy because we see only duty and not love. Give us back an overflowing love for You. Keep our hearts from the world and attached to Your Word. We long to have the love we once had!" The lamp doesn't burn apart from a personal love for Christ. It is sad to say, but the light went out in Ephesus. Today that city doesn't exist. The area is desolate. The water that flowed down the Cayster River kept piling up silt until there was no harbor or city. Ephesus is nothing--it's not even worth resurrecting. The light went out because they left their first love.

We have seen Christ commending, condemning, and commanding the church at Ephesus to repent and return to their first love. In closing, let's look at...

 

VII. THE COUNSEL (v. 7)

At the end of each of the seven letters, Christ has a word to say to those who don't know Christ. Why? From the beginning to the end of the church, it will be a mixture of good and bad, true and false. Christ knew that within the church at Ephesus, there were some people who didn't know Him. So at the end of each letter, He addresses the unbeliever.

A. The Request of Christ (v. 7a)

"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches ..."

It is as if Jesus is standing on the outside talking to the churches. It is a request for all to listen. What does He say?

B. The Reward of the Overcomer (v. 7b)

"... To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God."Jesus says this to the outsider who is not really part of the church (the body of Christ): "Be an overcomer!" What does Jesus mean by "overcome"? Who are the overcomers?

1. HIS BELIEF

First John 5:5 says, "Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?" That is the one who overcomes the world. Jesus is saying to an unbeliever, "Be an overcomer. Triumph over the world and its sin, darkness, and deadness." You say, "How do I overcome the world?" Believe that Jesus is the Son of God and receive Him into your life. When you do that, you overcome the world. You say, "What are the benefits?"

2. HIS BENEFITS

There are fantastic benefits. When you love Jesus Christ, invite Him into your life, and become an overcomer, Christ will allow you "to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God" (v. 7). You say, "What is He saying?" When you are an overcomer--when you believe in Jesus Christ--you inherit eternal life with Christ. You say, "How do you know?" Because the tree of life is in the paradise of God. And where is the paradise of God? Revelation 22:2 says, "In the midst of the street of it [heaven], and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life...." The promise for the one who overcomes--who believes in Jesus Christ--is that someday he will enter into God's eternal place called heaven to dwell with Him forever. What a promise!

The letter to the church at Ephesus was all-inclusive. Jesus Christ speaks to those who know Him and says, "If you've left your first love, remember what it was, repent, and return." And if you're sitting in the church but are not a part of it, you can be an overcomer by believing in Jesus Christ and inviting Him into your life. What are the results? You will be a partaker of eternal life with Jesus Christ. You say, "When does eternal life begin?" The moment you receive Christ. I don't have to wait until I die to have eternal life; I'm enjoying it right now. If you're a Christian, be certain that you are willing to open your heart and return to your first love. If you're not a Christian, open your heart for the first time to Christ and become an overcomer. Then you will experience all that God has for you.

 

Focusing on the Facts

1. What are the seven ingredients that are found in the letter to the church at Ephesus? 

2. Who was the correspondent to the church at Ephesus? How is he described? Who was the scribe? 

3. How does the writer of the letters to the churches at Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, and Thyatira introduce Himself? What is the source of that introduction? 

4. What is