Church in Ephesus

Posted May 11, 2024

 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this: ‘I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured for My name’s sake, and have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent. Yet this you do have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.’ Revelation 2:1-7 NASB

These people seem to be doing good. They seem to be wise and strong but Jesus says, they have left their first love. This makes me think of Matthew 22:37-40
And He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 22:37-40 NASB

They must get back to their first love, they must repent and do the deeds they did at first. These are believers He is talking to, not the world. He says He will remove their lamp stand. We know from Revelation 1:20 that the lampstands are the churches. So He is saying He will remove this church if they do not repent and do the deeds they did at first.

Those who overcome this sin issue will be granted to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.

Overcome here is the Greek word nikaō means to conquer, prevail, subdue