ETERNAL TREASURE - CONCEQUECES OF LEAVING OUR FIRST LOVE

In the second chapter of Acts, Luke gives us an eyewitness account of first love (αγαπη) at work in the lives of new believers in Jerusalem following the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.  And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 

“ Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,  praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:41-47 NKJV).
 

About sixty years later, Jesus complemented the church of Ephesus saying, “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. 

“Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent”  ((Revelation 2:2-5 NKJV).  

We can better understand why the Lord Jesus Christ said the church of Ephesus had left their first love when we compare what Paul wrote to the church of Thessalonica. “Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father” (1 Thessalonians 1:3).

The church of Ephesus had works, but it didn’t have works of faith. It laboured; but it wasn’t labour of love. It had patience but not patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. The church of Ephesus lacked the three fundamental Christian virtues—faith, hope, and love (1 Corinthians 13:13). The Thessalonians were motivated by their first love while the church Ephesus had left their first love.

Jesus gave a stern warning to the church of Ephesus. “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent” (Revelation 2:5 ESV).

The candlestick is a symbol of the Church (Revelation 1:20) which Jesus is building (Matthew 16:18) of which the church of Ephesus was a member. If the church didn’t repent  and recover their first love, Jesus would remove the Church from the church of Ephesus.

The people would be gathering in a building called a church rather than being in the Church the body of Christ. The church would continue gathering in a building doing the same things without their first love.

 Excerpted from GRACE & SHALOM by Robert P. Holland