How Does a Church Lose Its First Love?
Christ commended the Ephesian church for its zeal and service to God. He recognized the believers’ devotion in “works,” “labor,” and “patience” (Rev. 2:2). He mentioned that they did not tolerate sin, as they could not “bear those who are evil” (v. 2) and hated “the deeds of the Nicolaitans” (v. 6). This cult professed faith in Christ but lived sinfully and taught antinomianism, the belief that God does not expect Christians to obey any moral laws.
He also lauded their doctrinal soundness, as they rejected false apostles and liars (v. 2). He recognized their diligence under testing for Christ and that they had not become weary (v. 3). The believers worked sacrificially for the Lord with a servant’s spirit.
But then Christ said, “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love” (v. 4). The word love [Greek, agape] used here refers to a spiritual, self-giving love, the greatest love Christians can possess. This church did not lose but left (forsook) its first love for the Lord.
At some point, these believers’ love and devotion to Christ cooled and eventually ceased. Christ had their heads and hands but not their hearts. Spiritual apathy set in, resulting in believers being drawn away from Christ, which the apostle Paul predicted would happen (Acts 20:29–31).
The Lord counseled the Ephesian believers to do two things:
1. “Remember therefore from where you have fallen” (Rev. 2:5), meaning they should recall their past commitment and reevaluate their present compromise.
2. “Repent and do the first works” (v. 5). They were to repeat their “first works” in serving Christ with a burning heart of love, spending time in fellowship, study, worship, and prayer.
Refusal to repent would cause their removal: “Or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place” (v. 5). Churches that leave their first love eventually lose their ability to reach a lost world. They will be judged and eventually removed.
Christ did not leave the Ephesian church without hope, saying, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life [symbolizing eternal life], which is in the midst of the Paradise of God” (v. 7).
The word overcomer refers to any Christian who has accepted Christ as Savior (cf. 1 Jn. 5:4–5). True believers are assured of eternal life.
This warning is not only for the Ephesian church but for all Christians today. Many churches need to heed Christ’s warning or face the same destiny as Ephesus.
