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Sunday 5/03/26
Title: Unscripted – Faith of our Fathers Pt. 4
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Unscripted – Faith of our Fathers Pt. 4
Over the past few weeks we’ve been looking at the letters Jesus wrote to the 7 churches of Asia and we’ve been doing that as a means of learning how to live out our faith in more practical and accessible ways. The last two weeks we bore down hard on the warning and encouragement of Jesus to the first of these churches – the church of Ephesus.
There were some key verbs – words of action, which I thought nicely captured what Jesus encouraged them to do in response to these warnings. All of them were spoken directly by Jesus to this precious church. He was saying…
- Remember the passion you possessed for Me at the beginning
- Repent (change you mind (heart)) about this and return to what you have neglected
- Love Me with ALL your heart – put Me first both in Chronology AND Priority
In His loving justice, Jesus informed them of the only proper response from God to their disobedience if you fail to respond. He told them that HE – as their Lord, Savior and Shepherd would personally remove their church.
Covering “Quickly& Remove”
Now I am going to side step for just a few minutes to invest in you a better understanding of the promised judgement over this church if they failed to repent. I am simply mentioning them in passing now so that you can tuck it away for us to revisit in later lessons, but knowing their meaning may help you.
The focus is upon two words…
- Quickly
- Remove
Some translations which rely upon the Textus Receptus (which are more recent and therefore more likely to have been added to) add the word “quickly” meaning Jesus’ coming to judge their church would happen in a brief time or suddenly if they did not repent.
More ancient copies do not have this addition to the warning. Though I am often more in favor of older copies simply because common sense and historical proofs nearly always reveal that the closer to the original you get the more accurate a text is likely to be – in many cases the differences are trivial at best and should not be a point which divides the brethren. Like Paul said, “those who strive over words” benefit no one and stand to cause ruin in those who listen to their useless prattle. [See 2 Timothy 2:14]
I therefore, believe the word “quickly” to be added to the text, but also believe it to only strengthen the warning. As such, I see no harm in it being there. The only additional thing I would say is that the Greek word translated as “quickly” almost certainly should be translated “suddenly”. Such is more in keeping with its use by Jesus in other places and better fits the mercy with which He always deals with His church. The word’s force is more on HOW Jesus is coming rather than WHEN. When He comes to judge, it will be swift and unexpected. The fact that it will be unexpected adds to the notion that it would not likely be immediately, because that WOULD be able to be anticipated.
The other word “remove” sounds really simple to understand, but the English word “remove” does not fully capture the possible meaning of the Greek word (κινέω) kinéō. This Greek word equally includes the ideas of moving (as from one location to another) or to set in motion as from a place of idleness.
While any of these are possible, it is technically possible that both are meant.
That if they would not judge themselves, He would come with chastening which, if listened to, would set them back in motion from their place of idleness in regard to their love for Him.
If their disobedience were to continue beyond that initial chastening, He would indeed remove their church – either literally and physically OR remove from them their spiritual power of influence over the culture in which they were set as a light to the world.
Let me just say that I honestly believe this means to remove them. Not because Jesus does not always first warn, then chasten and finally judge, but because this letter did not represent their first warning.
This church, like all churches, consisted of people – all of whom had a personal relationship with the Holy Spirit of God, Who has been given to ALL believers for guidance in the truth. So before the angel of this church was commissioned to bear down on this church with the weight of this awareness, the Spirit had already begun His work. So that by the time they read this book of Revelation, it would have been their final warning – not their first. As such, it seems likely that by the time they were reading this, they were already at the end of their rope and the time afforded them to repent was coming to a close.
Now let’s pick back up where I left you hanging last week.
In closing last week I told you that the Ephesian church possessed a foundational, passionate devotion and intimate relationship with Christ, which, while not totally gone, was no longer their primary motivation. The embers were still smoking, but the fire had gone out.
Jesus acknowledges they were doctrinally sound and hardworking in verses 2-3, but this “work” had become mechanical or legalistic, lacking the fervency and ardor of their “first” love.
“First” (prōtēn) means both in chronology and priority.
They had been drawn away BOTH from the love they had when they were first saved AND from properly prioritizing that love as their most valuable possession!
In short, the church at Ephesus was still active and orthodox, but they had “left behind” the heartfelt, passionate devotion that originally defined their relationship with Jesus. It is that quality to their relation with Christ that had long ago made onlookers feel as if these people had lost all perspective on life due to their over preoccupation with Jesus! They were fanatics!
Jesus goes on record as saying, He requires BOTH our passion and our top priority! He wants fanatics not theologians!
Why? Well, can it truly be considered a devoted relationship without it?
Can a person be devoted to the maintenance and provision of their spouse while not being passionate about THEM? Yes… in fact, more than one marriage has ended before a divorce court from nothing more than the neglect of one or the other. Actions devoid of passion is symbolic of a love that once was, not one that is still burning.
That is what it means to “love the Lord your God with all” rather than part of your heart.
I reminded you of how we explored that command from the Old Testament to “love the Lord your God with all your heart” at the end of 2024 and how we saw just how impossible that command is to keep by flesh effort or religious diligence.
[See The weight of the Command & Love & Respect for God]
So we ended with the question “How do we accomplish this?”
And I left you with the statement we have come to find more and more relevant as we study the scriptures which is – If we want the results those in scripture received then we must busy ourselves doing what they did!
In this case, “If we want the results the early church got, we must do what the early church did!”
This takes us back to how we started practical examination of faith in the lives of the early church when we looked at Acts 2:42-47. So turn with me now to Acts 2 and let’s learn from those who have gone before us. And because context is king in our studies, let’s start in verse 1. This, by the way, will put us in a very good place of understanding before we continue looking at the other churches Jesus addresses in Revelation regarding their walk of faith.
Acts 2:1-47,
“(1) When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.”
Now who can tell me what we now call Pentecost, was originally celebrated in Judaism? The Feast of First-fruits! The Feasts of Judaism being holy convocations – were “dress rehearsals” of future events. So THIS ancient Jewish Feast of First-fruits was nothing less than a pre-celebration of the initial converts into the New Covenant through faith in the promised Messiah!
“(2) And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. (3) And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.
(4) And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
(5) Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. (6) And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.
(7) And they were amazed and astonished, saying,
“Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? (8) And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? (9) Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, (10) Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, (11) both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.”
(12) And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another,
“What does this mean?”
(13) But others mocking said,
“They are filled with new wine.”
(14) But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them:
“Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. (15) For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. (16) But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:
(17) “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; (18) even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out My Spirit, and they shall prophesy. (19) And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; (20) the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. (21) And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
(22) “Men of Israel, hear these words:
Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves know— (23) this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.
(24) God raised Him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for Him to be held by it. (25) For David says concerning Him,
“‘I saw the Lord always before me, for He is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; (26) therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. (27) For you will not abandon my soul to the grave, or let your Holy One see physical decay.
(28) You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’
(29) “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.
(30) Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, (31) he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that He was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his flesh see corruption.
(32) This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.
(33) Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.
(34) For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,
“‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, (35) until I make your enemies your footstool.”’
(36) Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus Whom you crucified.”
(37) Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles,
“Brothers, what shall we do?”
(38) And Peter said to them,
“Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (39) For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to Himself.”
(40) And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.”
(41) So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
(42) And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and THE prayers.
(43) And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.
(44) And all who believed were together and had all things in common.
(45) And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
(46) And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, (47) praising God and having favor with all the people.
And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”
WOW!
Now we are focused not so much on the actions of these initial believers as in their heart motivations in doing what they did. Not that the actions are of no value, but just like our Ephesian church was learning in their letter from our Lord and Shepherd – actions are not enough. One must love the Lord with all of the heart!
And we have in on the testimony of three witnesses that Love is the fulfilling of the law. Meaning, if you love the Lord you God with all your heart, you will find yourself fully pleasing Him and no “letter to the church of” would need to be written!
- Jesus says this in Matthew 22:37-40
- Paul tells the church in Rome this in Romans 13:8-10
and
- the church of Galatian in Galatians 5:14.
So what did the early church do and what was in their hearts in the doing of them?
First they were DEVOTED!
To the teachings, the fellowship, the Lord’s supper and to The Prayers!
“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and THE prayers.”
So first in order is what the Ephesian church had down and for which Jesus Himself offered them praise and that is devotion to the apostle’s teaching – a.k.a. “Doctrine”!
This required a relationship with these apostles, trust in their trustworthiness and diligence to listen, learn, inquire, contemplate and attempt to live what the Lord had committed to them!
Blessings!
Blessings!
