Revelation 2:1-7 - To Ephesus

The first letter goes to the church at Ephesus. Ephesus was a major city in the region and one gathers from the letter (and indeed mentions of Ephesus in Acts and the letter to the Ephesians) that the church was important, and perhaps considered itself to be important. The words at the outset remind the church that it is Christ who is at the centre, and He is at the centre of all the churches and walks amongst them. One church is not better nor more important than any of the others.

The church was truly dedicated to Christ and to the truth of the gospel. They were assiduous in resisting false teaching and evil people. They had endured persecution and were zealous in their commitment to Christ and the gospel. But there is a great danger in all this. We can get so focused on resisting error that we forget our first love. The first commandment is to love the Lord with all that we have, and the second is to love each other. Now we are to resist error as well, but it so easy to focus on resisting false doctrine that we forget our first love. Theologically "sound" churches are at greatest risk from this error. 

We see how serious this failing is in verse 5, the threat is that the church will be removed. Love for God and love for each other is supreme above all. This is in no way an excuse for tolerating error, but we love Christ and maintain sound teaching. Indeed the importance of maintaining sound teaching is shown in the very next verse. The Nicolaitans were a sect that sought to mix Christianity with pagan practices, and so had idolatry and immoral practices.

The letter closes with a promise to those who overcome. We will receive the right to eat from the tree of life. Remember that the tree of life was one of the trees in the Garden of Eden. Life is a battle, but it is a battle we need to win. Note also that even in the letters where the church is severely criticised and warned there is always a promise. The Lord speaks to get a response from us, a response of repentance, of turning back to Him.