(1) Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; (2) I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: (3) And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. (4) Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. (5) Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. (6) But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. (7) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
I beg on our entrance, of viewing these messages of Christ to his Churches, to make one or two general observations, as suited to the whole; and which, I request the Reader to keep in remembrance, through all the parts of this book of God.
And, first. It evidently appears, from several striking circumstances which meet us in the body of those several Epistles, that what our Lord then caused to be delivered by his servant John to those Churches, while it had an immediate eye to them, from particular things the Lord reproved in them; yet was intended as so many messages to the Church of Christ, from that period, to the very end of time; different parts corresponding to the different ages. And, indeed, whoever reads with attention the Lord's charges against some of those Churches, will find, that they were not special to that age, or confined to that Church, to whom the Lord sent it; but that the same spots are seen in the Lord's Church even now. As for example. In this first charge to Ephesus, the Lord complains, that she had left her first love. Not that the Church was totally void of love, but that it was less warm, and fervent, than in the first days of her espousals. Reader! this is but too common now. And wherever it is found, we here learn how painful it is to Christ. See how sweetly the Lord took notice of the first love of the Church, at the coming forth out of Egypt; and how highly the Lord prized it, Jeremiah 2:1-3. So again, to the Church at Sardis - I know thy works, that thou hast a name, that thou livest and art dead, Revelation 3:1. Reader! is not this very resembling the present hour, of the professing Church?
Secondly. Some of those Churches to whom John was directed to write, could hardly be said at that time, to be formed, but were forming. We have no account, either of the Church of Sardis or Philadelphia, before the Second Century. It doth not follow, indeed, from hence, that they were not in being. However, from the slenderness of those Churches in general, and from the too much sameness in defects, between those spoken of, and the Church of Christ in the several ages since, even to the present hour; we have full authority to conclude that the Lord Jesus, whose eyes are as a flame of fire, and who looketh through all time, intended these Epistles for the Church, to the latest period of the world.
Thirdly. To render this statement the more probable, it should be observed also, that while the Lord sent these Epistles to those seven Churches, which were in Asia; and some of them hardly in being, there were none of a like nature directed by the Lord to the Churches in Judaea, and Corinth, and Colosse, and Philippi, or the Thessalonians. All which carries a very strong conviction with it, that not those Churches only, and at that period, the Lord Jesus had in view, but to be of perpetual use in his Church, through all the intermediate ages, to the end of time.
Fourthly. As all these seven Churches are now no more, but the Lord hath, as he threatened he would, removed the candlestick out of its place, and the very ground where those highly favored temples once stood, are in the possession of the deluded followers of the false Prophet; and yet those messages sent to them, are with us, it should seem to be a most plain, and self evident conclusion, the Lord intended those Epistles for persons, and not places; and that in them the Lord still speaks to the Church, here represented by the perfect number seven, as representing the whole body in the different periods of time.
Having premised these observations, I would now call upon the Reader, to attend to the precious and important subjects, contained in those Epistles, and according to the order, in which they are here placed.
And first, of Ephesus. Of this city we have an account, Acts 28:19. It was a place of great trade and magnificence but wholly given to Idolatry. Here the Lord directed the steps of his Servant the Apostle Paul, and caused him to plant a Church in it. And so greatly did the Lord bless and own his labors, that he continued in it two years; so that all they which dwell in Asia, heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks, Acts 19:10. Here then, as this Church was in being, the message of the Lord Jesus to it, came under that part of Christ's command to John, in writing the things which he had seen, and the things which are. The other parts, either to Churches afterwards to rise, or of prophecies afterwards to be fulfilled, came under that part of Christ's command to his servant, to write of the things which were to be hereafter, Revelation 1:19
The Lord begins his charge, with a short but sublime account of himself. These things, saith he, that holdeth the seven stars in his right-hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden Candlesticks. What a sweet thought to the Church of Jesus in all ages, both as it concerns the Servants of the Lord, whom he dignifies amidst all their unworthiness, with the name of stars; and his people, in the midst of whom he here declares himself to walk, as in the midst of golden Candlesticks. Reader! do not fail to keep these things always in remembrance! All the Pastors, the Holy Ghost ordaineth to the Church, however weak in themselves and humble, Jesus calls them stars, and He it is that holdeth them up, and blesseth them, both in their own souls, and to the souls of his people. And all his regenerated people, they are golden in Christ's view, being comely in his comeliness which he hath put upon them; and His is the office, to supply them with grace, amidst all their own darkness, that as golden Candlesticks, they may shine as lights in the world, Ezekiel 16:14; Philippians 2:15
The Lord next proceeds to tell the Church, how perfectly well acquainted he was, with all that concerned his people. I know thy works. And this includes, the complete knowledge the Lord hath, of all their persons; and of all their thoughts, and words, and actions. Oh! what a sweet testimony, in proof of Christ's Godhead! But what I particularly beg the Reader to observe, in the Lord's charge to this Church, (yea, and all the Churches in this and the following Chapter, for the same observation suits the whole), is, that though the Lord had somewhat against all, yet he had much more to speak in the favor of all, from their union with, and interest in him. This is a great point to be kept in view, and always highly proper, for every regenerated child of God, to bless God for. From what Jesus here saith, in commendation of the Church at Ephesus, it is plain that they were in a state of regeneration. And the God of all grace, which had called them to his eternal glory, by Christ Jesus, in that call, and by that quickening their souls into a state of spiritual life, had thereby given them, an earnest of that glory, 2 Corinthians 5:5; Ephesians 1:13-14
As this is a point of great importance, I beg indulgence to state it somewhat more particularly. When God the Holy Ghost quickens a sinner, which before was dead in trespasses and sins, by that spiritual life imparted, the child of God is truly and everlastingly united to the Lord Jesus. The Holy Ghost bears this testimony himself, by his servant Peter. According (saith he) as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness through the knowledge of him, that hath called us unto glory and virtue, 2 Peter 1:3-4. Hence, there is now in this awakened and regenerated new creature; an union with Christ, and an interest in Christ. He is brought out of darkness and the shadow of death, and being justified freely through the grace that is in Christ Jesus, he is habitually in a state of favor, and acceptance with God. This is his high calling in Christ. And this is the general frame and state of his mind. But beside this habit of grace, in which the soul is formed by regeneration, there is an actual state, for the exercise of grace upon the Person of Christ, belonging to the believer, and this will be more or less lively, as the Lord the Holy Ghost calls forth into action, the graces by regeneration, which he hath planted in the soul. Here it was in a defect of this exercise, the Church of Ephesus was discovered by Christ. On this ground, the Lord reproved them. They had not left Christ, neither lost their joy and confidence in Christ. For Jesus tells them, that he knew their labors and patience, and their hatred for his sake of false Apostles, and the deeds of the Nicolaitanes. But, though they had not lost all love to Jesus, yet they had left their first love. Reader! do not overlook this, for it is a great point to be well understood in the Church of Christ. The Lord's children when called by grace, are savingly called, and their spirit being born of the Spirit, can die no more. But there may be a great leanness of soul, and there will be, where spiritual strength is not spiritually received, by a life of faith upon Jesus day by day. Hence Jesus, when describing his Church, as branches in himself, the Vine enjoins an abiding in him, that is, a lively acting of faith upon him, John 15:5. If the soul desires a perpetual spring and summer season, it must be induced from drawing all life, and nourishment, and fruitfulness from Christ. From me, saith the Lord, is thy fruit found, Hosea 14:8. But it will be winter in that soul where, though there is no separation from the root, and therefore the tree still lives, the communication is just to keep alive, and that's all. Oh! how needful to feel our daily want of Christ, and as constantly to be in the exercise of faith upon Christ.
But perhaps it may be said, that in the exhortation Christ gives to this Church of Ephesus, (and in like manner to all his Churches, under the same circumstances), to remember and repent, on pain in the neglect of which, the Lord saith, that he will remove the Candlestick out of his place, there should seem, as if a total separation from the Lord might follow. To which the answer is direct. All the word of God, with one voice declares the work of regeneration, is the imparting of spiritual life, which can die no more. The children of God in that sovereign act, are expressly said to be born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, which liveth and abideth forever, 1 Peter 1:23. The Candlestick, which is a moveable in God's house, (as it is in a Man's house), may be removed out of its place; and as it was indeed in the instance of this Church at Ephesus, but the house itself is founded upon Christ, the rock of ages; against which the gates of hell can never prevail. God's children may, and (without his grace keeping them alive, in active fruitfulness, upon Christ's Person and righteousness) God's children will, continually feel the workings of sin, in a body which is virtually all sin. But it is Christ's special office, to keep all his redeemed from finally falling, and to present them faultless, before the presence of his glory, with exceeding joy. Jude 1:24. Oh! then for grace, to hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches.