Returning to Our First Love for Christ
Summary
In the passage from Revelation 2:4-5, we are reminded of the profound love Christ has for His church and the importance of maintaining our first love for Him. Christ, our great High Priest, walks among the churches, constantly observing and caring for them. His eyes, like flames of fire, see through the superficial and discern the true state of our hearts. He commends the church at Ephesus for its works, patience, and perseverance, yet He holds something against them: they have left their first love. This is a grave concern, for love is the essence of our relationship with Christ. Without it, even the most orthodox doctrine becomes lifeless, and our adherence to truth can sour into mere bigotry.
The decline of love is a personal wrong against Christ, who loves us deeply and desires our wholehearted devotion. It is a disease of the heart, a perilous condition that threatens the very existence of the church. Christ calls us to remember, repent, and return to our first works. Remembering our initial fervor and devotion to Him should stir us to repentance, acknowledging the wrong we have done by allowing our love to grow cold. Repentance is not just about feeling regret but involves a practical return to the actions and attitudes that characterized our first love.
Christ warns that if we do not repent, He will remove our candlestick, symbolizing the loss of our light and usefulness. Yet, He also offers a promise to those who overcome: they will eat from the tree of life in the paradise of God. This promise signifies a deeper fellowship with Him and a return to the joy and vitality of our spiritual life. Love is the key to unlocking the mysteries of God's kingdom, and it is through love that we experience the fullness of life in Christ.
Key Takeaways:
- Christ's love for the church is profound and jealous, and He desires our wholehearted devotion. Leaving our first love is a serious offense, as it touches the very heart of our communion with Him. Our love for Christ is the essence of our spiritual life, and without it, we lose our reason for existing as a church. [16:15]
- The decline of love is a disease of the heart, a perilous condition that threatens the very existence of the church. It is a personal wrong against Christ, who loves us deeply and desires our wholehearted devotion. We must repent and return to our first works, acknowledging the wrong we have done by allowing our love to grow cold. [17:07]
- Christ warns that if we do not repent, He will remove our candlestick, symbolizing the loss of our light and usefulness. Yet, He also offers a promise to those who overcome: they will eat from the tree of life in the paradise of God. This promise signifies a deeper fellowship with Him and a return to the joy and vitality of our spiritual life. [38:49]
- Love is the key to unlocking the mysteries of God's kingdom, and it is through love that we experience the fullness of life in Christ. The reward of love is to eat the fruit of life, sustaining us with the best of food and bringing us into the innermost joys of God's paradise. [46:38]
- True love for Christ is the essence of our spiritual life, and it is through love that we experience the fullness of life in Him. Heaven on earth is abounding love to Jesus, and it is through love that we are drawn into the ultimate abode of glory with Him. [48:33]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:11] - Introduction to Love's Complaint
- [00:32] - Christ's Role as High Priest
- [01:06] - Christ's Observance of the Churches
- [02:10] - Christ's Candid Judgment
- [03:19] - The Preciousness of the Church
- [04:24] - A Prayer for Christ's Presence
- [05:33] - Christ's Perception of Faults
- [06:59] - The Ephesians' Labor and Perseverance
- [09:19] - The Danger of Leaving First Love
- [12:19] - The Ephesians' Discipline and Fidelity
- [14:28] - The Consequence of Love's Decline
- [16:15] - The Seriousness of Love Declining
- [18:22] - Christ's Pain in Discovering Our Coldness
- [21:10] - Christ's Loving Rebuke
- [23:10] - The Fall from First Love
- [26:43] - Christ's Prescription: Remember, Repent, Return
- [32:25] - The Call for Deep Repentance
- [38:32] - Christ's Warning and Promise
- [44:09] - The Reward of Overcoming
- [46:38] - The Mystical Blessing of Love
- [48:33] - The Joy of Abounding Love to Jesus
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Revelation 2:4-5
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#### Observation Questions
1. What commendations does Christ give to the church at Ephesus before addressing their fault? [07:16]
2. According to the sermon, what does Christ perceive about the church's condition that others might overlook? [08:47]
3. What is the significance of the "candlestick" in the context of Christ's warning to the church? [38:49]
4. How does the sermon describe the relationship between love and adherence to doctrine? [14:28]
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#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does the sermon emphasize the seriousness of leaving one's first love for Christ? How does this affect the church's existence? [16:15]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that Christ's perception of our love is more accurate than our own self-assessment? [18:22]
3. How does the promise of eating from the tree of life relate to overcoming the decline of love? What does this signify for believers? [44:09]
4. What does the sermon imply about the consequences of a church losing its first love in terms of its light and usefulness? [39:04]
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#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your personal relationship with Christ. Have you noticed any signs of your love growing cold? What steps can you take to rekindle that love? [17:07]
2. The sermon calls for repentance and a return to first works. What practical actions can you take this week to demonstrate your love for Christ in your daily life? [34:47]
3. Consider the warning about the removal of the candlestick. How can you ensure that your personal and communal worship remains vibrant and full of love? [38:49]
4. The sermon highlights the importance of love in maintaining doctrinal purity. How can you balance holding firm to truth while ensuring your actions are motivated by love? [14:28]
5. Think about a time when you felt closest to Christ. What were you doing differently then, and how can you incorporate those practices into your current spiritual life? [27:01]
6. The sermon mentions the joy and vitality that come from overcoming and returning to one's first love. What specific joy have you experienced in your spiritual journey that you wish to recapture? [44:09]
7. How can you encourage others in your church or small group to maintain their first love for Christ? What role can you play in fostering a community centered on love? [45:28]
Devotional
Day 1: Christ's Jealous Love for His Church
Christ's love for His church is profound and jealous, desiring our wholehearted devotion. This love is not passive but actively seeks our attention and affection. When we leave our first love, it is a serious offense that touches the very heart of our communion with Him. Our love for Christ is the essence of our spiritual life, and without it, we lose our reason for existing as a church. The decline of love is a personal wrong against Christ, who loves us deeply and desires our wholehearted devotion. [16:15]
Revelation 3:19-20 (ESV): "Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me."
Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you have allowed your love for Christ to grow cold? How can you rekindle that love today?
Day 2: The Peril of a Loveless Heart
The decline of love is a disease of the heart, a perilous condition that threatens the very existence of the church. It is a personal wrong against Christ, who loves us deeply and desires our wholehearted devotion. We must repent and return to our first works, acknowledging the wrong we have done by allowing our love to grow cold. Repentance is not just about feeling regret but involves a practical return to the actions and attitudes that characterized our first love. [17:07]
Jeremiah 2:2 (ESV): "Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem, Thus says the Lord, 'I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.'"
Reflection: What specific actions can you take today to return to the fervor and devotion you once had for Christ?
Day 3: The Consequence of Unrepentance
Christ warns that if we do not repent, He will remove our candlestick, symbolizing the loss of our light and usefulness. Yet, He also offers a promise to those who overcome: they will eat from the tree of life in the paradise of God. This promise signifies a deeper fellowship with Him and a return to the joy and vitality of our spiritual life. Love is the key to unlocking the mysteries of God's kingdom, and it is through love that we experience the fullness of life in Christ. [38:49]
1 John 2:5-6 (ESV): "But whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked."
Reflection: In what ways can you ensure that your life remains a light and testimony of Christ's love to others?
Day 4: Love as the Key to God's Kingdom
Love is the key to unlocking the mysteries of God's kingdom, and it is through love that we experience the fullness of life in Christ. The reward of love is to eat the fruit of life, sustaining us with the best of food and bringing us into the innermost joys of God's paradise. This love is not just an emotion but a commitment to live in a way that reflects Christ's love to the world. [46:38]
Ephesians 3:17-19 (ESV): "So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."
Reflection: How can you actively demonstrate Christ's love in your daily interactions with others?
Day 5: The Joy of Abounding Love to Jesus
True love for Christ is the essence of our spiritual life, and it is through love that we experience the fullness of life in Him. Heaven on earth is abounding love to Jesus, and it is through love that we are drawn into the ultimate abode of glory with Him. This love transforms our lives and draws us closer to the heart of God, allowing us to experience His presence in profound ways. [48:33]
Colossians 3:14-15 (ESV): "And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful."
Reflection: What is one practical way you can cultivate a deeper love for Jesus in your life today?
Quotes
Christ's love for the church is profound and jealous, and He desires our wholehearted devotion. Leaving our first love is a serious offense, as it touches the very heart of our communion with Him. Our love for Christ is the essence of our spiritual life, and without it, we lose our reason for existing as a church. [00:16:15]
The decline of love is a disease of the heart, a perilous condition that threatens the very existence of the church. It is a personal wrong against Christ, who loves us deeply and desires our wholehearted devotion. We must repent and return to our first works, acknowledging the wrong we have done by allowing our love to grow cold. [00:17:07]
Christ warns that if we do not repent, He will remove our candlestick, symbolizing the loss of our light and usefulness. Yet, He also offers a promise to those who overcome: they will eat from the tree of life in the paradise of God. This promise signifies a deeper fellowship with Him and a return to the joy and vitality of our spiritual life. [00:38:49]
Love is the key to unlocking the mysteries of God's kingdom, and it is through love that we experience the fullness of life in Christ. The reward of love is to eat the fruit of life, sustaining us with the best of food and bringing us into the innermost joys of God's paradise. [00:46:38]
True love for Christ is the essence of our spiritual life, and it is through love that we experience the fullness of life in Him. Heaven on earth is abounding love to Jesus, and it is through love that we are drawn into the ultimate abode of glory with Him. [00:48:33]
The Lord Jesus Christ is a most careful Observer of churches and of individuals; nothing is hid from his observant eye. As he is the most careful Observer, so he is the most candid. He is ever the faithful and true witness; he loves much and therefore he never judges harshly. [00:02:10]
The Ephesian Church excelled in something else, namely in its discipline, its soundness in the faith, and Fidelity towards Heretics. For the Lord says of it, how thou can not bear them which are evil. They would not have it; they would not tolerate false Doctrine; they would not put up with unclean living. [00:12:19]
When love dies, Orthodox Doctrine becomes a corpse, a powerless formalism. Adhesion to the truth sours into bigotry when the sweetness and light of love to Jesus depart. Love Jesus, and then it is well to hate the Deeds of the Nicolaitans, but mere hate of evil will tend to do evil if love of Jesus be not there to sanctify it. [00:14:28]
The Savior tells us this most lovingly. I wish I knew how to speak as tenderly as he does, and yet I feel at this moment that I can and must be tender in this matter, for I am speaking about myself as much as about anybody else. I am grieving, grieving over some here present, grieving for all of us, but grieving most of all for myself. [00:26:43]
The prescription is complete because the doing of the first works is meant to include the feeling of the first feelings, the singing of the first sighs, the enjoying of the first Joys. These are all supposed to accompany returning obedience and activity. We are to get back to these first works at once. [00:32:25]
The Savior holds out a promise as his other persuasive. Upon this, I can only dwell for a minute. It seems a very wonderful promise to me: to him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. Observe those who lose their first love fall, but those who abide in love are made to understand. [00:44:09]
The reward of love is to eat the fruit of life. We are getting into Mysteries, says one. Yes, I am intentionally lifting a corner of the veil and no more. I only mean to give you a glimpse at the promised Boon. Into his innermost Joys, the Lord will bring us if we keep up our first love and go from strength to strength therein. [00:46:38]
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