The Loveless Church

      We read in the book of Revelation about seven churches. These churches, found in Asia Minor (present day Turkey), are representative of various churches throughout history, and including the present day. The good things as well as the bad, are revealed in these letters. Some are admonished to repent of their errors and compromise, others are encouraged in their faithfulness. These seven letters are just as applicable to us today. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things that are written in it; for the time is near (Rev 1:3 NASB). 

     The first church mentioned is the church found in Ephesus. This would be the church found in the nineteenth chapter of Acts. Paul found a group of twelve men who were disciples, but had not yet been filled with the Holy Spirit. Paul stays on on Ephesus for about two years and a church is established. This same church was the recipient of what we refer to as Paul's epistle to the Ephesians, found in our Bibles. Shortly before his arrest, Paul admonishes this congregation, as they would never see him again, warning them of false teachers who would eventually rise up from among them (Acts 20:17-38). 

     This church had a lot going for it. It was planted by Paul, who spent quite a while with them, building them up and teaching them. But that is no guarantee of their future faithfulness. By the time John received the Revelation on the isle of Patmos, Ephesus was in trouble.

     Revelation 2:1-7 contains the letter addressed to the Ephesian church. Jesus tells them He knows their deeds. He has seen their hard work, and their perseverance in it. They were meticulous in weeding out false teachers and evil men. Perhaps they were taking Paul's earlier warning quite seriously! These are all good things, and all Christians everywhere should be as judicious in maintaining doctrinal purity. However they lacked one thing. At one time they were passionate about Jesus, but now their love had diminished considerably. They had left their first love. The love that they initially had for Christ had driven them to labor tirelessly for His kingdom. Now they were still working as hard as ever, but it was a hollow empty work, spurred on by tradition. They were doing what they did because this was the way they always did it. 

     What really matters is faith that works by love (Gal 5:6). We read that all of our good works are empty efforts without love (1 Cor 13:1-3). And Jesus warns this church that they are about to lose their lamp stand. He urges them to repent and do the deeds they did at first. They must rekindle that love they once had, and allow that to motivate their deeds done for Christ. 

     What about us? I can relate to this in my own life. I remember the early days of my salvation. Everything was new and exciting, and I felt that there was nothing that I would not do for my Savior. Of course we do not live in constant excitement, but we should not let our love grow cold. Sadly, many of us lose our love without realizing it. Our lives seem to stay the same. We may attend church faithfully, pray, read the Bible, and do all kind of good things. However, what is motivating us? Are our religious deed mere habits, or are they born out of a passion for Jesus? As we see the last days approaching we should be ever mindful of Jesus' words, Because lawlessness is increased, the love of most will grow cold" (Matt 24:12).

     

     Instead of losing our lamp stands, let us as the church put them out for the world to see.

     

Freedom to Sin?

     A common misconception of Christianity is that it gives Christians a freedom to sin. The idea goes something like this. If Jesus died for my sins, and I believe in Him, and if I am totally forgiven, therefore any future sins I commit are also forgiven. If this is the case, then it does not matter how I live out my life. I can sin all I want to, as it is all forgiven, and there are no eternal consequences to worry about.

     Of course, there are people who view Christianity with contempt because of this error, mocking the whole idea of Christ's sacrifice for the pardon of sin. Then there are those who profess to know Christ but deny Him by their deeds (Titus 1:16). They have fallen into serious error as well, as the Bible points out throughout its pages.

     Jesus tells us that a good tree will bring forth good fruit, and an evil tree will bring forth evil fruit, and be cut down and cast into the fire (Matt 7:16-20). Not everyone who professes Him as Lord will enter into the kingdom of Heaven, only those who are obedient (Matt 7:21). What He is saying is this. One who professes to know Him will obey Him. The idea of faith goes beyond a head knowledge of historical facts and things we believe about Him. A real faith puts what we believe into practice. This agrees with what James tells us about faith and works. A faith with no works is a dead faith. Our deeds show the reality of our faith (James 2:17-26). In this passage we see the examples of Abraham, and of Rahab. They both exhibited a faith that acted upon what they believed. It may shock many of you if I stated that a man is justified by his works, and not by faith alone. However, this is what James under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit states. "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only" (James 2:24 KJV).

     Don't misunderstand me. I am not advocating legalism or a works based salvation. The scriptures are abundantly clear that our salvation cannot be earned. However, true faith goes beyond out head knowledge and ends in our actions. If not, it is a useless, dead faith. 

     The apostle Paul was accused by his enemies of preaching a cheap grace gospel. "And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? Whose damnation is just (Romans 3:8 KJV). Paul condemns this this accusation in no uncertain terms! Romans 6 strongly refutes the idea of a freedom to sin. Romans 6:1 opens with the rhetorical question, "Shall we continue in sin so that grace may abound?" Paul's answer is a resounding no. He goes on to point out how a Christian is identified with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. As followers of Christ, we are dead to sin, and alive unto God. We are to no longer allow sin free course in our lives, instead, we are to live righteously unto God. Sin no longer has dominion over a believer, as he is not under law, but grace. However, grace is not a free pass to sin, We are slaves of who, or what we yield ourselves to. A professing believer who chooses to sin is a slave of sin, and under its dominion period. Grace actually teaches us to deny sin, and live godly, obedient lives (Titus 2:11-12).

     The author of Hebrews did not agree with a sinning saint theology either. He strongly exhorts his audience to persevere in godliness. "For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgement and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries (Hebrews 10:26-27). I would like to make it clear, we are all prone to sin. We face temptations and sometimes fall, We may sin unintentionally, or in the heat of a moment. However, a true follower of Christ will get back up, confess his sin and turn from it and seek grace (1 John 1:9). John writes his first epistle to guard us against sin, but if find ourselves to have sinned, we have an advocate in Jesus Christ (1 John 2:1). However this is not the same thing as an individual who claims the name of Jesus, but continues on in an unrepentant lifestyle. John writes that the way we know who knows Christ is by our obedience to His commands (1 John 2:3-5). This epistle is consistent in this message. 

    Jesus came to take away our sin, and in Him is no sin. As His followers we are to be like Him. If we walk in darkness, yet claim to be in the light, we are found to be liars (1 John 1:5-7). In the third chapter of First John, we can plainly see that the mark of a Christian is that of obedience. Because the Christian has been transformed by Jesus and is now led by a new principle through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, he does not sin as before. The difference between the children of God, and the children of the devil is obvious. It comes down to sin. Have we been delivered from it, or are we still under its control. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil and set us free from sin (1 John 3:2-10). 

     In conclusion, there is no freedom to sin found in the gospel. Salvation goes beyond forgiveness and strikes at the problem of sin itself. The gospel provides a way to deliver those who put their trust in Christ from the dominion of sin in their lives. We are not saved in our sins, but from our sins.