Bible Study - Revelation 1-3 Part 7

Last week, we heard Jesus complimenting the church in Ephesus for patient endurance in the truth and for standing firm against false teachers, who called themselves apostles, and against the Nicolaitans, with their immorality and evil works, which both the Ephesian Christians and Jesus hated. However, the Ephesians had also abandoned the love they had at first and were called to repent and do the works they did earlier, or their church’s existence was in danger.

We looked at a number of Scriptures that talked about “speaking the truth in love” and “faith working through love” and the continuing importance of considering “how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another” (Hebrews 10:24-25). That would follow along with “holding fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He Who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23).

We do not know exactly what the “abandoning of love” problem was, but notice what Jesus then says: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Revelation 2:7). These are exactly the same words given to all of the seven churches. A very important element  in solving the problems of any church is getting back to listening to the Word of God given to us all by the Holy Spirit. We read, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching” and especially for making us “wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus,” and “equipping us for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:15-17). Peter also reminds us, “No prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:20-21). Jesus Himself added to that later in the Book of Revelation, Chapter 22, by three times emphasizing, “Blessed is the one who keeps the Words of the prophecy of this book” (Revelation 22:7). See also v.9 and the message not to “add to” or “take away” from these Words (Revelation 22:18-19). (This refers especially to Revelation, but certainly also applies to all of the Scriptures, as this is the last book given to us by our Lord.)

The center of the Scriptures is Jesus Himself and what He has done for us as our Savior. During His ministry, Jesus said, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is of no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are Spirit and Life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” Jesus was always calling people to trust in Him. A little later, Peter said to Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed and have come to know, that You are the Holy One of God” (John 6:63-64 and 68-69). If people are hearing what the Spirit says in the Word of God, they are hearing the truth about Jesus. John, in one of his letters, also warns that we should not look for something new and different that is not centered in Christ and His Word. “Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son” (2 John 9).

From what we have been reading, we would also have the work and teaching of the Holy Spirit, as well. That is why the very next thing Jesus says in His letter to the church at Ephesus is, “To the one who conquers, I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God” (Revelation 2:7). The tree of life had been in the Garden of Eden, a perfect paradise, before the rebellion against God’s will and the fall into sin. Then, Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden and from access to the tree of life (Genesis 2:9, 3:23-24).

One other possible reference to this tree is in Proverbs 3:13,18, where Wisdom is described as “a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.” This is likely a prophecy of Jesus, who is called in the New Testament “the power of God and the Wisdom of God” and “who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that as it is written, ‘Let one who boasts, boast in the Lord’” (1 Corinthians 1:24, 30-31).

It is through Jesus and His wisdom and redeeming work that we are saved and will eat of the tree of life in eternal life in heaven (Revelation 2:7). Jesus told the thief on the cross, who was brought to faith in Him, “Today you will be with Me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). This is a reference to heaven, where the soul of the thief went, by faith in Jesus, as soon as he died. The “tree of life” is also identified as being in heaven in Revelation 22:2,14, and 19; and in v. 14, we are told, “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life.” And how are their robes washed and made white? Revelation 7:14 tells us. They are cleansed “in the blood of the Lamb.” In the same way, John tells us, in another of his letters, “The blood of Jesus His (God’s) Son cleanses us (also) from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

Everything depends upon Christ Jesus and what He has done for us. It should be no surprise, then, that the only way that anyone “conquers” (Revelation 2:7) is also only through Christ. See Romans 8:37-39: “In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us… (Nothing) with be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Jesus promised, “I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). (“Overcoming” is the same Greek word that is translated as “conquered” in Revelation 2:7.) The same thing is said in Revelation 12:10-11, where we hear that “our God and His Christ… have conquered him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the Word of their testimony.”

In other words, if the Christians in Ephesus realize their own sins and failures to stay close to Christ and His Word and trust too much in themselves and things other than Jesus, and confess all that to Christ, He will forgive them and strengthen and renew them, through His Word and Spirit and love first given to them, in spite of their weaknesses. As they see again, through the Word, how great Christ’s love is for them. Though they do not deserve any of it, they will be more ready, in gratitude for His great love, to want to share that love and Good News with others, as He so often teaches. As John wrote, “We love, because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). It all starts and continues with Christ. Paul wrote, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:9-10). Our love and good works are then a reflection of Christ’s love and a response to His love, and He enables us, and He gets the honor and credit, as Paul wrote, “It is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).

Here are a few more of many Scriptures encouraging Christian love and care for others in our lives, in thanks for Christ’s love and to give good, useful help to others. Some of these are what are called “third use of the Law” passages, pointing to the Commandments as a guide, a ruler for our lives, but always connected to Christ and His Word, in their context:

•  Words of Jesus: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)
• “Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the Law. For the Commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet, and any other commandment are summed up in this Word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the Law.” (Romans 13:8-10)
• “In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent His only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we have loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (the sacrificial offering) for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” (1 John 4:9-11)
• “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes (conquers) the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:4-5)
• Finally, Paul writes, helping the Christians at Ephesus and us to keep the Law and Gospel in proper perspective: “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession who are zealous for good works…. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.” (Titus 2:11-14, 3:4-8)

Next week, we will move on to the other letters in Revelation 2. The Lord’s blessings.