Jesus Christ's Message to the 7 Churches

Jesus commends the Church in Ephesus for their good works, but then warns them that they’ve lost their first love:

Rev 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

First love? Meaning their devotion to the true gospel, the love of the most glorious message ever to be preached, the basis for our salvation, our hope, our joy, and even our purpose for living, which is to preach the gospel! To make disciples of all people on the earth. Not to get rich, not to fight “just wars”, not to do anything but make disciples of all nations! Not at the barrel of a gun, but by going out and preaching the gospel as Christ did, as He sent out His disciples to do!

Luk 10:2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest.

Luk 10:3 Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.

Luk 10:4 Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.

Luk 10:5 And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.

Luk 10:6 And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again.

Luk 10:7 And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.

Luk 10:8 And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you:

Luk 10:9 And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

Luk 10:10 But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say,

Luk 10:11 Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

Luk 10:12 But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.

Luk 10:13 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.

Luk 10:14 But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you.

Luk 10:15 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.

Luk 10:16 He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.

This is how He sent out His own disciples, and this is what is still required of His disciples. You must forsake all to follow Him, you

can’t let the cares of the world get in the way of serving Him, if you do you’re trying to serve two masters, and that just won’t work.

Luk 9:59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

Luk 9:60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

Luk 9:61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.

Luk 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

Thus the warning to the Ephesians:

Rev 2:5 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.

There are similar warnings to most of the churches mentioned, including loss of salvation! If they repent and overcome to the end

then there is the glorious promise of everlasting life with Him in Heaven! A clear pattern emerges, warning about sin, praise of

certain works, warning of loss of eternal life, urging to repent and then the promise of eternal life.

Jesus will not accept our half-hearted efforts at serving Him. He won’t accept sin in our lives, He won’t accept us chasing after

earthly treasures and stopping at church for an hour Sundays and thinking we’re saved. No, that’s a recipe for loss of salvation,

for being thrust out with the unbelievers into eternal damnation:

Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Php 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.