Thy first love
: "Nevertheless I have [somewhat] against thee, because thou hast left thy first love." Revelation 2:4
Many people take this verse out of context and try to prove that it justifies Faith without works. It is absolutely true that Faith without works is dead[1] because if you love Christ you will be compelled to good works for they are the Fruit of true Faith.
There are people who creep into peoples houses and thinking and spread false teachings[2]. They come in many forms including:
- The lovers of their own selves more than they love their neighbor. They have no interest in edifying the Church as a Network of service to provide a Daily ministration so that people do not have to go to Benefactors who exercise authority to provide a Welfare that is a Snare. They would rather sit and eat with Rulers[3] and take of their Corban even though we know it makes the word of God to none effect.
- The covetous because their lives are not filled with love and charity but Covetous Practices that curse their children and make them Merchandise.
- They also are boasters and proud of their claim to love the Lord. They imagine they know the date they accepted Him into their hearts and want others to make the same claim of accepting Jesus. We know that any one can make that claim but we are to know them by their fruits.[4] Some may have begun the process of repentance but they often cling to the emotional support of imagining their own salvation rather that actually seeing Repentance as a change of mind and the direction of your life. They may even lead better lives but are they doing what the early Church was doing or do they use their claim to salvation to excuse the fact that they are not actually seeking the righteousness of God which Jesus and the apostles told us to do.[5]
- Of course some are blasphemers which means they are speaking evil, slanderous of those who say people of real faith who say we should seek to be Doers of the Word. They cling to the idea that they have to do nothing. Some even say we do not have to Keep the Commandments even though that directly contradicts the Doctrines of Jesus.
- And of course there are those who are disobedient to parents. We see the same word in Titus 1:16 "They profess that they know God; but in works they deny [him], being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate." And we see Jesus talking about the Corban of the Pharisees causing people to do no more ought for their parents which makes the word of God to none effect.
- And there is the unthankful who do not appreciate their parents or others who sacrifice for their welfare. They imagine the world owes them a living and lots of benefits or entitlements.
- They are also unholy[6] because they are not interested in "religiously observing every moral obligation". Thee do not even know what Pure Religion is.
- Ultimately they are despisers of those that are good works because they do not want to do good works and people who do make them look bad.
To understand what is meant by thy first love we need to look at more than Revelation 2:4.
- 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 Nicolaitan, 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.
This was the first of seven exhortations to various churches in the Roman Empire. Ephesus as the seat of the World bank of the Pax Romana it was the home of the Imperial Cult of Rome. The Temple at Ephesus had been built by 127 countries and operated as a world bank and underwriter of many of these social welfare systems of that day. Many of what we call Temples back then provided government services and were supported by taxation.
People interpret the reference to the first love as a reference to Christ Jesus and in a certain way it is. It is a reference to the name or character of Jesus which was the spirit of service others, to save others. It was a passion to be the good Samaritan through charity. Christ came to serve out of a love for us. We were to love one another. It is not enough to hate the deeds and ways of the Nicolaitan which is the false doctrines and Covetous Practices of people who want to take a bite out of one another with social welfare schemes.
It was essential that the people of Ephesus not only do the good works of "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." But the first love is to seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness.
Were they sharing their coat and their meat as John said, were they seeking the kingdom or government of God and his righteousness by caring and serving one another in faith, hope and charity and according to the Perfect law of liberty?
Where was their Daily ministration? Where was their Fervent Charity? Where was their Communion of the saints that shows us the love of Christ in our hearts?
It was not enough to point out the wrong of being a Nicolaitan. We must "Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen and repent" when we were following the ways of the Nicolaitan under the Baptism of Herod and the ways of Balaam under the Nimrods of the world systems. We should be doing "the first works" of loving one another in righteousness as God as commanded and Christ did with his service and sacrifice.
To love is to be moved to action and the love of Christ should produce the Fruit of "the first works" which was to love god by loving our neighbor as ourselves in real ways tha bless one another.
Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13:2 "And though I have [the gift of] prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing."
The same word he uses for charity is used by Jesus all the time but translated Love.
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Footnotes
- ↑ James 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
- ↑ 2 Timothy 3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
- ↑ Proverbs 23 "When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee: And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite. Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat."
- ↑ Matthew 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Matthew 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
- ↑ Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
- Romans 3:5 But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man)
- Romans 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
- Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
- Romans 10:3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
- 2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
- James 1:20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
- 2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
- ↑ 462 ~ἀνόσιος~ anosios \@an-os’-ee-os\@ from a (as a negative particle) and hosios undefiled by sin,religiously observing every moral obligation, pure holy, pious adj AV-unholy 2; 2 1) unholy, impious, wicked
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