First Love

Dear Brethren,

Do you remember the days when each of us earnestly awaited the postman – hoping that he was bringing another of those blue booklets that contained more of God’s Truth?  We could not wait to devour them and mark our bibles.

We learned the truth about the Sabbath, Passover, Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, Trumpets, Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles – picturing a foretaste of the coming Kingdom of God on earth – and the Last Great Day.  The Church produced booklets explaining its teaching on these and many other topics.

We referred to that period of spiritual awakening as our first love.  It was a time when the zeal and the excitement that we experienced was more than we ever expected.  We began to learn about God, the Family of God, and the way of God.  We learned repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.  We were baptized, and with the laying on of hands – we became children of God – led by His Spirit.

Remember when we came into contact with God’s people for the first time?  Along with our brothers and sisters in Christ, we became a people – an assembly of Church brethren.  We loved everybody, and everybody loved us – it was an experience we never expected – it was our first love – we could not get enough!

For most of us, it was a time when the local congregations were rather large.  We felt in awe being among people that already knew the Truth of God.  There were members at Sabbath services who had been called and had begun hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ many years before we heard it.

It seemed to us that those long-term members were very nearly perfect.  They had been attending God's Church for so long a time.  We felt almost dwarfed by being among “spiritual giants.”  Of course, we know better now.  We realize that no matter how long ago someone was called, they all struggle spiritually on a daily basis as we do.  One of our big struggles, today, is to keep our zeal stirred up for this Way of Life.   "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent."  (Revelation 3:19)

Brethren we are warned today to hear what the Spirit says to the Churches:

“Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.”  (Revelation 2:4)

In many ways, our situation today is similar to the latter days of the first century Ephesian era.  It seems almost inconceivable that many of those members left their first love and fell away, thinking that Christ had "delayed His coming."  The excitement of their calling had worn off.  Brethren accepted false doctrine, sought high position in the Church and mistreated their fellow servants.  The assembly they had been called into, which had many baptisms, declined to almost nothing.  The majority wanted to be where the action was, and so they gravitated toward the organization that eventually became the Catholic Church.  That was a fatal mistake!

The Ephesian Church had left her first love and did not return to it, and this action had fateful consequences.  But, let’s consider what the scriptures tell us about the first love of the Ephesian brethren.  Perhaps it is revealed that this first love is more than an excitement and celebration.  Looking into the Greek words we find protos agape – first love.  Though we could correctly translate this as first love – as in first kiss – it can be better translated with regard to its importance as foremost love.

At one time Paul had commended the Ephesians for their love of the brethren.  “Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints…”  (Ephesians 1:15)

Certainly, this second great Commandment is of a higher degree than that of a first zeal and enthusiasm.  But as we read on we find the greatest love – and it is that love of God for us.  “But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ.”  (Ephesians 2:4-5)

The love of God that He has for us is the ultimate love – it is the foremost love – it is the true first love.  How did the Ephesians leave off or forsake this supreme gift of God?

More importantly to us today, how can the Church of God in these last days avoid rejecting this same precious and vital gift that our forefathers in the Ephesian Church moved away from?  This is the question we will be considering in today’s sermon.

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches.

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Sermon:  "First Love"


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