Remember

As we move into Holy Week, arguably the most important week in the history of the church, the week Jesus suffered and died and rose again to provide for your salvation, I would like to look at two of the most important things for a believer to remember. Of course, if you are not a born again believer in Jesus Christ, this will all be meaningless to you.

As an unbeliever, the first thing you must do is get right with God. To do that you must confess that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead (Rom. 10:9-10). In other words, you must first receive Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior: "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name" (John 1:12). Receive Christ first, then all that follows will make sense.

Paul wrote, "Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh... that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ" (Eph. 2:11a, 12-13). The message of these verses to the believers in the church at Ephesus is to always remember two things: (1) who you once were without Christ, and (2) who you now are in Christ.

The first thing to remember is who you were before coming to know Christ Jesus as your Lord and Savior. You were "once Gentiles in the flesh" (v. 11a). As such, you were "without Christ" (v. 12a). You were alienated from Israel, not knowing the "covenants of promise" (v. 12b). In other words, you were lost in your sin, "having no hope and without God in the world" (v. 12c). You were destined for hellfire and brimstone, an eternity apart from God and Christ, because of your sin and lack of belief. You were in need of a Savior, but you didn't know it.

A long look at the history and experience of the Ephesian church reveals a great deal. At first, in fact through much of its early history, it was a very exciting and faithful church. On his way to Jerusalem, Paul stopped briefly at Miletus (Acts 20:15c). From there he "sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church" (v. 17), in order to encourage them in their work of ministry (vs. 18-27). Then, in verses 28-32, he warned them of false teachers to come! Paul was preparing the elders to lead the church into the future, to guard the truth, and to protect the church from false doctrine, keeping them spiritually pure.

Paul later sends Timothy to pastor the church in Ephesus, to build up the saints, and to keep them from false teaching: "As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith" (1 Tim. 1:3-4). The plan was for Timothy to lead the church into more great times of faithfulness and service. And to some extent, that is what he did.

Paul’s last letter before he was martyred, was sent to encourage a weary Timothy to keep up the good fight against the heresies of these false teachers that were rising up in the church. "I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry" (2 Tim. 4:1-5).

In Revelation 2:1-7, John was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write a letter to the church in Ephesus. He begins with words of encouragement: "I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary" (vs. 2-3).

Yet there is something that is quite troubling. The Lord said, "Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love" (v. 4). They no longer faithfully walked with Jesus! They had a resemblance of orthodoxy, but no true, deep, abiding love for Christ.

Remember who you once were in Christ as a young, vibrant, deeply committed Christian. "Remember therefore from where you have fallen" (v. 5a). "Repent and do the first works" (v. 5b). Return again to what you first were in Christ. Do the same works you did when you first began to walk with Christ, so you can put yourself in a position to recapture that vibrant and deep first love you had for Jesus!

Then the Lord concluded on a good note: "But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate" (v. 6). The "Nicolaitans" were false teachers. It is good that you hate false teachers. It is a great start on returning to your first love!

So, the second thing to remember is who you now are in Christ. Remember who you once were without Christ, but also remember where you are now, how you have been changed and made righteous by Christ. It will help you avoid taking a fall spiritually, and it will keep you on the right plain with Jesus.

Never leave this deep, abiding love for Jesus. Put yourself continually in places to maintain, deepen, and build up that first love. You belong to Christ. You are His "workmanship" (Eph. 2:10). Let Him develop and use you for His purposes. Amen.