The Church That Left It's First Love

The letter to the Ephesians, like the six other letters in Revelation 2 & 3, closes with an invitation – “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches” (2:7). The Holy Spirit is speaking, and so we must listen. There is an invitation, and there is also a promise: “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God” (2:7). Who is he “that overcometh”? First John 5:5 says, “Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” If you are saved, then according to the Bible, you are an overcomer. First John 5:4 says, “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world. ”In all seven letters, the final challenge is to the overcomer is addressed not to the church, but to the individual – “To him that overcometh” (Rev. 2:7). It is not, “To them that overcome… ”In all seven letters, the invitation and the promise is always directed to the individual. The action of the church must begin with the response of each individual member.