CHAPTER TWO

TO OVERCOME THE LEAVING OF THE FIRST LOVE

Scripture Reading: Rev. 2:1-7; 12:17b; 20:4, 6; 1 John 4:8, 16; John 3:16; 1 John 4:9; Rom. 5:5; 2 Cor. 13:14; Eph. 2:4-5; John 1:12-13; 3:3-6, 29-30; Rev. 19:7; 21:2, 7; Eph. 5:25; Rev. 21:9; Rom. 8:35-39; 2 Cor. 5:14-15; Rom. 14:7-9; Rev. 2:10; 12:11; 22:17; Jer. 2:2; 31:3

OUTLINE

1. In a church:
   1. Being orderly and formal-Rev. 2:2-3.
   2. But having left the first love-v. 4.
2. To overcome the leaving of the first love-v. 5a:
   1. The first love-the best love:
      1. The love which is God Himself-1 John 4:8, 16:
         1. To give His only begotten Son to us as our portion-John 3:16.
         2. To send His Son into the world that we might have life and live through Him-1 John 4:9.
         3. To be poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit-Rom. 5:5.
         4. To be the source for our enjoyment of the dispensing of the Triune God-2 Cor. 13:14.
      2. As the Father’s love in life to regenerate us that we may become His children-Eph. 2:4-5; John 1:12-13.
      3. God’s regenerated children become the members of Christ to constitute the Body of Christ, the bride of Christ, as His increase for Him to love-John 3:3-6, 29-30; Rev. 19:7; 21:2, 7.
      4. Christ as the Husband loves the church as His wife with the Father’s love as the love of affection-Eph. 5:25; Rev. 21:9; Rom. 8:35, 39:
         1. Christ’s love of affection constrains us to live and to die for Him-2 Cor. 5:14-15; Rom. 14:7-9.
         2. Christ’s love makes the believers martyrs for Him-Rev. 2:10; 12:11; Rom. 8:35-37.
   2. To recover the first love is to recover the bridal love, the eternal love, for the Lord-Rev. 22:17; cf. Jer. 2:2; 31:3.
   3. To repent and do the first works.
3. To maintain the eating of Christ as the tree of life-Rev. 2:7:
   1. To continue the enjoyment of the life supply of Christ.
   2. In the present church life of the Paradise of God.
4. To shine forth the divine light as the lampstand-cf. v. 5b:
   1. Corporately versus individualistically.
   2. In the dark night of the church age.
5. To keep the testimony of Jesus as the shining of the lampstand in their locality-Rev. 12:17b:
   1. Testifying Christ’s person as God and as man.
   2. Testifying Christ’s human living, crucifixion, resurrection, ascension, descension, and second appearing.
   3. In our daily life.
6. To be rewarded-Rev. 2:7:
   1. To participate in full in the enjoyment of the rich life supply of Christ as the embodiment of the processed and consummated Triune God.
   2. In the New Jerusalem in its freshness as the Paradise of God for one thousand years-Rev. 20:4, 6.