The self-deception problem.
“To the Church in Ephesus.” Jesus did not reprimand the Church in Ephesus for not doing enough. On the contrary, he acknowledged their efforts and assured them he was with them. Jesus reminded the believers, “I see you; I know what you do, and I am with you.” However, Jesus reminded the believers in Ephesus that they had forsaken the essential reason they became Christians. Because of the ongoing persecution by Rome and the internal pressure from Judaizers, their priorities became diluted. Jews insisted that in addition to Jesus Christ, the Gentile believers needed to accept the practices of traditional Judaism. The Judaizers insisted that obedience to the law is required in addition to salvation by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ. The believers in Ephesus had to contend with clever attacks on fundamental teachings by the apostles. Apostolic teaching was salvation by the faithfulness of Jesus only. Claims of possession of “special knowledge” and inspired revelation were rampant. The believers had to assess carefully what was real and what was false. In doing so, for a good reason, the believers in Ephesus emphasized the importance of the traditional teachings, beliefs, and practices at the expanse of the Good News, Jesus Christ. However, emphasizing what makes their practices good brings glory to those who adhere to them. However, such a practice neglects Jesus, who enables the believers to do what is to Jesus’s glory. The good Light, Jesus Christ, must shine from every good lampstand.
Accordingly, Jesus urges the believers in Ephesus to look closely at what they do. Christians should always reassess their efforts, doctrines, teachings, and practices to ensure conformity to the everlasting gospel, Jesus Christ. Christians everywhere should be on guard against self-deception. Even if the slightest hint of self-praise and self-righteousness is present, the believers should, like Job, repent of their self-righteous ways and return to righteousness by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ. Believers everywhere should, and must, forsake everything, including themself, and place Jesus Christ in the center of everything they do. We are saved by grace alone through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ alone.
The yielded believers do not ask, “What is grace?” Instead, they ask, “Who is the Grace?” Jesus Christ is the Grace God promised in the Garden of Eden. Paul maintains, “He is the one who saved us and called with a holy calling, not based on our works but on his own purpose and grace, granted to us in Christ Jesus before time began,” 2 Timothy 1:8 – 10, NET.
When Christians forget the true nature and implication of grace, they forsake their first love and follow the ways of self-deception. The Church in Ephesus can be found throughout Christianity today. At any cost to themselves, Christians must abandon the self-deception of “I must get ready” and obey Jesus’ command to “be ready.” Luke 12:40. There is no time to “get ready.” No one could be ready while still getting ready. Jesus Christ did not come to be our example but to save us from guilt and punishment for sin. God does not hold sin against those who have washed their robes in the blood of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.
Continued in the next blog.
