CAREFUL EPHESUS - Ephesus was a “good” church, but the risen Lord Jesus had “somewhat against” them. Amid all of their careful attention to doctrine and to purity of leadership lifestyle, they had “left [their] first love.” They had fallen from the deep bond of love they had demonstrated years earlier. The drift away from that “first love” was so serious that the Lord warned Ephesus to repent or He would take away their “candlestick”) — their authority to represent Christ as one of His churches. Cold, precise doctrine must never take away our love for people or for the truth. - “Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write;. . . I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars.” - This church, founded by the apostle Paul, had grown in its doctrinal precision and careful attention to the words of Scripture. They were intensely focused on purity of leadership and were vigilant against any form of false teaching. Most of us would find that kind of church a refreshing example to follow in these days of indifferent (and often heretical) theology. They hated the “deeds of the Nicolaitanes,” which was a horrible practice that the Lord Himself hated. Peter had warned against this domineering attitude in his first general letter to the churches when he insisted that the elders of the churches should not be “lords over God’s heritage, but [be] ensamples to the flock.” Ephesus was a “good” church, but the risen Lord Jesus had “somewhat against” them.

.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Careful Ephesus

Cold, precise doctrine must never take away our love for people or for the truth

.

Ephesus was a “good” church, but the risen Lord Jesus had “somewhat against” them. Amid all of their careful attention to doctrine and to purity of leadership lifestyle, they had “left [their] first love.”

.

They had fallen from the deep bond of love they had demonstrated years earlier. The drift away from that “first love” was so serious that the Lord warned Ephesus to repent or He would take away their “candlestick”  — their authority to represent Christ as one of His churches. 

BY HENRY M. MORRIS III, D. MIN.  

 

 “Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write;. . . I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars.” - (Revelation 2:1-2)

 

This church, founded by the apostle Paul, had grown in its doctrinal precision and careful attention to the words of Scripture.

They were intensely focused on purity of leadership and were vigilant against any form of false teaching.

Most of us would find that kind of church a refreshing example to follow in these days of indifferent (and often heretical) theology.

They hated the “deeds of the Nicolaitanes,” which was a horrible practice that the Lord Himself hated (Revelation 2:6).

Peter had warned against this domineering attitude in his first general letter to the churches when he insisted that the elders of the churches should not be “lords over God’s heritage, but [be] ensamples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:3).

Ephesus was a “good” church, but the risen Lord Jesus had “somewhat against” them.

Apparently, amid all of their careful attention to doctrine and to purity of leadership lifestyle, they had “left [their] first love” (Revelation 2:4).

They had fallen from the deep bond of love they had demonstrated years earlier when Paul called the elders to Miletus to encourage and exhort them to remain faithful to “all the counsel of God” (Acts 20:27).

They were so much in tune with Paul’s heart for the gospel that they “all wept sore, and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him” (Acts 20:37).

The drift away from that “first love” was so serious that the Lord warned Ephesus to repent or He would take away their “candlestick” (Revelation 2:5) — their authority to represent Christ as one of His churches.

Cold, precise doctrine must never take away our love for people or for the truth.

The Institute for Creation Research (ICR) wants people to know that God’s Word can be trusted in everything it speaks about—from how and why we were made, to how the universe was formed, to how we can know God and receive all He has planned for us.

After 50 years of ministry, ICR remains a leader in scientific research within the context of biblical creation. Founded by Dr. Henry Morris in 1970, ICR exists to conduct scientific research within the realms of origins and Earth history, and then to educate the public both formally and informally through professional training programs, through conferences and seminars around the country, and through books, magazines, and media presentations.

http://www.icr.org/article/10038/

 

BIBLICAL DOCTRINE OF ILLUMINATION - When God’s Word enters the heart of a person, it gives light and understanding to them - for this reason, we are repeatedly told to study the Word of God. Regular study of the Word of God will give direction and understanding in the issues of life - the Spirit of God will always point us to the Word of God for our instruction. As Jesus told His disciples, the Spirit simply repeats what the Father and the Son have already said - this repetition helps us remember and fully hear what God has already told us. Sometimes we have to hear things several times before we actually hear them - that’s where the Spirit comes in. Words have meaning, and we must pay attention to the details in those words. The Spirit of God, who enlightens us to hear and understand God’s Word, then takes that knowledge and guides us in living it - the illuminating and leading work of the Holy Spirit in our lives is a confirmation that we are indeed children of God - Illumination in the spiritual sense is “turning on the light” of understanding in some area. When that enlightenment deals with new knowledge or future things, we call it prophecy. When that enlightenment deals with understanding and applying knowledge already given, we call it illumination. The most basic level of enlightenment is the knowledge of sin, and without that knowledge, everything else is pointless. When God’s Word enters the heart of a person, it gives light and understanding to them.

..................................................................................................................................................................

Biblical Doctrine Of Illumination
.

When God’s Word enters the heart of a person, it gives light and understanding to them - for this reason, we are repeatedly told to study the Word of God. Regular study of the Word of God will give direction and understanding in the issues of life -  the Spirit of God will always point us to the Word of God for our instruction. As Jesus told His disciples, the Spirit simply repeats what the Father and the Son have already said - this repetition helps us remember and fully hear what God has already told us. Sometimes we have to hear things several times before we actually hear them - that’s where the Spirit comes in. Words have meaning, and we must pay attention to the details in those words. The Spirit of God, who enlightens us to hear and understand God’s Word, then takes that knowledge and guides us in living it - the illuminating and leading work of the Holy Spirit in our lives is a confirmation that we are indeed children of God

What is the biblical doctrine of illumination?

Got Questions Ministries

Simply put, illumination in the spiritual sense is “turning on the light” of understanding in some area.

Throughout the ages, people in every culture and religion have claimed some kind of revelation or enlightenment from God (whether true or not).

When that enlightenment deals with new knowledge or future things, we call it prophecy.

When that enlightenment deals with understanding and applying knowledge already given, we call it illumination.

Regarding illumination of the latter type, the question arises, “How does God do it?”

The most basic level of enlightenment is the knowledge of sin, and without that knowledge, everything else is pointless. 

Psalm 18:28 says, “You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.” 

Psalm 119, which is the longest chapter in the Bible, is a song about God’s Word.

In verse 130, it says “The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.”

This verse establishes the basic method of God’s illumination.

When God’s Word enters the heart of a person, it gives light and understanding to them.

For this reason, we are repeatedly told to study the Word of God. 

Psalm 119:11 says “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”

Verses 98 and 99 say “Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me. I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes.”

Regular study of the Word of God will give direction and understanding in the issues of life.

This is the first method of God’s illumination and the starting point for us all.

In Psalm 119 we also find another type of God’s illumination.

Verse 18 says, “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.”

These are not new revelations, but things which have been written and revealed long before, and just now understood by the reader (one of those “aha!” moments).

Similarly, verse 73 says, “Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn your commands.”

The plea is for personal understanding and application of God’s laws as they are studied by the individual.

Fifteen times in this psalm, God is asked to teach or give understanding regarding His laws.

One passage that sometimes stirs controversy regarding illumination is John 14:26, “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

Jesus was speaking to His disciples in the upper room, giving them last instructions before His death.

This special group of men was to be responsible for spreading the good news of Jesus Christ to the whole world.

They had spent three and a half years with Him, watching His miracles and hearing His teachings.

They would relay those things to the rest of the world, and would need God’s special help remembering those things accurately.

Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would teach them and remind them of what had been said, so they could give it to others (including the writing of the Gospels).

This verse does not teach that the Spirit will do so with all believers (though there are other verses that speak of the Spirit’s illuminating work).

What is the Holy Spirit’s illuminating work in believers? 

Ephesians 1:17-18 tells us that the Spirit gives wisdom and revelation concerning Jesus Christ, and opens the eyes of understanding so we can know God’s purposes in our lives.

In 1 Corinthians 2:10-13, God has revealed His plans for us by His Spirit, who teaches us spiritual things.

The context here points to the Word of God as that which has been revealed.

The Spirit of God will always point us to the Word of God for our instruction.

As Jesus told His disciples in John 16:12-15, the Spirit simply repeats what the Father and the Son have already said.

This repetition helps us remember and fully hear what God has already told us.

Sometimes we have to hear things several times before we actually hear them. That’s where the Spirit comes in.

One thing that is sometimes overlooked in the discussion of illumination is the purpose of it.

To hear some arguments, it would seem that the whole purpose of illumination is an accurate and academic understanding of God’s Word.

There is no question that God desires us to accurately understand what He has given us.

Words have meaning, and we must pay attention to the details in those words.

If, however, we stop there, we simply have an academic understanding of facts or philosophies, which do no one any good. 

Going back to Psalm 119, we find purpose statements connected with the illumination verses.

“I will meditate on your wonders” (verse 27),

“I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart” (verse 34),

“that I may understand your statutes” (verse 125),

“that I may live” (verse 144).

The illumination always points to action.

Why does God help us understand His Word?

So, we are able to live in its light. 

First John 1:6 challenges us, “If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.”

We could paraphrase it to say, “If we say we’ve been enlightened, but still walk in the dark, we lie about understanding God’s Word.”

The Spirit of God, who enlightens us to hear and understand God’s Word, then takes that knowledge and guides us in living it. 

Romans 8:14 says “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”

The illuminating and leading work of the Holy Spirit in our lives is a confirmation that we are indeed children of God.

Got Questions Ministries seeks to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by providing biblical, applicable, and timely answers to spiritually related questions through an internet presence.
GotQuestions.org is a ministry of dedicated and trained servants who have a desire to assist others in their understanding of God, Scripture, salvation, and other spiritual topics. We are Christian, Protestant, evangelical, theologically conservative, and non-denominational. We view ourselves as a para-church ministry, coming alongside the church to help people find answers to their spiritually related questions.

https://www.gotquestions.org/biblical-illumination.html