The New Humanity Part 9: Return to your first love!

Rev 2:4-5 NRSV  "But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.  (5)  Remember then from what you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent."

The narrative of the seven churches in Revelation offers some great insight. First, let me be clear, this narrative was first and foremost written to the actual seven churches in Asia. However, I believe that it is descriptive of aspects of the church as it exists throughout history first century foward. And, further, it has a message for the church at all points and stages of its history. I think that in this case it should be obvious what is meant by the love you had at first or as the King James renders it your first love.

Join me in an exercise of reminiscing. Think back to the time that you realized that Jesus had finished the work that gave you forgiveness with the father and cleaned your slate so to speak. Think of that specific moment in time. Think of the peace you felt at that unique minute. You did not have a care in the world. You felt completely cleansed and whole. What you had cleansed in that moment was your conscience. You had your conscience cleansed from dead works to serve the living God. It was the result of the story of redemption. It was the result of the story of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. You had peace with Father God. This welled up in your spirit to bring about a profound love for God in light of his grace in Christ Jesus.

However, due to erroneous teaching you slowly began to once again feel the weight of your sin. You were constantly confronted with the law, with statuates and commands. You were confronted with the need to continously manage your sin. You were often made aware of how you were unable to measure up to Jesus and his law. Then, you would repent, and would again feel momentary relief but would again become aware of your sin and slowly it would spiral downward into a state of ever increasing guilt. However, you would be forced to keep a happy face in front of your believing peers. The love that you had in the beginning would slowly devolve to a sense of miserable duty. Even though you would continue with the works of love, your motivation would be fear and duty and not really love.

Add to the above that you may be one with a more addictive personality and you end up with secret sins that make you feel even lower. Some may not have that problem and then would convince themselves that they were righteous, but like the good son in the Prodigal Son parable, they would be consumed with jealousy and judgment. I hope you are beginning to see the state of current evangelical teaching for what it is. Guilt producing error.

This is precisely the reason for the gospel of unlimited grace/unmerited favor. A proper understanding of the gospel will allow the saint to be continually basking in his or her first love.  It is the necessary atmosphere to create a new humanity. It was in large part the atmosphere of the first century saints. It is the reason that Paul penned the following: Eph 2:15-16 NRSV  "He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace,  (16)  and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it." This is the importance of the focus being placed squarely on God's grace and love. It is not "sloppy agape" as some like to accuse. It is the life blood for creating the peace with Father that causes the first love to flow and remain day after day.

When will groups of believers embrace this truth and begin to transform into a new humanity that will truly alleviate some of the problems of this world by demonstrating agape and being true image bearers of God.