As we continue our study through the book of Jude, we have come to understand that Jude is writing to those who are sanctified, preserved and called. We have noted Jude's blessing and desire for these saints, and his charge for them to earnestly contend for the faith. There is a reason they are to contend, and Jude makes his purposes clear in today's words found in verse four. He wrote:
For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Whenever we see the word “for” after the statements that were just made in the Bible, we might for our clearer understanding use the term “because”. This helps us to have clarity on reasons for previous statements. “For” or “because” “there are certain men crept in unawares” Jude's audience is to contend. As with the book of First, Second and Third John, Jude is also having to deal with false teachers and false doctrine that is being spread throughout the church. These teachers “crept in” or secretly entered, and their stealth-like behavior is much like a thief. Their plan is to rip off the saints, and like Jesus said when He was on the Earth “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” (Matthew 7:15). For this reason we must contend for the faith. There are those in the world who would rip off believers in Jesus by adding to or taking away from what the Bible says about the gospel of Jesus Christ, and we must be aware that they enter into the church appearing as sheep but are merely “ravening wolves.”
Notice the characteristics of these false teachers: First, they were “ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men”. God knew in advance that these characters would be among the church and how ungodly these men would be. Second, they “turn the grace of our God into lasciviousness.” “Lasciviousness” is unbridled lust, excess, licentiousness, wantonness, outrageousness, shamelessness, insolence. Those who are false teachers turn the unmerited favor of God, grace, into something it was never designed to be. These teachers said that since God is gracious, then it does not matter how you live. You can sin all the time, and it will be just fine. No, and a thousand times no! Paul wrote, “What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.” (Romans 6:15) These false teachers and doctrines must be opposed.
Thirdly, these false teachers were “denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” Their teachings were filled with ideas that promoted other ways to God rather than a relationship with Jesus. Some of them would even deny God, and they would say things like, “Oh, there are many gods. There is more than one god in the universe. You don't really believe that only one god is sufficient, do you?” In addition, they would deny the Lord Jesus Christ. They would promote others “leaders” or “prophets” as being the ones to follow. They would put Jesus as equal to or even below other teachers whom they knew. Jude wrote that these are they that must be contended.
Jesus gave us all a clue to how we are to recognize the wolves in sheep's clothing. He said,
“You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither [can] a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” Matthew 7:16-20
False teachers and doctrines are as prevalent today as they were in Jude's time. An easy way to note whether a person is a sheep or a wolf is by what they eat. Sheep eat grass, hay and the like, and wolves eat sheep. Whenever false teachers enter our midst, we simply have to watch how they treat the sheep. Do they take from them, glean from them, rip them off, or take advantage of them? Then they are wolves. Or do they feed them, care for them, tend to them, and sacrifice their own lives for their sakes? Then they are sheep. Jesus reminded us to be “wise as serpents and harmless as doves”, and as we continue to heed the warnings and instruction from Jude, perhaps we will grow in our abilities to note what these pernicious doctrines and people are really trying to do to others.
Next time we will look further into what Jude has to say to remind his readers of the greatness of following God, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow...there is more...
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