After so many verses in the book of Jude where we find Jude describing false itinerant teachers during his day, Jude referred to what Jesus told his disciples about these teachers. We learned that when Jesus speaks we should all pay particular attention to his words as they carry the most weight of them all. Jude wrote in verse seventeen:
But, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
And today he adds this about these false prophets in verse eighteen:
How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
The disciples of Jesus were given the commission to continue to share the gospel or good news of God that Jesus Christ came into the world, gave His life for everyone's sin by dying on the cross, was raised from the dead on the third day afterward. Now all who will simply believe in their hearts, which means trust in – rely upon – and cling to, Jesus Christ and confess with their mouths of these things shall be saved from their sins and live eternally with Him in heaven. But immediately there was opposition to their words. In fact, every one of the disciples were persecuted and martyred for their faith in Jesus. These great disciples repeated what was told of them by Jesus that in the last time there would be those who would mock or scoff at their words. The apostle Peter wrote it this way in the second book named after him in chapter three and verses three and four:
Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts And saying, Were is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 2 Peter 3:4
There have been and there always will be scoffers or mockers at the gospel of Jesus Christ until He returns. Jesus knew this, and He passed it on to His disciples. We too can know this today. There will always be people who laugh at we who believe in God, trust in His Son, know that God has saved us, and they will scoff at a God who loves and involves Himself in our lives daily. Atheist and Agnostics will give reason after reason why those who believe are ignorant and ill advised. Unbelieving scientist will try to give explanations as to why such things cannot be, and if it can be explained away they will explain it away. Usually these people have ungodly lusts attached to their lives. They explain away trusting in a faithful loving God because they enjoy their ungodly pleasures and desires. They do not want to be governed. They desire to do what they want to do when they want to do it, and they do not want anyone, anywhere telling them how, what, where or with whom to do it with or without. To them we can honestly say, Thank you. They have just fulfilled scripture. These are indeed the mockers who walk after their own ungodly lusts.
If there has ever been a day when it seemed as though it is the last days it is now. More are scoffing. More are mocking, and more are walking after their own ungodly lusts. May God have mercy upon all who will turn from these wicked ways as He extends His time of grace to save all who will come to Him.
Next time we will look at what Jude says further about these false teachers, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow...there is more...
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