We have been looking at the words of Jude who has been sharing great woes for false itinerant teachers who were making themselves known during his day. These teachers were sharing false doctrine, and their ideas were persuading some in the church to drift away from their relationship with Jesus Christ. These ungodly behaviors and attitudes were not to be tolerated by those in the church, and yesterday Jude began to share what would happen to these who were ungodly when Jesus returned to the Earth with “ten thousands of his saints”. Today we see what this purpose will actually be in verse fifteen. He wrote:
To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard [speeches] which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
The judgment of the Lord is ominous. According to Jude, Jesus will return to the Earth with ten thousands of His saints for three purposes contain within this verse: to execute judgment upon all; to convict all that are ungodly of their ungodly deeds; and to convict the ungodly of their hard speeches spoken. We shall examine all three.
First, Jude wrote, “to execute judgment upon all”. There will be a day of reckoning for every person. The Bible is very clear that “it is appointed unto man once to die, but after this the judgment.” Hebrews 9:27. Jesus said, “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned.” Matthew 12:36,37. These verses alone should make all of us look to our own lives to be sure we align ourselves with Jesus Christ, however, the statement in verse fifteen made by Jude who is quoting Enoch is for those who are on the Earth at the Lord's coming. In other words, false teachers will not get away with continuing in their doctrine. Jesus is coming to judge it and them. Jude has been sharing how dangerous these false teachers and teachings are because they lead people to eternal judgment and damnation from God. God through His Holy Spirit is inspiring Jude with his words, and God leads him to be sure to have readers understand that false teachers and teaching will be judged.
Secondly, Jude says Jesus and his ten thousands of saints will “convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed.” The idea here is to “convict or convince” everyone who is ungodly of their ungodly deeds. It it notable and emphatic that Jude uses the word “ungodly” so many times. Four times in this verse alone he employs “ungodly” as the word to describe their actions. All will be without excuse, and reason or persuasive argument will fall to the ground if a person tries to defend his or her deeds.
Finally, Jude writes that Jesus and His saints will convince these ungodly false teachers “of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” It is amazing how many people are bold enough to speak against God. Some are so dramatic as to raise their fists in the air, shout to the sky and proclaim obscenities toward God for some action or lack of action on His part. Ungodly false teachers do this, and they often use harsh, stern and mean-spirited words to promote their ways that lead people away from Christ. This will not always be. Jesus will come again and put away every word and every person who speaks harshly and ungodly against Him. No one will get away with it.
These words of Jude are baleful when we stop to think about them. May the pending judgment of Jesus Christ's return be a warning for all of us but particularly to those who pontificate doctrines that lead men, women, boys and girls away from a relationship with Him.
Next time we will take a look at more of the characteristics of those who teach against the doctrine of Christ, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow...there is more...
Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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