WORD From The Woods
Jude: 4-23
“For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day— just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire. Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones. But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.” But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively. Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam's error and perished in Korah's rebellion. These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever. It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage. But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.”
Last week we looked at the first part of the letter from Jude , where he called believers to be bold and contend for the faith. In this next passage, he warns the church about false teachers and all sorts of ungodly people, who would rebel against God and His people. He also boldly talks about the judgment that awaits those who continue in their rebellion. He points back to the evil and rebellious cities, Sodom and Gomorrah and how they were destroyed by fire. Jude says that Sodom and Gomorrah serve as an example of the eternal judgment that all who die in their sin and rebellion will face. In today’s christian culture, there is very little talk about pointing out false teachers or calling people out in their sin and rebellion. It’s become all about how Jesus loves us and just wants us to be happy. The Lord Jesus Christ does love us, and wants us to have joy in Him and joy in our fellowship with each other. But the point of our life on earth is first and foremost to glorify Him. And the Lord will have nothing to do with evil. Jude didn’t hold anything back! He says that the Lord comes with tens of thousands of His holy ones to execute judgment on all the ungodly sinners who have committed all kind of evil rebellion against Him. After Jude gave this warning, he calls the church to build up each other in the faith, praying to the spirit, keeping yourselves in the love of God and waiting for the mercy of Christ that leads to eternal life! That’s the gospel! Sin and rebellion leads to eternal destruction in judgment, the gospel of Christ leads to eternal life! Jude says it’s an act of mercy to point out the judgment that is coming on the ungodly and present them with the gospel. He actually compares it to snatching them out of the fire, because that’s exactly what happens when someone is saved by Christ, they are saved from the fire of eternal judgment! It’s true that God is love, it’s because of HIs love for us that He made a way for us to be saved at all. But it is not loving for us to avoid harsh talk about judgement of sin. I think Jude makes it clear that it’s actually unloving to not talk about it, to not call sin what it is and point people to the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is all part of contending for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.
God bless, have a great week, and boldly contend for the faith!
-Terry-
Jude: 4-23
“For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day— just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire. Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones. But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.” But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively. Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam's error and perished in Korah's rebellion. These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever. It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage. But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.”
Last week we looked at the first part of the letter from Jude , where he called believers to be bold and contend for the faith. In this next passage, he warns the church about false teachers and all sorts of ungodly people, who would rebel against God and His people. He also boldly talks about the judgment that awaits those who continue in their rebellion. He points back to the evil and rebellious cities, Sodom and Gomorrah and how they were destroyed by fire. Jude says that Sodom and Gomorrah serve as an example of the eternal judgment that all who die in their sin and rebellion will face. In today’s christian culture, there is very little talk about pointing out false teachers or calling people out in their sin and rebellion. It’s become all about how Jesus loves us and just wants us to be happy. The Lord Jesus Christ does love us, and wants us to have joy in Him and joy in our fellowship with each other. But the point of our life on earth is first and foremost to glorify Him. And the Lord will have nothing to do with evil. Jude didn’t hold anything back! He says that the Lord comes with tens of thousands of His holy ones to execute judgment on all the ungodly sinners who have committed all kind of evil rebellion against Him. After Jude gave this warning, he calls the church to build up each other in the faith, praying to the spirit, keeping yourselves in the love of God and waiting for the mercy of Christ that leads to eternal life! That’s the gospel! Sin and rebellion leads to eternal destruction in judgment, the gospel of Christ leads to eternal life! Jude says it’s an act of mercy to point out the judgment that is coming on the ungodly and present them with the gospel. He actually compares it to snatching them out of the fire, because that’s exactly what happens when someone is saved by Christ, they are saved from the fire of eternal judgment! It’s true that God is love, it’s because of HIs love for us that He made a way for us to be saved at all. But it is not loving for us to avoid harsh talk about judgement of sin. I think Jude makes it clear that it’s actually unloving to not talk about it, to not call sin what it is and point people to the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is all part of contending for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.
God bless, have a great week, and boldly contend for the faith!
-Terry-