Jude #1

July 29, 2012

Jude, v. 1

This letter compare very close to II Peter 2:1-22. It is almost as though one of them had copied the other. Evidence points to Jude writing the letter first and Peter using Jude letter to make his point. This is the only place in Scripture where two authors agree so closely, showing us that the problem dealt with by both Peter and Jude was and is no small problem. Both authors were dealing with the same problems and in doing so they use the same arguments.

I find it an interesting little book, as well as not a little confusing. Both Peter and Jude tell us some things that are unknown elsewhere in Scripture.

Some years ago, I did a very superficial examination of the book, but this time, we will go into some depth. So don't get in a hurry to get through this little book.

There is very little known about Jude. In Lk. 6:15-16 he is identified as Judas, the brother of James, as he also identifies himself in Jude 1. This was the James known as 'James the Just' and was a very prominent man at Jerusalem. (See intro. in, 'James') Jude is an apostle and is mentioned in Jn.14:21, 22. Jude was sent with Paul in Acts 15:22, only there he is identified as Judas.

The authenticity of the letter would have been easily established in the early Church by his claim as the brother of James. Brother to James established him even more than would "Jude the apostle."

Jude wrote this letter to warn Christians of the errors which were creeping in. These errors are common everywhere. These men with these errors were very crafty, and had crept into the churches without being recognized. They professed to hold the doctrine of Christ, but really they were intent on undermining the faith and spreading corruption throughout. Jude writes to warn his readers to be on their guard against corrupt teachings and to encourage his readers to stand against both the corrupt teachers and their teachings.

The problem being dealt with was to arm the church against those who were secretly and slyly corrupting the doctrine that was once delivered to the saints. Both Peter and Jude were exposing the evil teachers, and pronouncing God's judgement upon them.

We should keep in mind both

1. The author of the letter.
2. To whom the letter is written.

V.1. Jude. The Greek word translated Jude here is also translated Judah or Judas, "He shall be praised."

In the name Judas, we have Judas the Just and Judas the Apostate. Godly and wicked men may be called by the same name. In Gen. 4:17, Cain's ungodly son was named Enoch. In Gen 22, Enoch, Seth's godly son, walked with God and was not. We must not jump to conclusions.

The servant - He was a brother to James, who is identified as the Lord's brother in Gal 1:19. So we see here that Jude was also a brother of the Lord.

But Jude did not even mention his relationship to the Lord. Rather, he simply identified himself as a servant of Jesus Christ, as did the other authors of the New Testament letters.

Servant in the sense used by Jude is the greatest honor one can have, and it is should be the attitude of all of God's people. But servant in the eyes of the world is someone to be looked down upon.

But all men are servants, either to self and sin or to God and righteousness.

Moreover, all men are God's servants, both wicked men and righteous men. Even the wicked praise Him.

Psalms 76:10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.

Throughout the Old Testament, every enemy that had dominion over Israel had been stirred up by the God of Israel in judgment against his unfaithful people.

Examples:

God's servants for evil,

1 Chronicles 5:26 And the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, and the spirit of Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria...

Jeremiah 27:6, Nebuchadnezzar was called my servant, as God sent him to chastize or judge God's sinful people.

God's servants for good,

All of the authors of the Epistles identified themselves as servants of God, as they wrote to instruct and encourage God's people.

Why didn't Jude use his relationship as brother to the Lord to establish his authority to write to these people?

Note that Jude did not use his physical relationship to exalt himself in the eyes of men as we would probably try to do. Rather, he left it up to the Lord to exalt him if the Lord wanted to.

First. He wasn't using his physical relationship with Christ, but his SPIRITUAL. His authority was under inspiration of the HOLY SPIRIT.

Second, Physical relationship would probably have caused jealousies among the other apostles.

How many people have we met who try to use physical relationships for their advantage. What do we think of them?

Third, Jude here wants to show that the highest honor ANYONE can have is to be the servant of Jesus Christ, and anyone can be a servant of Jesus Christ.

John 12:26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

Christ's servants turn their backs upon their own personal desires, and give ourselves wholly to Christ. Christ's servants are easily identified because they follow the Word of God.

Forth, If Jude had claimed his authority as a brother of Christ, the rest of the Apostles and all from the time of Jude would have been "second class" citizens in the Kingdom of Christ.

"Unless you are a blood relative of Christ, you cannot serve him properly."

Fifth, as we will see later in this verse, we entered God's service willingly. Without overriding our individuality, the Spirit of God made us willing, and we came willingly. That is, we willingly became a servant a servant of Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 6:18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Because of our time in history and location in this world today, we know very little if anything about slavery as was practiced in Christ's day. But those to whom these letters were written knew very well what slavery involved. The slave may have been captured in war; he may have had to sell himself for his debts, or the owner of the debt may have sold the individual for what he was owed.

Regardless of how he ended up as a servant or slave, he was forced to dedicate all his efforts and energies in the service of his master.

We were sold into the slavery of sin by Adam. We were born into harsh servitude to Satan. Christ payed the price for our sins by his work on the cross, and set us free from our former owner. We now owe our service to our new Master.

Sixth, Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

The servant of Christ is to serve with his whole heart. The natural tendency, even of the true servant of Christ, is to divide ourselves between the two masters—Christ and self. We are warned many times over that those who serve self are in for serious problems if they are His, for those he loves, he chastises.

Hebrews 12:5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

Note the seriousness of fooling ourselves and others into believing we are the sons of God when we are not.

2 Thessalonians 1:7... when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

Seventh, God's servants earnestly desire to know his will. David's prayed for God's knowledge:

Psalms 119:124 Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes. 125 I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies.

Eighth, God's servants can depend upon being put to the test of their faith.

1 Peter 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

Ninth, Ministers are the servants of God, not of men nor of mammon. The vast majority of ministers have forgotten this fact.

Galatians 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

Men who have the works of the servant of Christ, are to be given honor where honor is due.

Tenth, servants will be held accountable as to how they used their God given abilities.

Matthew 25:14-30

My pastor used to tell me, "Use it or lose it." This is one reason why when Bro. Sprinkle encouraged us to come here, though there was very little prospect, I was willing. I put just as much time in study here for messages as I did at my church in Linden. If I do not use the abilities God has given, then I will lose what little I do have.

Eleventh, Our last and most important point about servant:

1 Corinthians 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

Jude 1, and brother of James...

First, there is nothing wrong with using the credit of others for our advantage of the truth.

In Acts 15:23, Paul used his connection with the apostles, elders and brethren to support the truth he was presenting to the Gentiles.

In Acts 17:28, when standing in the midst of Mars' hill, preaching to the men of Athens, Paul quoted certain of their own poets.

Writing to Titus, Paul warns of unruly, vain talkers who teach things they should not for monetary gain. Paul quotes even a prophet of their own.

Second, we should live in a manner that supports our profession of Christ, so that others will not be ashamed to be connected with us.

My former pastor became so unfaithful to his Christian profession that I was ashamed to admit knowing him.

Now we come to those to whom Jude writes:

to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:

They are called unto sanctification and preservation.

Sanctified & preserved

Called...

There are two calls: There is an outward and there is an inward call, which is given to the elect. The elect respond to the inward call which comes through the outward call.

We will not have time to deal with the inward call today, other than to say that the inward call results in faithful service to our Master.

How the two calls work together? All I can do is give scripture, and try to withhold speculation.

Matthew 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

Many are called is an outward call. This is a general call to everyone who hears the gospel. Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature...

Some things about the outward call:

First, the outward call can be a call to the unconverted that is totally ignored, and even mocked.

Second, the outward call can be a call by men who put a great amount of pressure on the hearer to make a profession. I spent some years associating with these kind of ministries, and even did it myself.

I soon learned what questions to ask to get the answers I wanted, and then a profession.

Third, the outward call can be a call to the emotions. More than a few preachers know how to work the emotions to get a movement. The emotional call results in many professions of faith, but the vast majority of those professors lack the inward call that leads to genuine conversion.

From my own personal experience, there are a great many people caught in this outward call.

A great many of professions of faith can be gained by the call of men and the call of emotions. Though God is certainly not bound in a box, where he must only work in certain ways, I have found that these two calls can result in a great many false assurances of Salvation.

Romans 10:13, For whosoever shall call upon the Lord shall be saved.

That verse is used without any regard to its context. The context requires an understanding of the Gospel of Christ, and a working of the Spirit of God in the heart of the hearer. Without that understanding and inward call, the sinner is given a false hope.

I have personally seen many people call upon the Lord with no understanding of the Gospel, nor did they have any kind of the Holy Spirit drawing. I am fully convinced that many of the calls were from the wrong spirit, Another Jesus, 2 Cor 11:4. So their was simply a prayer with nothing behind it.

I have personally seen many people "come forward" under great emotional distress and call upon the Lord, yet their following life style showed that their call was simply an empty prayer.

On the other hand, I have personally seen people under great emotional distress call upon the Lord, and their following life proved that they answered the inward call of the Spirit.

Man's call and the emotional call without the inward call will lead to great terror in the final judgment day.

Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Proverbs 1:25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; 27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. 28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: 29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: 30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.

Psalms 2:25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; 27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. 28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: 29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: 30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.

Mark 9:43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: 48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

Luke 16:

Revelation 20:14

Sadly, it seems that the vast majority of professed Christians have answered the outward call without regeneration. Regeneration would result in a major decrease in abortions, decrease in the welfare rolls, decrease in crime and murders, the collapse of the government education system, as well as a major reduction in the centralized government. And the followers of Mohammad would not be taking over formerly Christian nations.

With very few exceptions, Christianity in the West today is not Biblical Christianity/

Jude #2, August 5, 2012

Jude v. 1, cont.

Pastors who do not want to reinvent the wheel find a good author, and follow him through a study, which is why they have large libraries. Pastors, including Bro. Sprinkle, have told me of the various authors they have used to teach a series of messages.

Books can spark a new line of thought which maybe had not been followed before. That has been my case more times than I can count. Bro Moorecraft presented a line of thought I had never considered before, nor had anyone in the congregation. But I was researching a word, and with his massage on my mind, there was the spark in a word meaning.

Banner of Truth Trust reprints many old theologic books, in a series called the Geneva Series. I have several from that series. When a publisher publishes a book, there are a good number of books that are less than perfect. They then sell those books as "seconds", usually at a 50% discount. Pastors got first chance at the seconds.

My dad was a lay pastor, and he took advantage of a program back in the 50s and early 60s, and he obtained several of those seconds.

One of his books is Jude, by Thomas Manton, 1620-1677. He goes into much more depth than I do, but his high points are worth following through.

In Jude 1, we are looking at the Biblical doctrine of called.

Matthew 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

Christ tells us of two calls: the outward call by man and the inward call by the Spirit.

God has chosen to base the inward call on the outward call by men through the preaching of the gospel of Christ.

Many are called is an outward call. This is a general call to everyone through the preaching of the gospel: Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature...

1 Corinthians 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

First, the outward call can be a call to the unconverted that is totally ignored, and even mocked.

Second, the outward call can be a call by men who put a great amount of pressure on the hearer to make a profession. I spent some years associating with these kind of ministries, and even did it myself. I soon learned what questions to ask to get the answers I wanted, and then a profession.

Third, the outward call can be a call to the emotions. More than a few preachers know how to work the emotions to get a movement. The emotional call results in many professions of faith, but the vast majority of those professors lack the inward call that leads to genuine conversion.

Fourth, as I was thinking, there is also a call to the intellect. Josh McDowl was good at this as he confronts people with fact after fact in his effort to convince them of the truth of Christ.

The fifth call we will consider today. It is the call through the preaching of the gospel used by the Spirit to call the elect to genuine repentance, conversion and regeneration.

This second call of Matthew 22:14 is the call by the Spirit of God.

The ones to whom Jude writes were and are the elect; they answered the call of the Spirit of God.

Matthew 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

The outward call is an invitation of men's words. The inward call is an invitation of the Spirit, and it is the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

The called are the ones who heard the outward called, and with that call was the inward call of the Spirit.

John 5:25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. 26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

Christ said to Lazarus who was dead and in the grave, "Come forth", and the dead came to life. Christ must say to those who are dead in trespasses and sins, "come forth", and the dead come to life.

Those called by the Spirit are the called according to his purpose. That call is to sanctification and preservation, and their sanctification and preservation will evidence what call they answered.

In the first creation, he said, "let there be light." In the new creation, he must say to his chosen, "Let there be light" in the darkened soul, and there is light. The eyes are opened and the understanding enlightened to the grace and mercy of the Gospel, and conversion results.

The Lord offers Grace in the gospel, and the elect will answer that call.

The elect are God's people. The are called from self to Christ, from sin to holiness, from misery to happiness and glory.

Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Those who are called by Christ cannot justify carrying the heavy load of self-pity and anger at God. When we continue in self-pity and anger at God, it will result in anger taken out on those around us.

1 Thes 4:7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit. 9 ¶ But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

The immediate end of our calling is faith in Christ and eternal life. But in the mean time until we see Christ, our calling is to holiness, and love one for another.

Obviously, we do not immediately obtain to our call to holiness at conversion. It is a growth process:

Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 ¶ Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. 16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

The called of God will work toward the high calling of God, which is unto holiness and love for one another.

Now some points here about this inward call, which is the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

First, we saw last time the terrible danger and consequences of ignoring the call of men to come to Christ.

Second, 2 Peter 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

Though our calling and election is sure in the mind of God, God everywhere holds man accountable for his actions. Tough our election and calling is sure in the mind of God, we are to continually examiner our attitudes and actions to be sure that we are called by God. Where is our evidence that we are called?
His people are known by their good works or fruit.
They are known by their love for the one another.
They are known by their godliness, and a godliness that is even recognized by the unsaved.

How does our life measure up to prove to ourselves and to others that we are part of the called of God, the elect?

Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Normally, it is only when the load gets too heavy that the sinner will listen to the call to come to Christ. And the Lord has a way of making that load heavy.

Third, His call is not the same to everyone. He works His call in a way that is suitable to His nature and to ours

To some, His call is a gentle, softly blowing breeze. To others, Christ comes as rushing wind. To others, Christ comes as a strong man armed and snatches the sinner out of the fire. Some are drawn in some unknown manner. As in natural birth, some children are born with more ease than others, and each one in a different manner. Jude 22, 23.

We must be careful not to put everyone in the same box: "If you were not called in this way, you are not called."

But we are clearly told from Scripture that if there is no inward call of the spirit, there is no salvation. Moreover, the inward call always results in outward growth in godliness.

Fourth, we do need to be cautious of comparing ourselves to ourselves:

2 Corinthians 10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

Calling is evidenced by the grace to do God's good pleasure. Do we enjoy doing God's good pleasure? Can others see evidence of our calling?

Fifth, we did nothing to deserve God's call.

Romans 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Romans 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

The call of the elect is strictly according to God's good pleasure.

Ephesians 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, V. 9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
2 Thessalonians 1:11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:

Sixth, though we are called by the gospel, it is the law that must lay the foundation for the call to Christ:

Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Romans 5:13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
Romans 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
Romans 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
Romans 7:8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
Romans 7:9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Here we see that godly sorrow will accompany conversion:

Jeremiah 31:9 they shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them...

God's normal way of calling to himself is through the preaching of the Gospel. The Gospel is accepted after the person has seen his sinful condition according to the law which slew him, and made him aware of his need for Christ.

2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Seventh, there are times when God reminds the sinner of a truth he heard some time ago. In other words, the spirit does not always work immediately upon the elect when the first hear the gospel.

Eighth, though the call is to all, only the elect can hear and answer it.

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

Ninth, when God inclines the heart to answer the call and take the Lord, the sinner will willingly take Christ on God's terms. Abraham answered God's call, not knowing what would be the result.

Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

Tenth, conversion means change. There will be a change in the whole heart; change in the mind, judgment, and actions. The new nature will manifest itself.

Ephesians 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

The mind is the source of every thought and action. Genuine conversion changes the mind to love righteousness and true holiness. It changes our affections to things of the Lord and things from above. Our new inclinations are toward God. Our new resolve is to dedicate self to God and his will.

The converted soul hates sin. Paul seems to echo the cry of the converted soul in Romans 7:15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

When God changes the soul, he places his attitude for sin there.

Eleventh, the purpose of God call's is to produce a godly people. Those who have answered God's call will walk worthy of that call.

Ephesians 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Who will believe our profession of Christ when we return to or remain in the mud from which we were supposed to have left behind.

2 Peter 2:22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
1 Thessalonians 2:12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
1 Peter 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
2 Timothy 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

1 Thessalonians 4:7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

Those who do not see nor understand that their call was unto holiness answered the wrong call.

Moving right along,

V. 1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:

The results of our call is sanctification and preservation.

Sanctification.

Those whom God has called out of this world are a sanctified people.

Sanctify... means set apart and dedicated, or to cleanse.

Set apart and dedicate to God.

2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master?s use, and prepared unto every good work.

Here we see individual responsibility to be consistent with the vows we took at our conversion, which were publically expressed at our baptism. Those vows were voluntary, and we will be held accountable to them.

Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

To sanctify is to cleanse.

The called are not only set apart for holy use, but they must also be cleansed. There will be a noticeable difference between them and others around them. God has sent them apart to act and live a godly life. Whatever they do, it is to be for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31.

First, Cleansing means we were at one time filthy:

1 Corinthians 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

The called will not be the same as they were before they answered the Spirit's call.

The work of saving grace is to wash away the old filth of the flesh. It is a work that can only be accomplished by the Spirit of Christ, as we see in Christ washing the disciples feet,

John 12:10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.

Titus 3:1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, 2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men. 3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

Careful to maintain... WE ALL GET TO THE POINT of saying, "What's the use. I continue doing right in this matter, yet nothing changes." It requires effort to continue on when there seems to be no hope.

Hebrews 11:39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
2 Thessalonians 3:13 But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.

First, Cleansing grace means we were at one time filthy:

1Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

"Man is made up of spirit, soul, and body ; that is the theological distinction of the faculties —the spirit, that is the more rational and angelical part of the soul, understanding, conscience, will ; and then there is the soul, the lower part, the more brutish and sensual affections nd desires ; and then body, the outward man, the instrument of soul, which needeth to be sanctified, that is, kept in a good order and frame, that it may not rebel, or disobey the motions of the better part. You see, then, every faculty must be seasoned with the new nature." (Thomas Manton, 1620-1677)

Every part of man fell in Adam. Every part of man is renewed in Christ, who called us to himself.

As the habit of sin has gotten into every part of the body, so must the cleansing grace of sanctification get into every part.

As the leaven hidden in the measure of meal, cleansing grace must get into the whole of the body, soul and spirit.

Third, sanctificating grace conforms to God's will. When heart is changed, the whole of man is changed.

Duty and God's will is enough motive for the sanctified man.

1 Thessalonians 4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: 6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. 7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.

2 Cor 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

Fourth, sanctification not only changes the heart, but it gives us new goals in life.

When men seek their own welfare, they are no better than a brute beast.

Philippians 3:19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

1 Corinthians 6:13 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.

August 12, 2012
Jude #3

Jude v. 1, cont

We are still in v. 1, and may be for some time yet. Godly wise men have spent their lives just developing just one verse, and still did not develop its depths. I have found that every doctrine in scripture can be developed from about any one verse in Scripture. We are only limited by time.

Several times, Paul speaks of the milk of the word which is for those immature in Christ. But we are to move beyond milk, and desire the strong meat of the word. A proper examination of Jude will require "eating" strong meat.

There is as much in each verse of Scripture as one will want to develop. I will try to restrict the development of each passages to the main points.

Hebrews 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. 1 ¶ Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this will we do, if God permit.

V. 1, have been looking at them that are sanctified by God the Father, and the doctrine of sanctification. We had to stop in the middle of our fourth point about sanctification. So we will pick up where we left off. The previous messages are on Sermon audio, and I can give you the notes if you like.

I write out everything, and when I am finished with a book of the Bible, there will be a commentary of that book posted on our web site, and available to anyone. I have over 20 commentaries posted now. I must finish posting Romans which we just finished, though it is all on Sermon audio.

Fourth, sanctifying grace not only changes the heart, but it gives us new goals in life.

When men seek their own welfare, they are no better than a the dog in the alley searching through the trash for something to satisfy his hunger. Let the sanctified in Christ rise above such empty goals.

We have pointed out and will not cover again at this time, that it is God who places the desire in one's heart to be clean or sanctified, yet he holds the individual responsible for cleaning up his life. The individual will not escape that responsibility in the day of judgement.

The who are not set apart by God—sanctified or regenerated—have one of three goals in life: Carnal, natural, or legal.

First, their goal is Carnal: That is, they avoid sin because their belly is their god, as Paul said of the false teachers:

Philippians 3:18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

They use religion for their own advancement—the Pharisees made long prayers as they devoured widows houses. Whose god is their belly. Their religion is a cover for unclean intents.

I have met and worked with more than one couple where the husband went to church to find a good wife. After they were married, the truth about the man came out. He was clearly unregenerated. He used religion to cover unclean intents.

How many religious leaders are using religion to gain worldly wealth at the expense of the flocks for whom they are to give themselves? That is, the shear the sheep, and enrich themselves. Religion is no more than an occupation to them.

We are in a political season again, which is fertile ground for lies about religion. Suddenly, everyone is religious, as they use religion to gain authority to pursue their evil intents.

Second, their goal is Natural: That is, they naturally avoid sin:

Romans 2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

It is their conscience that causes them to avoid sin. They are religious because of the conscience. How many sitting in church today are there because of their conscience and not to learn about and please the Lord Christ.

They are honest and truthful because of their conscience. In addition, honesty will gain and keep customers. In other words, their actions are not to please God, but to satisfy their own needs and conscience.

Third, their goal is Legal: That is, they avoid sin and produce "holy actions" not from a sanctified heart that loves God and seeks to please him. Rather, their actions are attempts to purchase peace with God.

Proverbs 21:27 ¶ The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?

They sacrifice to the Lord not because they delight in obedience, but in hops of purchasing peace with God. The prostitutes in the pagan temples of old were captured women who were placed there by their captorors in hope of purchasing favor from a particular pagan god.

It is not uncommon to hear of openly perverse men making large gifts to a church with the goal of making points with God. How many do religious acts in hope of gaining favor or forgiveness? Though the Roman church is well-known for promoting this kind of action for forgiveness of sin, non-Roman churches are not exempt.

"All their duties of worship and charity are performed as sin-offerings, and not as thank-offerings ; to satisfy God, not to glorify him..." (Jude, Manton, p. 31.)

Fifth, why must God's called people be sanctified?

Hebrews 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Sanctification is a work of converting grace. So if there is no continued effort toward holiness, there is no converting grace.

We speak of departed "saints" who are now with God, but unless we are "saints" here, we will not see God.

The Muslims look for a very carnal and wicked paradise as they blow themselves up in order to kill others. We look for a sinless paradise as we are sanctified here.

1 John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

The sanctified have victory over the works of the devil. Though the devil might gain the upper hand in some areas, his victory will be short lived.

What are we called from? What are our hearts set on? What do we hunger and thirst for? Regardless of how much one might claim Salvation, those who ignore or make lite of holiness are neither called nor sanctified, for they have not had the works of the devil destroyed in them.

Sixth, pretended grace of sanctification.

One might take great care to conceal with godly actions a corrupt heart. But the inward heart of lust, pride, wrath, &c., means a counterfeit sanctification, Paul calls for true holiness:

Eph 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Sanctification and holiness seeks to please God. False, pretended grace seeks to deceive men. According to Peter, true holiness or true grace comes from the inward desire to avoid sin and please God.

1 Peter 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

Pretended grace unto sanctification will not deceive God:

Ps 139:7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. 12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

"Examine, then, whether you increase or decrease : if you go backward from zeal to coldness, from strictness to looseness ; if you lose your care of duty, and choiceness of spirit, and there be no complaining, it is a sign grace was never wrought in truth." (Jude, Manton, p. 37.)

Furthermore, with true grace comes a sense of poverty.

Mark 9:24, Lord, I believe, help mine unbelief.

Seventh, restraining Grace, which may be for the elect or non-elect.

In other words, though the sanctified may love a sin, this grace works to incline them to avoid that sin. Every person, saved or unsaved has experienced this restraint.

In Gen 20:6, Abimelech was inclined to take Abraham's wife, but it was God who intervened to protect Sarah, though Abraham would not.

Eighth, common Grace. Though it may look like sanctification, it is not, which brings us to one of the most hotly contested passages in Scripture:

Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this will we do, if God permit. 4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. 7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: 8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.

Let us take some time to look at vv. 4-6.

The author of Hebrews is unknown. Rushdoonly held that it was written by a group of men to address the problems being faced by the new Hebrew converts.

Keep in mind that the Hebrew's religion, Judaism, had not been destroyed yet when this book was written. Clearly, the book was written to the Hebrews, or Jews, who either were or had been faithful followers of the Hebrew religion as given to Moses. We have no idea today of what these first Hebrew professors of Christ went through, both in their minds and in the society in which they lived.

So this book, as all the books preserved for us in Holy Scripture, must be read and understood in its historical context. That certainly does not mean the instructions in these books are not for us, because they are. But if we try to remove Scripture from its historical context, it will be very easy to get a wrong understanding of what is being said.

Note the word, tasted. Those addressed in chapter 4 had enough grace to taste the goodness of God, and even catch a glimpse of the glory of heaven and the comforts of the gospel. They might even have had the desire to see heaven after they die. That is, they had a taste of genuine sanctifying grace. But their desire after Christ was not serious enough to produce genuine converting and sanctifying grace.

Hebrews 6:4-6 fits very well with the parable of the sower as found in Matthew 13:3ff, Mark 4:3-20, and Luke 8:5ff. I have heard both sides of the argument. One side says that 3 were converted, and one was not. The other side says that only one was converted and the other three were not. In that parable, the Son is the sower, and only 1 out of the 4 who received the seed, which is the word of God, was genuinely converted.

We see from Christ's parable, that those who have tasted may even join the church, and even be useful in the church, but their hearts remain unchanged. They were made partakers of the Holy Ghost; they tasted of the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, but they lacked the sanctifying power of the Spirit. Though they can speak of the things of God, there was nor is no saving grace.

V. 6 has been a topic of the hottest theological fights between Calvinists and Arminians since Paul wrote it.

A.W. Pink:

"The passage which is now to occupy our attention is one of the most solemn in the Hebrews' epistle, yea, to be met with anywhere in the New Testament. Probably few regenerate souls have read it thoughtfully without being moved to fear and trembling. Careless professors have frequently been rendered uneasy in conscience as they have heard its awe-inspiring language. It speaks of a class of persons who had been highly privileged, who had been singularly favored, but who, so far from having improved their opportunities, had wretchedly perverted them; who had brought shame and reproach on the cause of Christ; and who were in such a hopeless condition that it was "impossible to renew them again unto repentance." Well does it become each one of us to earnestly lift up his heart to God, beseeching Him to prevent us making such a shipwreck of the faith."

We are too close to Hebrews 6 to not try to untie this very knotty situation. There is a great amount of heated discussion about this passage, and far too many understandings of it. Considering the circumstances of the Book of Hebrews, I found A. W. Pink to offer the best solution.

First, it is impossible for the Word of God to contradict itself.

John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Our first point then is that nothing can separate the children of God from the love of God.

Romans 8:35-39. (38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.)

Therefore, Hebrews 6 cannot declare that one can fall from the saving grace of God.

Second, who are the subjects of v. 6? The Hebrews.

5:11, they had become dull of hearing.
5:13, they were unskilled in the Word of Righteousness, remaining babies.
5:14, as babies, they were unable to eat strong meat, and, therefore, unable to properly discern good and evil.
6:1, the author calls on the Hebrews to grow up, and grasp the deeper truths of the gospel.

The author was concerned that the Hebrews had become lukewarm and negligent. They remained babies because they did not make the sacrifice to grow up.

2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

In the context of the parable of the sower, we could say that their profession of faith did not result in a lasting desire to grown in grace and knowledge from the Word of God.

These Hebrews had turned from Judaism, but the gospel which they had embraced and enjoyed had now become dull and a burden to them because they did not grow up. The result was that darkness overshadowed them, and they no longer enjoyed the fellowship of Christ. If they continued in this frame of mind toward the Lord, apostasy had to follow.

The danger was then and is now that if one continues to yield to the darkness and considers his or her situation hopeless, then they have no other gospel to lift them out of their darkness. They had heard and accepted the offer of "come to me, and I will give you rest." They professed to believe in the Lord who died for them and made the offer. The author of Hebrews therefore warns them that if they continue down the dark and hopeless path, there is no hope for them. They had the only hope at one time in Christ, and now they were turning from that hope.

The message in Hebrews has been the priesthood and mediation of Christ, and the confidence, joy and peace in him. But if one, even today, tastes of that joy and hope, and yet does not grow in grace and knowledge and turns from the only source of hope, the gospel of Christ, where can he turn?

The author of Hebrews holds those who remain babies over the pit of destruction, warning them to make sure of their salvation.

These Hebrews were inclined to return to the old Jewish religion. So to find the peace they were looking for, they would have to crucify Christ again. There are even some today who desire to return to Judaism. They put Christ to an open shame, by saying that Christ is not enough to meet their need.

When one today tastes of the joys of Christ yet allows darkness and doom to overtake him, what hope remains for him? Can Christ be crucified again for him to renew his hope?

Those who have no lasting desire to grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ are very much in danger of not having anything at all.

The empty profession followed by failure to mature in Christ causes one to be overwhelmed with darkness. That darkness was influencing these Hebrews to return to the very things they renounced when they left Judaism, the carnal priesthood established by Moses; that return put Christ to an open shame.

"A clear and growing faith, in heavenly things was needed to preserve Jewish Christians from relapse. To return to Judaism was to give up Christ, who had left their house ‘desolate' (Mt 23:38). It was to fall from grace, and place themselves not only under the general curse of the law, but that particular imprecation which had brought the guilt of Jesus' blood on the reprobate and blinded nation of His murderers" (A Pridham). It should be pointed out, however, that it is just as easy, and the attraction is just as real, for a Gentile Christian to return to that world out of which the Lord has called him, as it was for a Jewish Christian to go back again to Judaism. And just in proportion as the Christian fails to walk with God daily, so does the world obtain power over his heart, mind and life; and a continuance in worldliness is fraught with the most direful and fatal consequences." Pink

We must say the same for our day. Those who have professed Christ and fall back under the spell of darkness, hopelessness, gloom and doom have put Christ to an open shame.

V. 4. For it is impossible... V. 6, If they shall fall away.

He did not say if we fall away, nor did he say, if you fall away. He holds the Hebrews who have become lazy in their faith over the cliff of destruction with the warning, it is impossible to be renewed.

Vv. 4, 5 lists 5 things the subjects of this verse were privileged to:

enlightened
tasted of the heavenly gift
partakers of the Holy Ghost
tasted the good word of God
tasted of the powers of the world to come

5 is the number of grace, and the 5 blessings here mentioned pertain to Christianity. However, there is no mention of election, the new birth, regeneration, forgiveness, sanctification, faith, love nor obedience, all the marks of a true child of God. In other words, they were professors but no possessors of Christianity.

As we mentioned a couple of weeks ago, a natural knowledge of spiritual things, such as heaven, knowledge of the gospel, of the word of God, the Holy Ghost and the heavenly power does not mean salvation. In Numbers 24:2, Balaam was enlightened by the Spirit, yet he went his own way.

Tasted... Those described here had a certain amount of understanding, and enjoyed the idea of mercy. Tasting the body of Christ is contrasted eating of the body of Christ. John 6:50-56.

These Hebrews were like the stony ground hearers who received the Word of God with joy, but it soon they weathered away. Matthew 13:20, 21.

They only tasted the word of God, they did not eat of it and grown in grace and knowledge. Jeremiah said, "They words were found and I did eat them." Jer 15:16.

Having only tasted of the good things of Christ, they returned to Judaism. They did not eat and grown in the Lord. Their minds had not been renewed by the Word of God.

The power of the world to come... Writing to the Hebrews, they tasted of the new dispensation of the gospel and the priesthood of Christ as prophesied many times in the Old Testament. Though these Hebrews knew the truth about Christ the High Priest, they willingly turned from him back to high priest of Judaism. Can they be renewed? Did not their turning back make them a shipwreck?

1 Timothy 1:19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

How much does this apply to those today who have tasted of the good things of the gospel, yet failing to grown in grace and knowledge, they turn back as a dog returns to his vomit?

Those addressed here in Hebrews were not mere nominal professors, for they had nothing to fall away from, except an empty name. These Hebrews "had their minds enlightened, their consciences stirred, their affections moved to a large degree, and yet were never brought from death unto life." It is not backsliding, nor simply falling into sin. This passage is addressed to those who totally renounced what they saw and felt offered in priesthood of Christ, and openly renounced him by returning to their old way of life, Judaism in this case.

If they shall fall away... Pink quotes Brown who says the reading here, "and have fallen away"; that is, past tents. Have fallen away, commonly identified as apostasy, complete and total apostasy in this case. The Hebrews are warned about the danger of total abandonment of the new Christian faith for the old Jewish faith. But the warning comes down to us today. That is, abandoning the Christian faith and returning to the old way of life.

The question here is "how can one repent when he has turned his back completely on repentance?" The Hebrew abandoned his Judaism for Christianity. But his Christianity was not serious enough to change his heart, so he returned to Judaism.

How can one repent when he, without the new heart, already experienced the joys of Salvation, and then totally turned his back on the only means for repentance?

Hebrews 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; 16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. 17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

Thus, the readers of all time are warned that there is a point of no repentance, though it might be sought with great tears. And there is no salvation apart from repentance,

Luke 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

How can those who knowingly and totally turned their backs on the only means of repentance, repent to the Lord?

They have publically renounced him, so they would have to crucify him again if they were to return.

Pink:

Seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh (6:6). This is brought in to show the aggravation of their awful crime and the impossibility of their being renewed again unto repentance. By renouncing their Christian profession they declared Christ to be an Imposter. Thus they were irreclaimable. To attempt any further reasoning with them, would only be casting pearls before swine. With this verse should be carefully compared the parallel passage in 10:26-29. These apostates had "received the knowledge of the truth," though not a saving knowledge of it. Afterward they sinned "wilfully": there was a deliberate and open disavowal of the truth. The nature of their particular sin is termed a "treading under foot the Son of God (something which no real Christian ever does) and counting (esteeming) the blood of the covenant an unholy thing," that is, looking upon the One who hung on the Cross as a common malefactor. For such there "remaineth no more sacrifice for sins". Their case is hopeless so far as man is concerned; and the writer believes, such are abandoned by God also.

Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

Conclusion:

The parable of the sower fits here. That parable speaks plainly of the perseverance of the saints, but it makes no such claim for the false professors, the unregenerate or unsanctified.

Those who fail to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ are in great eternal danger of falling away with no repentance.

2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

August 19, 2012

Jude #4.
Jude v. 1, cont.

Here in v. 1, we are examining the Biblical doctrine of Sanctification, or cleansing by the word and Spirit of God.

Ephesians 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

Because of our sin nature, we many times find that cleansing is a difficult task. It may require some very difficult and trying times in order to drive us to the word of God before the Word can do His work of cleansing, or sanctification.

We have one more point under sanctification. We have seen these things concerning sanctification:

First, sanctification involves the cleansing by the Holy Spirit of those who were at one time filthy.

Second, sanctification requires every part, every member of the body is to be cleansed for holy use.

Third, sanctificating grace conforms to God's will. When heart is changed, the whole of man is changed.

Fourth, sanctification not only changes the heart, but it gives us new goals in life.

Fifth, sanctification is a required result of converting grace.

Sixth, sanctification can be pretended in order to conceal an unconverted heart.

Seventh, sanctification also involves grace; one of those graces is a restraining Grace. Restraining grace can be in the elect or non-elect.

Eighth, sanctification can be mistaken in common Grace. That is, though common grace may look like sanctification, it is not. We ended last time with a lengthy examination of Hebrews 6:4-6 and the parable of the sower as found in Matthew 13:3ff, Mark 4:3-20, and Luke 8:5ff.

We are now at our final point of sanctification:

Number Nine. Sanctification is God's work, carried out in us by the Father.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Leviticus 21:8 Thou shalt sanctify him therefore; for he offereth the bread of thy God: he shall be holy unto thee: for I the LORD, which sanctify you, am holy.

What vessel can cleanse itself? On his own, man can offer nothing but resistance and rebellion to the Spirit's work of cleansing the heart. There is nothing in man that desires to be sanctified, and made holy. So God must put the desire in the heart.

The work is God's, and there has never been a heart so hardened that he cannot subdue it.

One of the ageless questions with no answer is why or how can two people hear the same messages, and one will determine to clean his heart, and the other harden his heart?

How does individual responsibility work with the necessity of God's work?

Individual responsibility: James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Necessity of God's work: Romans 9:18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

Only the Lord can answer that question, and we may never know the answer. But in that day, we could care less how it all worked out, for we will be consumed with the glory of God.

NEXT, preservation

Now we move from them that are sanctified by God the Father to the next major Bible doctrine of preservation — and preserved in Jesus Christ:

That in, kept in Christ, or kept by Christ

This is another contested doctrine. Growing up in a Baptist Church, I was led to believe that because we believed in "eternal security" we were Calvinists. I found that "eternal security" is a grossly misused doctrine, and few who use the term understand its all that is involved. Most Baptist churches are Arminian to the core, yet while fighting against the other points, they cling to eternal security. I do not understand how they can hold to this one point while denying the rest of "Calvinism". Over the years, I have found that Biblical eternal security requires the rest of the points of "Calvinism".

And preserved in Christ Jesus.

First, let us consider these passages:

Matthew 25:29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Luke 8:18 Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.

John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. 30 I and my Father are one.

We have dealt with the doctrine of preservation several times previously. Let us look at chapter 17, of the 1869 London Baptist Confession, Of The Perseverance Of The Saints

1. Those whom God has accepted in the beloved, effectually called and sanctified by his Spirit, and given the precious faith of his elect to, can neither totally nor finally fall from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved, seeing the gifts and callings of God are without repentance, whence he still begets and nourishes in them faith, repentance, love, joy, hope, and all the graces of the Spirit to immortality;

John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. John 10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

and though many storms and floods arise and beat against them, yet they shall never be able to take them off that foundation and rock which by faith they are fastened upon; notwithstanding, through unbelief and the temptations of Satan, the sensible sight of the light and love of God may for a time be clouded and obscured from them,

Psalms 89:31 If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments; 32 Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.
1 Corinthians 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

yet he is still the same, and they shall be sure to be kept by the power of God to salvation, where they shall enjoy their purchased possession, they being engraven upon the palm of his hands, and their names having been written in the book of life from all eternity.

Malachi 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

2. This perseverance of the saints depends not upon their own free will, but upon the immutability of the decree of election,

Romans 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Romans 9:11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) 16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father, upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ and union with him,

Romans 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
John 14:19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.

the oath of God,

Hebrews 6:17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: 18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

the abiding of his Spirit, and the seed of God within them,

1 John 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

and the nature of the covenant of grace;

Jeremiah 32:40 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.

from all which arises also the certainty and its infallibility.

3. And though they may, through the temptation of Satan and of the world, the prevalency of corruption remaining in them, and the neglect of means of their preservation, fall into grievous sins, and for a time continue therein,

Matthew 26:70 But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. 71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. 72 And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. 73 And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. 74 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. 75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.

whereby they incur God's displeasure and grieve his Holy Spirit,

Isaiah 64:5 Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved. 9 Be not wroth very sore, O LORD, neither remember iniquity for ever: behold, see, we beseech thee, we are all thy people.
Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

come to have their graces and comforts impaired,

Psalms 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. 13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

have their hearts hardened, and their consciences wounded,

Psalms 32:3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. 4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.

hurt and scandalize others, and bring temporal judgements upon themselves,

2 Samuel 12:14 Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.

yet shall they renew their repentance and be preserved through faith in Christ Jesus to the end.

Luke 22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. 61 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. 62 And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.

Quoting Manton;

"Again, this certainty of our standing in grace doth not exclude prayer: Luke xxii. 46, ‘Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation.' Perseverance is God's gift, and it must be sought in God's way; by Christ's intercession, to preserve the majesty of God, and by our prayers, that we may constantly profess our dependence upon God, and renew our acquaintance with him; besides, by asking blessings in prayer, we are the more warned of our duty; it is the means to keep us gracious and holy. As those that converse often with kings had need be decently clad, and go neat in their apparel, so he that speaketh often to God is bound to be more holy, that he may be the more acceptable to him." Jude, p. 45.

True grace may never be totality lost, though it may be greatly weakened.

Jeremiah 32:40 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.

Isaiah 54:10 For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.

God's love will not let him depart from us, and godly fear placed in the heart will not let us depart from God.

His people cannot be left to themselves, for if they were, they would surely be condemned within the hour. We cannot stand on for a moment without the Lord and our own.

Jeremiah 5:23 But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone. 14:10 Thus saith the LORD unto this people, Thus have they loved to wander, they have not refrained their feet,

2 Chronicles 32:31 Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart.

Lead us not into temptation... His Spirit alone can keep us faithful.

We are preserved only by God's gracious mercy working in us for our preservation and his glory.

The same reason that moved God to choose the elect in the beginning is the same reason he will keep them.

Christ warned of the builder who set out to build without considering the cost, and Christ considered the cost when he started the building of his kingdom. Therefore, it is to the honor of Christ to finish what he started in his people.

Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The Father chooses the vessels, Christ purchases the vessels, and the Spirit shapes the vessels into vessels of praise and honor.

Let me give just a few thoughts under preservation of the saints:

First, his people have the assurance of his preservation when they are in great troubles and distress and it seems God hides his face. At such a time, he says to his people,

Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Second, he preserves his people in the hour of temptation, doubts and corruptions, when the power of Sin seems on the verge of overwhelming us,

Romans 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

READ EGYPT

Romans 16:20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Third, he preserves his people in times of great danger of defection as they see others who are before them in knowledge, zeal and profession defect from the faith. Though great and important Bible scholars fall, God keeps his elect secure:

2 Timothy 2:18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

When well known and beloved pastors fall, they take many with them, but not the elect.

Fourth, he preserves his people in times of difficulties and discouragement with their faith. At such times of discouragement, the elect must remember the unchangeableness of God's love for his own. It is nigh impossible to be confident about our faith when our hope in the Lord is crushed.

Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

God's enabling grace is available to his elect to overcome all discouragement.

Fifth, he preserves his people at death's door when all else fails, God will not fail his people on their death bed.

Isaiah 54:10 For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.

We dealt with the called in our first message, so let me close this verse with Psalms 46.

To here, August 19, 2012