Posted, 8/22/2013

The Book of Jude

A very short review.

Jude is one of the general epistles, written by a man who identifies himself as "the servant of Jesus Christ, and the brother of James.

Matthew13:55 "Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?"
Mark 6:3 "Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him."

Both Matthew and Mark identify Jude along with James as a brother of Christ. It is beyond doubt that this Jude was one of the four brothers of Jesus.

The date is just before the destruction of Jerusalem, probably 65 or 66 AD. I point this out because Jude's warning against false teachers is only 30 or so years after Christ's ascension into heaven.

Though Jude is a very brief and often overlooked letter, its purpose is important. False teachers were already warring against and perverting the historic faith, and Jude was impressed with the necessary to speak out. By identifying himself as Jude, the brother of James, he tells the reader that he writes with the authority of both James and Jesus. He is not trying to gain respect, but he is stressing the urgency of his message, and his authority to write this warning.

He calls those to whom he writes the "sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called". They are God's own elect people, and they will listen to his warning. Being called of God, they have been made holy by God's grace. God will preserve them from falling away, and they will listen to and pass on Jude's warning.

V. 2, "Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied." This triple benediction is common in Scripture. It describes sanctified, preserved, and called. Not only does Jude desire this triple blessing upon his elect readers, but he desires it to be multiplied. This benediction or blessing was not simply a formal and courteous one, but is meant with all of Jude's being. These new churches were only 30 years old that were facing serious problems. They were being infiltrated by foreign, foreign to the truth, groups saw the amazing growth of Christianity. It was an opportunity they would not miss. The fast growth allowed them to silently come in and take over, and hijack the faith for very different and selfish purposes.

Infiltration by various unbiblical and even anti-biblical groups has been a problem from the start. Actually, the corruption of the Godly faith started at creation with Satan and Eve. A more recent example was Aaron's building of the golden calf. He sought to mix the Creator God with the Egyptian calf god.

Exodus 32:4 "And he [Aaron] received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. 5 And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the LORD."

He mixed the calf-god of Egypt with service to the Lord God, and then used Egypt's vile worship methods to worship the calf. Jeroboam, who split off the 10 tribes, Israel from Judah, after Solomon died, did the same as he set up calves in Dan and Bearsheba, and convinced the people they could worship the Lord God as well at these calves as they could in Jerusalem.

Jude is dealing with first century Gnosticism

Gnosticism was the first infiltration of the new church, and has been with us every since.

Boiled down to its lowest level, Gnosticism is the Doctrine of Salvation by knowledge, including knowledge of the mysteries of God and the mysteries of the universe. The Gnostics assumed that their superior knowledge made them a superior class of beings, above those who did not know what they knew. (Catholic Encyclopedia, http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06592a.htm)

Humanism is the great enemy philosophy of our day–making man the beginning and end of all things. All of these foreign faiths, foreign from what is revealed in Scripture, had then and have now a common desire to merge Christianity with human imaginations. These "higher thinkers" have worked and are working to remake the Christian faith in their own image–that is, into something more to their liking. With their influence, it is no longer the Christian faith.

V. 3, Jude was strongly impressed with an urgent necessity to alert Christians everywhere against the corrupting threat to "the common salvation". The common or general salvation is faith known to all. That is, Jesus Christ, God incarnate, had made atonement for the sins of His people. All the elect to whom Jude writes knew the genuine faith, the common salvation. But Jude warns of men who were infiltrating and were promoting supposedly new insights into the faith, and into new, higher and hidden truths.

The common law was at one time law known to all, for everyone knew, and knows, what God required of them. There is no longer a common law, for no one knows what the law is about anything.

V. 3. Because of the infiltration of false men with their pleasant, appealing and false doctrines, Jude said that "it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints".

From the start of the Gospel Church, wicked men have been determined to subvert or improve on the faith and modernize the Biblical Jesus to conform to modern science and ideas. This effort was then and is now the Gnostic movement, which sought to capture Christianity. Gnosticism represented the new and higher learning of its day, and of our day. It is almost impossible to explain how the new and higher learning attacks on the faith have been so readily accepted. The Elect can only marvel at the readiness of Christian's to believe men who hold higher education degrees. "Dr. So-and-So said it, so it must be true." Modern theology, philosophy and evolutionary ideas keep ancient Gnosticism alive.

The Christian faith needs no improving, and it needs no new revelation. It is complete as it once and for all time was "delivered unto the saints." We must "earnestly contend" to defend and preserve that faith.

Earnestly contend: We contend, or fight for, by constancy in faith, zeal for truth, holiness of life, mutual exhortation, prayer, suffering for the gospel, &c, against those who would pervert the gospel. (Poole)

Be strong in true doctrine and good example. Thus, we must study Scripture, for it alone contains true doctrine.

V. 4. "For there are certain men crept in unawares," That is, they have introduced themselves into the church as supposed learned leaders and wise men who consider themselves and are considered above the average person. They worm their way in by professing to preserve the faith, or with a higher revelation of the faith. It is hard to believe that these are men who, in God's predetermined plan, were Ordained to this evil purpose and to a just condemnation.

They are "ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness," which can only be done by denying the validity of the Law and the Commandments as binding on all creation, including the people of God. It is known as antinomianism. Antinomianism marked the old Gnostics and also marks the new Gnostics. That is, those who through their more complete and superior knowledge and understanding of God's word consider themselves above the rest of us whose faith says that God's laws must be our standard of holiness.

Peter defines lasciviousness:

1 Peter 4:3 "For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:"

2 Peter 2:19 "While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage."

Lasciviousness was and is simply a contempt of the law of God in the name of a higher spirituality. This claim to a higher spirituality identified Gnosticism then as it does now.

"We are New Testament Christians" claim those who dismiss the Old Testament law, prophets and the psalms. They are included in the "certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ."

V. 4. Unawares — I believe that many of these ungodly men who have changed the Biblical faith to antinomianism are unawares that what they have been taught and what they are teaching is a denial of the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ as revealed in the Old Testament law, prophets and psalms.

They teachers are not the only ones unawares, but so are the people because they do not know the Word of God.

Antinomianism is a denial of the Biblical Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ:

you have not chosen me, but I have chosen you.
If you love me, keep my commandents.
And far too many other verses to recount at this time

It is sad to think that even the many who appear to be good, Biblically sound men, preach another gospel as they dismiss the Old Testament. They are part of those who were before of old ordained to this condemnation. They are the ungodly men spoken of by Jude. They have have denied the Lord Christ, who alone is identified as the Lawgiver. (I have a book to give away, ("God has a wonderful plan for your life, the myth of the modern message", what will explain more fully Jude's serious warning here.)

Isaiah 33:22 "For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us."
James 4:12 "There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?"

The Lawgiver from the Mount is the same as the one on the Cross. To deny one is to deny the other.

1 Corinthians 11:19 "For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you."
2 Corinthians 11:4 "For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him."
Galatians 1:6 "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:"
Matthew 7:21 "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

Simply put, though preachers may loudly proclaim their love for the Lord, when they discount the law of God as binding on the Christian, they are the ones Jude is warning about. In other words, antinomianism is the faith of these who were before of old ordained to this condemnation.

I must also add in here the teachers of dispensationalism as men who destroyed the faith:

As I studied the origins of modern dispesationalism, I found that it was men with supposed superior Bible knowledge of God's mysterious ways, it was their winning ways and appealing words that took over the orthodox Christian faith. After over 150 years, the obvious anti-Christian results prove that their efforts were not ordained by God. They also turned the grace of God into lasciviousness. Their faith denies the Lord God by denying what Scriptures say about him.

Were these men ordained of old to undermine the faith and to the eternal reward of judgment for destroying the victorious faith of our Lord Jesus Christ?

However, only God knows who was before of old ordained.

2 Timothy 2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Some can be rescued to acknowledge the truth, and I have seen a few abandon their antinomian and dispensational faiths, even preachers.

Evolution is the big thing today among those who consider themselves the "upper class". The Gnostics or theological "upper class" seek to evolve the faith by adding to it or taking from it, and thus they destroy the faith. But the faith is not an evolving matter, for it "once delivered to the saints." That is, the Old Testament saints received the faith in its full form, and "the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ" was its final form. All the authors since Christ have only developed what was delivered of old.

Jude tells us that what the Old Testament saints foresaw and delivered, the New Testament simply explains. What they delivered was and is final .

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.

We grow in the grace and knowledge of the faith by knowing more and applying more of that faith of old. The faith does not grow in content, but in application. That is, the believer grows in the application of the faith as he obeys and serves the Lord. He does not develop or alter the content of the faith. Those who attempt to add to or take away from what was once delivered to the saints of old, are denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ .

Jude's words are strong, telling us that they were before of old ordained... Jude would be stoned today for such strong condemnation of those who change the faith.

The Gnostics saw themselves as the truly enlightened ones, as more spiritual than those whose faith was simply to believe and obey God's word. Those promoting Gnosticism so thoroughly adapted it to the thought of its age that it died with that age in its then existing form. Even in that early age, as it is now, Biblical Christianity is considered foolishness, to be replaced by man's wisdom–to something that fits in better with man's ideas of God. The wisdom of man clearly resists election, predesignation and many more of the mysterious acts of God:

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. 22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

Those who actually believe and live by the Word of God are considered foolish and out of touch with modern times. This has been as true over the centuries as it is true now. The faithful believer has commonly been seen as a hindrance to the "progress" of the faith, and he has commonly been treated with contempt.

I think a small example of this is the use of these modern translations that do not use the common text as the basis of their translations.

Jude's letter is a general warning to the church against all attempts to improve upon Christianity by making it more acceptable to modern man. He seriously condemns those who seek to change or improve the word of God. Of course, Moses, David and John in the Revelation all three place a great curse against those who seek to add to or detract from the faith as once delivered to the saints.

Jude's warning speaks to far more than just the movement of his day. The entire fallen world hates Jesus Christ and his people. The religious leaders of old did everything possible to capture and revise the true faith when it was being delivered by the holy men of old. That effort has only gained momentum since Christ. Wicked, unbelieving men have continued in their undying efforts to capture the faith and use it for their own agenda.

Jude's letter is a warning against all the enemies of the true "fath which was once delivered to the saints."

Apostasy

Apostasy– It has been described as "a willful falling away from, or rebellion against, the Christian truth. Apostasy is the rejection of Christ by one who has been a professed Christian.... Apostasy is opposite of Conversion, or it can be called deconversion. Example: Judas.
We see that Jude's concern was over the subtle unbiblical system of faith that was gaining and increasing it influence against the true faith. Paul put it like this:

2 Corinthians 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

Satan offered Eve something that looked, sounded and tasted good, and won her heart from the truth.

We are surrounded by evil doctrines, all passing themselves off at the truth, yet each offering a better way. Jude's warning is just as sure for us today as it was for his day.

The Apostle Paul identifies heresies, or departures from the faith, and he denounces them all as he calls attention to the errors and the messengers of error.

On the other hand, Jude approach is different as he tells his readers they "should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints." Other men like Paul, John and Peter, had drawn a clear and distinct line between true and false. Now Jude says we must fight for and defend the truth and purity of the faith.

In v. 5, Jude reminds his readers of history, of how Israel was miraculously redeemed out of Egyptian bondage. Down through Church history, Israel's redemption has been the example of Christian redemption from the bondage of sin.

Jude points out that though Israel had had been miraculously redeemed from Egypt, Israel's ingratitude and rebelliousness caused God to destroy almost the whole nation. Though God continued his miraculous care for Israel with one miracle after another in the wilderness, he still destroyed his carefully protected people because of their unbelief.

Why then should God spare the apostasy and corruption in the early Church? Obviously, Jude was writing before the fall of Jerusalem, or he would have made reference to it as a great example of God's judgement against corruption and unbelief.

He tells them to remember God's great example of judgment on unbelief. Neither they nor we can plead ignorance. It is tempting to say that when Israel left Egypt, they were slaves with a slave mentality, and not as enlightened as our present generation. As we have said many times, a man's morality dictiates his theology. Israel's problem was not a theological problem; it was a moral problem.

Israel's Exodus problem was like our problem: they trusted in their own understanding of the Lord, to thier own destruction.

We come back to the Gnostics— they stressed then and stress now intellectual understanding and dismisse moral issues as simple minded. Their writings lacked then and lack now lack a moral foundation, and only dealt with abstract ideals rather than the realities of sin.

V. 5 the Lord "saved the people out of the land of Egypt,". Yet Israel chose to conveniently neglect, or to treat their deliverance as something God owed to them because they were the chosen people.

How many professed Christians of our day believe that because they are part of the people of God, then they deserve the best from God? They then get caught up in serving the cause of man, the new Tower of Babel, rather than remembering that their call is to serve the cause of the Kingdom of God.

Thus, Jude's first example of apostasy and ingratitude is Israel after its deliverance from Egypt.

His second example is the company of fallen angels. They refused to be content with their first area of responsibility given to them by God. They were created by God for a high and holy purpose and places of power in his holy order. But evidently they wanted more power.

And thus they forsook the dignity and power given to them by God, rebelled against God, and lost their privileged place.

V. 6. They did not remain in their proper place or office; they left their proper habitation as they rebelled against God. The result is that they are now "in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day" (v. 6).

Jude is not attempting to explain the hidden things of God and the fall of the angles. Rather, he is warning Christians who may be tempted to go astray after the subtle and false teachings. He tells Christians that they are more privileged than was Israel of the Exodus, and more privileged than even the fallen angels.

Jude is saying, If these things happened to them, than why would it not happen to you. You are the most privileged people because of Christ.

Israel was privileged to have a miraculous God deliver them.
The angles were privileged to have a high place of power and authority.

Jude's third example is Sodom and Gomorrah and the other cities of the plain. They were privileged to have a rich, fertile and well watered land which was lush and green.

V. 7 lists two particular sins for which they lost their privilege.

1. "giving themselves over to fornication,"
2. "going after strange flesh."

Note the instruction to the new church issued by the Elders at Jerusalem:

Acts 21:25 As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.

The word fornication covers more than sexual acts, although this is a part of the meaning. It means lasciviousness, blasphemous, attitudes, and all the works of the flesh as comvered in the second half of the commandments.

"Strange flesh" refers to sodomy and other throughly abominable similar acts.

The cities were wealthy, proud, and arrogant.

Those who live in cities see more of man's works than of God's, so they are prone to see man independent of God. With this attitude, the cities are more prone to become ungrateful and apostate.

How many times have we heard people say that the Bible and the Biblical faith is old fashion, and needs to be brought up to date so it will appeal more to the masses. The faith has been changed, as well as the gospel in order to appeal more to the modern age. These "certain men who have crept in unawares" are as the Gnostics of old who saw themselves as men who advance the faith because they were in harmony with the age. They consider it absurd for men to cling to the faith once delivered to the saints rather than merge with the highest of men's wisdom.

Rather than tolerate or merge with men's wisdom, Jude's requirement is simple: "ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" (v. 3).

Modern man's thinking concerning the myth of Darwin as against the Biblical account of Creation is a good example of what the early Church faced. Our evolution vs creation war is exactly the kind of thing Jude speaks to. Contend for the Biblical faith.

And we are given the example of Israel, the angels who fell, and Sodom and Gomorrah. All three were privilege, yet fell judged for rebellion against the truth.

The teachers and followers who depart from the faith once delivered to the saints will be likewise judged, though they may have a privileged position.

As I considered v. 12, I remembered that either Peter wrote a commentary on Jude, or Jude summed up what Peter said. 2 Peter 2 and Jude are almost identical. But we are not at this point comparing Peter and Jude, though Peter is Jude expanded. The major difference is that 2 Peter 2 deals with identifying and warning against the false prophets. On the other hand, Jude identifies, warns and then calls for individual Christian warfare against the false prophets and their corrupt doctrine which undermine the Old Testament.

Scattered throughout Scripture we are given glimpses of the secret and hidden things of God, as we have here in Jude. But Scripture is not given to answer idol curiosity. In this case, Jude is showing us God's wrath against those who undermine the faith once delivered to the Saints. He is warning against false teachers, as well as urging the Elect to earnestly to contend for the true faith of old.

It is the sin of disrespect for the Word of God that Jude tells us is the key of the ungodly, in particular those who pretend to be true believers and are not.

This section opens with v. 8 Likewise also these dreamers. The Geneva uses sleepers.

Dreamers is a figure of speech for being beguiled with sensual images and carried away with sin.

Paul identifies the dreamers of v. 8

Philippians 3:17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. 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.)

Albert Barnes says:

to dream; and is applied to these persons as holding doctrines and opinions which sustained the same relation to truth which dreams do to good sense. Their doctrines were the fruits of mere imagination, foolish daydreams, vagaries and fancies.

Jamason Fauset Brown adds this:

All sinners are spiritually asleep, and their carnal activity is as it were a dream

Jude's dreamers are in a dream world, deluded by their absurd, though pleasing imaginations, just as our dreams are absurd, but sometimes pleasing. (Poole.) They imagine that their ideas are truth, and search for Scriptural support. Yet their theories undermine the faith; they are corruptions of the truth once delivered to the saints, and their foolish and vain doctrines result in their own condemnation.

Consider:

Proverbs 6:16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

Lamentations 3:60 Thou hast seen all their vengeance and all their imaginations against me.

Romans 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Vain and foolish dreams come from rejecting the truth as revealed by the holy men of old. Thus, their imaginations dream up strange and foolish doctrines that appeal to the fallen nature, and then they promote his strange and foolish doctrines that corrupt the truth. I do not believe most of these evil men intentionally corrupt the truth. Rather they simply promote what they have been taught and what they imagine is a better way to understand and serve God. When one denies the attributes of the God of the saints of old, they serve a god after their own imagination.

One of the saints of old to whom the faith was delivered was Jeremiah:

Jeremiah opens with this promise: 3:17 At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart.

He is referring to the age of the Gospel Church.

Jeremiah is the primary saint who speaks of the ungodly dreamers as is so prevelant today:

Jeremiah 9:14 But have walked after the imagination of their own heart, and after Baalim, which their fathers taught them:
Jeremiah 13:10 This evil people, which refuse to hear my words, which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing.
Jeremiah 16:12 And ye have done worse than your fathers; for, behold, ye walk every one after the imagination of his evil heart, that they may not hearken unto me:
Jeremiah 18:12 And they said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart.
Jeremiah 23:17 They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.

We are surrounded by people who are serving the gods made up after the imagination.

Sadly, they were before of old ordained to this condemnation... But we will see that James does not leave all who serve their imaginary gods in this condemnation.

V. 8. The fallen imagination of the dreamers:

1) Defile the flesh, or have a contempt of the flesh. Likewise, they give themselves over to the vile lascivious practices–that is, unlawful practices, for they despise God's law as once delivered to the saints. We rightfully condemn the sodomites unlawful practices as they give themselves over to many lusts of the flesh.

But the religious man who serves the gods after his own imagination will be just as lost as the sodomite.

The dreamers consider themselves more than man as they exalt themselves against the True God as revealed in His Word.

2) despise dominion. Dominions here refers to angelic offices, as in v. 6. (Parallel passage, 2 Peter 2:10. Eph. 1:21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

Col. 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:)

The corruptors of the faith silently creep into the church in order to take authority that is not theirs, as did the angels of old who left their first estate, v. 6. The God ordained purpose of these certain men is to undermine the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

3) Speak evil of dignities. Dignities refers to other authorities as defined in Scripture, including Godly pastors and teachers, as well as godly civil authorities. All godly authorities, home, civil and religious are despised by these enemies of the faith, so they speak evil of them, and work to undermine their Kingdom work.

Vv. 9 & 10 give us a clear statement about the use of language. Jude's words here tie in clearly with what his brother James said about the tongue.

When the archangel Michael was contending with the devil about the body of Moses, he did not dare make a "railing accusation" against the devil, simply saying, "The Lord rebuke thee."

This is the only place in Scripture where the body of Moses is mentioned. Theologians have speculated for years what took place here, even denying that it took place. But our faith in God's word requires us to believe it took place just as revealed by Jude.

We are not given this information to show us the secret workings of God. Rather, it is given to teach us how to live a righteous and holy life. That life of faith involves confronting the dreamers who corrupt the faith, defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

Confronting the dreamers must be done according to the Word of God, and in the authority of the Lord, for not even the highly place archangel, Michael, dared not to personally confront the devil. He simply turned the devil over to the Lord for his proper judgment.

V. 9, Railing (TDNT, OLB) Defined as blasphemy–a Jewish concept of violating God's power and majesty. Thus, the Jews charged the Messiah with blasphemy as He made Himself equal with God.

The Geneva gives the best understanding of this unusual account of Michael's confrontation with the devil:

V. 9. An argument of comparison: Michael one of the chiefest angels, was content to deliver Satan, although a most accursed enemy, to the judgment of God to be punished: and these perverse men are not ashamed to speak evil of the powers who are ordained of God.

In other words, even Michael would not speak evil against Satan, for Satan was and still is a power ordained by God. Rather, Michael committed Satan to the Lord, who alone has the power to judge and punish. Yet the men of v. 8, are not afraid to bring railing accusations against the powers ordained by God, whether human or spiritual powers.

We could develop some good message about proper and improper judgment here, but that is not the purpose of our message today.

Let me refer to just a few verses:

Matthew 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.

John 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

Suffice it to say that though judgment is the prerogative of God. But where God does empower and require us render just judgment, we must do so. Otherwise, if we do not have the Biblical authority to judge and rebuke, then like Michael, we must leave proper rebuke against the certain men crept in unawares to God. Judgment must be exercised only as the Lord permits it according to His word. Michael shows the proper restraint.

The wheat and tares must grow together until the final day when the angels are sent forth to reap, and they then do the separation.

V. 10. The enemies of truth–the truth as found in the Word of God as once delivered to the saints–are found quietly worked their way into places of authority in the church. From those places of authority, they are very ready to speak evil of those things which they know not .

They are compared to brute beasts, and like brute beasts, their only source of knowledge is simply a physical knowledge, or what they have dreamed up in their imaginations, v. 8. They have no spiritual insight, and they judge and condemn others for not following them is serving the gods after their imagination. They corrupt themselves and lead multitudes of others into their corruption.

V. 11, Jude says that such people run frantically in the ways of Cain, Balaam, and Korah. These are three examples of men who clearly knew the truth, but were totally joined to error by their sin:

First, Cain is a type of unrighteousness. He rejected God's ordained sacrifice for the way he though was best.
Second, Balaam sold his knowledge of the truth for money. He covetousness led to deceit and judgment.
Third, Korah is a type of rebellion against Godly authority, as he rebelled against God's appointed authority, Moses.

Such people are against all Godly authority because they refuse to acknowledge any authority except their own. They are victims of their own dreams, as they serve their imaginary gods.

V. 12, they are blots on the church, as a drop of grease on a clean shirt or blouse. Their presence at the church dinners is an ugly one. With their deceit, they fearlessly enrich themselves from their followers. They are like the fire that saith not, It is enough. Pro 30:16.

Feeding themselves without fear refers to Ezekiel 34:2-8. Notice God's curse against them.

As pretended leaders, they were to feed the flock, not to feed off the flock. But in their imagined self-importance they felt entitled to whatever they wanted.

They were clouds without water as they offer empty promises in the name of their imaginary god, nourishing rain upon a dry land.

Note that they are blown around by the winds of false doctrine. That is, they are not anchored to sound doctrine as given of old, but go whichever way will produce the most self-enrichment. Our defence?

Ephesians 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Peter describes those of v. 12. I suppose we should read 2 Peter 2, staring with 2 Peter 1:20-2:22

Jude 12, they are like dead fruit trees which have no fruit. They are twice dead. Dead rootless trees because they abandoned the Old Testament roots of the faith. They are easily plucked up because they are rootless.

Colossians 2:7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the Old Testament faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

V. 13. Jude continues his description of these pretenders to the faith. In their false claims to wisdom, they are comparable to raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame. They are turbulent and restless, making a big splash as they crash on the shore. As the raging waves cannot restrain from crashing, the dreamers cannot restrain from sin as they pursue their imagined self-importance. They are a troublesome hindrance to the church.

They are compared to wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. The reference here is probably to meteors. Though lifeless, barren and useless, they make a great show, bright, shining and highly visible streak of light. Then they pass into eternal darkness.

Vv. 14-15, Jude refers to a statement by Enoch, the seventh from Adam, who prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

Enoch is another reference as is the body of Moses, which is only found in Jude. There are references to these two events in apocryphal books which have been dropped from the Geneva and from the AV. I do not know why. Apocryphal means "Being of questionable authenticity."

The question has been, "Was Jude quoting from them?" If so, why are those books not considered inspired and left in our Bibles? Or is Jude just citing two historical events which were well known in his day, and were included in the apocryphal books? We do know that the apocryphal writers quoted from the legitimate gospels.

Evidently, Jude was referring to sources well known in his day, and were used by other writers as well.

Regardless, we know that Jude wrote under the inspiration of the HolyGhost.

V. 16. Jude concludes his view of these heretics by telling us that the priorities of these heretics are man-centered, which was the warning found in Ezekiel 34:2-8.

Jude identifies the intruders as teachers of the worst sort. He tells us that they are as destructive as the devil himself, even doing the work of the devil as they undermine the true faith as it was once delivered to the Old Testament saints. Their words are empty, and are crafted to accomplish their own personal advantage. They are utterly unsafe to follow, as they direct their followers down the wide path to destruction.

Vv. 9, 10, Michael simply said to Satan, The Lord rebuke thee. On the other hand, Jude very straight forward and bluntly condemns the false teachers. Jude is rebuking the Gnostic teachers by inspiration, so his words are much more than his own.

We also must expose and rebuke false teachers, but only in meekness and with the inspired word of God. The Word of the Lord rebukes, and here is the Inspired Word. We have absolutely no authority on our own to rebuke the most wicked of sinners. Our authority is of the Lord. We cannot express our personal opinions concerning the evil activities and words of others.

Paul rebuked sinners by name in the name of the Lord God.

V. 16, Jude calls attention to the evil character of these false leaders.

First, they are grumblers, complainers, whose pretense to greater holiness is based on their supposed sensitivity. Nothing pleases them except what might be in their endeavors for themselves.

Second, they are malcontents pleased with nothing because they believe nothing and are determined to corrupt the faith.

Third, here in Jude, their only guide is their passionate love of material prosperity and exaltation above others of the faith

"Righteous judgment" is thus necessary

John 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

Vv. 17-23

V. 4, For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness or licence to sin, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

I have met and spoken with more than a few who I found to be ungodly men of v. 4. They not only were in the leadership of large churches, but the ungodly men are far too common among the people. Then the godly get fed up with the ungodly men, leave the large churches, and seek a smaller, reformed congregation. Sadly, they find the same problem there. Discouragement sets in, followed by despair: "What's the use. There is no truth nor godliness".

I know Gary is an ungodly man, but he does not profess to be different. However, one of his employees is a preacherett, and she was one of those involved in the fraud at the Baker fire and rescue. He said all preachers are hypocrites. He sees no truth nor godliness in Christianity, so is it any wonder he is what he is?

"No truth nor godliness even among professed Christians" is the discouraged attitude Jude now deals with. He now tells his readers that they have been warned many times by Christ's Apostles. Despair will set in if those who desire godliness do not heed Jude's warning.

Jude tells us the ungodly men were common in early church of his day. As the congregation of the Lord has grown, so has the presence of the ungodly men. Why would we expect the enemy of all truth and godliness to lie down and die because we have come to know the truth and desire to live godly? In fact, he will work even harder to undermine the truth and destroy the faith once delivered to the saints of old.

We might also point out that ungodly men in general, whether in civil government, the work place, the families, religious assemblies, also become more common as sin increases. We have been warned, so why should we be surprised?

V. 17, But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.

Jude reminds his readers that the apostles told of the development of ungodly men who would come in to undermine the faith.

V. 17, Remember the words... Looking back on the words of warning by the apostles, I was impressed by the many warnings about the ungodly men spoken of by Jude. Here are nine clear warnings by the Apostles, not counting Jude:

First, Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

As Paul departed from Miletus to go to Jerusalem, not knowing what was ahead for him, he sent for the Elders of the Church. When they came, he told them that after he left, grevious wolves would enter in among them to draw disciples after them with perverse doctrines.

Second, Paul says this about the ungodly men: 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their work.
V. 19, For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

Paul warns of the messengers of Satan who come into the church disguised as apostles of Christ. They are committed to their own cause. Satan pays them well with the money their followers think they are giving to God.

Paul tells us that it is in God's eternal plan, ungodly men, must infiltrate the church. All through Jude's book, he builds on v. 4, telling us that the ungodly men who undermine the Old Testament gospel truth were and even today are of old ordained by God to the purpose of turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness–license to sin. Their God ordained purpose in the church is lead people into denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

God's purpose through these ungodly men is to sort the true believers and followers of Christ from the false professors—that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. Jude identifies the ungodly in v. 3.

Who wants to believe that God ordained certain men to come into the church and lead it away from the faith once delivered unto the Old Testament saints?

Third, Romans 11:1-5 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, 3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. 4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. 5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

How many times throughout history from the start has Elias' cry been the cry of the elect? No doubt even Enoch, the seventh from Adam also cried out to God, "Am I the last one left?" But we see in Jude 14 that Enoch was confidant of God's just judgment against those who undermine the faith. Thus far, Enoch prophecy is 6,000 years old, for the Lord has not yet come in total judgement against the ungodly.

Fourth, Romans 16:17,18 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

Those who undermine the faith once delivered with to the saints with their good words and fair speech are to be avoided, for they serve the god of their belly—that is, they are following their own fallen lusts.

Fifth, 1 Timothy 4:1-5 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: 5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

V. 5, various creatures are set apart, or sanctified, by the word of God for lawful use. No command of man can make it holy or unholy. But that is not our study. Paul tells Timothy that seductive men with devilish doctrines will infiltrate the physical body of believers with unbiblical ideas that appeal to the flesh.

Sixth, 2 Timothy 3:1-9 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. 9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.

Paul warns Timothy of the certain men, who were before of old ordained to condemnation, who creep into the church. They profess undying love for Christ – they have an air of Godliness about them, but deny the power thereof. They are lovers of self rather than lovers of God. Their goal is to please the flesh, and they make their way into the church both to undermine the truth and to fleece the flock. They attract those who are themselves victims of their own lusts.

There is big money in telling people what they want to believe, for they will believe what they want to believe. I have been caught in that expensive trap more times than I care to remember.

Before ordained... Did God ordain them to ever lasting destruction, or did He ordain to simply leave them to the happiness as they pursue their own lusts? They lead astray only those who are already victims of their own lusts–those who believe what they want to believe. People are led astray because they want to be led astray. God simply leave then in their pleasant land of their own fallen lusts.

These ungodly men undermine the faith once delivered by the Old Testament saints, and the church is led into open error of denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ as He was revealed by the saints of old.

Seventh, 1 John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

The Apostle John also issues several warnings concerning the spirit of antichrist. The spirit of the antichrist is in the ungodly men who undermine the Old Testament faith as it was uniformly delivered to the saints of old. That spirit will be very active throughout the Gospel Age, undermining the faith..

Eighth, 2 Peter 2, 3, Peter expands the details of Jude's warning with assurance of judgment coming upon the certain men, who were before of old ordained to condemnation. Those certain ungodly men not only dismiss the faith as delivered by the saints of old, but teach the appealing doctrine that there is no final judgment before a Holy God, and that the advocacy of Jesus Christ is unnecessary.

Though God may take his time, and because of that length of time, men will deny the coming judgment. But judgement will come just as sure is it did in Noah's day. Jude 14, final judgment against the certain ungodly men has now lingered for 6,000 years.

2 Peter 3:5-7 tells us that the ungodly men are willingly ignorant of judgment as they pursue their own lusts, and lead others in that pursuit.

Jude does much more than warn. He does not even hint that we are to stand back helpless and tolerate ungodly men and their corrupting doctrines that undermine the faith of old. Rather, Jude issues a call from the Most High and Holy God to all followers of Christ to wage war against doctrines that are contrary to the faith as delivered to the saints. And those who are called by God are equipped by God.

Warnings from Christ and from the Apostles. We do not comprehend the seriousness of the problem, and the importance of serious contention for the faith as delivered by the Old Testament saints. We must not dismiss the issue nor our responsibility lightly. We will give an account to God as to how we contended for that faith in our areas of influence.

We see today the results of years of work by the enemy against the truth as presented in the Old Testament. Multitudes of religious leaders openly deny the word of God and its presentation of God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. Even "Bible Believing" churches have corrupted the truth faith of old concern the law, concerning election, concerning the doctrine of salvation, and many more points than we can mention.

I even know of men who claim to be Calvinist and Reformed dismiss the Old Testament as irrelevant for the Gospel Church. They have cut themselves off from the true faith as delivered to the saints?

From the time of the first introduction of the Gospel of Christ in the Garden, there has been a cycle of purity of Godly faith and apostasy from that faith.

From the time of Apostles, we can read of God raising up Godly men to purify the faith, men such as Whitfield and Spurgeon who called their generation back to faith and godliness.

As we follow the cycle, it looks like the faith is disappearing from the earth again, but our generation is not unique, as we see from see from Scripture. In God's good time, He will raise up men to call the church back to the faith once delivered to the saints, and the cycle will start over again. Purity and then apostasy.

But the faith delivered by the saints of old has not left us hopeless nor helpless in the hands of ungodly men:

Deuteronomy 4:30 When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; 31 (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.

Vv. 17-20, Jude reminds his readers that the apostles predicted the development of apostasy. Jesus Christ created a new human race by His atoning death and resurrection, and by His regenerating power:

1 Corinthians 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Redemption through His blood places one into the kingdom of His dear Son:

Colossians 1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

God's new race is involved in the great war of the ages, and it will not be settled quickly nor in their lifetime. So Jude says, remember the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.

V. 18, the last time, or the last days. Every such reference is to the time from Christ's resurrection to the general resurrection at the end of time, a time of the Gospel Church, a time in which all Christians live.

These last times are marked by mockers, certain men who have crept in unawares, corrupt men who are ordained of old for the purpose of undermining the faith, v. 4. V. 16, Notice that God permits their uncontrolled lusts to motivate them to corrupt the faith. And those who believe their false report finance the certain men.

In other words, God does not restrain their lusts, so they serve the god of the belly with all their might. They are motivated by their lusts, and by the desire to put down Christ, undermining or destroying His kingdom and discouraging His people by mockery. The desires of the religious leaders of Christ's day continue, only under other names and forms.

In v. 15, the word ungodly is used four times to describe Christ's enemies; it is used here again in v. 18. History exposes the work of the mockers who walk after their own lusts. History shows a savage contempt and hostility toward Christ and His people.

V. 19, holiness is a separation unto God, but the ungodly have their own form of separation—separation to unholiness. Having not the spirit, these ungodly people separate themselves to a purely sensual or physical existence as they are motivated by their own ungodly lusts.

Life for them is man-centered, not God-centered. Nor can they understand God-centered living. Moreover, their man-centered life is threatened by those who live Godly, so war rages against the Godly.

Jude has issued his Call to Battle. Now he issues the Arms of Battle.

V. 20, Jude now equips those he has called upon to contend for the faith with their means to carry on that war. That is by building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost.

Our enemy is the self-righteousness corruptors of the faith, v. 3.

In v. 20, Jude gives us our two weapons with which to wage a successful warfare against corruption — building up in the faith as established in the Old Testament and prayer as commanded in the New Testament.

To wage an effective war against the ungodly men, we must be thoroughly familiar with the faith as presented by the Old Testament saints. We must study the Old Testament law, prophets and the psalms from which our Lord and the Apostles taught:

Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

In other words, because Christians ignore, dismiss and do not know the Old Testament, the ungodly men are able to creep in with their corruptions to the destruction of the faith.

If we will carry on an effective warfare against the corruptors, we must study and know the faith as delivered by God to the saints of old.

V. 21, Prayer recognizes our needs and our dependence on the triune God. As we know and admit our sins and shortcomings, we will keep ourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Our salvation is an act of the Lord's mercy and grace, and Jude reminds Christians of this fact. Christians must not presume on the Lord's grace by assuming that once saved, they are now a members of a deserving group. From start to finish, the Elect are entirely dependent on the Lord's grace and mercy.

V. 22, Jude has spoken very clearly about the heretics, false teachers, and troublemakers. Now he makes a distinction. Some are not as are others, but are redeemable. Having compassion upon the ungodly, some will respond, and be rescued from the error of their ways.

As were a great many who now follow the true faith, I was once included in the ranks of the heretics and false teachers, but the Lord delivered me. The Lord made a difference.

Though the ungodly men maybe religious leaders, close friends, or even family members, we must confront their false doctrines. Like firemen, we are to pull them out of the fire with the truth as delivered to us by the holy men of old.

Also like firemen, we are in great danger of being engulfed in the fire.

May 31, 4 firefighters were killed in a massive blaze in Houston. They had gone in the blazing fire to make sure no one was trapped when the roof collapsed on them. (http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Four-firefighters-die-in-5-alarm-hotel-fire-in-4566085.php?cmpid=hpfsln)

Pulling them out of the fire has great risks of drawing us into the fire. We must be fearful of the ease with which their sin can be transmitted to others and to us.

V. 23, in our kindness and love for them, we cannot be indifferent to their sin. We must hate even the garment spotted by the flesh. Scripture is very clear concerning the danger of leprosy. The leper had to be kept away from the clean for fear of contamination. As one was to take care with those who had leprosy, we must take care with those spotted by the flesh. Their disease is highly contagious. Our concern to help them must not blind us to the danger of being infected.

Vv. 24-25, Jude uses a common closing prayer:

First, God preserves His own; He is the one who keeps us from falling—eternal security or the doctrine of the preservation of the saints.

Second, God shall present us in His good time to the very presence of the fullness of His glory with exceeding joy.

Third, v. 25, we must give credit To the only wise God our saviour,...glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

For all eternity, we will praise God as our infinite, almighty, and omniscient resource. His praise in this life is a wellspring of life and joy.

Jude's warning is against all who would corrupt any doctrine that is contrary to what was delivered by the saints of old. He identifies those corruptors as ungodly men, who from old were ordained to undermine the faith and ordained to eternal condemnation.

Those ungodly men dismiss the Old Testament, and reject the faith given there.

The ungodly men offer a gospel that is not founded in the laws of the Old Testament sacrifices, such as "God has a wonderful plan for your life" or "Pray this prayer", or "Turn your life over to God". Their plans are many, as they fail to emphasize sin and the necessity of a sinless substitute for their sin.

Jude does not leave the ungodly men in a hopeless situation. But with great caution, love and patience, some can be rescued from the judgment fire.

Jude's call is for warfare against the false doctrines. He identifies our weapons for this warfare as sound knowledge of the Old Testament and prayer. Without these weapons, we will be victims of the ungodly men and their false doctrines.

As we pointed out, Gnosticism reigns in the religious community, as men try to submit the wisdom of God to the wisdom of this world. Men, even under the name of Christian, love anything but the truth. Those who love truth will be hated by even those who claim to be Christians, but their hatred of the truth reveals the truth about them.

Antinomianism hates the faith once delivered to the saints. It is another religion, as is Arminianism, It hates the idea of a Sovereign God of providence, who controls all events in history. The natural man loves both: One voids the laws of God, the other leaves man to the imagination of his own mind, thinking he controls his own destiny.

Both are another gospel, offered by another jesus than what Paul presented

Our responsibility is to confront false doctrine, and do all we can to rescue those caught in the web of false doctrine.

Bro Need