MEDITATIONS FROM JUDE

January 31, 2007   

Reading: Jude 1:1-25

"Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling" Jude 24

The book of Jude is written by the Apostle to warn those who are "called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ," of those who had "crept in unnoticed" and "turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ."

The message about these spurious believers is that, although they seem to be one with you in your devotion to God, they are in reality "clouds without water, late autumn trees without fruit, and raging waves of the sea."

When they have gained your trust and lulled you to sleep, they will begin introducing ungodly teachings, even to the point of denying that Jesus Christ is not God. Today, we have those who preach under the banner of Christianity, that all Believers will one day become a son of God equal to Jesus Christ. So many are fooled by such a teaching that they donate so much money to their cause that they can live in multi-million dollar homes, fly around the world in their own jet aircraft, and live a life of luxury far above the means of those who support them.

There are those who teach the same as those about whom Jude wrote specifically-that lewdness is okay with God so adultery, fornication, same sex marriage, etc. is not to be frowned upon and will not be judged by God. These men and women are "sheep in wolves clothing" and are "wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever." Listen to the words of John:

"Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God." and "If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him" 2 John 1:9-10.

Each of the Apostles whose writings we have in the scriptures, as well as Jesus Himself, warn against these persons, yet, two thousand years later, such gainsayers are prevalent in our assemblies, especially in so-called civilized countries. The assemblies at Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, and Sardis were victims of such problems and Jesus directed John to write to them requiring them to repent. These false teachers may be able to fool some men and women but they cannot fool God. He knows and sees all and will judge each of them according to His righteous and holy standard - Jude14-15.

Read again the wonderful conclusion to Jude's letter and be encouraged. You who truly belong to Him, He will "keep you from stumbling" into these fallacies, and will "present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy." What a wonderful difference between verses 14-15 and 24-25.

"But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works" 2 Corinthians 11:12-15.

"For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world -- our faith.5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 John 5:4-5.