A Call to Persevere
“But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;” Jude 1:17
words which were... The apostles had warned the coming generation about apostates, so that they would be prepared and not be taken by surprise (Acts 20:28-31; 1Tim. 4:1-2; 2Tim. 3:1-5; 4:1-3; 2Pet. 2:1 – 3:4; 1Jhn. 2:18; 2Jhn. 7-11).
Fourteen End-Time Expressions
1. Latter times—last years ending this age before the Millennium (1Tim. 4:1)
2. Latter years—Armageddon and the end of this age (Eze. 38:8, 38:16)
3. Latter days—the future tribulation (Num. 24:14; Deut. 4:30; 31:29; Jer. 23:20; 30:24; 48:47; 49:39; Dan. 2:28; 10:14)
4. Latter day—Millennium (Job. 19:25)
5. Latter days—Millennium (Hos. 3:5)
6. Last days—end of this age preceding the Millennium (Dan. 8:19; 2Tim. 3:1; Jas. 5:3; 2Pet. 3:3; Jude 1:18)
7. Last day—the rapture, at least seven years before the Millennium and second advent (John 6:39, 6:40, 6:44, 6:54; 11:24.)
8. Last days—the tribulation period or last seven years of this age (Acts 2:16-21)
9. Last days—first coming (Heb. 1:1-2)
10. Last times—first coming (1Pet. 1:20)
11. Last time—apostolic times and the whole church age (1Jhn. 2:18)
12. Last time—second coming (1Pet. 1:5)
13. Last days—Millennium (Gen. 49:1; Isa. 2:1; Mic. 4:1)
14. Last day—end of the Millennium (John 12:48; cp. Rev. 20:7-15)
some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils: The first New Testament prophecy in 1 Tim. (1Tim. 4:1-5, fulfilled and still being fulfilled).
Seven Things Incited by the Mystery of Iniquity
1. Departing from the faith (1Tim. 4:1). Greek: aphistemi, to put away; remove; separate; to revolt from. Translated "depart from" (1Tim. 4:1; Luke 2:37; 4:13; 13:27; Acts 12:10; 15:38; 19:9; 22:29; 2Cor. 12:8; 2Tim. 2:19; Heb. 3:12); "refrain from" (Acts 5:38); "fall away" (Luke 8:13); and "withdraw" (1Tim. 6:5). It is possible to depart from the faith and apostasize if such passages are true. No man can depart from something that he is not in or does not have. All men do not have faith (2Thes. 3:2). Only men of that class would find it impossible to depart from faith for they have no faith to depart from. Men are warned to take heed, lest their hearts become evil and unbelieving and cause them to depart from God (Heb. 3:12).
2. Giving heed to seducing spirits (1Tim. 4:1). Greek: planos, leading astray. Translated "seducing" (1Tim. 4:1) and "deceiver" (Mat. 27:63; 2Cor. 6:8; 2Jhn. 1:7). These are deceiving demons that seduce men. To seduce means to lead astray; draw into evil; specially to entice to surrender chastity. Demons are charged with carrying out the program of enticement to forfeit virtue or surrender chastity. This is the same as forbidding to marry (point 6, below).
3. Giving heed to doctrines of devils (1Tim. 4:1). To urge departure from the faith is the first work of demons. This results in departure from holy living, and acceptance of doctrines that will damn the soul. Men who pretend inspiration and revelation and false teachers of all kinds are the agents of demons (2Cor. 11:14-15). Every religion that denies the reality of God; Christ; the Holy Spirit; the atonement; the death and the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ; sin; sickness; Satan; demons; hell; heaven; and the other fundamental doctrines of Scripture are as much of Satan and demons as the Bible and Christianity are of God.
4. Speaking lies in hypocrisy (1Tim. 4:2). Greek: pseudologos, speakers of lies in pretended revelations; putting on an act of self-denial and mortification of the flesh in order to prove their false doctrines to be truth.
5. Having the conscience seared with a hot iron (1Tim. 4:2). Greek: kauteriazo, to sear with a red hot iron; to brand; to be seared in conscience. Only here. It means to make callous, withered, hardened, and insensible to right and wrong. It was customary in ancient times to mark criminals with a hot iron so that (according to the heathen) the infernal judges would know their vices and appoint them punishment according to their sins.
6. Forbidding to marry (1Tim. 4:3). To forbid means to prohibit, hinder, oppose, or operate against. Seducing spirits influence people to hinder and operate against wedlock by enticing them to meet the demands of the sex drive apart from the sanctity of marriage. To heed (as in "giving heed to seducing spirits," 1Tim. 4:1) means to pay attention to and act under the leadership and control of. Hence, those who satisfy their sex needs through perversions—any of the ways contrary to what is approved by Scripture—are under the control, more or less, of demons (Rom. 1:21-28; Lev. 20:13; Joel 3:3). This also applies to religions that discourage or forbid marriage to anyone among laymen or clergy. Marriage is honorable to all and the bed undefiled (Heb. 13:4; 1Cor. 7:1-40).
7. Commanding to abstain from meats (1Tim. 4:3). Among the heathen and even some of the so-called Christians, certain meats and food are forbidden in utter disregard of 1Tim. 4:3-4. Such unscriptural commanding under the new covenant is prompted by demons arrayed against the gospel and the liberty it provides regarding food (Gen. 9:1-7; Rom. 14:1-6).
God’s Word is designed to warn and protect (Acts 20:31; 1Cor. 4:14). As (verse 18), indicates, there had been continually repeated warnings.
Paul says, I do not write these things to find fault with you for not providing me the necessities of life, but to warn you not to be carried away by every pretender to apostleship and not to neglect those who are God-trusted and who have brought you the message of salvation. Though you have many who offer their services as your instructors, you have only one by whom you were converted and who has a parental feeling for you. Follow or imitate me as I imitate Christ (1Cor. 4:16; 11:1; Eph. 5:1; 1Thes. 1:6; 2:14; Heb. 6:12; 1Pet. 3:13).
Jude calls on his readers to recall apostolic teaching. Today this would mean especially the New Testament.
This is a total separation from the people mentioned (in verse 16). This is speaking to the followers of God (the beloved). We, Christians, are reminded to keep our thoughts on the pure gospel message sent by the apostles from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Guidelines for Avoiding Apostasy
Having identified the apostates in expressive language, Jude gave the believers guidelines on how to avoid the apostates’ errors. It is not enough to recognize false teachers; it is also necessary to avoid falling into their errors.
Remembering the teaching of the apostles
Jude told his readers to remember what the apostles had foretold about scoffers.
0 comments:
Post a Comment