Jude Chapter 1 Vs. 4

 

Judgment on False Teachers

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, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. Jude 1:4

certain men crept... Certain men came into the church under false pretenses and began to sow discord (cp. Gal. 2:4; 1Pet. 2:1). These were infiltrating, false teachers pretending to be true, who on the surface looked like the real thing, but whose intentions were to lead God’s people astray (Mat. 7:15; Acts 20-29; Gal. 2:4-5; 1Tim. 4:1-3; 1Jhn. 2:18-23).

ordained to this... Greek: prographo. Translated "ordain before" (Jude 1:4); "write aforetime" (Rom. 15:4); "write" (Rom. 15:4); "write afore" (Eph. 3:3); and "set forth evidently" (Gal. 3:1). It means their condemnation was already settled and recorded in Scripture examples (Jude 1:5-7). Apostasy and apostates in general were written about and condemned many centuries before, such as illustrated (in verses 5-7), and spoken of as Enoch did (in verses 14-16; Isa. 8:19-21; 47:9-15; Hos. 9:9; Zeph. 3:1-8). Their doom was “pre-written” in Scripture as a warning to all who would come later. Jesus had warned about them (in Mat. 7:15-20; Acts 20:29). The most recent warning had been (2Pet. 2:3, 17; 3:7). This refers to the judgment spoken of by others “long beforehand.” Jude’s present ‘expose’ of apostates placed them in the path of the very judgment of God, written of previously. Jude recognizes that Scripture often predicts the demise and judgment of any who flaunt God’s will. False teachers and apostates have been generally condemned as early as Old Testament times (1Kgs. 18; Isa. 8:19-21; Jer. 29:9, 31; Hos. 9:9; Zeph. 3:1-8). The Scriptures condemn in the most forceful terms those who twist the doctrine of God’s grace to allow and approve gross sexual immorality and those who deny the deity, atonement and miracles of Jesus Christ.

The men in question are wrongly assuming that grace means “no moral laws.” They thus effectively deny the sovereignty and eternal moral lordship of both the Father and the Son.

ungodly men, turning... Greek: asebes, irreligious (Jude 1:4, 1:15; 1Tim. 1:9; 1Pet. 4:18; 2Pet. 2:5; 3:7). Literally “impious” or “without worship.” Their lack of reverence for God was demonstrated by the fact that they infiltrated the church of God to corrupt it and gain riches from its people (verses 15, 16, 18, 19).

licentiousness, and denying... Literally “unrestrained vice” or “gross immorality.” Which describes the shameless lifestyle of one who irreverently flaunts God’s grace by indulging in unchecked and open immorality (Rom. 6:15).

the grace of... Three Chief Sins of the Ungodly:

1. Greek: metatithemi, to place differently; to change for oneself; to change one’s opinion to a new one; retract. Translated "turning" (Jude 1:4); "translate" (Heb. 11:5); "carry over" (Acts 7:16); "remove" (Gal. 1:6); and "change" (Heb. 7:12). Ungodly men used the grace and mercy of God to cover up their sins of lasciviousness; hiding in religion to commit the most horrible sex perversions.

2. Denying the only Lord God (Jude 1:4). They denied the right of God to rule their lives, so they could continue to sin.

3. Denying the Lord Jesus Christ (Jude 1:4; 2Pet. 2:1).

These apostates were Satan’s counterfeits, most likely posing as itinerant teachers (2Cor. 11:13-15; 2Pet. 2:1-3; 2Jhn. 2:7-11). Their stealth made them dangerous. They were characterized by 3 features:

(1) They were ungodly;

(2) They perverted grace; and

(3) They denied Christ.

Even at this early stage of the Christian movement, there were those who were bringing in messages that were not true. We see these evil men had crept in unaware to those in charge. They were of the devil, and they were intent in turning people away from the truth to believe a lie. Just because someone sits on the pew next to you in church does not mean they are godly.

Sometimes they are sent there by the devil himself to bring false teachings in the church and to damage the gospel message. These evil men had brought sin into the church. They had even gone so far as to declare the Lord Jesus Christ not to be God in the flesh. They really were denying the Father and the Son.

Lord Jesus Christ... Two Greek words for Jesus are used here. The apostates disowned Christ as sovereign Lord (despotes, a person who wields power oppressively; a tyrant). And disdained any recognition of Christ as honorable Lord (kurios), by their wicked behavior.

The better New Testament manuscripts omit God in the text, placing the emphasis clearly on one person, the Lord Jesus Christ, and emphasizing that apostates deny Him. It is always true of false religions that they pervert what Scripture declares is true about the Lord Jesus Christ.

The condemnation of these men, which was written about long ago, may refer to Old Testament prophecies (e.g., Isa. 8:19-22; Jer. 5:13-14). Their end is also predicted in the New Testament (e.g., 2Thes. 2:6-10; 2Pet. 2:3).

Two characteristics identify these godless (asebeis, “irreverent”; cf. Jude 1:15) apostates: perverting God’s grace, and rejecting God’s Son.

Claiming liberty in Christ, they interpreted His grace as license to do what their flesh desired with no inhibitions. Their libertinism turned grace into barbarous licentiousness. These antinomians declared that since the flesh was not created by God, it was proper to give in to its desires. Not surprisingly, this perversion in practice was accompanied by a perversion in doctrine — a denial of the person and authority of Jesus Christ.