Jude Chapter 1 Vs. 5

 

Judgment on False Teachers

I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. Jude 1:5

I will therefore... Jude expresses the burden of wanting desperately to warn his readers. Jude sees Old Testament examples as extremely important for Christians (see Rom. 15:4; 1Cor. 10-11). The writer of Hebrews expands greatly on a similar insight regarding Israel’s demise in the wilderness (Num. 14: 28-35).

having saved the... God miraculously delivered the nation of Israel out of Egyptian bondage (Exo. 12:51; Deut. 4:34), only to have them respond in unbelief, doubting, and defecting from faith in God that He could bring them into the Promised Land (Num. 13:25; 14:4). Even to the extent of worshipping an idol of their own making, as well as murmuring against God instead of adoring Him. (Exo. 16:7-12; 1Cor. 10:10-11). That apostate generation died during 38 years of wilderness wanderings (Num. 14:22-30, 35).

He is reminding them that just because they were saved, does not mean they can do anything they want to, and still come to salvation. He is giving as an example, the Israelites (God’s people), who he delivered from Egypt (world).

They were delivered, but started complaining and doubting that God would take them to the Promised Land. God made them wander in the wilderness 40 years, until those who had doubted died.

Without faith, it is impossible to please God. It does not matter whether it is the Israelites on their way to their Promised Land, or believers in Christ who are on their way to their Promised Land.

We do know there will be some who stand before Jesus on judgment day who will profess to be Christians, who Jesus will tell to get away from Him, He never knew them (Mat. 7:21-23).

We must walk in the salvation we receive to inherit heaven. Our faith in Jesus saves us.

afterward destroyed them... Twenty-one Examples of Beings Fallen from Grace:

1. Lucifer. He was sinless and walked in the ways of God perfectly until he sinned (Eze. 28:11-17). He fell from God’s favor and was cast out of heaven (Isa. 14:12-14; Luke 10:8). He became sinful and lustful (John 8:44) and destined to eternal hell (Mat. 25:41; Rev. 20:10).

2. Holy angels. Over one-third of God’s holy angels rebelled with Lucifer (Rev. 12:3, 12:7-12) and became destined to hell with Satan (Mat. 25:41; Isa. 24:21). Many of these committed the additional sin of fornication and are now in hell (2Pet. 2:4; Jude 1:6-7). Angels are sons of God (Gen. 6:1-4; Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:4-7) and yet those who sin are to be punished forever in hell, so sonship is no unforfeitable guarantee of heaven.

3. Demons. They were also created sinless and in God’s grace and favor. That they sinned and are doomed to eternal hell is clear from their own admission of being worthy of punishment (Mat. 8:29; Mark 5:7; Luke 8:28-32; Jas. 2:19). Many of them are now in the abyss (Rev. 9:1-21).

4.Pre-adamites. According to Gen. 1:2; Isa. 14:12-14; Jer. 4:23-26; Eze. 28:11-17; 2Pet. 3:5-8 and other scriptures, Lucifer ruled the earth before Adam and caused all the people of his kingdom to lose God’s favor and be destroyed in the flood of Gen. 1:2; 2Pet. 3:5-8. Not one person, animal, city, or plant was left alive (Jer. 4:23-26).

5. Adam and Eve were created in God’s grace or favor (Gen. 1:26-31). They fell from grace by sin and lost the eternal life they would have kept if they had not sinned (Gen. 2:17; 3:1-19; Rom. 5:12-21; 2Cor. 11:3). Nothing is ever said of their salvation from sin. They are not listed with the faith-worthies of the Old Testament (Heb. 11:1-40). Adam was still a sinner at the age of 810 years (Gen. 6:3). He was a son of God (Luke 3:38). Thus, again, sonship is proved not to be a guarantee of eternal life. God promises to punish every angel or man who sins regardless of sonship or relationship.

6. Adamites. Every person born of Adam was once in grace in Adam and fell from grace or favor when Adam did, for they were in Adam’s loins when he sinned. This is why death passed upon all men (Rom. 5:12-21; 1Cor. 15:21-22; 2Cor. 11:3). If all people fell from the same favor Adam did and are commanded to regain grace in Christ, then it is settled that falling from grace and regaining it can happen more than once (Gal. 4:19).

7. Many Israelites. Before their sin in Exo. 32:1-35 they were born again (Deut. 32:18; Gal. 4:28-29), redeemed (Exo. 15:13; Deut. 21:8), sanctified (Exo. 31:13; Lev. 20:8), converted (Psm. 19:7), in grace (Exo. 33:12-17; Psm. 84:11), had their names in the book of life (Exo. 32:32-33; Exo. 69:25-29), had the same gospel we have (Gal. 3:6-14; Heb. 4:2), and had other spiritual experiences. When they sinned they were cut off from God and were lost (Exo. 32:32-33; 2Cor. 10:1-18; Heb. 2:14; Jude 1:5). Scores of times they forsook God and were cursed (Deut. 17:3; 29:26; Jdg. 2:11-23; 3:5-14; 4:1; 5:31; 6:1; 8:28-35; 10:6-11:33; 12:7-13:1; 20:13; 1Sam. 2:12-36; 3:11-14; 1Kgs. 11:1-13, 11:38-39; 12:25-33; 13:33-34; 14:16-31; 15:29; 16:2; 2Kigs. 17:7-23; etc.).

8. Nadab and Abihu, holy priests of God (Exo. 19:6; 22:31), were cut off in sin (Lev. 10:1-20; Num. 3:4).

9. Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and other holy men of God were cut off by sin and went to She’owl (Num. 16:1-3, 16:23-33).

10. Saul, who had a change of heart and received the Holy Spirit (1Sam. 10:9-13, 10:21-24), went into spiritualism (1Sam. 28:1-25; Lev. 19:31; 20:6). He lost the Holy Spirit (1Sam. 16:12-23), and died by suicide and was cursed by God (1Sam. 31:1-6; 1Ch. 10:13-14).

11. Many disciples of Jesus left Him and His grace and followed Him no more (John 6:66). They believed for a while (Luke 8:13). They drew back to perdition (Heb. 10:26-39). To receive Christ and confess Him for only a moment brings the new birth, so those who believed for awhile had grace to fall from (John 1:12; 1Jhn. 5:1).

12. Judas was once saved because:

(1) He was a familiar friend of Christ (Psm. 41:9). Would Christ call any unsaved man or the devil (as some suppose Judas to be) "mine own familiar friend"?

(2) Christ trusted Judas at one time or He would not have said "in whom I trusted" (Psm. 41:9). Hebrew: batach, to confide in, as to be secure without fear. Used in this sense 107 times. Would He have confided in such a man if he had always been untrustworthy?

(3) Judas ate of Christ’s bread (Psm. 41:9). This always assures eastern people of very personal and intimate friendship.

(4) He had his name written in the book of life with the righteous (cp. Acts 1:20 with Psm. 69:25-28).

(5) He was a bishop of the church Christ is building (Acts 1:20 with Psm. 109:8).

(6) He had part of the apostolic ministry (Acts 1:17, 1:25).

(7) Christ gave him power against unclean spirits to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and disease. This was true of the twelve, Judas included (Mat. 10:1-4).

(8) He was sent forth as one of the twelve to represent Christ among Israel (Mat. 10:5-6).

(9) He was called to preach (Mat. 10:7).

(10) He was commanded to heal the sick, cleanse lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils (Mat. 10:8; Mark 3:14-15; 6:7; Luke 9:1-2).

(11) He freely received power to heal and it was commanded that he freely give (Mat. 10:8).

(12) He had the peace of God to give to a home as did all others of the twelve (Mat. 10:13).

(13) He was a sheep in the midst of wolves like others of the twelve (Mat. 10:16).

(14) He had the Holy Spirit in him (Mat. 10:19-20).

(15) He was ordained by Christ to the ministry as much as the others (Mark 3:14).

(16) He was just as successful in preaching and healing as others (Mark 6:12-13; Luke 9:6, 9:10).

(17) He was an apostle, meaning he was one divinely called and sent to do the work of God (Luke 6:13, Acts 15:33).

(18) Judas fell by sin from the ministry and apostleship (Acts 1:25). How could he do this if he was always a sinner, as some say?

(19) Satan entered into Judas at the close of Christ’s ministry, proving that he was not always an agent of the devil, much less one from the beginning (Luke 22:3; John 13:2). Therefore, he backslid and became a thief (John 12:6), a devil (John 6:70, Greek: adversary), and the betrayer. To make Judas the very devil, a devil from the beginning, and an unsaved man never in grace is to ignore the plain facts of Scripture.

(20) He once had eternal life, as proved from John 17:2 where we read of Christ giving eternal life "to as many as Thou hast given him." Then in John 17:12 it is stated that of "those that Thou gavest Me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition." It is clear, then, that Judas was given to Jesus and Jesus had once given him eternal life.

13. Ananias and Sapphira were saved and of one heart and one soul with all the church (Acts 4:32-5:1), until they agreed to lie to the Holy Ghost at which time they were killed (Acts 5:1-11). "Great grace was upon them all," including Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 4:33; 5:1).

14. The Galatians who had begun in the Spirit and had received the Spirit (Jude 1:3:2-4), were soon removed from Christ and grace (Jude 1:6; 1:5:4).

15. Demas, a preacher in the early church (Col. 4:14; Phlm. 1:24) went back into sin, having loved this present world (2Tim. 4:10). If any man loves the world the love of the Father is not in him. He is lost if he does not come back to God (1Jhn. 2:15-17).

16. Hymenaeus and Alexander were one time in the faith, but made shipwreck of it and put away faith (1Tim. 1:19-20).

17. Many others coveted money and erred from the faith (1Tim. 6:10, 6:21).

18. Many young widows waxed cold toward Christ and cast off their first faith and were damned (1Tim. 5:11-13).

19. Hymenaeus and Philetus erred from the faith and overthrew the faith of others (2Tim. 2:17-19).

20. Apostates were once saved, but fell away and departed from the faith. See Rom. 1:21-32; Heb. 6:4-9; 10:26-29; 2Pet. 2:20-22.

21. Many in the churches were once saved but later threatened with destruction if they did not repent (Rev. 2:5, 2:10, 2:16, 2:20-23; 3:3, 3:11, 3:16).

Besides the above examples of being cut off from God because of sin, the Bible abounds with plain laws, commands and warnings of punishment for those who return to sin. These make it clear that there are no unconditional promises and covenants in Scripture. Passages where no conditions are expressed are automatically limited by hundreds of kindred verses stating conditions to be met. It is not always necessary to state the conditions in every passage. When stated in some, it is clear they apply to all companion scriptures. For example, in 1Ch. 22:10 God promises to establish Solomon’s throne over Israel forever, but this unconditionally stated promise is based upon obedience as seen in points 27-35 below.

Plain Laws and Warnings

Those Before Moses’ Law:

1. You shall surely die (Gen. 2:17).

2. Walk ... be perfect (Gen. 17:2).

3. Keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment, that the Lord may fulfil His Word (Gen. 18:19).

Those Under the Healing Covenant:

4. If diligently hearken ... do right ... give ear to commandments ... keep all His statutes (Exo. 15:26).

Those Under Moses’ Law:

5. That I may prove them, whether they walk in My law or no (Exo. 16:4).

6. If you obey ... then you shall be a peculiar people unto Me (Exo. 19:5).

7. Whosoever sinneth against Me, him will I blot out of My book (Exo. 32:33).

8. By no means (note even by means of grace) clear the guilty (Exo. 34:6-7).

9. If you keep My commandments, then will I bless you (Lev. 26:3-13; Deut. 7:12-24; 11:13-14; 28:1-14).

10.But if you will not keep My commandments, then I will curse you (Lev. 26:14-45; Deut. 28:15-68).

11. Beware ... forget not God ... if you do forget Him ... you will surely perish (Deut. 8:11-20).

12. What does the Lord require, but to walk in His ways? (Deut. 10:12-13).

13. Take heed ... be not deceived, and you turn aside from God ... then His wrath will be against you (Deut. 11:16-21).

14. I have set before you a blessing and a curse: a blessing if you obey ... a curse if you disobey (Deut. 11:26-28).

Those Under Palestinian Covenant:

15. Keep the words of this covenant ... do them, that you may prosper ... that He may establish you a people unto Himself (Deut. 29:1, 29:9, 29:13-15).

16. When you hear the words of this curse and you say in your heart, I shall have peace, though I sin. The Lord shall not spare ... because they have forsaken the covenant (Deut. 29:19-28).

17. If you hear ... keep His commandments ... and if you turn unto the Lord with all your heart (Deut. 30:1-10).

18. I have set before you life and good, and death and evil ... keep His commandments, that you may live (Deut. 30:11-16).

19. But if your heart turn away ... you shall surely perish (Deut. 30:17-20)

Those of Joshua:

20. Only observe to do according to all the law ... that you may prosper ... have good success (Jos. 1:7-8).

21. Keep and do all of the law ... if you in any wise turn back ... you shall perish (Jos. 23:6-14).

22. Choose you this day whom you will serve (Jos. 24:14-16).

23. If you forsake the Lord ... then He will turn to do you hurt, and consume you, after He has done you good (Jos. 24:20).

Those of Samuel:

24. If you will obey ... rebel not, then you will follow the Lord (1Sam. 12:14).

25. But if you do wickedly, you shall be consumed (1Sam. 12:24-25).

26. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord ... your kingdom will not continue (1Sam. 13:13-14).

Those of David and Solomon:

27. Keep the charge of the Lord ... that He may continue His Word (1Kgs. 2:3-4).

28. If your children take heed to walk in truth with all their heart (1Kgs. 2:4).

29. If you will walk in My ways ... keep My commandments (1Kgs. 3:14).

30. If you keep My commandments, then I will bless ... but if you break them, then will I cut off Israel (1Kgs. 9:3-9; 11:1-38; 2Ch. 7:19-22).

31. Only if they obey (2Kgs. 21:7-8).

32. If he be constant to do My commandments (1Ch. 28:7-10).

33. If My people humble themselves ... pray ... seek My face ... turn from sin, then will I hear (2Ch. 7:14).

34. If you seek Him, He will be found of you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever (1Ch. 28:9).

35. But if you turn away from My commandments ... Then will I pluck you up ... cast out of My sight (2Ch. 7:19-22).

Those of Old Testament Prophets:

36. The Lord is with you, while you be with Him ... but if you forsake Him, He will forsaken you (2Ch. 15:2).

37. Because you have forsaken the Lord, He has forsaken you (2Ch. 24:20).

38. Because they have forsaken Me ... My wrath shall not be quenched (2Ch. 34:25).

39. But if they obey not, they shall perish ... die without knowledge (Job 36:12).

40. They have forsaken the Lord ... have gone away backward ... I will not hear (Isa. 1:4-15).

41. But if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured (Isa. 1:19-20; Jer. 1:16; 2:13, 2:17, 2:19; 5:19; 9:13; 15:6; 16:11; 17:13; 19:4; 22:9).

42. If you will not obey, I will destroy you (Jer. 12:17).

43. When a righteous man turns from his righteousness, and commits iniquity he shall die in his sin (Eze. 3:20-21).

44. The soul that sinneth it shall die (Eze. 18:4).

45. When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits sin ... all his righteousness shall not be mentioned. In his sins he shall die (Eze. 18:24-26).

46. The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression ... If he trust to his own righteousness and commit iniquity, all his righteousness shall not be remembered; but for his sin he shall die (Eze. 33:12-13).

47. If you will not hear, I will curse you (Mal. 2:2).

The New Covenant—Under Grace

Those of Christ:

48. If the salt has lost its savour it is good for nothing but to be cast out (Mat. 5:13).

49. He that endureth to the end shall be saved (Mat. 10:22).

50. Whosoever speaketh a word against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him (Mat. 12:32-33).

51. Dureth for a while ... which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away (Mat. 13:21; Luke 8:13).

52. Let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me (Mat. 16:24).

53. Labour for eternal life (John 6:27).

54. If you continue in My word, then are you My disciples indeed (John 8:31).

55. Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin (not a son). And the servant abideth not in the house forever: but the Son abideth ever (John 8:34-35).

56. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me (John 10:26-27).

57. If a man love Me he will keep My words (John 14:21-23).

58. If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned (John 15:6).

59. Continue in My love (John 15:9).

60. If you keep My commandments you shall abide in My love (John 15:10-13).

61. You are My friends, if you do whatsoever I command you (John 15:14).

Those of Paul:

62. Persuaded them to continue in the grace of God (Acts 13:43).

63. Exhorting them to continue in the faith (Acts 14:22).

64. When they knew God, they glorified Him not as God ... God have them up to uncleanness (Rom. 1:21-32).

65. They which commit such things are worthy of death (Rom. 1:32; 2:2-3).

66. By patient continuance in well doing seek for eternal life (Rom. 2:7).

67. Know you not, that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are? (Rom. 6:16-23).

68. The wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23).

69. Who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit (Rom. 8:1-4).

70. If you live after the flesh you shall die: but if you through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live (Rom. 8:12-13).

71. Because of unbelief they were broken off and you stand by faith ... on them that fell, severity; but toward you goodness, if you continue in His goodness: otherwise you shall be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in again (Rom. 11:20-23).

72. If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy (1Cor. 3:17).

73. The unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God (1Cor. 6:9-10).

74. Through your knowledge the weak brother shall perish (1Cor. 8:11).

75. I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection, lest when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway (1Cor. 9:27).

76. By which you are saved, if you keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless you have believed in vain (1Cor. 15:2).

77. By faith you stand (2Cor. 1:24).

78. We labor, that whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him (2Cor. 5:9).

79. We beseech you that you receive not the grace of God in vain (2Cor. 6:1).

80. I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity in Christ (2Cor. 11:3).

81. Christ is in you, except you be reprobate (castaway)—as in 1Cor. 9:27, (2Cor. 13:5).

82. I marvel that you are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel (Gal. 1:6-9).

83. If I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor (Gal. 2:18).

84. I do not frustrate the grace of God (it can be done—Gal. 2:21).

85. Who hath bewitched you that you should not obey the truth (Gal. 3:1; 5:7).

86. Having begun in the Spirit, are you now made perfect by the flesh? (Gal. 3:3; cp. 5:19-21).

87. The just shall live by faith (by daily faith, not a faith once for all; Gal. 3:11).

88. After you have known God, how turn you again to be in bondage (Gal. 4:9)?

89. I am afraid for you, lest I have bestowed labor upon you in vain (Gal. 4:11).

90. My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you ... I stand in doubt of you (Gal. 4:19-20).

91. Stand fast in the liberty ... be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage (Gal. 5:1, 5:3).

92. You are fallen from grace (Gal. 5:4).

93. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump (Gal. 5:9; 1Cor. 5:7-8).

94. If you bite and devour one another, take heed that you be not consumed one of another (Gal. 5:15).

95. Walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh (Gal. 5:16).

96. They which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God (Gal. 5:19-21).

97. Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting (Gal. 6:7-8).

98. The spirit that worketh in the children of disobedience (Eph. 2:2).

99. Because of these things (sins) cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience (Eph. 5:6).

100. That you may be without offense until the day of Christ (Phlp. 1:10).

101. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling (Phlp. 2:12).

102. Stand fast in the Lord (Phlp. 4:1).

103. If you continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel (Col. 1:23).

104. As you have received Christ, so walk in Him: rooted and built up in Him, and established in the faith (Col. 2:6-7).

105. Beware lest any man spoil you... after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ (Col. 2:8).

106. Let no man beguile you of your reward ... not holding the Head (Christ, Col. 2:18-19).

107. Mortify your members upon earth ... for which things’ sake cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience (Col. 3:5-6).

108. He that does wrong shall receive for the wrong which he has done: and there is no respect of persons (Col. 3:25).

109. I sent to know of your faith, lest by some means the tempter has tempted you, and our labor be in vain (1Thes. 3:5).

110. Now we live, if we stand fast in the Lord (1Thes. 3:8).

111. Taking vengeance on them that obey not the gospel ... who shall be punished with everlasting destruction (2Thes. 1:8-9).

112. Withdraw from every brother that walketh disorderly (2Thes. 3:6, 3:14).

113. From which (faith) some have turned aside (1Tim. 1:5-6).

114. Some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck (1Tim. 1:18-20).

115. Some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils (1Tim. 4:1).

116. Take heed unto yourself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in so doing this you shall save yourself, and them that hear you (1Tim. 4:16).

117. He has denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel (1Tim. 5:8).

118. When they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry; having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith (1Tim. 5:11-12).

119. Some have already turned aside after Satan (1Tim. 5:15).

120. While some coveted after (money), they have erred from the faith (1Tim. 6:10).

121. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold of eternal life (1Tim. 6:12, 6:19).

122. Some have erred concerning the faith (1Tim. 6:21).

123. If we be dead with Him, we shall also live with Him (2Tim. 2:11).

124. If we deny Him, He also will deny us (2Tim. 2:12).

125. Who concerning the faith have erred ... and overthrow the faith of some (2Tim. 2:18).

126. Continue in the things you have learned (2Tim. 3:14-15).

127-148. there are Twenty-two Warnings to Christians in Hebrews.

Those of James:

149. When lust has conceived, it brings forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death (Jas. 1:13-15).

150. Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves (Jas. 2:22-25).

151. To him that knows to do good, and does it not, to him it is sin (Jas. 4:17).

152. Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him ... he that converteth a sinner (who was formerly a Christian) from the error of his way shall save a soul from death (Jas. 5:19-20).

Those of Peter:

153. He that hears and works righteousness is accepted of Him (Acts 10:35).

154. The face of the Lord is against them that do evil (1Pet. 3:12).

155. If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the sinner appear? (1Pet. 4:18).

156. He that lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins (2Pet. 1:9).

157. Give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if you do these things you shall never fall (2Pet. 1:10).

158. If God separated not the angels that sinned (they were once holy and in grace) He will not spare you (1Pet. 2:4-9).

159. The Lord knows how to reserve the unjust unto judgment (2Pet. 2:9).

160. Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray (2Pet. 2:15).

161. They allure into sin those who were clean escaped from sin (2Pet. 2:18).

162. Of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought into bondage (2Pet. 2:19)

163. If after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse than the beginning. It had been better not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn away from the holy commandment (2Pet. 2:20-22).

164. Be diligent that you may be found in Him in peace, without spot, and blameless (2Pet. 3:14).

165. Beware lest you also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness (2Pet. 3:17).

Those of John:

166. If we say we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth (1Jhn. 1:6).

167. If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin (1Jhn. 1:7).

168. We know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments (1Jhn. 2:3).

169.He that says, I know Him, and keeps not His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him (1Jhn. 2:4).

170. Whoso keeps His word ... hereby we know that we are in Him (1Jhn. 2:5).

171. He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now (1Jhn. 2:9).

172. If any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him (1Jhn. 2:15-17).

173. He that does the will of God abideth forever (1Jhn. 2:17).

174. Let that eternal life abide in you (1Jhn. 2:24-25).

175. Abide in Him; that when He shall appear we may have confidence (1Jhn. 2:28).

176. Everyone that does righteousness is born of Him (1Jhn. 2:29).

177. Everyone that has this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure (1Jhn. 3:3).

178. Whosoever committeth sin transgresses the law and incurs the death penalty (1Jhn. 3:4; Eze. 18:4; Gal. 5:21).

179. Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth has not seen Him, neither known Him (1Jhn. 3:6).

180. He that committeth sin is of the devil, not of God (1Jhn. 3:8).

181. Whosoever is born of God does not commit sin (1Jhn. 3:9).

182. Whosoever does not righteousness is not of God (1Jhn. 3:10).

183. Whosoever loves not his brother is not of God (1Jhn. 3:10, 3:15).

184. He that loves not his brother abides in death (1Jhn. 3:14).

185. Whosoever hates his brother does not have eternal life abiding in him (1Jhn. 3:15).

186. Whosoever shuts up his bowels of compassion from a brother in need does not have God’s love (1Jhn. 3:17).

187. He that loves not does not know God (1Jhn. 4:7-8).

188. Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world (1Jhn. 5:1-5).

189. If any man see his brother sin a sin that is forgivable, he shall ask and life shall be given him (1Jhn. 5:16). This proves that when a man sins he incurs the death penalty (Jas. 5:19-20; Eze. 18:4; Gal. 5:21).

190. Whosoever sins and abides not in the doctrine of Christ, has not God. He that abides has both the Father and the Son (2Jhn. 1:9).

191. He that does good is of God; but he that does evil is not of God (3Jhn. 1:11).

Those of Jude:

192. Turning the grace of God into lasciviousness (Jude 1:4).

193. The Lord, having saved the people out of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not (Jude 1:5; 1Cor. 10:1-33).

194. Sinning angels are set forth as an example to others who are tempted to sin (Jude 1:6-7). If God will damn them for sin, He will also damn others.

195. Keep yourselves in the love of God (Jude 1:21).

196. Look for the mercy of Jesus Christ unto eternal life (Jude 1:21).

Those of Christ and John:

197. You have left your first love. Recognize you are fallen, repent, do your first works; or else I will remove your church (Rev. 2:4-5).

198. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you life (Rev. 2:10).

199. Repent, or I will come unto you and fight against you (Rev. 2:16).

200.Those that defile their garments will not walk with Me (Rev. 3:5).

201. He that does not overcome I will blot his name out of the book of life (Rev. 3:5; 22:18-19; Exo. 32:32-33; Psm. 69:25-29).

202. Hold that fast which you have, that no man take your crown (Rev. 3:11).

203. Because you are neither cold nor hot, I will spue you out of My mouth (Rev. 3:15-16).

204. Blessed are they that watch and keep their garments, lest they walk naked and ashamed (Rev. 16:15).

205. All who sin will have their part in the lake of fire (Rev. 21:8).

206. All who sin will not enter the Holy City (Rev. 21:27; 22:15, 22:19).

207. The unjust, filthy, and sinful will forever be that way (Rev. 22:11).

208. If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues of this book (Rev. 22:18).

209. If any man shall take away from the words of this book, God shall take away his part out of the book of life (Rev. 22:19).

210. God shall take his part out of the things written in this book (Rev. 22:19).

Scriptures Stating Assurance

1. Whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life ... hath everlasting life ... shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life (John 3:15-16, 3:36; 5:24).

2. I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand (or My Father’s hand, John 10:27-29).

3. I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels ... nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God (Rom. 8:35-39).

4. We shall be saved from wrath through Him (Rom. 5:8-9).

5. There is now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:1).

6. He shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand (Rom. 14:4).

7. Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that you may be blameless ... God is faithful, by whom you are called into the fellowship of Jesus Christ (1Cor. 1:8-9).

8. He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love (Eph. 1:4).

9. You were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise (Eph. 1:13).

10. You are sealed unto the day of redemption (Eph. 4:30).

11. He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ (Phlp. 1:6).

12. I am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day (2Tim. 1:12).

13. Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation (1Pet. 1:5).

14. We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ (1Jhn. 2:1-2).

15. Beloved, now are we the sons of God (1Jhn. 3:2).

16. Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory (Jude 1:24).

Eternal security is, therefore, taught in Scripture on the basis of obedience to God. John 6:27; 10:27-29; 15:1-8; 1Cor. 9:27; Heb. 6:4-9; 10:26-29; 2Pet. 2:20-22. If men truly want security, let them meet God’s terms. No man is obligated to sin. God has made full provision to keep men and present them faultless in heaven if they will cooperate; but no provision except hell is made for rebels. All hope of assurance while living in rebellion is a fool’s hope. Any teaching of security that encourages sin is false and satanic. True security is through faith and obedience to God and grace, not disobedience and disgrace.

Warnings concerning the Peril of Apostasy

Jude first warned his readers of the peril of apostasy by citing three examples from the past of apostates who were destroyed (Jude 1:5-7), and then by describing the upcoming judgment on present apostates (Jude 1:8-16).

Examples of apostates in the past

Egypt

Egypt is mentioned as a reminder of the fact that most Israelites who left Egypt were not faithful. An entire generation perished in the wilderness because of their unbelief (cf. Heb. 3:16-19).

Ezekiel Chapter 44 Vs. 7

 The Gate for the Prince

In that ye have brought into my sanctuary strangers, uncircumcised in heart, and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to pollute it, even my house, when ye offer my bread, the fat and the blood, and they have broken my covenant because of all your abominations. Eze 44:7

ye have brought... Four sins of Israel:

1. Israel brought strangers, unsaved and uncircumcised men, into the sanctuary to pollute it.

2. Israel broke God’s covenant.

3. Israel has not kept the charge of His holy things.

4. Israel has set keepers of the sanctuary for themselves and not for Jehovah.

This is probably, speaking of those priests who brought the idolatries into the temple. Notice above, that uncircumcised in heart is mentioned, even before uncircumcised in flesh. Christians who truly belong to God are circumcised in the heart. The abominations ranged from committing spiritual adultery, to not keeping God’s covenant.

God demanded holiness from His people, and a turning from the practice of allowing uncircumcised foreigners into the temple (Eze. 44:9; cf. 44:7).

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.

Ezekiel Chapter 44 Vs. 6

 The Gate for the Prince

And thou shalt say to the rebellious, even to the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; O ye house of Israel, let it suffice you of all your abominations, Eze 44:6

thou shalt say... 116 Commands of Ezekiel 40-48:

1. Behold with your eyes (Eze. 40:4).

2. Hear with your ears.

3. Set your heart upon all that I will show you.

4. Declare all that you see to the house of Israel.

5. Let them put away their whoredom (Eze. 43:9).

6. Let them put away the carcasses of their kings far from me.

7. Show the house of Israel their iniquities (Eze. 43:10).

8. Let them measure the pattern.

9. Show them the form of the house.

10. Show them the fashion of it (Eze. 43:11).

11. Show them the goings out and the comings in of it.

12. Show them all the ordinances.

13. Show them all the laws thereof.

14. Write it in their sight that they may keep the whole form thereof, and the ordinances, and do them.

15. Give a young bullock for a sin offering to the priests and Levites.

16. Take the blood and put it on the horns corners, and borders of the altar (Eze. 43:20).

17. Take a bullock for the sin offering and burn it in the appointed place of the house without the sanctuary (Eze. 43:21).

18. Offer a kid for a sin offering the next day to cleanse the altar (Eze. 43:22).

19. Offer a bullock and a ram after you have cleansed the altar (Eze. 43:23).

20. The priests shall offer them as burnt offerings before the Lord by putting salt upon them (Eze. 43:24).

21. For seven days you shall offer a bullock, a goat, and a ram to cleanse the altar (Eze. 43:25-26).

22. The priests shall consecrate themselves (Eze. 43:26).

23. Every day after the altar is cleansed, the continual offerings must be offered to be accepted (Eze. 43:27).

24. The east gate must be kept closed; and no man shall enter in by it except the prince of Israel (Eze. 44:2).

25. In the east gate the prince shall sit and eat bread before the Lord, and shall go in and out (Eze. 44:3).

26. Mark well—set your heart upon all that I say (Eze. 44:5).

27. Behold with your eyes.

28. Hear with your ears all that I say to you concerning the ordinances and laws of the temple.

29. Mark well the entering in the temple and sanctuary.

30. Say to the rebellious house of Israel, O house of Israel, let it suffice you of all your abominations (Eze. 44:6-8).

31. No stranger that is not circumcised in heart and in the flesh shall enter into My sanctuary (Eze. 44:9).

32. The Levites that rebelled shall continue to bear their iniquity (Eze. 44:10-14).

33. Yet they will be ministers of the gates and slay the sacrifices offered in the temple (Eze. 44:11-14).

34. They shall not come near Me to be priests or come near the holy things in the most holy place (Eze. 44:13).

35. The sons of Zadok that did not rebel will be My priests and minister unto Me in the sanctuary (Eze. 44:15-16).

36. They shall stand before Me to offer the fat and the blood (Eze. 44:15).

37. They will come near My table to minister to Me and keep My charge (Eze. 44:16).

38. They shall be clothed in linen when they minister (Eze. 44:17).

39. No wool shall come upon them as they minister.

40. They shall wear linen bonnets on their heads, and linen breeches upon their loins (Eze. 44:18).

41. They shall not wear anything that causes them to sweat.

42. They shall put off their linen clothes when they go out among the people in the outer court (Eze. 44:19).

43. They shall not sanctify (or touch) the people with ministerial garments on.

44. They shall not shave their heads, or suffer their locks to grow long; they shall poll their heads (Eze. 44:20).

45. They shall not drink wine when they enter into the inner court (Eze. 44:21).

46. They shall not take widows or divorcees for their wives, but maids of the house of Israel only (Eze. 44:22).

47. They shall teach My people the difference between the holy and the profane, and cause them to discern between the clean and the unclean (Eze. 44:23).

48. They shall act as judges in controversy (Eze. 44:4).

49. They shall judge righteously.

50. They shall keep My laws and My statutes in all My assemblies.

51. They shall hallow My sabbaths.

52. They shall not touch any dead body to defile themselves, except for that of a close relative (Eze. 44:25).

53. In case of defilement one shall go through cleansing for seven days (Eze. 44:26).

54. He shall offer his sin offering when he goes into the sanctuary to minister to Me (Eze. 44:27).

55. They (the priests) shall not receive an inheritance or possession in Israel (Eze. 44:28).

56. Every dedicated thing in Israel shall be theirs, as well as the meat and trespass offerings (Eze. 44:29).

57. The first of all the firstfruits of all things shall be theirs (Eze. 44:30).

58. Every oblation shall be theirs.

59. The first of your dough will be theirs.

60. They shall not eat anything that dies of itself, or is torn (Eze. 44:31).

61. When you divide the land you shall offer an oblation to Jehovah (Eze. 45:1-7).

62. The holy oblation for the priests shall be 25,000 reeds (nearly 50 mi.) in length and 10,000 reeds (nearly 20 miles) in breadth (Eze. 45:1, 45:3-4; 48:8-12, 48:20).

63. The sanctuary of 500 cubits (875 feet) square shall be in this portion (Eze. 45:2). If the reference is 500 reeds here then the command concerns the sanctuary with its additional profane place, the outer square measuring 500 reeds across, or 5,250 feet—nearly one mile (Eze. 42:20).

64. There shall be 50 cubits (87 feet 6 inches) for the suburbs around this (Eze. 45:2).

65. Another like portion of 10,000 by 25,000 reeds (nearly 20 by 50 miles) shall be for the homes of the Levites (Eze. 45:5; 48:13-14).

66. Another portion, 5,000 by 25,000 reed (approximately 10 by 50 miles) shall be for the city of Jerusalem, suburbs, and the whole house of Israel (Eze. 45:6; 48:15-20).

67. Part of this on both sides of the city shall be for the prince (Eze. 45:7; 48:21-22).

68. The rest of the land shall be divided to the 12 tribes (Eze. 45:8).

69. Remove violence and spoil (Eze. 45:9).

70. Execute judgment and justice.

71. Take away your exactions from My people.

72. You shall have just balances and measure (Eze. 45:10).

73. The ephah and the bath shall be the same measure, a tenth part of an homer (Eze. 45:11).

74. The shekel shall be 20 gerahs (Eze. 45:12).

75. Your maneh shall be 15, 20, and 25 shekels.

76. Your oblations for the prince from all Israel shall be a sixth part of an ephah of wheat, a sixth part of an ephah of barley, a tenth part of a bath of oil, and one lamb out of 200 (Eze. 45:14-16).

77. The prince shall make burnt offerings, meat offerings, and drink offerings, and feasts, new moons, and all solemnities of the house of Israel (Eze. 45:17).

78. He shall prepare the sin offerings, meat offerings, burnt offerings, and peace offerings, to reconcile Israel.

79. The first day of the first month you shall offer a bullock to cleanse the sanctuary (Eze. 45:18).

80. The seventh day of the first month the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering and put it on the posts of the temple, on the corners of the settle of the altar, and upon the posts of the gate of the inner court (Eze. 44:19-20).

81. The 14th day of the first month you shall have the passover, and the feast of unleavened bread, for 7 days (Eze. 45:21).

82. Unleavened bread shall be eaten.

83. On the day of the passover the prince shall prepare for himself and the people of the land a bullock for a sin offering (Eze. 45:22).

84. On each of the seven days of the feast of unleavened bread he shall prepare seven bullocks, seven rams, and a kid for a sin offering (Eze. 45:23).

85. He shall prepare the meat offering of an ephah of flour for a bullock, and an ephah for a ram, and a hin of oil for an ephah (Eze. 45:24).

86. On the 15th day of the 7th month the prince shall make offerings as in the feast of the 7 days (Eze. 45:25).

87. The east gate of the inner court shall be shut for 6 working days, but opened on the sabbath (Eze. 46:1).

88. It shall also be opened in the day of the new moon.

89. The prince shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate without (Eze. 46:2).

90. He shall stand by the post of the gate while the priests prepare his burnt offering and peace offerings.

91. He shall worship at the threshold of the gate, and then go forth out of the gate.

92. The gate shall not be shut until the evening.

93. The people also shall worship at the door of this gate in the sabbaths and in the new moons (Eze. 46:3).

94. The burnt offerings which the prince shall offer on each sabbath shall be 6 lambs and a ram (Eze. 46:4).

95. The meat offering for the ram shall be an ephah of flour, and the meat offering for the lambs as much as he is able to give, and a hin of oil to each ephah (Eze. 46:5).

96. Each new moon he shall offer a bullock, 6 lambs, and a ram (Eze. 46:6).

97. He shall prepare a meat offering of an ephah of flour and a hin of oil for the bullock and the ram, and for each lamb as he shall have (Eze. 46:7).

98. The prince shall go in and out by the east gate (Eze. 46:8).

99. When the people come for the solemn feasts they shall enter by the north gate to worship and go out through the south gate (Eze. 46:9).

100. He that comes through the south gate shall go out through the north gate.

101. He shall not return by the way he came in.

102. The prince and the people shall go in and out at the same time (Eze. 46:10).

103. When the prince shall prepare voluntary burnt offerings and peace offerings, the east gate shall be opened and he shall prepare them as he does on the sabbath days, (Eze. 46:12).

104. After his worship he shall go out to the east gate.

105. After he goes out, the gate shall be shut.

106. You shall prepare a daily morning burnt offering of a lamb of the first year to the Lord (Eze. 46:13).

107. The meat offering for the lamb every morning shall be a sixth part of an ephah, and a third part of a hin of oil (Eze. 46:14-15).

108. If the prince gives land to his sons it shall remain theirs (Eze. 46:16).

109. If he gives it to his servants it shall return to him in the year of jubilee (Eze. 46:16-17).

110. The prince shall not take land from the people or oppress them (Eze. 46:18).

111. The priests shall boil their own trespass offerings and the sin offerings, and bake the meat offerings in the west corners of the inner court (Eze. 46:19-20).

112. The sacrifices of the people shall be boiled in the four corners of the outer court (Eze. 46:21-24).

113. You shall divide the land according to the tribes of Israel (Eze. 47:21).

114. You shall divide the land by lot to yourselves and the strangers among you (Eze. 47:22).

115. Strangers among you shall be as one born in the country among you.

116. They shall have inheritance among the children of Israel (Eze. 47:22-23).

Some of the idolatries had taken place at this very gate in the past. God wants them to put all of that behind them.

Because of God’s holiness Ezekiel told the nation, a rebellious house (cf. Eze. 2:5-6, 2:8; 3:9, 3:26-27; 12:3, 12:9, 12:25; 17:12; 24:3), that God said, Enough of your detestable practices, O house of Israel! God demanded holiness from His people, and a turning from the practice of allowing uncircumcised foreigners into the temple (Eze. 44:9; cf. 44:7).

Jude Chapter 1 Vs. 3

 

Judgment on False Teachers

Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, 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. Jude 1:3

Beloved, when I... Indicates the close relationship between Jude and his readers. Jude was evidently planning to write a less urgent doctrinal letter but was forced by developments to pen this earnest exhortation. Jude conceives of Christian faith as having a definite, unchanging and unchangeable content.

the common salvation... So called because it belongs to the Jews and the Gentiles alike and offers salvation to the whole world (John 3:16). It is received by everyone the very same way, by simple belief in Jesus. We find in this that something happened that caused Jude to find it necessary to write this letter. The message is a simple one. Do whatever is necessary to expose yourself to the salvation message. This is a letter begging them to seek out salvation. Do not let it slip you by.

needful for me... This verse implies that Jude had intended to write a letter on salvation as the common blessing enjoyed by all believers, perhaps to emphasize unity and fellowship among believers, and remind them that God is no respecter of persons. But he was compelled, instead, to write a call to battle for the truth in light of the arrival of apostate teachers.

should earnestly contend... Greek: epagonizomai, to contend against others. Only here. The idea is to maintain the original faith of the gospel which was being destroyed by false teachers (Jude 1:3-4). While the salvation of those to whom he wrote was not in jeopardy, false teachers preaching and living out a counterfeit gospel were misleading those who needed to hear the true gospel. Jude wrote this urgent imperative for Christians to wage war against error in all forms and fight strenuously for the truth, like a soldier who has been entrusted with a sacred task of guarding a holy treasure (1Tim. 6:12; 2Tim. 4:7).

for the faith... This is the whole body of revealed salvation truth contained in the Scriptures (Gal. 1:23; Eph. 4:5, 13; Phil. 1:27; 1Tim. 4:1). Here is a call to know sound doctrine (Eph. 4:14; Col. 3:16; 1Pet. 2:2; 1Jhn. 2:12-14), to be willing to confront and attack error.

once delivered unto... God’s revelation was delivered once as a unit, at the completion of the Scripture, and is not to be edited by either deletion or addition (Deut. 4:2; 12:32; Pro. 30:6; Rev. 22:18-19). Scripture is complete, sufficient, and finished; therefore, it is fixed for all time. Nothing is to be added to the body of the inspired Word.

Because nothing else is needed, it is the responsibility of believers now to study the Word (Second Timothy 2:15), preach the Word (Second Timothy 4:2), and fight for its preservation.

The message had been given early on to the saints, who are described as holy, since they are set apart from sin to God. Jude does not want anything to happen to cause them to miss the opportunity of salvation. He explains it is simple to receive and is for everyone who will.

Warnings concerning Apostates

Wishing to write of the more pleasant theme of salvation, Jude was forced by his concern to write on an urgent and abhorrent theme. Circumstances had arisen that demanded immediate action, thus presenting an emergency situation. Jude addressed himself to a recognized problem, and exhorted the believers to respond with positive determination.

Jude got directly to the point: I… urge you to contend for the faith. Then he proceeded to tell his readers why he was so concerned.

Ezekiel Chapter 44 Vs. 5

 The Gate for the Prince

And the LORD said unto me, Son of man, mark well, and behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears all that I say unto thee concerning all the ordinances of the house of the LORD, and all the laws thereof; and mark well the entering in of the house, with every going forth of the sanctuary. Eze 44:5

mark well, and... Twice here God told Ezekiel to "mark well," and see with his eyes and hear with his ears all the ordinances and laws of the temple, and the entering in and going out of both the temple and the sanctuary. The term "mark well" simply means to set the heart upon learning all these things.

mark well the... Many other peoples than Jews will go into the kingdom in un-resurrected bodies, because they have believed in Jesus Christ and were ready for His coming. They will escape His deadly judgment and populate and reproduce in the 1,000 year kingdom.

Such circumcision pertains to a heart which is sincere about removing sin and being devoted to the Lord. In the Millennium, a Jew with an uncircumcised heart will be considered a foreigner (verse 9). “Uncircumcised in flesh” refers to sinners and “foreigner” identifies rejecters of the true God.

The LORD was cautioning Ezekiel to get all of the details solidly into his memory, so he would not forget. This is the most important thing in his life, so he must give it his full undivided attention. Each little detail had great spiritual significance. He must get it exact.

I am just sure that God gave Ezekiel the gift of comprehending what was here, and then remembering it. God does not ask us to do anything that He does not equip us to do. This is what I am saying about the Bible, as well. We should not read it with just our natural eyes. Our spirit of understanding must be quickened, to truly realize what it is saying.

He saw the glory of the Lord filling the temple of the Lord.

Jude Chapter 1 Vs. 2

Greeting

Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied. Jude 1:2

Mercy unto you... This was a common Jewish greeting; “love” was added to make it distinctively Christian. Only here in the New Testament do these 3 qualities appear so closely together. Where law and works prevail, there is failure and death. Where grace prevails, there is mercy (Eph. 2:4; Heb. 4:16), peace (Rom. 5:1), and love (Rom. 5:5), in abundance.

Believers who have sought God’s mercy also receive peace (“inner assurance” and “stability”), and love.

This greeting is a blessing spoken on the called of God. Peter is the only one of the other writers who prayed the blessings would be multiplied. The love added to the blessing is as if it is said by John. I believe all these great men of God had great influence on Jude.

The divine provisions of mercy, peace, and love included in Jude’s greeting are needed by Christians living in the licentious atmosphere of apostate teaching. God’s mercy can sustain them in times of difficulty (Heb. 4:16); His peace can give a subtle calmness when evil abounds (Rom. 15:13; Phlp. 4:7); and His love can protect and assure believers in the face of peril (Rom. 5:5; 1Jhn. 4:12, 4:15-16).

The nature of the salutation reflects the writer’s attitude. Jude’s choice of words introduces his deep-seated compassion and heartfelt concern for his readers. He longed for them to know in the fullest measure God’s “mercy, peace, and love.” Jude overflowed with love for the believers while warning them about those who were making their way into the church to destroy it, those who knew nothing of God’s mercy, peace, or love.