Hello
Friends!
Welcome
to an all-new Encouraging Concepts
Bible study series focused on the powerful little “epistle” of Jude written by our “Lord
Jesus Christ’s” younger half-brother –
“Continue CONTENDING!”
The
Epistle of Jude REVISITED: Continue CONTENDING! (Verses 14-19)
14 And Enoch also, the seventh from
Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands
of his saints, 15 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. 16 These are murmurers,
complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great
swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage. 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. 19 These
be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit – Jude 14-19
OPENING POINTS TO PONDER: The foolish “false teachers” and arrogant “apostates” of whom “Jude”
discusses in earlier parts of this passage “promises”
that ultimately
all of these “ungodly” and “depraved men”
are selfishly storing up God’s great “wrath
against the day of wrath” and as a result, ARE
going to “pay” for their own “sins” on that frightful “day of wrath and
revelation” by God’s “righteous
judgment” unless they rightly – REPENT!
But after thy
hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and
revelation of the righteous judgment of God – Romans 2:5
Our
great “God” is indeed “righteous” and He WILL eventually bring an END to “sin”
when ALL the “unrepentant”
and “unbelieving” wicked “sinners” will one “Day” perish. And our “Lord
Jesus Christ” will one “Day”
usher in His looming literal and prophesied physical
earthly 1000-Year Millennial
mandated Holy “Kingdom of righteousness”
of which is followed by an “eternal
righteousness” of HIS
own known as the Eternal State itself – Heaven!
Apostates DOOMED!
In
this amazing passage, “Jude”
begins this SERIOUS section of “scripture” by quoting a prophecy
from the Old Testament character “Enoch” to
support his ADMONISHING argument…
And Enoch
also, the seventh from Adam, 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” – Jude 14-15
This
man “Enoch” is historically identified
as the “seventh from Adam”
found in the FIRST book of “beginnings”
titled Genesis taken from the TORAH itself:
And Enoch walked
with God: and he was not; for God took him – Genesis 5:24
Consequently,
this “Enoch” was a very fascinating
personality in “Jewish”
thought and literature. As is also true for the Old
Testament Prophet “Elijah”
himself, “Enoch” did NOT physically “die” and because of this amazing truth,
the “Jews” were absolutely astonished
by this magnificent man! In fact, here we learn that “Enoch” simply took a “walk” with “God”
one day and “was not”… WHY? Because he was “taken” into ETERNAL
bliss by being RAPTURED directly into – God’s Presence!
POIGNANT POINT: By the way… If you are wondering WHERE this prophecy
from “Jude” concerning the man “Enoch” is
rightly FOUND in the Holy “scriptures”
themselves… It is NOT found – ANYWHERE!
Then
just HOW does “Jude”
actually “know” about this
intriguing “Enoch” pronouncement?
Good question! One obvious
answer would be that the Lord revealed it to
Jude through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit! And that is
certainly TRUE!
But WHY would the “Holy
Spirit” give “Jude”
an obscure
quote from “Enoch” here in
this passage? Another Good question!
At the time “Jude” was actually “writing” this INSPIRED excellent “epistle”
itself, there also existed other literature known to both
“Jews” and “Christians” alike that bore the name
of this godly man “Enoch” and
were heralded as the two books of – 1 Enoch & 2 Enoch!
These
particular books were “pseudapigrapha” in nature. In other words, they
were NOT actually written BY this man “Enoch” himself. They too were a collection
of literary looms brought together in what is also part of the Apocryphal writings of oral “Jewish” traditions. Interestingly enough,
even the Roman Catholic system did NOT
include the books 1 Enoch or 2 Enoch in the Apocrypha writings of their own interpretations via the Jesuit
& Douay-Rheims Bibles! In fact, by the time “Jude” had personally penned
his “epistle” itself, the Canon of the Old Testament
had long
been closed some 400 years – BEFORE Jude was completed!
Similar
to the quote taken from the Apocrypha writings in “The Assumption of Moses” discussed earlier in verse 9, here “Jude”
does NOT introduce “Enoch” with the typical “It is written" as when introducing an
INSPIRED Sovereign
reference. Rather, “Jude” simply notes
that “Enoch” had powerfully “prophesied” that the “Lord” would come to “execute” His Just “judgment” upon “these men” of his day… And TODAY!
This
is the final dooming DAMNATION
cast upon their dastardly “deeds”
of which were crassly “committed
in an ungodly way” along with all of the horribly “harsh things”
these “ungodly sinners”
have slanderously “spoken
against Him” in jest. Thus, “we”
too must “understand” how this
GREAT and
just “judgment” gives us GOD’S view
of these “false teachers” themselves
– They are DOOMED!
Therefore,
“Jude” provides these poignant passages as
a revealing
right REVIEW of what he has ALREADY discussed
in his PRIOR pressing points:
These are
murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh
great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage – Jude 16
Here
we see "these"
abhorrent “apostates” and
fickle “false teachers” will systematically
shine upon “sin” with their “mouth” in a grotesque gorge of “great swelling words”
to mindfully MANIPULATE other “men's
persons in admiration” in a FLATTERING
attempt to GAIN an assumed “advantage”
of their unsuspecting foolish followers. And these heinous “heretics” are completely culpable
of the very SAME mundane “murmurings” muttered by the “Israelites” spoken of throughout the Old Testament as they too “griped” and “moaned” against the only TRUE
and “living God” Himself.
These lame “liars” willingly “walk” according to
their “own lusts”
selfishly set FULLY against – Almighty GOD!
REMEMBER!
Next
in line detailing his DOCTRINAL deposition, “Jude”
cautiously continues with the words “But, beloved, remember” as he
discusses HOW to avidly AVOID being seriously stained and terribly tainted
by these factious “false teachers”
and their waning “wicked” lies
of deep “deception” dictated:
But, beloved, remember ye the words
which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that
they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own
ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit – Jude 17-18
THEOLOIGICAL THOUGHTS: There is a turning point
found here in “Jude’s” dire DIRECTION and
deep DISSERTATION of
these maniacal “scoffers”
of HIS own
day. And here he makes a PLEA
to rightly “remember”
as he excellently ECHOES the “Apostle Peter” in the “knowing” of this SAME poignant point:
Knowing this
first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts… – 2 Peter 3:3
Incidentally,
the directly DESCRIPTIVE words “mockers”
and “scoffers”
are ONLY found
here in these TWO
verses provided by “Jude” and “Peter” within ALL
of the New Testament itself! And this
is a CLEAR indication
that our “Savior’s” half-brother “Jude” is quoting directly from “Peter” an actual “Apostle” of “Jesus Christ” Himself. Similarly, “Peter”
also attributes
the “wisdom” that is quite “hard to be understood” found within “all” the “epistles”
wonderfully “written” by the “Apostle Paul” as Sovereign
sound “scripture” in kind by proclaiming
as such:
And account that the
longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also
according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all
his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard
to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do
also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction – 2 Peter
3:15-16
Therefore,
“Peter” rightly refers to “Paul” as an INSPIRED and personally APPOINTED mighty “man of God”
Himself – An APOSTLE in kind!
And
let’s NOT forget the “Apostle Paul”
as he too woefully WARNED the weary Ephesian
elders concerning these ghastly “grievous wolves”
upon his dreaded “departing” for SERIOUS Spirit-lead “ministry”
abroad:
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. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in
among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise,
speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them – Acts
20:28-30
These
maniacal “men” will cunningly “come” from WITHIN and
from WITHOUT in
a whimsical whirlwind effort “not sparing”
the fine “flock” of our great “God” to deceptively drag
and “draw away disciples” unto – THEMSELVES!
BIBLICAL BACKGROUND: This part of “Jude’s”
immense “epistle” is aptly addressed
to the “Christian” for the expressed
poignant PURPOSE of knowing HOW to
sternly survive in times of abundant “apostasy” and “false teaching” fettered about. There was
one unthinkable
and unimaginable
rank REALITY that
the “Apostles” of our “Lord Jesus Christ” had powerfully “prophesied” that was to come. WHAT? It was that the professing chided
“church” would deeply “defect” from the “truth of God” and thus become “perverted” in its ultimate “understanding” of the “Scripture” and would aptly “abandon” the great “Gospel of Jesus Christ” itself. And
although not ALL of these professing people will WILLINGLY wain AWAY
from the “God of
Glory” Himself… But MANY
will!
Thus,
the “Apostle Peter” aptly AGAIN
strongly “stirs us up”
with a three-time remnant REMINDER of wanton WARNING
to eagerly “ensure”
we keenly “know” about all
of “these things” to which WILL
come:
Wherefore I will not be negligent
to put you always in remembrance
of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.
Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by
putting you in remembrance;
Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus
Christ hath shewed me. Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my
decease to have these things always in remembrance. For
we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the
power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his
majesty… – 2 Peter 1:12-16
And
this “remembrance”
of prophetic PROMISE concerning “these”
darkly “devised fables”
to come MUST have been a SHOCK to the spiritual “ears,”
“hearts” and “minds” of the early “church” family…
These be they who separate
themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit – Jude 19
“These” sap-filled “sensual”
menaces were sordidly here to STAY
as they “separate themselves” from
the TRUE bold “believers”
firmly ESTABLISHED in the “faith of God” alone. Therefore, the
beloved “brethren” were to mightily MAINTAIN a
rightful “remembrance of these things”
of which were “spoken before”
in poignant power presided by “Peter,”
“Paul,” “Jude”
as well as our “Lord Jesus
Christ” Himself! And “these”
mindless “mockers”
will woefully “walk after their own ungodly lusts”
galore. WHY? Because
they are satanic “sensual”
savages of whom “cause
divisions” and do NOT actually “have”
true “Salvation” of the “Spirit of God”
indwelling – WITHIN them...
This
is quite UNLIKE the TRUE humble “holy
men of God”
as they SPOKE on His behalf BY
the supernatural POWER of the “Holy
Ghost”
in kind:
We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well
that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day
dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no
prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy
came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were
moved by the Holy Ghost – 2 Peter
1:19-21
“Knowing this first” that since THOSE days in Biblical history soundly “spoken” of by “Jude”
and “Peter” and “Paul”
themselves, they have woefully WARNED about “these
men” of whom WILL
caustically CONTINUE in their
abhorrent “apostasy”
prophetically PRESENT in absolutely every generation
to “come” right up until TODAY…
Especially – WITHIN the CHURCH!
Brethren,
it is VERY IMPORTANT that “we” be rightly “reminded” of this “present truth” having been
practically “prophesied” in
God’s marvelous mandate. WHY?
Because as these “apostates”
indeed DO arrive as promised TODAY, we will NOT be sorely SURPRISED
upon their emergence... Therefore “we”
too MUST rigorously ~ REMEMBER!
In closing:
Apostate
“false teachers” are very DANGEROUS heinous “hypocrites” of whom make “promises” of spiritual provision
but provide NONE at all! They are spiritually deemed
“dead” and with ALL their “abhorrent”
activities, these loose “liars”
caustically CLUTTER the spiritual
shoreline with USELESS dank “doctrinal” debris! They are only here for
a FLASH and then they are “gone” without any obvious benefit
or worthwhile purpose provided. And as a result, will DISAPPEAR forever
into “eternal blackness” along with ALL
the unified
unsuspecting “unbelievers” of
whom willfully follow these maniacal “men”
unto evil– ETERNAL Punishment!
Sadly,
the professing
chided “church” of TODAY is woefully weak,
coarsely compromising, treacherously tolerant
and superficially shallow in nature. It is largely unwilling
to boldly UPHOLD Biblical “truth” unto its RIGHTFUL place and thus seems quite disinterested
if not completely opposed to waging a spiritual “war” in powerfully PROTECTING God’s “truth” eternal. She seems to have very
little DESIRE in deeply “defending
the faith” against the ASSAULTS of evil “error”
and adamant “apostasy” within
her RECKLESS ranks. And in the face
of that stark REALITY, she gives ample
EVIDENCE of
having become “lukewarm” and has thus LOST its
firm “first love” for our dear “Lord Jesus Christ” Himself…
I know thy works, that thou art neither cold
nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and
neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I
am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not
that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked – Revelation
3:15-17
My
BELOVED brethren, “we”
all MUST engage
in a formidable “fight for the truth”
through the “knowledge of the Son of God”
Himself. WHY? Lest “we”
too find
ourselves “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and
blind, and naked” clothed without Him! Therefore, the
clarion CALL of this looming “letter” penned by “Jude”
comes at a very CRITICAL time in CHURCH history – A WAKE-UP Call!
Till we all come in the unity of
the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the
measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 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; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things,
which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together
and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual
working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the
edifying of itself in love – Ephesians 4:13-16
Therefore,
may EACH of “us”
be found
in the “fulness of Christ” by astutely
STUDYING and APPLYING
these serious “Scriptures”
with a freshly firm COMMITMENT to always be strongly “speaking the truth in love,” to deeply “defend the faith” and excellently “edifying” the true “church” from fickle “false teaching” and the fatally
formidable “false doctrines”
of these MANDATED menaces – AMEN!
REAL REFLECTIONS: Beloved, may God give US the courage and boldness
to “contend earnestly for the faith”
that was signed, sealed and delivered
some – 2000 years ago…
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 3
Please begin reading through the excellent book of Jude and
continue CONTENDING for the “faith” once “delivered unto the saints” of God ~ AMEN!
We are not guaranteed tomorrow – tomorrow may be too late! If you haven't yet made that most important decision of your life, won't you make Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior today - before it's too late? Today is the day of Salvation!
If you have been blessed by this message or have a specific question, prayer request or testimony, please send me a note to: encouragingconcepts@live.com
I love hearing from you. Keep reading Encouraging Concepts!
Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><
Encouraging Concepts
Truth for Today
"Living Life From a Biblical Worldview"
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