Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. Jude 1:3-4
How serious of a discernment of the times it must have been that Jude would not want to talk about salvation through faith in Christ, but found it necessary to warn of the apostate church? Today, were steep in the midst of the apostate church that I hope after reading this post, will make you more aware of the serious day, and days ahead that are still to come. First off, from our text, Jude had intended to write a letter on salvation as the common blessing enjoyed by all believers, perhaps to emphasize unity and further the fellowship among believers and to remind them that God is no respecter of persons. But instead, he was compelled to a call for the church to be armed for battle for the truth in light of the emergent arrival of apostate teachers. These workers of Satan had crept in unnoticed. So our first clue about the days were living in is that it is subtle in in its change, almost unnoticeable but to the discerning eyes of those who are alert to the times in which we are living in.
Jude wasn’t the only one who called the church to arms. Paul wrote to Timothy: Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. The Greek word for “fight” gives us the English word “agonize,” and was used in both military and athletic terms to describe the concentration, discipline, and extreme effort needed to win the “good fight,” which is the spiritual conflict between Satan’s kingdom of darkness against the church, which is the body of Christ. Paul also tells the church, Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil (Ephesians 6:11). The Greek word for “wiles,” is where we get the word “schemes,” which brings the idea of cleverness, crafty methods, and cunningly deceptions. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (v.12). Satan’s schemes are propagated through the evil world system which is set up to advance their agenda against God which Satan rules.
Paul also writes in 2 Corinthians another interesting word to describe Satan’s agenda: Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices (2 Corinthians 2:10-11). Satan wants to produce sin and animosity in the church to destroy what God has created. He hates for believers to be living unity and harmony with the Lord. So he uses every possible approach to accomplish this—even by using his minions to cleverly join the church (for certain men have crept in unnoticed,) from legalism to libertinism, intolerance to excessive passivity. Another word Paul uses for the word “wiles” from the Ephesians full armor of God, here, Paul uses a different word but with similar meaning. “Devices” it coincides with the terms like “take advantage” and “ignorant,” and strongly implies that Satan targets the believer’s mind, but God has provided protection by unmasking Satan’s schemes in Scripture, along with providing the counteracting truth. Jesus said to His disciples, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32) The first step in the progress toward true discipleship is belief in Jesus Christ as Messiah and Son of God. Abiding in Him helps bring about perseverance in obedience to Scripture (Matthew 28:19-20), and is the fruit or evidence of genuine faith (Ephesians 2:10). The word “abide” means to “habitually abide in Jesus words.” Truth that sets us free is that power from God to willingly holdfast with genuine faith the teachings and ministry of Jesus Christ. Satan tried opposing Him, by tempting Him to act out in His own self will. But Jesus could never have been led to sin, because He was sinless who became sin for us, and took away our sins that we might become the righteousness of God (2Corinthians 5:21).
Beloved friend, Paul the apostle wrote in Romans: For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly (Romans 16:19-20). Paul thought it necessary to insert into his greetings of love this caution against harmful teachings and practices that undermine the truth of Christianity and are its greatest threat even for us today. Genuine love will be ready to forgive evil, but it will not condone or ignore it. And those who like Paul, who truly love other believers who are dear to them, will also do all that they can to warn them about sin and harmful false doctrines. Who do you know in your life could not benefit from these Biblical and spiritual truths? God our Father, help us to love and obey Your Words of truth. In Jesus’ name, amen.
May the Lord bless your walk with Him today.
