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| Source: Genius.com (I do not endorse this website, but the image is perfect) |
In this week's verses, Jude returns to these "certain people [who] have crept in unnoticed" (4) having just given examples of groups who have a link to God (Israelites, Angels and dwellers in the Promise Land) and yet received punishment from God for their wickedness and disobedience.
Verse 8:
"Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones."
The actions of these false teachers is nothing new, in fact it has been around since the Israelites were led out of Egypt. Despite the punishment that God brought down upon them then, people are still trying to get away with it today. Following Jude's 3-theme, the three main charges are defiling the flesh, rejecting authority and blaspheming the glorious ones. They encourage self-pleasures like the Israelites did (v5), reject authority (that is, God) like the Angels did (v6) and blaspheme like the people of Sodom and Gomorrah (v7).
Verse 9:
"But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgement, but said, 'The Lord rebuke you.'"
This refers to a passage in a non-biblical text where Satan was claiming the body of Moses, but the point is, even Michael, among the highest of God's angels did not blaspheme. He acknowledged God as the only judge.
Verse 10:
"But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively."
These false teachers are outgoing people, who have the power of persuasion. They ignore things they do not understand passing them off as not important, but will over-emphasize life that is pleasurable, abusing the intoxicating gifts of the natural world. They persuade others along their journey encouraging them that these practices are only natural and, by definition, must be acceptable to God, because after all, he created nature. Here Jude aligns these teachers to animals who live on instinct alone.
Verse 11:
"Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam's error and perished in Korah's rebellion."
These false persuaders teach immorality and so show no respect for those they preach to just like Cain had no respect for Abel. They use people for the sole purpose of getting something out of the deal, they are in it for themselves, in a similar fashion to Balaam who led Israel astray for his personal gain. They are so full of pride that they believe their way is the only way, Korah did this when he rejected God's authority through Moses believing he was superior.
Verse 12:
"These hidden reefs at your love feasts, as the feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead ..."
These false teachers infiltrate your Christian fellowship without worry or fear, they know what they are looking for and go straight to the horse's mouth (so to speak!). They will butter-up those in positions of authority for self gain. They may sugar-coat their plans and ideas with saying the right words, appearing to care for others and that their advancement is the perfect step forward for 'sake of the people', but their own personal plans are at the forefront of their minds. They are like rain clouds without rain to drop, fruit trees without fruit, their words and gestures are empty and have no feeling or nurturing care for others. They are 'dead' to both the Spiritual world and the physical word in that they reject God and the caring of others. They are in it to win!
Verse 13:
"... uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever."
Jude concludes this section with judgement! This is the true nature of these false teachers, they are people who cause commotion for the sake of causing commotion, bringing attention to themselves. Their eternity is already reserved for them - Hell.
So, watch out! Life is difficult enough to contend with but now, Jude is encouraging us to check out our superiors in all walks of life (not just church!). These people have already infiltrated our Christian communities, our churches, our workplaces and are working hard to move to the top on the backs of others, not caring whether they bring others, or not, with them.
Of course, they don't have to just be our church leaders (although, I have met a few!), some of them teach by example, how they live, always in the limelight, always looking out for that self-glorification, always volunteering for things without giving others a chance. They know exactly how to advance and who to sweet-talk and when things go their way believe it is all down to them and their effort.
As Christians, we are called to follow God, not our vicar, not our Sunday school teacher, not our boss, but God. We should test everything we hear against what the Scriptures say and question it if there are discrepancies. So, instead of listening to a teacher because they speak so eloquently, using long words and well thought-out sermons that are cross-referenced in several highly published commentaries, we need to listen to the teacher who preaches the Word of God.
You see, Jesus came to radicalize the way men and women relate to God. He chose twelve apostles who lived, walked and learnt from him directly, so they could discover, for themselves, who this Jesus Christ truly was. Once they had discovered him as the "the Christ, the Son of the Living God" (Mt. 16:16), the Word made flesh (John 1:14), they were able to pass this truth onto the the Jews and Gentiles alike (that is, the rest of the world).
So, what's the truth? Is there something you need to do in order to receive this truth? Do you need to go on some missionary work? How will you know that this truth is not me trying to persuade you away from God?
Well, Christ's truth is this.
He left his glory in Heaven and came to Earth for us.
He took God's wrath on his body and he paid the ultimate punishment of our sin - Death!
Why?
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)
I am set to receive nothing out of this blog. There is no self-seeking intention here on my part. I will continue to have faith in my God whether you choose to accept John 3:16 or not. In fact, there is absolutely nothing you need do to receive God's love, except give your sin to Him - He does ALL the rest!
That's how you know what the truth is!
