They're Here! Jude 1:4 *Dear readers - Our family will be taking some time off to travel this Thanksgiving week, and rather than not post my daily devo's, I'll be sharing a small section of my message notes from Sunday on each day. I pray you'll be strengthened and encouraged!
"The Collision of Grace and Obedience - Part 1"
Today we're going to talk about some interesting things; fallen angels, Greek gods, Sodom and Gomorrah, the disputing over the body of Moses, all in the context of the judgment that God reserves for those who would rebel against Him, twisting the truth into self-serving doctrines.
See, its good for a teacher to teach that God loves us and that He wants to bless us. But if we're not teaching all of the bible, we're hurting the church more than helping.
This week I read an open letter to the pastor of a large, well known church, and it began with a quote from Jean Daille, French Huguenot minister and biblical commentator;
"Ministers are not cooks, but physicians and therefore should not study to delight the palate, but to recover the patient" - Jean Daille (1594-1670)
Have you been afraid to tell people their true condition? Have you been so concerned with making them feel good about themselves and giving them a sense of hope that you failed to diagnose their terminal sin disease?
Paul said to the elders of Ephesus, "I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:26-27). (so pastor) Do you really believe in your heart of hearts that you have declared the whole counsel of God to your listening audience?"
It's true some pastors are hesitant to properly diagnose the condition of man, which I believe is based in an attempt to balance grace and obedience. See we know God is gracious:
And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, "The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin... Ex 34:6
But He also calls us to obedience:
"If you love Me, obey my commands." John 14:15
And the bible teaches us that there will be a final judgment:
Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. John 5:28-29
It is in this context that Jude sends up the alarm for us to be on the lookout for teachers that would lead us away from the sound doctrine of Christ.
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)
Jude is warning us about the problem that we don't see - false teachers who sneak in unnoticed. In 2 Peter chapter 2 we were told, "They're coming,"
...even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them... 2 Peter 2:1
Jude is saying "they're here!" (it reminds me of the little girl in the movie Poltergeist, "they're here!")
Unfortunately these false teachers don't announce themselves ...
"Hi I'm John, I'm a false teacher!"
"Come on in John, do you have any doctrine for us today?"
"'Yes I do! It isn't true, but I think you're going to like it!"
Jude is warning the church, "guys, these folks have already come in, and you need to be wary ant watchful to identify them." Why? Because truth only has power if it keeps its integrity. Once you start fiddling with truth, it loses it's power.
The bible teaches us that the gospel message is "...the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes" (Rom 1:16), but it's only powerful if it's kept pure.
Pastor Clay
(Stay tuned tomorrow for Part 2) |
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