Light always expels darkness!

 

Jude 3-4

“Beloved, although I was eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.  For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ.”

How could this happen, is it happening today and who is being referred to as “certain people”?  It seems clear that Jude is not referring to Joe the plumber that is unless Joe is a false teacher in the local church.  In these two verses is a warning to the church against immoral teachers and heretical teachers.  These teachers were not just unorthodox they were attacking the grace of God, they were adding philosophy of the world system, they were trying to put doubts about the authority of Jesus Christ, and they were attacking His deity.

Doctor Luke, under the control of the Holy Spirit wrote these words to the church and it is an account of Paul speaking to the Ephesians’ Elders, “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.  I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.” (Acts 20: 28-30)  This is a similar message to that of Jude?  And it is the same message that is found in 2 Peter 2:1, “But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you.  They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who brought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.”  And we might also look at the words of the apostle John in 1 John 2:22, “Who is the liar?  It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ.  Such a man is the antichrist—he denies the Father and the Son.”

How could this happen?  The answer is simple, anyone who hears the word but does not apply the teaching to their life, or anyone who does not study to know the ways and will of God.  Is it happening today, the answer is yes, many deceivers live, and teach in our local churches, but this is our charter; “Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.”  (Ephesians 5: 8b-10)  Light always expels darkness!

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice