A. Those Claiming to Live For Christ
There is already here in our day, people who claim the name of Jesus, but live as if for Satan. Their slanderous ways keep us doubtful of God's power and presence. These people are not the ones who are found out in their sin, but who persistently and secretly deny Christ's power in their lives. They've found ways to look good. They are exactly what Jesus calls 'white-washed tombs'.
No...I'm not talking about those who honestly deny Christ, but rather those who claim Christ, come to church, sing songs on Sunday, hear sermon after sermon, but nothing genuine has changed in their life. They've made the grace of God a license for sin. They've lowered the holiness of God to abstraction. They sit in the pews Sunday after Sunday, but sin is on the throne in their life. They hide behind their veil of religiousity, and make God out to be a liar.
B. The Doom of the Godless
"...For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe..."
Jude 4-5
Jude candidly speaks to us regarding the godless that reside in the church. They are unholy men who pollute the work of God, and destroy what God builds. They have no morals now more than ever; for now since they are 'free' from the life of sin, they return to their old vomit and consume the excrement they so willingly threw off. They confuse the flock, and convert many to their ways of sin. They are the wolves in sheep's clothing. They are everywhere, among the strong, and among the weak. Since they are cunning and divisive, but remain hidden until their appointed time, even the righteous see no reason to stay clear of them.
"...these men speak abusively against whatever they do not understand; and what things they do understand by instinct, like unreasoning animals - these are the very things that destroy them."
Jude 10
It is said, that you are held responsible for that which you know the consequences for. In like manner, the things that will condemn the godless, are not what they do not know, rather it is that which they already know. They willingly live immorally, knowing full well they are polluting their bodies. They willingness to continue in their sin, is their eternal doom. They claim that since God is merciful, they may continue in their sin, and ask for pardon at a later time. They are the cunning that poison other sheep and dilute their conscience.
"These men are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm - shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted - twice dead. They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom the blackest darkness has been reserved forever."
Jude 12-13
"These men are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage."
Jude 16
Jude uses riveting imagery here to illustrate the doom-filled paths of the godless. The godless have no shame when rebelling against authority. They willfully and wholeheartedly care less about who they hurt, for their opinion and their way, is the only way. They do not listen to those who speak into their life. They boast about the little that they do, and flatter people they need something from. It's these sort of people who are the godless. They are the chaff amongst the wheat, waiting for the day when the wind of the Lord will blow them discreetly on to their destination - Hell
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