Everyday I hear the Lord saying, “Take the Church back to the old way: the way of holiness, righteousness and godliness.”
Jude 3-4
3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Even as our brother Jude points out, leaders must now be bold to write to the church of the common salvation, that way of righteousness and holiness before God. We must go back to the old landmark. The place where the saints of old committed their lives to pleasing the Father by revealing Christ to their world. This is crucial because now, as in the days of Jude, certain men have crept into the Church, unaware deceiving the people of God with doctrines whose origin is in the celestial halls of Satan’s kingdom. I am sure that it was not and may not be the intent of some of these men to beguile the saints of God.
However, I am equally sure that the Lord has visited some of these brothers and sisters who are off-course in their perception of the truth. In doing so, however, the Lord did not find them receptive to change and correction. I believe many of them have at some point heard the error of their doctrines, even if only in their own spirit, but have refused to embrace the truth. This is a matter of pride in some cases, wantonness (lust) in others, and both in the majority of those who refuse to accept what their spirit has deemed to be the truth.
Jude 5
I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.
All were saved out of Egypt, but some were afterward destroyed for their unbelief. These were those who did not trust their well-being to God. They continued to look back into Egypt for security and pleasure. Nevertheless, they were all brought out of the bondage of Egypt, and they all had the same opportunity to make it to the promised land. Their failure was due to a lack of trust in God for their deliverance.
Jude 6
And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
Those angels, who were created holy, left their first estate and were placed in the captivity of darkness. They, too, were holy beings, created by and for the Father. However, it is His will that they all be destroyed in the lake of fire on that Day of Judgment.
Jude 7
Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
Sodom and Gomorrah are also examples of the love, mercy and terror of the Lord. Many of the kinsmen of Abraham ended up in the cities of the plains following Lot, their leader. They followed the lust and wantonness in Lot, right into the destruction of their souls. All those men and women who dwelt in the plains originally ended up living in the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. The influence of wickedness was so great until they had become as the people of the cities.
The righteousness of God as handed to them by Abraham became a thing of the past. They had moved so far from that holy standard, until they refused to leave the cities and return unto the way of the Hebrews. There they all perished with the unbelievers and haters of God. Yes, those who were once called righteous by God were slain by God, along with the heathens. The judgment of God is without respect of persons.
Jude 8
Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities
I must concede that here the writer could be speaking of those who have not the Spirit of God. However, there are those born of the Spirit who do the very same things.
Jude 9
Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
Jude 10
But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.
Consider the following scriptures:
Romans 1:28-32
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Romans 2:1-6
1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. 3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
Ephesians 6:8-9
8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
9 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.
Hebrews 6:4-8
4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:
8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
2 Timothy 2:25-26
25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
2 Timothy 3:1-9
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.
2 Timothy 3:10-17
10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
2 Timothy 4:1-5
1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
