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Category: Epistles – Is his letter to our church?

Epistle of Paul to the Romans 1 - the Apostles sends a church letter to Rome and the local saints of area churches
Epistle of Paul to the Romans

Epistles ἐπιστολή or Letters

I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren.

Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians 

Don’t  miss our recent FEATURED SERIES

JUNE 2024 – 2025 —

1 CORINTHIANS 

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Letters – Is he writing to me?
The short answer: YES.

In their epistles or 1st century church letters the Apostles and other men sent out by Jesus build up the saints [small – ‘s’] or members of local first century churches.

A Disciple or other witness of JESUS would write it. Messengers then delivered these church letters to many isolated worshipers.

Followers of Jesus Christ receive these letters as a major encouragement to their personal faith. Then leaders read them to worshipers of their church.

Although the Epistles 0r Letters to the Church were originally written to churches of the first century,

Romans through Jude will seem like letters to your 21st century church.

  • What do Peter, Paul, John and others tell us we must do?
  • Is he talking about an issue in your 21st c. church as well?
  • How does the writer’s advice, warning, or encouragement to the 1st c. believers apply to you as well
  • Is the writer of this letter talking about something you need to address in your 21st century ‘christian’ life?

Contemporary Application of the Letters (Epistles)

Most New Testament writers take on specific issues confronting faithful followers of Jesus Christ. These same issues continue to confront believers until the Lord’s coming again in these last days.

Certainly Christ our Lord will come again to those God has chosen for eternal life.

Believers currently suffer more than most of you who know Christ in your local church can imagine.

In other lands Christians continue to suffer by the hand of the ungodly.
Go into all the world

A 21st century Common Era church can see and hear nearly any atrocity of man or artificial imagination of sinful man’s mind, yet ‘christians‘ dare not speak of any absolute truth of the Lord God or talk of JESUS CHRIST.

Will YOU comment on Scripture and share the Gospel?

I invite you to read the inspired word of Scripture written in these LETTERS TO THE CHURCH.

YES, He IS writing to YOU.

Beloved brother or sister in Christ Jesus,

Will you read this ‘CHURCH LETTER’ and talk of JESUS through your comment, sharing and email to me about this ‘Letter to you?”

Roger@talkofJesus.com

  • Concerning This Salvation – a letter from 1 Peter – 1

    Concerning This Salvation – a letter from 1 Peter – 1

    Remembering Our Great Salvation

    Who needs to be encouraged more than believers in Christ suffering for His sake? And who trusted the Lord for their salvation more than any?

    First century Christians expelled from Rome and major cities of the Empire.

    Jews dispersed throughout the Empire, seeking to separate their identities from followers of The Way, increasingly persecuted believers of Christ, as did Roman authorities.

    The Apostle Peter writes to the church, primarily in first century cities in modern-day Turkey.

    1 Peter 1:

    Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ:

    To those chosen, living as exiles dispersed abroad in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

    Peter’s first encouragement of these persecuted believers of the dispersion is to call them elect or chosen by God the Father. He calls upon imagery of Israel as the Lord’s ‘chosen people.’ These faithful will also know prophesy from scripture of the Lord’s Messiah.

    “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold,
    My Elect One in whom My soul delights!
    I have put My Spirit upon Him;
    He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.

    Isaiah 42:1 NKJV

    Peter speaks of the foreknowledge ‘through the sanctifying work of the Spirit’ and calls on believers ‘to be obedient and to be sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ.’ This clear reference of his greeting reassures their anointing by the Father, Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

    Grace to you and peace multiplied.

    That the Lord chose you and me, as well as certain believers in these Asian provinces to whom Peter and other Apostles write, is great grace. We have received undeserved mercy and peace through Christ’s immeasurable love for sinners redeemed.

    Even so, Peter continues with an uplifting opening blessing, perhaps familiar to Christians from an opening call to your own worship.

    Blessed be God

    εὐλογητὸς ὁ θεὸς καὶ πατὴρ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ὁ κατὰ τὸ πολὺ αὐτοῦ ἔλεος ἀναγεννήσας ἡμᾶς εἰς ἐλπίδα ζῶσαν δι’ ἀναστάσεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐκ νεκρῶν - 1Peter1:3MGNT [Greek New Testament]

    Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

    1 Peter 1:3-5 NASB

    Before considering the depth of this salvation introduced in Peter’s blessing, read what follows as one who has experienced the persecution of those to whom the Apostle writes:

    6 You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials so that the proven character of your faith—more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

    8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; though not seeing him now, you believe in him, and you rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy, because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

    The Salvation of your Souls

    Salvation – σωτηρία – sōtēria { sō-tā-rē’-ä }

    Let’s begin with salvation, ‘the goal of our faith.’ Salvation is first deliverance, preservation, or safety. It includes deliverance from the molestation of enemies and our enemy is satan, ruler of this world, our temporal flesh and angelic opponent to Christ Jesus.

    In an ethical sense, salvation is ‘that which concludes to the soul’s safety,’ guaranteed by the Messiah of God.

    Future salvation is the sum of benefits and blessings which the Christians, redeemed from all earthly ills, will enjoy after the visible return of Christ from heaven in the consummated and eternal kingdom of God. source: BlueLetterBible.com

    It’s worth mentioning that the root word for salvation in greek is σωτήρ {sōtēr}, meaning savior, deliverer or preserver. Christ Jesus has saved, delivered and preserved all believers born again to a living hope, as Peter encourages us.

    Preserve your body and soul

    Peter speaks here to the church in the plural, souls. Perhaps you recognize the anglicized greek word, psychē, from it much maligned meaning by unbelieving contemporary interpreters of our complex God-given life. Our soul is defined as: the breath of life, the vital force which animates the body and shows itself in breathing; the seat of the feelings, desires, affections, aversions (our heart, soul etc.), as an essence which differs from the body and is not dissolved by death (distinguished from other parts of the body).

    Much we could discuss here, yet Peter addresses it sufficiently in his letter to the church, the body of believers saved by Christ Jesus. One form of the greek word for soul used by Jesus address the cooling breath of life of those who no longer believe in God.

    Matthew 24:9-11 “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another.

    Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. (Peter addresses this later in his letter in 1 Peter 4.)

    Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.

    Matthew 24:12 NASB

    A Communion Plea

    communion cup of wine

    We do not presume
    to come to this your table, merciful Lord,
    trusting in our own righteousness,
    but in your manifold and great mercies…

    The body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given for you,

    preserve your body and soul to eternal life.

    Take and eat this in remembrance that Christ died for you,

    and feed on him in your heart by faith with thanksgiving.


    The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for you,

    preserve your body and soul to eternal life.

    Drink this in remembrance that Christ’s blood was shed for you,

    and be thankful.

    from The Book of Common Prayer

    The Grace that would come to us

    Now Peter encourages from the foundation of scripture.

    10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who prophesied about the grace that would come to you, searched and carefully investigated. 11 They inquired into what time or what circumstances the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when he testified in advance to the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.

    Prophets also asked about the Christ before His own sufferings for us. Once Jesus suffered, died and rose again, what would follow?

    What follows for believers in Christ?

    In a word, grace.

    Grace – χάρις – charis

    Grace is that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness.

    Certainly in this mortal life of suffering and persecution these hearers of Peter’s letter must have yearned for a return to a grace guaranteed beyond today.

    Grace is described [by Strong’s concordance] as a gift, a benefit, the spiritual condition of one governed by the power of divine grace. It is good will and loving-kindness, the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues.

    Grace through the Holy Spirit

    Peter assures them that the Prophets prophesied about the grace that would come to you. He testifies that the Spirit of Christ was within them, a reference to the Holy Spirit, living breath of God in the Word of Christ.

    12b These things have now been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—angels long to catch a glimpse of these things.

    Be Holy

    ‘Thus you are to be holy to Me, for I the LORD am holy; and I have set you apart from the peoples to be Mine.

    Leviticus 20:26 NASB

    Peter points back to Moses and several commands of the Lord. He uses Jesus’ familial authority of holiness.

    17 If you appeal to the Father who judges impartially according to each one’s work…

    He urges followers of Christ (v.13b), set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. And as Jesus taught, Peter urges us to be like Christ as an obedient child of the Father.

    14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. 15 But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; 16 for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.

    What’s it like to be holy?

    13-16 [PHILLIPS] So brace up your minds… Live as obedient children before God. Don’t let your character be moulded by the desires of your ignorant days, but be holy in every department of your lives…

    … you should spend the time of your stay here on earth with reverent fear.

    22 [CSB] Since you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth, so that you show sincere brotherly love for each other, from a pure heart love one another constantly, 23 because you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God.

    Peter’s call to holiness in our Christian living and witness to the world is challenging enough. And for those facing true persecution and opposition to our faithfulness to the Lord, Peter encourages us in our new and permanent salvation in Christ, Redeemer of our sinful souls.

    This brief life of ours

    What more can Peter say to encourage those first century Christians suffering for their true faith in Christ Jesus?

    In fact, Peter has much more to say beginning with cautions about those ‘christians’ who disobey God our Father and Christ. We began this series with “They Stumble Because They Disobey,” from 1 Peter 2.

    Just prior to this, Peter reminds us that by comparison to eternity (and judgment) this mortal life in the flesh is very brief. Comfort to those faced with persecution or death for their faith in Christ.

    Once again, he quotes scripture, specifically the Prophet Isaiah, in the thought connecting their faithfulness and his caution against false prophets.

    Isaiah 40:

    The verses from Isaiah preceding 1 Peter 24-25 will be familiar to the persecuted church of the first century. Prophesy of John the Baptist and Jesus both resound in the powerful imagery of Isaiah 40:1-5.

    All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field.
    7 The grass withers, the flower fades,
    When the breath of the Lord blows upon it;
    Surely the people are grass.
    8 The grass withers, the flower fades,
    But the word of our God stands forever.

    Isaiah 40:6c-8

    Beloved believer, we are like grass, yet so are opponents to our faith in Christ Jesus. By His grace we know our salvation.

    Isaiah urges us to be a bearer of the Good News.

    “Here is your God!”

    Behold, His reward is with Him

    Like a shepherd He will tend His flock,
    In His arm He will gather the lambs
    And carry them in His bosom;
    He will gently lead the nursing ewes.

    excerpts from Isaiah 40 NASB

    Peter ends this opening of his first letter:

    25 BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER.”
    And this is the word which was preached to you.

    To be continued...

  • They Stumble Because They Disobey – 1 Peter 2

    They Stumble Because They Disobey – 1 Peter 2

    The Apostle Simon Peter, who Jesus nicknamed, ‘the rock,’ warns the church about those who disobey God. He quotes scripture pointing to Christ as the cornerstone of the Temple and as a rejected stone causing some to stumble.

    As we suggested earlier in Apostates from Jude’s letter, these ‘religious’ opponents of Jesus often sway others to turn from the Lord. James also warns about Preaching to a Worldly Church, as do the Apostles.

    Peter reminds believers who hear his letter:

    For it stands in Scripture:
    See, I lay a stone in Zion,
    a chosen and honored cornerstone,
    and the one who believes in him
    will never be put to shame.

    So honor will come to you who believe; but for the unbelieving,
    The stone that the builders rejected—
    this one has become the cornerstone,
    and
    A stone to stumble over,
    and a rock to trip over.

    They stumble because they disobey the word; they were destined for this.

    1 Peter 2:6-8 CSB

    The Cornerstone in Zion

    stone wall "city of David" in Hebrew and English
    Zion צִיּוֹן

    Peter had witnessed the injustice to Jesus by Zion’s rulers first-hand. These same scornful men, a brood of vipers leavening the crowds of John the Baptist and Jesus – these arrogant religious scofferes pursued Peter and the Apostles, James and the church, and also Paul, Apostle to the gentiles.

    Peter quotes the prophecies of Psalm 118 and Isaiah, powerful imagery of the Messiah the Apostle had witnessed as he had entered Jerusalem with Jesus, who was crucified and then appeared alive after death on a cross.

    I shall not die, but live,
    And declare the works of the Lord.
    The Lord has chastened me severely,
    But He has not given me over to death.

    Psalm 118:17-18 KJV

    Two Herodian kings could not kill Christ and religious apostates who had turned against the Lord could not keep Jesus in the grave! Though the Lord rode into Jerusalem on the foal of a donkey triumphant as a king, His victory is that over sin and death by His Holy and Perfect Sacrifice on a Cross.

    Christ the Cornerstone

    Perhaps you know some lyrics from the 19th century hymn, The Church’s One Foundation, which shares this same imagery.

    The church's one foundation 
     Is Jesus Christ her Lord; 
     She is his new creation 
     By water and the Word... 

    Mid toil and tribulation, 
     And tumult of her war, 
     She waits the consummation 
     Of peace forevermore...

    The Apostle’s first letter to the church points back to the scripture of Isaiah, who states that the Lord’s foundation is firmly placed.

    “Surely My hand founded H3245 the earth,
    And My right hand spread out the heavens;
    When I call to them, they stand together.

    Isaiah 48:13 NASB – Strong’s reference H3245 – יָסַד

    In Scripture familiar to Peter’s first century readers, Isaiah chastises religious leaders who claim the Lord, but turn to a covenant with sin and death.

    Isaiah 28

    14 Therefore hear the word of the Lord, you scoffers,
    who rule this people in Jerusalem!

    … for we have made lies our refuge,
    and in falsehood we have taken shelter”

    Isaiah 28:15c ESV

    Peter quotes the LORD God from scripture in his accusation against those who turn from Christ Jesus.

    Isaiah 28:16 Therefore the Lord God said:
    “Look, I have laid a stone in Zion,
    a tested stone,
    a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation;
    the one who believes will be unshakable.

    Is your faith in the Lord unshakable?

    The church is Christ’s followers; saints all, every living soul gathered in His Holy Name. Peter refers to the faithful as living stones.

    No building of earth – not a Temple or grand Cathedral; but saved souls as living stones, placed by the Creator next to Christ our cornerstone. Unshakable – to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

    How firm is your foundation in the Lord?

    Peter shows us to be as unhewn but useful stones for the Lord’s holiest of Temples, the Living place of worship to the LORD founded in Christ.

    Isaiah 28:17-18

    “I will make justice the measuring line
    And righteousness the level;
    Then hail will sweep away the refuge of lies
    And the waters will overflow the secret place.

    “Your covenant with death will be canceled,
    And your pact with Sheol will not stand;
    When the overwhelming scourge passes through,
    Then you become its trampling place.

    Surely Christ has cancelled our covenant with death by His Sacrifice on the Cross.

    Peter’s Guidance for the Church

    Peter opens his first letter to the church: “To those chosen” or “To those who reside as aliens” or “To God’s elect, exiles scattered.. or “To the pilgrims of the Dispersion.

    These living stones are not recognized in this world as the church the Lord creates for true and eternal worship.

    Are you one who does not stumble?

    The world, even your neighbors, will treat you as aliens and attempt to shake your faith. Christians are as unwelcome in our 21st c. culture as the recipients of Peter’s first century letters to the church.

    In Jesus, Peter reminds us, our faith is solid – a firm foundation, level and straight. Peter precedes this call to the church from scripture with a firm exhortation meant to keep us from stumbling.

    Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander.

    1 Peter 2:1 CSB

    1 Peter 2:

    4 As you come to him, a living stone—rejected by people but chosen and honored by God— 5 you yourselves, as living stones, a spiritual house, are being built to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

    Do you stumble when you encounter Christ?

    How could you stumble? Or how will the faithful help you to keep from stumbling in your witness of Christ Jesus?

    By the plumb line of Christ’s righteousness in your works:

    • You no longer show malice [ill-will, wickedness, depravity, evil,trouble] toward others.
    • Of course you no longer use deceit, a key tool of Satan, to mislead any.
    • Christians more than most receive the world’s indictment of hypocrisy where Jesus is just a false mask taken on and off as we please.
      • If all the world’s a stage, then all wear the masks of hypocrisy.
    • Envy also shows a worldly desire over our hope for eternal riches in Christ.
    • All slander [backbiting] must stop in redeemed Christians.

    The Chosen Stone and His Chosen People

    Peter’s call to Christians, so clear to those introduced to Christ as a ‘chosen generation’ to proclaim the Gospel, bears repeating {from the NKJV} 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

    4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

    Now you are God’s people

    9 But you are a chosen generation… called out of darkness.. (the darkness of sin).

    Christ, the Cornerstone, called you into His Living Light, though you were once dead in your sins. Peter reminds the faithful saints called and hewn by Jesus into living stones:

    Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

    1 Peter 2:10 CSB

    Peter will continue to guide the church in our actions with each other and with others. Even some worshiping with us stumble, preferring our own easy grace, rather than be held accountable to our reshaping for a firm and level foundation formed by Christ Jesus.

    I have begun the first letter of Peter from his challenging scriptural call to faithfulness in the second chapter. Next, we will return to the Apostle’s encouraging opening in chapter one, God-willing.

    To be continued...
  • Jude -3- Apostates

    Jude -3- Apostates

    Why did Jude write to the churches about apostasy? What is apostasy and how do we recognize apostates?

    As we learned previously in the study of Jude’s reason for exhortation, certain intruders have joined the churches to which he writes. Jude describes them as ungodly people who pervert God’s grace. He accuses these apostates of denying our Master and Lord Jesus Christ.

    Jude

    5 [NASB] Now I desire to remind you, though you know all things once for all, that the Lord, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe.

    Why a reminder from the Old Testament?

    The approach of the church is different in Christ than that of the Jewish culture from which they have been redeemed by the Lord.

    A first century view of the church

    Donald Guthrie in The New Testament Approach to Social Responsibility writes:

    The New Testament assumes the validity of the Old Testament view that man was made in the image of God.1 The whole conception of sin requires that there must have been a state from which man has deviated.

    Guthrie continues with reminders of the social nature of the church of the first century to which Jude writes:

    The New Testament doctrines of redemption and reconciliation are central to the whole Christian message and involve a disarming of man’s natural enmity against God and of his self-centredness.7 …

    The consequence of this is that redeemed man finds himself with an entirely new set of values and yet remaining in his former alien environment. A tension must at once develop between his former way of looking at social responsibility and his new principles in Christ.

    The New Testament concentrates on the privileges and responsibilities of the Christian life, because this was the aspect which was new. The Christian faith demands new attitudes and actions which are of prior importance for those who have just turned away from a pagan background. This will explain the relative paucity of specific exhortations towards social responsibility.

    Examples from the Old Testament

    Jesus, nevertheless, teaches the validity of the Old Testament from where Jude takes examples of exhortations as contemporary reminders for our faith.

    “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”

    Matthew 5:18 KJV – the words of Jesus about the Old Testament

    Jesus told numerous stories from the Old Testament as well. For an excellent of His view of Scripture you can read this article by Don Stewart.

    Apostasy

    Before we continue with the examples of Hebrew history, let’s define what Jude does not specifically name. (You already know the challenges of Hebrew, Greek and Latin translations into today’s English.)

    Apostasy – definition

    from the OXFORD dictionary

    The abandonment or renunciation of a religious or political belief or principle.

    ‘the execution of their leader for apostasy brought widespread criticism’

    Origin

    Middle English from ecclesiastical Latin apostasia, from a late Greek alteration of Greek apostasis ‘defection’.

    ἀποστασία – apostasia

    Definition from the Greek: defection from truth (properly, the state) (“apostasy”):—falling away, forsake.

    מְשׁוּבָה

    Definition from the Hebrew mĕshuwbah : turning away, turning back, apostasy, backsliding

    The Bible warns of the apostasy of the Lord’s chosen people more times than the New Testament church specifically warns believers against it.

    “Your own wickedness will correct you,
    And your apostasies will reprove you;
    Know therefore and see that it is evil and bitter
    For you to forsake the LORD your God,
    And the dread of Me is not in you,” declares the Lord GOD of hosts.

    Jeremiah 2:19 NASB

    Jude’s Old Testament Exhortations

    Various Biblical headings for the verses to follow from Jude’s letter read:

    • Apostates: Past and Present -CSB
    • False Teachers – NTE
    • Old and New Apostates & Apostates Depraved and Doomed – KJV
    • Judgment on False Teachers – NSRV
    • Past history warns us that the unfaithful have mingled with the faithful & Be on your guard against these wicked men – PHILLIPS

    So as not to extend exposition of this twenty-five verse letter into another post, I will link the important cross-references for these Old Testament verses for your further study. I suspect the the first century readers of Jude’s exhortations warning against apostasy knew these examples much better than I can remember.

    1. Jude 1:5 – Egypt
    2. v. 6 – Angels – a multitude of examples throughout both Testaments
    3. vs. 7-8 – Sodom and Gomorrah
    4. v. 9 – Michael the Archangel, concerning Moses
    5. v. 11 – Cain, Balaam & Korah
    6. vs. 14-15 Enoch

    Egypt

    For I should like to remind you, my brothers, that our ancestors all had the experience of being guided by the cloud in the desert and of crossing the sea dry-shod. … many of them failed to please God, and left their bones in the desert. Now in these events our ancestors stand as examples to us, warning us not to crave after evil things as they did.

    1 Corinthians 10 excerpt – J.B. PHILLIPS

    Angels and Archangels

    For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

    Ephesians 6:12 NASB

    Michael, from the vision of Daniel 10 [audio]

    Sodom and Gomorrah

    “I destroyed some of your cities,
    as I destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.
    Those of you who survived
    were like charred sticks pulled from a fire.
    But still you would not return to me,”
    says the LORD.

    Amos 4:11 NLT

    Cain, Balaam & Korah

    All apostates! And for the most part we know their sins. Yet do we recall their warnings from the Lord?

    The Lord warns Cain

    Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you furious? And why do you look despondent? 7 If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.”

    Genesis 4:6-7 CSB

    The Lord & an Angel warn Balaam

    And God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.”

    And the Angel of the LORD said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to stand against you, because your way is perverse before Me.

    Numbers 22:12,32 NKJV

    Moses warns Korah & The Lord warns Moses & Aaron

    Moses also told Korah, “Now listen, Levites! Isn’t it enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the Israelite community to bring you near to himself, to perform the work at the Lord’s tabernacle, and to stand before the community to minister to them?

    The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, “Separate yourselves from this community so I may consume them instantly.”

    Numbers 16:8-9, 20-21

    Have we recognized the apostates opposed to the Lord and separated them from His church?

    The Lord requires both our faith and our loyalty. He cautions us concerning those who would turn against the faithful, loyal congregation of believers.

    Jude warns:

    These people are dangerous. They share communion of Christ with you, but only care about themselves. These men (and presumably women) are a menace to good fellowship. They are shepherds (pastors and priests) who care not for their sheep. These opinionated apostates are clouds without water, trees without fruit, twice-dead, and uprooted. Do not listen to them.

    Jude makes other comparisons of these apostates to raging waves splashing up their own shame and wandering stars ‘for whom the deepest darkness has been reserved forever,’ a clear reference to the eternal punishment of Satan’s apostate angels.

    Enoch Predicted an Apostasy of Israel

    The study of Jude’s source material [linked above] is complex. See Jude 1:14. Yet to simplify the apostasy of Israel which the Lord spoke to Moses at the time of his death, here is an excerpt from its scriptural background.

    Deuteronomy 31 & Intro from the Song of Moses

    The Lord said to Moses, “Behold, you are about to lie down with your fathers; and this people will arise and play the harlot with the strange gods of the land, into the midst of which they are going, and will forsake Me and break My covenant which I have made with them. Then My anger will be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them…

    “They have acted corruptly toward Him,
    They are not His children, because of their defect;
    But are a perverse and crooked generation.
    “Do you thus repay the Lord,
    O foolish and unwise people?

    Deuteronomy 31:16-17a,32:5:6a NASB

    A Reminder of Scoffers

    Jude reminds the church that the Apostles also warn of those who deny the power and judgment of Almighty God and turn from the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

    “In the last time there will be scoffers, indulging their own ungodly lusts.” It is these worldly people, devoid of the Spirit, who are causing divisions.

    Jude 1:18b-19 NRSV

    But you, beloved…

    Jude addresses the church agapētos, beloved ones, just as James in his letter had cautioned: “Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.”

    Jude and also James knew the familial love of Jesus. Both letter writers love those saints of the church faithful to Christ, their brother, the risen Lord.

    But you, dear friends, as you build yourselves up in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting expectantly for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life.

    Jude 1:21-22 CSB

    How shall we view the apostate?

    Have mercy on some who are doubting.

    Is this unexpected as our attitude toward some who temporarily turn against Christ?

    Jude shares the same teaching as Christ.

    “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

    The words of Christ, Matthew 5:7

    By our mercy and Christ’s grace some may be built up in the true faith.

    Save others

    ‘Snatching them out of the fire,’ Jude pleads, a clear reference to saving their souls from hell.

    σῴζω – sōzō – Save – to rescue from danger or destruction

    It is the same Greek word for save familiar to all from John 3:16. Jude urges the church to save those of the world who come to us.

    Have mercy with fear

    “And on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh,” Jude cautions.

    But what fear?

    φόβος – Most know the word phobos and its meaning: dread or that which strikes terror.

    What strikes terror in your heart?

    Your own death?

    Judgement? Eternal damnation?

    Or do you fear for the souls of others more than you fear them? For these are loved ones, friends and those who you know as a part of the church. Some apostate ‘christians’ have turned against the Lord Jesus Christ!

    Do you fear man or the Lord God?

    Luke tells us in the Acts of the Apostles,

    So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.

    Acts 9:31 NASB

    Jude’s reference to ‘hating even the garment polluted by the flesh’ clearly calls the church to hating the sin, yet not the sinner. Let us clearly identify the spotted speech of apostates among us, urging those with such worldly coverings to purify their sins in the blood of Christ.

    And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.

    James 3:6 NASB

    Let us watch that we condemn the sins of the apostates among us, while not judging their souls which the Lord may choose to snatch from the fire.

    Benediction

    Jude wants to encourage the church, giving those saints faithful to the Lord praise. Yet he has chosen to exhort the church against apostates, warn us against the sins which defile us and turn our witness against Christ.

    He briefly makes his strong warning and now closes with praise to the Lord. You may have heard such comforting benedictions from a pastor of your own church congregation.

    Now to him who is able to protect you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of his glory, without blemish and with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority before all time, now and forever. Amen.

    Jude 1:24-25 CSB Benediction

    Christ Jesus can keep you from stumbling so that you may stand in His holy presence. You will know His glory, because of His mercy and grace of covering our sins by His shed blood.

    God IS our Savior, through the sacrificial love of Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Anyone who does not believe in the only One who can save us is an apostate, turned against the Lord our God!

    To Him be all glory, majesty, power and authority. As it was in the beginning, it will be now and forever. AMEN.