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  • 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.

  • Hebrews – Benediction

    What is a benediction? Where did it originate and why is it the most appropriate closing to this or any letter?

    Perhaps you have heard a benediction or two, in Latin or another language, words sung closing a worship service.

    “So they shall invoke My name on the sons of Israel, and I then will bless them.”

    Numbers 6:22 NASB

    Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel
     Canticle of Zechariah
     Benedictus also known as the Canticle of Zechariah, is one of the hymns for Maundy Thursday in Holy Week. It was sung by the Jewish priest Zechariah, father of St. John the Baptist, in thanks for the son bestowed upon him by God. source:
    Audio Player
    Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel:

    Definition: Benediction

    From the earliest times the records bear testimony that pronouncing the benediction or giving the blessing was a common practice. In the temple service, this duty was assigned to the Aaronites and was made an impressive part of the service. The form of the benediction used is given in Nu 6:22-27. References to this practice may be found in Le 9:22; De 10:8; 2Ch 30:27. After a time, minute directions were given concerning it and careful preparation was made for this part of the service. source: International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia

    The Priestly Blessing

    “The Lord bless you and keep you;
    The Lord make His face shine upon you,
    And be gracious to you;
    The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
    And give you peace.” ’

    The blessing of worship given by the one who stands between the congregation and the Lord. Go in peace.

    Although an appropriate closing for a letter to be read to the congregation of a church, not all letters to the churches ended with such a benediction.

    Other Closings of Letters to the Church

    I have linked some benedictions of Paul above. Some letters such as James offer no benediction, while others close briefly.

    Peace to all of you who are in Christ. – First Letter of Peter 4:14B

    Some combine it with a closing caution and others offer just the exhortation.

    Little children, guard yourselves from idols. – 1 John 5:21

    While his last letter, the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John closes:

    Ἡ χάρις τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ μετὰ πάντων ὑμῶν Ἀμήν

    The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

    Hebrews

    Before we conclude Hebrews 13 which begins, ‘Let love of the brethren continue’ and ends with a benediction, let’s take a brief look at the focus of the author’s letter.

    האגרת אל-העברים 1 Habrit Hakhadasha/Haderekh (HHH)
    א לפני שנים רבות דיבר אלוהים אל אבותינו באמצעות הנביאים בדרכים שונות, וסיפר להם, שלב אחרי שלב, על תוכניותיו.
     2 אך עתה, באחרית הימים, דיבר אלינו אלוהים באמצעות בנו, אשר בידו הפקיד את הכול ועל-ידו ברא את העולם ואת כל אשר בו.

    God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.

    Hebrews 1:1-2 NASB

    The author of Hebrews’ point of scripture: God speaks to us in various ways. And now the Son, Jesus, heir and creator of the world, has spoken.

    3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature, sustaining all things by his powerful word.

    Hebrews 1:3 CSB

    Jesus, the Son IS exactly, God’s own glory! Quite a statement. Because we are human, the Father became human in the flesh of the Son.

    3: Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house.

    Note that the Apostle is ‘one sent with orders’ and so was the Son to us. The writer refers to us as holy partakers of the heavenly calling. For this same calling Christ Jesus is our High Priest.

    8:6 Jesus has now obtained a superior ministry, and to that degree he is the mediator of a better covenant, which has been established on better promises.

    But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.

    Hebrews 9:11 NKJV

    15 Therefore, he is the mediator of a new covenant… Jesus secured a promised eternal inheritance, because of His Perfect Sacrifice for our sins.

    10:19 Therefore … enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh..

    Persecuted believers in Rome and beyond

    The persecution of Christians in Rome had likely already begun and these Hebrews likely faced severe social suffering, starvation, banishment and even death. So the writer of Hebrews encourages these prior to his closing.

    Endure the race of faith and persecution for His sake. Continue to love each other and continually praise God.

    17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account.

    Pray also for me. This familiar theme of connection between leaders of the church separated from those they love. The author suggests that their prayer could lead him to be returned to them sooner. (Perhaps he is imprisoned or hiding elsewhere due to cautious fear for his life.)

    Benediction of the letter of Hebrews

    Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus—the great Shepherd of the sheep—through the blood of the everlasting covenant, equip you with everything good to do his will, working in us what is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

    Hebrews 13:20-21 CSB

    God IS a God of peace, even when peace seems nowhere near.

    Jesus, Shepherd of the church, was brought up from the dead; therefore we honor Him as Lord. Do His will. All glory to Christ Jesus! Amen.

    This lesser shepherd of the church then encourages them with some additional timely good news of others they know. The author then closes:

    13:25 ἡ χάρις μετὰ πάντων ὑμῶν

    Grace be with you all.

    Philippine Madrigal Singers

    For by His Blood we have grace and peace.

  • Hebrews 5- Christ a High Priest

    וְהַכֹּהֵן֩ הַגָּדֹ֨ול מֵאֶחָ֜יו אֲֽשֶׁר־יוּצַ֥ק עַל־רֹאשֹׁ֣ו שֶׁ֤מֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה֙ וּמִלֵּ֣א אֶת־יָדֹ֔ו לִלְבֹּ֖שׁ אֶת־הַבְּגָדִ֑ים אֶת־רֹאשֹׁו֙ לֹ֣א יִפְרָ֔ע וּבְגָדָ֖יו לֹ֥א יִפְרֹֽם׃

    “‘The high priest – who is greater than his brothers, on whose head the anointing oil is poured, who has been ordained to wear the priestly garments – must neither dishevel the hair of his head nor tear his garments.

    Leviticus 21:10 WLC NET

    The High Priest – a greater man

    If you have been following this series on the book of Hebrews you may already be thinking, ‘he just talked about the high priest in Hebrews 3.’ It’s obviously an office of great importance, but what more can be said by the author of Hebrews?

    https://mymorningmeditations.com/2014/07/30/sermon-review-of-the-holy-epistle-to-the-hebrews-the-bypass/
    High Priest in Holy of Holies

    In fact, even though we don’t necessarily revere an anointed priest above priests (or a bishop above bishops) as any more relevant to religion than any man, the LORD established an authority to come closer to Him on behalf of the congregation.

    Therefore the writer continues to make a connection between the high priest and Christ not only here, but also later in Hebrews 7 and 8. The priest and high priest are more than just anointed offices of the Temple and church.

    Hebrews 5 :

    For every high priest taken from among men is appointed in matters pertaining to God for the people, to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.

    Hebrews 5:1 CSB

    We don’t really think of a priest in this way anymore, do we?

    Yet if we are not able to stand before the Living God, who can?

    And, in fact, if the Lord anoints a man to ‘offer both gifts and sacrifices’ for our sins, who should he be?

    So why do we need a priest? The writer of Hebrews reminds us:

    2 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he is also clothed with weakness.

    Think of one of your many sins. Would you want someone who will deal with your punishment and correction gently? And do you hope this intercessor between you and Almighty God in his own weakness will have compassion for you?

    Of course. And he continues:

    3 Because of this, he must make an offering for his own sins as well as for the people.

    Therefore any intercessor for our sins must also offer a personal sacrifice for his own sins. We cannot hide our sins from God. Perhaps the priest and high priest will be even more fearful coming before the judgement seat than you or me.

    4 No one takes this honor on himself; instead, a person is called by God, just as Aaron was.

    Scripture points to Christ as our High Priest

    5 In the same way, Christ did not exalt himself to become a high priest, but God who said to him,

    You are my Son;
    today I have become your Father,

    Hebrews 5:5, Psalm 2

    The writer of Hebrews adds:

    You are a priest forever
    according to the order of Melchizedek.

    He speaks not only of the high priest anointed for an appointed time, but of an order of priests before Levi, referring to Melchizedek to whom Abraham gave sacrifices to present to the LORD. (He will elaborate in later chapters.) The priests descended from Israel’s son, Levi, are only human.

    “Bring the tribe of Levi near and present them to the priest Aaron to assist him.

    Numbers 3:6

    The Son Intercessor

    Scriptural reference to Biblical quotes from Genesis and Psalms point to the Messiah, the Son of the Living God, as a first born Priest, even Most High above every High Priest.

    Who is this Son?

    His praises are sung by King David in Psalm 110, where His heart is revealed to those who know scripture.

    Psalm 110:

    110 לְדָוִ֗ד מִ֫זְמ֥וֹר נְאֻ֤ם יְהוָ֨ה׀ לַֽאדֹנִ֗י שֵׁ֥ב לִֽימִינִ֑י עַד־אָשִׁ֥ית אֹ֝יְבֶ֗יךָ הֲדֹ֣ם לְרַגְלֶֽיךָ׃

    This is the declaration of the Lord
    to my Lord:
    “Sit at my right hand
    until I make your enemies your footstool.”

    Examine part of verse 3: רֶחֶם rechem מִשְׁחָר mishchar; from the womb of the dawn. 

    The root word of womb, רָחַם, means to love, to have compassion or be compassionate.

    Can you find any better description of the Son of the Living God?

    And to say from the womb of the dawn may be metaphorical for the dawn of time, the beginning of light, but also derives from another Hebrew root, שָׁחַר, ‘to seek, seek early or earnestly, look early or diligently for.’ Is this not what the Messiah has done for sinful, yet faithful followers?

    He was with God in the beginning. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

    John 1:2,4,11, 14 CSB

    The writer refers to Jesus in Hebrews 5:7-10 speaking of His earthly life, yet comparing Him to Melchizedek.

    Our immaturity in Scripture

    Then a challenge. Do you know your Bible?

    Essentially, this is our consideration of the remainder of Hebrews 5.

    “…you have become too lazy to understand. 12 Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the basic principles of God’s revelation again. You need milk, not solid food. “

    Of course, this may not apply to all, yet he chastens most of the congregation. And doesn’t it sound so much like our 21st century ‘too long, but not too deep’ sermons?

    Now everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced with the message about righteousness, because he is an infant.

    But solid food is for the mature—for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil.

    Hebrews 5:13-14

    Now which are you, beloved brother or sister in Christ, dear friend and heir of our Hebrew heritage?

    Are you lazy for milk or hungry for the mature nourishment of Scripture and the holiness of the LORD?

    To be continued...
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