It is clear that the Epistle of Jude gives a picture of the most frightful state of Christendom. In another epistle (1 John 2:1919They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. (1 John 2:19)) the false ones are represented as going out, but here they are shown to be inside. They are not described as having been knowingly admitted, but as having “crept in unawares.” Under the garb of profession, they have eluded detection, and are thus described as having “crept in unawares.”
It may have been carelessness on the part of the true-hearted in not discerning the real character of those thus admitted. We are naturally glad to hear of conversions, and to find that those who profess faith in Christ are desirous of commemorating in the Lord’s Supper the death of the Savior. The thought of “numbers” is often a snare, even where there is a real desire that only the truly converted should be gathered.
But the Epistle of Jude clearly proves that Satan’s aim is to defile the house of God by bringing into it his candidates. We are elsewhere exhorted to try the spirits, for many false prophets are gone into the world. Saints, therefore, should not be too hasty in admitting into the house of God; for Satan knows how to dress up his followers and teach them to repeat what he knows will please every Christian to hear. Who, indeed, can be aware of his devices except as led and preserved by the Holy Spirit?
The apostle then gives instances of apostasy from the Old Testament history. The first, alas! is in Israel itself: the Israelites had all been brought out of Egypt, but those that believed not were destroyed.
The second is that of the angels who kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation: they are reserved in everlasting chains for punishment in the great day.
The third is Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them, “suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.”
Then follows a dreadful description of the false ones who had crept into the house of God, with a “Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.” (Ver. 11.)
As to Cain, we read: “We should love one! another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.” (1 John 3:11, 1211For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. (1 John 3:11‑12).) Instead of love in these professors, there was hatred against those who were righteous—a hatred that in Cain led to murder.
Of Balaam we also have God’s own description: he “taught Balac to cast a stumbling-block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.” (Rev. 2:1414But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. (Revelation 2:14)) Balaam was not allowed to curse Israel; but for “reward” he taught their enemy to seduce them into idolatry, with which was connected fleshly indulgence.
With Core (or Κoral!) it was different. It is here called “gainsaying;” it was speaking reproachfully against God’s representatives and His priests, typical of the priesthood of Christ, and declaring that they themselves were holy.
Thus we see there was hatred instead of love; ecclesiastical evil with its enticements to sin, instead of seeking to remove all temptations; and despising God’s authority in His true representative and Priest. And all this was connected with the profession of Christianity.
“These are spots [or, rocks] in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear:” like sunken rocks upon which the mariner might at any time be wrecked. “Clouds without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead [by nature and by apostasy], plucked up by the roots; raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.” (Vers. 12, 13.) Great pretension, but no reality or godly fruit.
Now it is to be remarked that though ungodly ones existed at the time when the epistle was written, mention is made of a prophecy by Enoch as to the return of the Lord to execute judgment upon them. From this we learn that the very same thing will exist at the end when the Lord comes for judgment.
The saints had been already warned by the apostles that there would be “mockers in the last time [or, at the end of the time] who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves [as more holy, like the Pharisees], sensual [or, natural], not having the Spirit.” They are not only unconverted, but are not even moral men; and yet, alas! they are inside the professing church. It is near to open apostasy.
In such a state of things what are the saints to do? They are to build up themselves on their most holy faith. This is the only place where we read of ‘holy’ faith; and here even that is not enough, it is ‘most holy’ faith; in striking contrast to the unholiness of the mere professors. It is a 4 holy Father’ (John 17:1111And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. (John 17:11)) who is our Father: it is “He that is holy [and] he that is true” (Rev. 3:77And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; (Revelation 3:7)) that is our Savior; and it is the Holy Spirit who has quickened us, and who indwells us. Yes, ours is the most holy faith. We are to build up ourselves on it. We cannot separate the faith from the truth. There is no real faith without the truth; and there is no holding the truth without faith. We are to build up ourselves on our most holy faith: to seek to be rooted and grounded in the truth; to “stand fast in the faith.” The building up is to be “till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: that we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive: but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.” (Eph. 4:13-1513Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: (Ephesians 4:13‑15).)
“Praying in the Holy Ghost,” stands in direct contrast to those who have not the Spirit, though they had been able to creep in. Prayer is the great resort in an evil day: to whom can we turn but to the One that is able to keep us from falling?
“Keep yourselves in the love of God.” Not our love to Him, but His love to us, which nothing can affect or even touch. Surely His love is set upon us for good; and however dark the day, or however crooked all things may become, let nothing shake our confidence in God’s love: it is eternal.
“Looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, unto eternal life.” It is mercy, because the evil being so great we are addressed as individuals. “His mercy endureth forever.” We can always count on this. What strong bulwarks are these in an evil day—God’s love and His mercy. They are boundless and are certain. Oh, that we might never lose heart, but by prayer in the Holy Spirit be cast on God, rejoicing in His love; and trusting in His mercy.
How cheering to be able to close, even when things are at their very worst, with “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.”