In the midst of false teachers, part 1
a book survey of the epistle of Jude
Things always get awry when there is false doctrine propagating within the church. Some teachings are explicit, but most are subtle. Some of the false teachers are easily identified, but most are wolves in sheep’s clothing. It would be a good thing if there was a way to keep them out of the church. But, unfortunately, there isn’t. In fact, Jesus Himself tells us in the ‘parable of the weeds’ (Matthew 13:24–3) that false teaching and teachers are going to come in, and are already here!
The weeds have crept in.
The issue of false teachers creeping into the church is dealt with precisely in the little one-chapter epistle in bible, Jude (aptly named after its author). First and foremost, Jude says that false teachers have crept into the church unnoticed very much like Jesus’ parable. One day we come to church and find everything just fine, and then the next day, come again and find these people have been firmly planted and are already subtly wreaking havoc. Jude says that at the root of their disruption is a perverted version(!) of the grace of God which they have turned into a license to sin (c.f. Jude 1:4)!
The problem is that their teaching is so subtle that even the most well-equipped of saints cannot spot them until the bad plant has taken root and has bore its bad fruit. And the moment we see the fruit, it would have already caused a lot of systemic problems within the church.
Jude in his epistle seeks to expose the subtlety of false teachers. Jude calls them out and puts them in a category alongside the most explicit of ancient sinners: the people of Sodom and Gomorrah (v. 7), Cain, who murdered his younger brother; the Israelites who obeyed Balaam who eventually caused their fellowmen to sin; and Korah and his sons, priests of Israel who sparked a rebellion against Moses (v. 11). Putting them in this category says that their sin is as vile as that of the worst of blasphemers and perverts. They are, in their own right, grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage (v. 16).
What now?
Take heart, brethren. Will have these people in our midst. There’s no getting around that. But the book of Jude is not without helpful counsel. Not only is the counsel helpful, it is planted deep, deep, down into the firm pillars of the sovereignty of God; the foundation of our Christian faith.
Jude addresses us as ‘those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ (v. 1). Lest we become discouraged and weary, this three-fold reminder should pull us back into sobriety.
We were called
We are reminded that we have been called out from death into life by a sovereign God. Surely a God who can raise the dead should be able to rule over troublemakers in church.
We are loved
We are reminded that this God who called us, loves us with an everlasting love.
We are being kept
If that’s not enough assurance yet, we are reminded that we are kept(!) for Jesus Christ — and nothing is able to snatch us out of the Father’s hand (John 10:29). Whatever havoc is wrought by the trouble-makers in the church, your eternal salvation, O child of God, is secured!
Safeguard your faith
Before Jude goes into elaborately describing the ungodly, he issues command in verse 3:
…I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed…(Jude 1:3)
The command is for us to content for the faith and the reason why we must do this is because trouble-makers have crept into our congregation unnoticed. To contend plainly means to fight for, or to assert. In the original Greek text, the word translated ‘contend’ (Greek: ἐπαγωνίζεσθαι, pronounced: “ep-ag-o-nid’-zom-ahee”) is a verb in the middle voice. English only has the active and passive voice, and translators usually render a Greek verb with a middle voice as its equivalent English verb in an active voice.
The Greek middle voice signifies, that the doer of the action is also the receiver of that same action. In this case, we are exhorted to contend with ourselves for our faith! That is, we are to earnestly make sure that we are, at all times, standing on the right doctrines and holding onto the right beliefs. Because, unbeknownst to us, we might have already absorbed some of the false teaching! We must hold fast to the pure, unadulterated faith that was once for all delivered to the saints (v. 3).
In other words, safeguard your faith; ask yourself if you are still standing in accordance with Scripture. Do a check of your current beliefs. Living as Christ-centered, gospel-led, bible-founded lives is paramount for every Christian.
The thrust that the Greek middle voice gives Jude’s command to ‘contend for our faith’ is right in line with his exhortation towards the end of the book where he tells us to “keep yourselves in the love of God…” (v. 21). Moreover, we are to do this whilst building ourselves up in our most holy faith, and praying in the Holy Spirit (v. 20).
Study the bible
It is apparent that in order to develop keenness in examining our beliefs, we must become more and more familiar with the teachings of Scripture —the unadulterated faith that was once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3). This is an implicit call to seriously study the Scriptures. How else are we to build ourselves up in our most holy faith? (Jude 1:20).
We shall do this vis-a-vis seeking wisdom and counsel from the Holy Spirit through prayer. (c.f. v. 20). We will not be captivated by the biblical truths apart from the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the giver of her growth and maturity for the Christian and the Church.
Take heart, trust in the sovereignty of God. Safe guard your faith, examine your beliefs and study your bible. Pray to the Holy Spirit that in all your trusting and studying you may be built up in Christ. So that, when false teachers come (and even as they have come), you — by God’s sovereign keeping — will not waver!
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