Jude 1
14-16-
“Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these man also, saying ‘Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly amount them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.’” These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage.”
This is such a profound and threatening passage. We often think that it is one thing to curse God or to use His or the Lord Jesus’ name in vain, however, this passage makes it clear that complaining and grumbling are categorized in the same way as taking the Lord’s name in vain or cursing it. Furthermore, verse 18 states that these people will also mock God because they walk according to their own ungodly lusts. The Bible calls them sensual persons and says that they do not have the Spirit of God and that all of this behavior causes divisions!
18-19-
“ how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.”
How amazing, how aggressive is the heart of God to be seen as, experienced as, and accepted as the good and blessing God who cares so deeply for His creation that any word to the contrary elicits judgment of such thoughts and heart conditions that proceed from the mouths of men. Moreover, it is to the extreme advantage of the believer to observe those among us who exhibit these types of behavior and to pray for them, be a light for them and, when possible speak the truth to them so that they do not become the victims of their own words.
When the believer observes these behaviors in others, there is the temptation to judge and to engage in the same behavior in their own lives. But, our loving Father here writes to us a safeguard, a solution, to remain free from this type of sin…
20-21-
“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. "
Here we are admonished to keep ourselves in the love of God. This refers to keeping our minds believing that God is our source, our provider and that we never have any reason to complain, grumble, or mock God. We are provided with the opportunity to go to Him and talk to Him about our lives, needs, desires, etc. As well, we are protected against falling into the temptation of judging others if we do what this verse says… praying the Holy Spirit. This type of prayer will keep our most Holy Faith built up and cause us to refrain from complaining, grumbling, mocking, flattering, causing division, judging, etc.
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