v.4
I suppose as humans we wish there were unlimited ways to get to heaven. We wish that everyone would get there, and as a result, it seems that more and more people are more and more nebulous about their salvation history. We hear testimonies about people “seeing lights” or “feeling warmth” and much of Christendom will accept such as genuine conversions. The Bible is clear: we personally believe in our hearts that Jesus is the Christ and that God raised Him from the dead. We confess that Jesus Christ is Lord with our mouths and our lives are living testimonies of His Spirit’s continuing activity upon the Earth. All other claims of religious experience are suspect when Jesus is not proclaimed as Savior. And the painful truth is that some people are granted life and entrance into an eternity in fellowship with Christ based on the above criteria, while others are denied entrance into paradise and are indeed condemned due to the rejection of the above criteria.
Now, this grates against our tolerant minded way of thinking, but it is unavoidable biblically speaking. Certain things stand as condemned already. Here in verse 4, Jude makes a comment that these “certain men” have been “marked out for this condemnation.” Literally, the judgment upon them has been written out beforehand. What does that mean? It could have various nuance of meaning. For example, there is the intent and heart of the law which God clearly presented to His people. “All who sin are sure to die.” In this way, judgment is spelled out by the presence of the law, with the warning that disobedience spells certain doom.
On the other hand, it can mean that the judgment against ungodly people has been written in the Old Testament and will be fulfilled. Listen to these words, penned by the prophet Isaiah.
• Isaiah 5:18-25 : ”Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of vanity, And sin as if with a cart rope; That say, ‘Let Him make speed and hasten His work, That we may see it; And let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw near and come, That we may know it.’ Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight! Woe to men mighty at drinking wine, Woe to men valiant for mixing intoxicating drink, Who justify the wicked for a bribe, And take away justice from the righteous man! Therefore, as the fire devours the stubble, And the flame consumes the chaff, So their root will be as rottenness, And their blossom will ascend like dust; Because they have rejected the law of the Lord of hosts, And despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. Therefore the anger of the Lord is aroused against His people; He has stretched out His hand against them And stricken them, And the hills trembled. Their carcasses were as refuse in the midst of the streets. For all this His anger is not turned away, But His hand is stretched out still.”
God’s wrath is sure to come against the ungodly, even though presently “his hand is stretched out still!” They have a destiny awaiting them. It is not that God tolerates their existence and is incapable of dealing with them. Rather, it’s His love that stays His hand. Judgment is a reality; God’s mercy is a reality. Judgment has happened before and it will happen again.
For Jude’s readers, there is the obvious warning, but perhaps even a more direct encouragement. God’s hand is still outstretched and every sinner is a candidate for God’s mercy in Christ. Later, Jude writes, “And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.” (v.22,23) With the reality of God’s judgment, we must live in reverential fear of God. At the same time, and with equal vigor, we must live in anticipation that God might use us to dispense the knowledge of His mercy and give everyone the chance to be objects of His love.
I suppose as humans we wish there were unlimited ways to get to heaven. We wish that everyone would get there, and as a result, it seems that more and more people are more and more nebulous about their salvation history. We hear testimonies about people “seeing lights” or “feeling warmth” and much of Christendom will accept such as genuine conversions. The Bible is clear: we personally believe in our hearts that Jesus is the Christ and that God raised Him from the dead. We confess that Jesus Christ is Lord with our mouths and our lives are living testimonies of His Spirit’s continuing activity upon the Earth. All other claims of religious experience are suspect when Jesus is not proclaimed as Savior. And the painful truth is that some people are granted life and entrance into an eternity in fellowship with Christ based on the above criteria, while others are denied entrance into paradise and are indeed condemned due to the rejection of the above criteria.
Now, this grates against our tolerant minded way of thinking, but it is unavoidable biblically speaking. Certain things stand as condemned already. Here in verse 4, Jude makes a comment that these “certain men” have been “marked out for this condemnation.” Literally, the judgment upon them has been written out beforehand. What does that mean? It could have various nuance of meaning. For example, there is the intent and heart of the law which God clearly presented to His people. “All who sin are sure to die.” In this way, judgment is spelled out by the presence of the law, with the warning that disobedience spells certain doom.
On the other hand, it can mean that the judgment against ungodly people has been written in the Old Testament and will be fulfilled. Listen to these words, penned by the prophet Isaiah.
• Isaiah 5:18-25 : ”Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of vanity, And sin as if with a cart rope; That say, ‘Let Him make speed and hasten His work, That we may see it; And let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw near and come, That we may know it.’ Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight! Woe to men mighty at drinking wine, Woe to men valiant for mixing intoxicating drink, Who justify the wicked for a bribe, And take away justice from the righteous man! Therefore, as the fire devours the stubble, And the flame consumes the chaff, So their root will be as rottenness, And their blossom will ascend like dust; Because they have rejected the law of the Lord of hosts, And despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. Therefore the anger of the Lord is aroused against His people; He has stretched out His hand against them And stricken them, And the hills trembled. Their carcasses were as refuse in the midst of the streets. For all this His anger is not turned away, But His hand is stretched out still.”
God’s wrath is sure to come against the ungodly, even though presently “his hand is stretched out still!” They have a destiny awaiting them. It is not that God tolerates their existence and is incapable of dealing with them. Rather, it’s His love that stays His hand. Judgment is a reality; God’s mercy is a reality. Judgment has happened before and it will happen again.
For Jude’s readers, there is the obvious warning, but perhaps even a more direct encouragement. God’s hand is still outstretched and every sinner is a candidate for God’s mercy in Christ. Later, Jude writes, “And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.” (v.22,23) With the reality of God’s judgment, we must live in reverential fear of God. At the same time, and with equal vigor, we must live in anticipation that God might use us to dispense the knowledge of His mercy and give everyone the chance to be objects of His love.
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