Eternity 142- Spiritual Infiltration (Jude 1:3-4 NASB) Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. {4} For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. "For certain persons have crept in unnoticed...." and threaten the purity of the Church by "turning the grace of our God into licentiousness ". This unprincipled and licentious conduct was such that by doing so they "deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.". Slowly,secretly the Church was being undermined and do devastating was this that Jude left off his original purpose (a doctrinal exposition about salvation) to issue a stern apologetic against false teachers. Firstly we need to clarify what it means "to deny the faith". Lets look at the NT verses on this topic: (1 Timothy 5:8 NASB) But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever. (2 Timothy 2:12 NASB) If we endure, we shall also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us; (Titus 1:16 NASB) They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient, and worthless for any good deed. (1 John 2:22-23 NASB) Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. {23} Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also. (Jude 1:4 NASB) For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. (Revelation 2:13 NASB) 'I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith, even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. (Revelation 3:8 NASB) 'I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Denying the faith seems to be BOTH behavioral and doctrinal. Christians can deny the faith by a) licentious behaviour b) not providing for their own especially their aged parents c) being detestable and disobedient. d) denying that Jesus is the Christ. Being a Christian is a lifestyle, a Kingdom way of living, as well as believing certain doctrinal fundamentals. A person so selfish that they fail to support their family is without true love and "worse than an unbeliever" and thus not a Christian. Also a person who is content to be immoral and licentious has denied the Kingdom lifestyle and the nature and character of God in Christ and thus have denied the faith. We can deny Christ with our lifestyle and deny Him with our words and beliefs. The group Jude was concerned about were subtle - not so doctrinally way off - that people noticed. Able to infiltrate - just morally loose. In order to counter this loose living Jude talks about "our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.". In other words Jesus is the boss! Lordship is not just for super-saints, but all saints. Obedience is necessary. Jesus was not just their Savior - but their master and Lord, able to tell them how life should be lived, and He was their 'only" Master and Lord, no other authority was sufficient to revoke His commandments. Genuine Lordship involves obedience, not just lip-service! Those who think that being religious can substitute for being obedient will be in for a terrible awakening. (Matthew 7:21-23 NASB) "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. {22} "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' {23} "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.' The spiritual infiltrators were lawless Christians who preached "grace" as a means of leading people into immoral and licentious living. This still occurs today. There are many attempts to loosen up the stern demands about materialism, love and sexual purity that the Gospel clearly lays out. Grace gives sinners room to change and a chance to become holy, it does not give saints permission to sin. As Paul says: (Romans 6:1-2 NASB) What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace might increase? {2} May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? To be sure a condemning, critical, legalistic and Pharisaical church has lost sight of grace, but a permissive Corinthian church has lost sight of holiness. Yes Christians should accept sinners and help them to find Christ and live the Kingdom lifestyle. But Christians should not feel free to be sinners, to live selfishly or to engage in licentious living. Christ has not saved us for that, but from that! If we deny the Kingdom lifestyle - we deny the King! Lets end with a verse from Hebrews that calls us to gracious, peaceful living, and to holiness, at the same time: (Hebrews 12:14 NASB) Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. Blessings in Him, John Edmiston Asian Internet Bible Institute http://www.aibi.ph/ Free Online Bible And Ministry Training