Beware the Pretenders

How to Survive in the Last Days of Apostasy

Jude 17-25

INTRODUCTION

We live in the last days. The Bible makes it clear that the last days began when Jesus arrived. It's probably true that we are living in the latter portion of the last days before our Lord Jesus returns. If, in fact, we are living in the age symbolized by the apostate church of Laodicea (Rev. 3:14-19), how are we then to react to the increasing apostasy around us? What does a Christian do in the midst of the apostasy that precedes the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ?

The answers to those questions are found in Jude 17-25. Jude has discussed the history and definition of apostasy, and has given examples of it. He has also warned Christians to be ready for it and fight against it, and has warned apostates of the consequences of their departure from the faith. Now in the final climactic passage, Jude provides four key principles that Christians have been following ever since: remember, remain, reach out, and rest. They offer security to the believer in the midst of the apostasy of the last days. As you examine those principles, you will understand how to enjoy God's blessings even if everything seems to be falling apart.

I. REMEMBER (vv. 17-19)

A. The Command (v. 17a)

"But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ"

Jude has been reminding us throughout his epistle of Old Testament scriptures that deal with apostasy: He talked about Cain, Balaam, and Korah (v. 11), the children of Israel in the wilderness (v. 5), the angels that left their habitation (v. 6), and Sodom and Gomorrah (v. 7). Having mentioned those past incidents of apostasy in the Old Testament, Jude looks to the more recent past and encourages his readers to remember the words that were spoken by the Apostles. The New Testament truth that came through the Apostles and their close associates is in direct contrast to the pompous rhetoric and the vain words of the apostate false teachers that Jude alludes to in verse 16. In other words, if you're going to stand firm in the day of apostasy, you're going to have to avoid the lies of the apostates and remember the words of the Apostles. Forgetting the teaching of the Word of God is a major cause of spiritual deterioration. In the past, some of us have learned biblical principles of living that we have long since forgotten.

1. 2 PETER 1:15--Understanding that forgetfulness is a problem, Peter wrote: "...I will endeavor that ye may be able, after my decease, to have these things always in remembrance" (cf. v. 12). The call to remember was a ringing theme with Peter as well as with Jude.

2. 1 TIMOTHY 4:1-6--Paul felt the same way: "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly that, in the latter times [the end of the church age], some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron" (vv. 1-2). In other words, apostates will speak lies and their conscience won't bother them, because it will be as insensitive as scar tissue. Those apostates will be "Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving by them who believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused, if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ..." (vv. 3-6). A good minister warns his people about apostasy.

So Jude is in agreement with Peter and Paul when he calls us to remember the words of the Apostles, who wrote the Word of God. In effect, he recognizes the verbal inspiration and authority of Scripture and acknowledges that it is the Christian's only security. In fact, his call to remembrance is actually a command, because the Greek verb for "remember" is in the imperative mood. That is the first imperative that Jude uses in his epistle now that he has laid out the foundational information about apostasy. He's saying whatever apostates may do and say, don't be deceived--hold on to the revelation of God that has been authored by the Apostles. That is the only security that you have against false doctrine. You say, "If I fall into false doctrine, will I fall from my salvation?" No, but Peter says you'll fall from your steadfastness (2 Pet. 3:17). You won't lose your salvation, but you will lose your solidarity, "carried about with every wind of doctrine..." (Eph. 4:14). Such a state will be characterized by a loss of victory and joy in the Christian experience.

B. The Content (vv. 17b-19)

1. ITS SOURCE (v. 17b)

"...remember ye the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ"

The Apostles informed early Christendom about apostasy before it ever occurred. The apostasy that crept into the early church was a fulfillment of their prophecies. They predicted it would come in such verses as...

a. Acts 20:29-30--Paul said to the Ephesian elders, "For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them." Paul predicted that when he left Ephesus, doctrinal perversion would enter the church he had worked so hard to establish. The sad reality of apostasy eventually had a destructive effect on the church in that city.

b. 1 Timothy 4:1--"...in the latter times, some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of demons."

c. 1 Timothy 6:20-21--"O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of knowledge falsely so called, which some, professing, have erred concerning the faith...."

d. 2 Timothy 3:1, 5, 7-8--"This know, also, that in the last days perilous times shall come....[There will be those] Having a form of godliness, but denying the power of it; from such turn away....[They are] "Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres [Egyptian magicians] withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth, men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith."

e. 2 Timothy 4:3--"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine but, after their own lusts, shall they heap to themselves teachers...."

f. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15--"For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore, it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works."

g. Colossians 2:4-5--"And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. For though I am absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ."

h. 1 John 2:18-19--"Little children, it is the last time; and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists, by which we know that it is the last time. They 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."

i. 2 John 7--"For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ cometh in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist."

Jude says, "You have heard Paul, Peter, and John had to say. They all said that apostasy is coming. Remember that, and don't be beguiled by it when it comes." If the Word of God warns about something, then when it happens, you ought to be sensible enough to reject it. Jude gives us a sample of apostolic scripture on apostasy in verses 18-19.

2. ITS SPECIFICS (vv. 18-19)

a. Scoffers (v. 18)

"...there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts."

1) 2 Peter 3:3--Jude's statement is almost a direct quote of the Apostle Peter's condemnation of apostates: "[Know] this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts." The word translated "scoffers" in 2 Peter and the word translated "mockers" in Jude are the same Greek word. It is used only in those two places. Jude is quoting Peter, saying, "For example, just think of what Peter said, that there would come scoffers." Apostate false teachers are scoffers who deceive others regarding the truth of God's Word and its application to spiritual issues.

Peter goes on to say in verse 5 that scoffers are "willingly...ignorant." Apostates characteristically know the Word of God and willfully reject it. They have read and understood it, yet they deliberately reject it, holding it in mockery. They deceive others by posing as truly godly and authoritative teachers while they pervert the truth of God.

2) 2 Peter 2:19--"While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the slaves of corruption...." False teachers walk in their own lusts and are enslaved by their own evil desires. Having rejected the truth of God's law, there is no way for them to control their lusts. Apostates not only have wrong theology, they invariably live in a state of self- corruption.

b. Separatists (v. 19a)

"These are they who separate themselves..."

Apostates not only mock the truth, seeking to be rich, famous, and sexually fulfilled; they also "separate themselves." That term is found only once in Scripture. It refers to people who think that they are superior. Like the Pharisees, they wanted to elevate themselves as the spiritually elite. They probably formed a clique at the love feast whose only desire was to feed themselves (v. 12). They evidently despised the leaders of the church, according to verse 8, which says that apostates "despise dominion." They arrogantly associated with the rich and the educated, believing themselves to be the spiritual and intellectual upper crust of society. They were like the Pharisees (a name which may mean "separated"), so Jude deals with them like Jesus dealt with the Pharisees. Jesus told them they were separated in a different way than they had assumed--from God.

I've experienced the ridicule of theological liberals. Some have said to me such things as, "Are you one of those stupid people who believes the Bible? You don't really have the education to understand the whole picture of reality." People like that claim to be the spiritual elite. They scoff at God's law and condemn true Christians as those who are intellectually naive.

c. Sensualists (v. 19a)

"These are...sensual..."

The Greek word for sensual is psuchikoi, which means "soul." It refers to physical life. Apostate false teachers consider themselves to have risen above the physical realm into the spiritual (pneumatikoi) realm. Jude is saying, "They may think they're spiritual, but I've got news for them--they're purely physical."

The spiritual elite thoug