For there are certain men crept in unawares, who
were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into
lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus
Christ (Jude 4).
ARMINIAN ARGUMENT:
“Does not this
text tell us that the grace of God is resistible? or that these individuals
were, in some sense, recipients of this grace? For it says that these reprobate
false teachers are ‘turning’ the grace of God into lasciviousness.”
(I)
Prof.
David J. Engelsma
Jude 4 describes what ungodly men do with the truth
itself of grace, not with any attitude of favor on God's part to them. Ungodly
men hear the message of God’s grace in Christ towards the elect believer and
make of the doctrine a license to sin. That they themselves are not and never
were objects of this grace personally is plain from the teaching of the text
that these men were eternally “ordained to condemnation” evidently in the hatred
of God toward them. (DJE, 22/05/2018)
-----------------------------------------
(II)
Prof. Herman C. Hanko
[Source: The Covenant Reformed News,
vol. 5, nos. 9-13]
Jude
is speaking here of a particular class of people in the church. They were in
the church to which Jude writes; they are always in the church. They are
described as those who creep in unawares. What Jude means is that these men
come into the church under false colors. Their entrance into the church is not
itself undetected—that would not even be possible. But they claim to be in
agreement with the doctrine and calling of the church, when, in fact, they do
not agree at all. They hide their true beliefs and do not make it evident that
they do not love and serve Christ who is the King of the church. And they enter
the church in order to corrupt it.
They
are not necessarily men who come into the church from outside; they can also be
born within the church. But as they come to maturity, they discover that
they do not love the Lord Christ, nor do they believe the truths which the
church teaches. They nevertheless remain in the church, and they do so without
revealing their true feelings about matters because they are intent on corrupting
the church. To those, Jude refers.
The
text speaks of these individuals as those “who were before of old ordained to
this condemnation …” With regard to whether this is a reference to reprobation,
it is important that we are aware of the fact that not all commentaries agree
by any means that it is speaking of that. The problem lies in the meaning of an
important Greek word which can certainly be translated as “written before,”
rather than “ordained before.” The meaning then would be that these wicked men
were written about before Jude wrote, and it was predicted that there would be
such men in the church.
We
see no reason to reject either idea. The translation of the AV is, however, a
proper translation of the word used in the Greek. In fact, the idea of being “written
before” (in a Scripture infallibly inspired by God Himself) surely implies also
that they were ordained before unto this condemnation in which they would
creep unawares into the church to corrupt it.
But
it must be remembered that although their motives are to corrupt the church,
they cannot do this. The very fact that they are ordained before
means that they serve a purpose in the church—a purpose ordained by God.
They cannot destroy the church, nor can they lead one elect away from Christ.
Their purpose is to corrupt the church; but God’s purpose for them, which is
always realized, is to purify the church. It may seem as if their
efforts are successful when they lead many astray and the church is reduced in
size, but the fact is that they are ordained by God for the purpose of serving
the good of the church. Those who are led astray fit the category of men described
by John in I John 2:19: “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.” And when
these men who are led astray by those who corrupt the gospel leave, the church
is purified.
But
what John writes is true when the church is faithful and expels from her
fellowship these ungodly men who change the grace of God into lasciviousness.
If the church refuses to expel such ungodly men—and this is increasingly true
in our day when we are told to love everyone, tolerate every one’s opinions,
and permit everyone with any heresy to remain in the church—then the church
signs her own death warrant. But even then, the church of Christ is not harmed,
for Christ calls the faithful out that they may, through church reformation,
re-establish the church of Christ.
* *
* * *
*
With
regard to the expression, “… turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness,”
it is true that this has often been used to teach the error that God’s grace is
resistible.
Apparently,
those who support this contention argue that it is God’s will and purpose to
save these wretched ungodly men, and God would indeed do this if He possibly
could; but His grace is resisted and turned into lasciviousness.
This
interpretation is absolutely impossible, for the text quite clearly says that
these ungodly men were ordained before for the purpose of creeping into the
church to corrupt it. And we noticed, too, that God’s purpose for this is the
good of the church—i.e., to purify the church from a wicked element which is
always present.
But
the meaning of the expression taken by itself cannot mean what the defenders of
resistible grace want it to mean. They argue that God’s grace is shown to these
ungodly men in God’s desire to save them. But that very grace is turned into
lasciviousness. That is impossible. How can God’s desire to save them be turned
into lasciviousness? Can they get a hold on God’s desire? Can they make God’s desire
their possession, and then corrupt it? That interpretation just won’t work.
The
idea of Jude’s expression here is that these false teachers were antinomians
who were perverting the truth (or doctrine) of salvation by grace
to excuse immoral behaviour. It was the doctrine of grace which was distorted—a
doctrine truly confessed by the believers and a doctrine only outwardly
confessed by these ungodly men.
That
some such people are referred to is evident from the fact that these men crept
into the church unawares. They professed to believe the truth. They claimed to
agree with the doctrinal position of the church, especially that salvation is
by grace alone. But they came in under false colors, for their purpose is to corrupt
the church. And so, while they claim to hold to salvation by grace alone, they
commit terrible sins, sins which are further described by Jude in verses 7-11.
And
so the doctrine of salvation by grace alone is referred to in the text.
This doctrine they turn into lasciviousness. It is important that we say a few
more things about this. But let it now be underscored most emphatically that
grace is always irresistible, because grace is always particular.
A common grace is, in its very nature, resistible. A grace shown to all men (in
whatever form that may be) is a grace which is resistible and resisted. Not all
who are shown that “common” grace are saved, are they? In their case, that
grace does not accomplish its intended purpose. The sovereign and almighty
grace of God is then shown to be, after all, in the case of many, weak and ineffective.
Man can and does resist it.
Who
wants grace like that? Not I.
* *
* * *
*
The
text describes these men as “ungodly.” Literally, that word means to denote a
lack of reverence towards God. They profess to believe in God and in the truth.
But their hearts are not right before God, for they do not live in fear of Him.
And this is the reason why they feel perfectly free to change God’s glorious
truth of sovereign grace into lasciviousness.
That
great sin of lack of reverence is further described in the text as a denial of “the
only Lord God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ.”
That
is, indeed, a striking expression. While they profess to believe in the truth
of God, by changing God’s grace into lasciviousness, they in fact deny
God and deny Christ.
We
ought to notice how serious this is, because the sin of these men is very
common today. They deny God, the only Lord, the text says. The word “Lord” here
is really “Despot.” That word is used in several places in the New Testament as
referring to God triune. The word does not have the pejorative
connotations which we give it, but the truth that God is absolute Lord,
who alone is to be worshipped, adored, and served in faithful service.
When
these ungodly men walk in all the lusts of the flesh, they in fact deny
God, even though they outwardly profess faith in Him. They deny Him because
they will not serve Him who is Lord and who demands such service.
But
they also deny the Lord Jesus Christ.
The
Lord Jesus Christ is the Saviour of the church, in whom alone is found all of
salvation. Christ saves so completely that He gives His people the grace of
sanctification, as well as all other graces. That means that Christ gives His
people grace to walk in holiness and obedience and to flee the lusts of the flesh
and the wickedness of the world.
But
these ungodly men who claim to believe the truth walk in the very sins from
which Christ has delivered His people by grace. They thus deny Christ by their
life when in fact they claim to confess Him.
What
scathing denunciation that is of many in the church today who profess to believe
the truth, but who walk in all the ways of wickedness!
* *
* * *
*
The
great sin condemned here is the sin of professing to believe the truth of
Scripture, while in fact denying it by one’s life. It is the sin of antinomianism,
which denies the validity of the law of God for the sanctified believer. It is the
sin of using the truth of sovereign grace as an excuse to sin. It is saying, “If
we are saved by grace alone without works, then we can live like the devil and
be saved anyway.” It is the same as Paul’s burning question: “What shall we
then say? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?” (Rom. 6:1)
The
church always has these people in it. It was true in Jude’s day; it is true in
our day.
These
people walk in the world. They commit the same sins as are found in the world.
They live in evil and immorality. They read the world’s books, watch the world’s
television, sing the world’s songs, pursue mammon as the world does, so that it
is impossible to tell by their life that they are members of the church.
In
some instances, rather than live like the world, they teach the philosophies
of the world. They may, e.g., teach evolutionism in one form or another as an
explanation of the world’s origin. Or they may promote homosexuality as a legitimate
alternate lifestyle, all the while professing Christianity and even claiming
that their defense of homosexuals is true Christianity, for they love their
brother.
They
continue to maintain that they are believers. They are insulted and angry when
their Christianity is questioned. They are quick to profess their love for
Christ and their eager desire to serve Him faithfully.
Two
sins are, therefore, referred to: (1) a walk in the world which contradicts an
outward profession of Christianity; (2) an appeal to Christianity as the justification
for their walk. They change the grace of God into lasciviousness by walking
contrary to the truth of salvation by grace alone; or they use the very
doctrine of salvation by grace alone as an excuse for their sin.
In
any case, the condemnation of the text is sharp and uncompromising. In fact, in
spite of their profession, they deny both God and Christ. All their
pious protestations to the contrary, they are the enemies of God and His Christ.
Nor
ought we to overlook the very personal element which Jude includes: they turn
the grace of our God into lasciviousness; and they deny our Lord
Jesus Christ. Hence, the people of God who love God and His Christ, who confess
His truth and walk in obedience out of fear and reverence, must do battle
against these wicked, and expel them. The church will be lost if the
faithful do not fight.
Or
if the church refuses to expel them, for the sake of the God whom they love and
the Christ whom they serve, they must separate from such a church, lest they
become partakers of the evil deeds of these wicked men.
-----------------------------------------
(III)
More to come! (DV)
NOTE:
Check
out the following sermon on this very text by Rev. Angus Stewart:
“Ungodly
Men Corrupting the Grace of God” (Jude 4) [part 3 of the series, “Earnestly Contending
for the Faith”]
No comments:
Post a Comment