September 22, 2022 – Thursday
Jude 1:4 NIV
4 For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.
Jude 1:4 NOG
4 Some people have slipped in among you unnoticed. Not long ago they were condemned in writing for the following reason: They are people to whom God means nothing. They use God’s kindness as an excuse for sexual freedom and deny our only Master and Lord, Yeshua Christ.
Comment
I could have added more versions, but these two sum up most of them The Names of God (NOG) version because it had the simple straight-forward explanation of why certain people were condemned: They are people to whom God means nothing.
Both the NIV and NOG tells us what this means in their lives and what they try to encourage in others’ lives. They pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord NIV or They use God’s kindness as an excuse for sexual freedom and deny our only Master and Lord, Yeshua Christ NOG.
So, Jude is telling us if we come across anyone teaching or preaching the grace of our God or God’s kindness makes it acceptable to engage immoral sexual behavior, avoid them like the plague as they are condemned. At the same time, you may recognize them when they refuse to accept the deity of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
BTW, I recommend reading the entire book of Jude as it is only 25 verses long and you would do well to watch this explanatory video on Jude as well as it explains why Jude references books not in the Old Testament. It is where I discovered Jude was one of the four half-brothers of Jesus.
You may not think this is a message needed for today, but please look at this link where two churches are removed from fellowship for accepting and promoting sin. And then consider this link were a governor uses scripture to promote abortion.
Bottom Line: By keeping our eyes open, we can recognize these people when they enter our churches or our circle of friends and once we recognize them we need to keep our distance from their ungodly ideas and activities.
Prayer: Almighty God, Help us to always be aware when those who seek to deceive us into sin and into rejection of Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Then please help us to reject their teachings and to grow in the knowledge of grace we have through Your Son. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Dayton
in Beavercreek