JUDE'S EXHORTATION AND WARNING.
THE epistle of Jude is especially a prophecy of last-day conditions, and a warning to the saints against the false teachers of the last days. Incidentally it was addressed to the church of his time, just as the things that happened to the children of Israel were "written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come" (1 Cor. 10: 11), while the statement was first made to the church in the days of the apostles. The class against whom Jude warns us "have crept in unawares" to the church. The people did not know their true character when they were allowed to come in. Notwithstanding their gilded exterior, and their show of learning, they are "ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ." Because of this class of teachers, the Spirit foresaw the necessity of writing to the church of these times, and of exhorting them that they should "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." Therefore this duty devolves upon all who hold the Word of God alone as the basis of faith and doctrine. Jude says of these people that they are "spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear." This shows the intimate relationship which they are allowed to gain with the church through their insidious devices. They are "clouds," appearing to bear refreshing showers for the pastures of the flock, but they are clouds "without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots," etc. "Their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage." When this class is referred to as "ungodly," as "mockers," as "giving themselves over to fornication," etc., the casual reader is apt to regard them as out-spoken infidels and open railers against the truth; but a careful study of the brief epistle shows that they are prominent in the church. Otherwise the brethren would not be deceived by them; their real character would be known to all, if they were openly such as the Spirit portrays them. It is because their true character is hidden under a cloak of great profession and popular esteem that they are able to lead well-meaning brethren astray; hence the warning.7 The same class is mentioned in Peter's second epistle (chapter 2), and he calls them "false prophets" and "false teachers," who "privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them." And the worst of it is that "many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of." Peter describes them just as Jude does: "Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; having eyes full of adultery, and that can not cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls; an heart they have exercised with covetous practises; cursed children ["children of cursing," R. V.]; which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray. . . . These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved forever." Is it any wonder that these "false prophets" and "false teachers" are telling the people that the law of God is abolished? Of course they do not want the people to recognize any principle that so emphatically condemns their own wicked ways. They can talk glibly of the love of Christ, and the love of God, but their representation of love is an empty sentimentality, stripped of every vestige of obedience, which alone is Christ's test of love. "If ye love Me, keep My commandments." "This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not grievous." "If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love." This is "the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" by the Lord Himself, and for which His servant Jude exhorts us that we "should earnestly contend" in these last days. Let us heed the exhortation, and the warning against those who, "having not the Spirit," would teach otherwise.