I am a retired pastor of
the Church of God (Tennessee). My name is Isaac Livingston. I am from Neyyoor India. |
Email: Pastor True Gospel
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"Jude 1:1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:" Jude is the author of this letter. In my language bible, his name is Juda; and if it is so, James and Juda were brothers of the Lord Jesus Christ. Mark 6:3 says about Jesus, "Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and so on ..." So, Jesus of Nazareth was the son of the Virgin Mary, and James and Juda were sons of the same Mary and Joseph. Jude writes this letter to those who are #1, sanctified by God the Father; that is, they were made pure and holy by the Spirit of God; and #2, Jesus Christ has called them and preserved them as godly and pure people in himself; that is, they are Spiritually kept. This letter is intended to them. But now, we all read or study this letter, as it is for ourselves; but most of us are sinning Christians. And so, we mostly misunderstand this letter. "2 Mercy unto you, and peace and love, be multiplied." It is a wishful blessing of God to them that are called and are preserved in Jesus Christ. But our tradition is, as we study, we assume that we are receiving the blessings of God.
"3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. Two important points are written in this one verse. One is common salvation; and another is the faith that they already have. Usually, Christians are greedy, and they wish to receive easy blessings, without giving anything. Jude was contemplating to write to them about common salvation. But he has changed his mind to write about the faith that was delivered to the saints, since that was much needful and sufficient for them at that point, and he advises them to be satisfied in that faith. Probably common salvation was also needed, because the word salvation is used to mean a lot of other things, other than to be saved from sins and hence from eternal condemnation. I have a link about common salvation for those who are interested to study, Link: "salvation." But Jude wrote was about faith. Our present-day faith is a wish to get anything, and we think that we will receive them. But the faith, which was delivered to the saints, made them to live a righteous obedient life, which was proof that they were living in faith. He tells the believers to hold on to that faith, which was delivered to the saints, and be satisfied with that faith. But present-day faith is not that faith. This is the link for faith if you are interested. Link: "Faith." To hold on to that faith is very importance. If we do not have the strength of the Spirit, our faith is weak. Grace is the strength and power given to us by God in times of need. But if we have counterfeit grace, which is deception, which is compromised to enjoy lustful life, we will get the wrath of God, instead of the strength and power of God. So, keep the faith of Saints. "4 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." Lasciviousness is the filth of the flesh. But the "grace gospel" preachers, who are Calvinists, preach grace to those who are in lasciviousness. This is the deception and danger to the faith of believers, and so, Jude wants to write this before he writes about common salvation to believers. So, take it seriously and be careful. I am leaving a link for, Grace from Jesus Christ versus Common Grace. This link is for this exact topic, "grace." In verse 4, we see a phrase "denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ." How do they deny the Lord God? It is as in Luke 6:46, they call him Lord, Lord, but do not do the things Jesus Christ tells them to do.
"5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not." Yes, though once we knew the truth, as the heat of evangelical stir cools down, we forget the truth. So, the word of God reminds us again. God saves people, but if we do not live worthy of salvation, God destroys the saved people. But there are false preaches say that God saves, but once God saved, then he got stuck with them; and no matter how they live after being saved, God cannot reverse salvation, or he cannot destroy them. They preach this false doctrine to promote sinful living among people, and they themselves are sinners. I have a study rebutting "once saved always saved" doctrine. If you like to study it, the link is here: "Once Saved." Here, the Holy Ghost inspires four incidents in a row; and so, the subject must be very important to God. 1), it is from verse 5. What all happened to the chosen people Israel, are written in 1 Corinthians 10:1-12. ["1 Corinthians 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. 8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. 10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. 11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall."] Israel were all saved from the slavery of Egypt, baptized through the sea, protected by clouds and sun, given to drink the Spirit, to eat manna, and all good things. But when they did not obey God, God overthrew them in the wilderness. 2), it is in the next verse. "6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day." Their first estate was serving God in heaven with all happiness and joy. After they took side with Lucifer, they were cursed. Many verses say that disobeying angels will be punished in the lake of fire and hell. And Matthew 8:29 tells the possibility that the devils may be tormented in hell even now as in verse 6. "It says, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time." So, devils may be tormented before their time, that is even today. 3), next is sin of abomination, that is of homosexuality. "7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. They were homosexual perverts. Luke 17:29 says, "But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all." Please notice, Sodom and Gomorrah are set for an example for homosexual sin, and it is punishable with severe fire of brimstone. And 4), "8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities." In verse 7, filthy dreamers are homosexual perverts. And they habitually defile their flesh; that is, they live in sin. Verse 8 says that they "despise dominion and speak evil of dignities." Who are the dominion and dignities? Let me show three verses to find them. 1). Jesus gives this verse in a parable. "Luke 19:14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us." This man who reign over them is Lord Jesus Christ and he is the dominion and dignity. Sinners despises him. 2). "1 Thessalonians 4:6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. 7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit." Who has given to us the holy Spirit is the Lord Jesus Christ. He told us to love our fellow brethren, so, if we despise our brethren, we despise Jesus Christ. 3). Hebrews 13:17. "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you." Here these rebellious sinners are inside the churches. So, the dominion and dignities are the true servants of God, who represent Jesus Christ in the Spirit Church. Verse 8 says that they "despise dominion and speak evil of dignities." Who are they? They are the false preachers.
False preachers and those pretending to be healers and miracle workers that are rich, talk low and evil about the true godly humble people, since they are poor. False preachers are hypocrites, and they are children of the devil. Let us study a few examples given from the old testament, by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. "9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee." Usually, angels and demons do interfere each other in their work, and it is in the Spirit realm. In this context the bottom line is, the assignment or command given to the angels at that time by God. One angel single handedly have the power even to subdue even Satan (Lucifer). It is in ["Revelation 20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season."] But if God does not give the assignment to cast down the devil, then the angel will not do it. Then he will say, let "The Lord rebuke thee." But look at what the false preachers do. "10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves." They corrupt themselves having no assignment from God. Apostle Peter also says the same thing as Jude says. 2 Peter 2:11-13. ["11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. 12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; 13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;"] Then Jude says in the next verse, "11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core." He gives three names as examples from the old testament: Cain, Balaam, and Core (Korah). Cain killed his righteous brother Abel, Balaam gave a deceptive advice to Balac to destroy Israel using women, and Korah was swallowed by earth when he stood against Mosses. They were all cursed, and God destroyed them. "12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; 13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever." They are false preachers, pretending to be the servants of God, making us merchandise with enticing words, and they will be cursed and destroyed by God, and they cannot escape his wrath.
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Matthew 28:20, & Mark 16:15. Jesus Christ preached his commandments to obey, as his
The true gospel will convert evil people to do good and thereby they will inherit the kingdom in heaven.
John 3:19-21 say that people are two kinds, evil and true. Evil doers will not come to the Light, who is God; but people of truth come to God for their deeds to be made manifest. We have good and evil people by our standard of our society or culture. These evil people may be converted to be doers of truth by the power of God, and they may inherit the kingdom of God in heaven.
Email: Pastor True Gospel