False Teachers Identified Jude 3-4

False Teachers Identified

Introduction

Jude writes a letter to a group of Jewish followers of Jesus Christ to warn them about false teachers in their midst. As we read the beginning of the letter, we find out that this was not original purpose for writing. He wanted to write about the blessings of salvation. He wanted to write about the gospel. But he became aware of a danger in the Church that needed to be given serious attention. So his purpose changed from talking about the “faith” or gospel, to challenge them to put up a fight against those who have corrupted it.

These people needed to “contend earnestly” for the gospel. Those words suggest a fight was on their hands. And this fight is not a one time experience. It is a fight that will be constant, both in the first century, as well as the twenty-first century. We must be ever vigilant when it comes to the truth of the gospel.

Not only do we have to fight against false teaching outside of the church (cults and false religions), but also there are those within the Church itself who have come to dangerous conclusions about the gospel. Such conclusions result in people not hearing the true gospel, and therefore not understanding true saving faith through the work of Christ alone. Unbelievers are not being offered the hope of eternal life, and believers are being deceived and not growing in their salvation.

So what is the message of Jude for us today? Christians need to be able to identify false teaching when they hear it. It’s not just from cults that change the meaning of words to confuse people with the true gospel. It’s also from some in the Church (with a capital “C”). What are the disginguishing marks that identify false teachers?

False teachers are deceptive

Jude has become aware of a growing tendency in churches where people have “crept in unnoticed”. This is a good time to point out that these people are inside the church. We’re not talking about different religions. We are talking about people who have joined the church, making a profession of faith, and getting involved. So our concern is not in fighting the cults and world religions, but in preserving the purity of the gospel within the Church itself.

At first, these deceptive people may seem to be a good addition to the Church. They want to be active. They want to serve. They same some good things. But as time goes by, red flags start flying as they change. What changes are evident? In addition to what you might hear them saying, there is also evidence in how they are living, as Jude begins describing next.

False teachers are ungodly

A general adjective is attached to these deceptive people: ungodly. It’s a word used often in the New Testament (including six times in this short letter!). It’s a word that suggests a lack of devotion and duty toward God that is often replaced with a life of sinful living as Jude will describe in his next identifying characteristic.

When Jesus came to Israel, he saw ungodliness in the lives of many people, including the religious leaders. His summation of them is found in , quoting from the book of Isaiah when he says, “This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me.” That is the life of ungodly people. They may do some of the right things, but there is no desire to do it. Paul says that the Christian life is one of “obedience from the heart” (). No so with false teachers.

False teachers live self-indulgent lifestyles

No one is perfect. Everyone says some ungodly things, thinks ungodly thoughts, or commits some ungodly actions from time to time. But what happens over time? In the case of false teachers, they will show that their lifestyle is one that can be described as one of seeking their own gratification, their own pleasure. And that will be seen in an extreme measure! They want to have a good time.

The word used by Jude and translated “licentiousness” is usually translated in our Bible with the word “sensuality”, as when Peter says, Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned” (). So the false teachers are into living not according to scripture, not according to a sanctified and holy lifestyle, but according to what their own senses provide for them.

False teachers reject the Lordship of Jesus Christ

This lifestyle of sensuality and ungodliness is actually the result of a more basic problem: a rejection of Jesus Christ as Lord of their life. When a person wants to be their own master, they want to be able to make the decisions about what is right and wrong. But the Bible is clear: reject what is ungodly and submit to Jesus Christ as both your Lord and your Savior. The word “deny” has the idea of saying “no” to certain teaching or behaviors. The same word is used by Christ when he tells His followers they are to “he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me” ().

Paul uses the same word when he writes about what the gospel should mean for every Christian when he says, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age” (). Peter, who is addressing identical problems of false teachers in his second epistle says this: “…just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves” (). The same thing! False teaching, accompanied by a lifestyle of rejecting the Lordship of Christ. It’s a formula for disaster, both for the Church, as well as for people who are hearing the gospel.

Conclusion

We have seen, then, that false teachers are deceptive in their approach, ungodly in their character, self-indulgent in their lifestyle, and rejecting the only true Lord. What can be done? Let’s suggest a dose of their own medicine: deny them! reject them! Don’t let them have their say. Of course, the average church member can only do so much, but we need to pray for our Church and its leaders to be faithful to the gospel and do what is necessary to preserve the true gospel message, so that people will hear and be saved. And we need to always be students of the gospel. Make it a habit of learning more about what God says is the true gospel so that you can see when it is being corrupted.

Application

What will you do to identify false teachers within the Church, not only at Faith Bible Church, but in churches that are proclaiming the gospel and have an ongoing ministry in proclaiming the gospel?