A Call to Show Mercy

Introductory Comments

Turn in your Bibles to Jude 22

By way of introduction as we’re turning in our Bibles, you will recall that the concern that Jude addresses in this letter is false teachers that were within the church, who had believed or claimed to believe in Christ, but who were now acting in and promoting ways that were contrary to sound teaching and practice. The main reason for writing this letter was to call the church to contend for the faith (Jude 3).

The bulk of the letter was written with the view of exposing these false teachers, their immorality and impurity, the danger they pose to the church, and the judgment that would come upon them as a result of their waywardness.

Then, over the past couple of weeks, we’ve considered the calls that Jude makes to the church, to believers, as he calls the church to respond in a particular manner to these false teachers, or at least in light of the fact that these false are a reality in the church.

How are Christians to counter the potential effects of these false teachers and to remain steadfast in the faith. How is the church to remain strong and united in Christ as a church in light of these attacks that will come?

The first remedy was that the church is to recall the teaching of the Apostles, that such false teachers would arise and infiltrate the church. This recollection of the words of the Apostles would do two things. Firstly, it would produce a confidence in the life of the Christian, because such events would not be unexpected. But secondly, and flowing out of that, it should lead the Christian to live always in a state of awareness, wherein the Christian is constantly alert and attentive to potential false teachers in the church.

The second remedy was that the church as a whole, and every believer individually, was called by Jude to keep themselves in the love of God. The way that they were to do that was by building themselves up in their most holy faith, by praying in the Holy Spirit, and by waiting (with action) for the mercy of Christ to bring eternal life (vv.20-21)

The third aspect that Jude raises, and the third aspect which the church is called to, is for us as the church to show mercy. If the church is going to stand strong, and we are going to stand firm in the face of these false teachers, then we must show mercy. That is what Jude will be addressing in these two verses this morning.

Note that this is not mercy in terms of meeting physical needs (although there is biblical instruction to that effect). Rather this is a call to show mercy on a spiritual level.

The title of my sermon is “A Call to Mercy.” Let us read together...

Scripture Reading

Jude 22–23 NIV84

22 Be merciful to those who doubt; 23 snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

Introduction

As we begin considering these two verses this morning, I want to say from the outset that I hope that through these verses we as the members of the church will be struck by the weighty responsibility that we have towards one another.

Last week we focused our attention on the action that we take, primarily directed at ourselves as individuals. Although there is certainly a corporate dimension, and the call of Jude applies to the church as a whole, there was a primary responsibility on each member of the church to consider their own conduct and how they are keeping themselves (or failing to keep themselves) in the love of God.

But today’s verses are entirely others-oriented. They call us as Christians to a deep care and concern for our brothers and sisters that we see around us. As this call is made to Christians, we will find that if we are to heed the call, we must know our brothers and sisters, and have Christian bonds formed with them, so that we will be able to show mercy. Without knowing them, we will not know that they need mercy shown to them.

But if the church is going to stand strong, then we must know our brothers and sisters, and we must be prepared to confront those areas of their lives in which they are evidently being led astray by false teachers. We, as the church, have a responsibility to show them mercy.

We must not allow the individualism that is so prevalent in the culture around us to dull our concern and care for our family in Christ. We must not allow the prevailing mentality of “judge not”, or the prevailing culture of being easily offended to sway us in our duties as the church body.

We are called to love. We are called to show mercy.

As we begin looking specifically at this text, notice firstly that we are to show...

1. Mercy to Those Who Doubt (v.22)

The first kind of person that needs us to show them mercy is the doubter. The word here speaks of a person that is wavering in their actions. They are unsure of which way to go. As a result of false teachers impacting them with their clever arguments, these doubters are uncertain about the truth of God’s word, and thus they have been led to a place of doubt.

Very likely, you yourself have been in such a position of doubt. Some people are faced with this sense of doubt when they’re confronted with other beliefs. The Jehovah’s witness knocks on your door, hands you a pamphlet quoting various Scripture references, and leads you to think that perhaps the Christian faith that I’m in is wrong, and I need to become a part of the JW church. Perhaps it’s not Jehovah’s Witnesses, or Mormonism, or the Seventh Day Adventist church.

But the fact is, you are confronted with this teaching, perhaps even heaily quoting Scripture, and perhaps with much of the same theology, but even so with different views. Maybe its the healing crusades that you see on TV, and some of these people really seem to be healed. And you are led doubt your own faith, your own position and understanding, and you begin to question. Is what I hold to correct?

Pause… Pause.... Pause....

Friends, we must not underestimate the challenge this can pose to the Christian. It is a truly unsettling situation to be in.

But further than just being unsettling, we must realise that this is not a safe situation for a Christian to be in, and is in fact that starting point to a potentially perilous situation.

Very often those who have such doubts are those who are immature and young in their faith.

Now, we must be clear that there will always be (or at least their should always be) those who are immature in their faith within a body of believers. New converts are immature in their faith. And we want to know that there are new converts coming into the church.

What is of concern is when the average spiritual age (from time of repentance and faith in Christ to current day) is high, but the church is still acting like an infant. That’s a problem. As Paul addresses the Ephesians in Ephesians 4 by explaining that if the leaders of the church fail to do the work they are called to, the church will fail to grow and mature. The result of that will be a church that is tossed about by every wind of doctrine. That shouldn’t be!! There needs to be an overall maturity about the body that comes about through the teaching and proclamation of the Word.

With that said, we must realise that when it comes to individual believers within the church, immature believers are those who are most susceptible to false teaching. Since they are young in the faith, they have not been trained and grounded in sound theology to the extent that older, more mature believers have, and they thus become susceptible to attacks. Furthermore, they may even become the target of attacks.

Also those who are going through a time of weakness, or a time of backsliding in their faith, or a particular time of temptation. They are open to the attacks of the evil one.

William Gurnall writes these words in his book “The Christian in Complete Armour:”

"The devil is a very subtle enemy. He knows the season he is most likely to succeed and displays his hellish skill of seduction in that season. As in Egypt, he seeks the child upon the birth stool, when he is newly converted. He also comes when a Christian is beset with some great affliction. He is like a thief waiting in some blind alley to attack his victim."

Let us be sure, there will be those who are weakened in their faith, and those who are struggling with doubts and uncertainties with particular doctrines. And we as the church are called to respond in a particular way.

Jude says that we are to “Show Mercy” to them.

We do not treat those who are having struggles with doubts with some disdain or insolence. We are not called to rebuke them for their doubting. Rather, the call is for us to show mercy towards them. We are to deal with them in a caring and tender manner.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 NASB95

14 We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

Those whom Jude speaks of here refers to those who very often are weak and need our help. They are very often concerned and wary, feeling a weight of concern because they want to do what is right, but are not sure what that right way is. To these, we are called to show mercy.

We are to have the same kind of compassion on them as God has shown us.

In Romans 9:16, we read of the salvation that we have that comes from the mercy of God. It speaks thus of a mercy that comes to address a serious need.

This is indeed the situation of the person who doubts, and why it is so important for us to show this mercy towards them. The church is called to demonstrate love to such a person in doubt.

How do we do this??

Well, it must begin with knowing their doubts. Listening to them and hearing where it is and why it is that they are doubting. And then we must take them to the Scriptures - to that endless fountain of wisdom and understanding so that they may learn the truth. And we must be continually grounding ourselves more and more in the Scriptures so that we ourselves will be able to give an answer for the hope that we have in us.

We have seen that we are to show mercy to those who doubt.

But secondly, we are called in these verses to show...

2. Mercy to Those in Danger (v.23a)

In verse 23, Jude introduces a different group of people, by writing that we are to “...snatch others from the fire and save them.”

With these words, Jude speaks here about a group of people who are in danger. He brings in a picture of these Christians being in close proximity to, and even within the flames of a burning fire.

These people are no longer merely doubting, they are now playing with fire. They are already in the flames, and have begun down this path of engaging in the false teachings and practices that have been shown them through these false teachers.

The picture is a graphic one, and is one that speaks of the grave danger that they face as a result of Divine judgment. Let the very language used by Jude cause us to pause, and consider for a moment the seriousness of what is speaking about.

There are those around us, perhaps that we know, perhaps that are even sitting around us, that need this rescuing. They are those of whom the language is fitting - they are needing to be snatched out of the fire that they may be safe.

Jude alludes here to the language of Amos 4.

Amos 4 contains some strong words of God against the Israelites for their wandering away from Him, and failing to acknowledge Him. And as God pronounces his rebuke against His own people that He had shown such grace and mercy towards, he writes...

Amos 4:11 NIV84

11 “I overthrew some of you as I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. You were like a burning stick snatched from the fire, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the Lord.

They were like a burning stick, snatched from the fire. This fire is linked by way of reference to the fires of judgment that rained down on Sodom and Gomorrah. God says that he placed some of these people under divine judgment and condemnation, and then snatched them out, and yet they had not returned. They were like burning sticks, already under his wrath, but he snatched them in order to save them.

There is also the allusion to Zechariah. We have that account in chapter 3 of the high priest named Joshua standing in the Temple, and Satan standing next to him to accuse him.

Zechariah 3:2 NIV84

2 The Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?”

The context of Joshua was that he had returned from exile in Babylon. Recall that the exile in Babylon was an act of the judgment of God upon Israel as a result of their sin. Thus even in this context, the Lord spoke about Joshua, and even Jerusalem, as one who had been snatched out of the fires of God’s judgment when he was brought back to Jerusalem from the Babylonian exile.

And so, as we read Jude’s letter, we must understand that the flames of which he writes when he speaks about this mercy that we are to show must refer to the judgment flames of God. God calls us as Christians, through Jude, to snatch these Christians who have lost their way out of the flames of God’s wrath.

Jude writes here that we are to “save them.”

These are people who are in need of saving. They are in grave danger.

But we must realise that very often such people do not realise the state of danger that they are in. In fact, if they truly realised the danger, they would make the effort to get away from the source of danger. Clearly, they are not doing this.

But Christ calls upon us who are grounded in the truth of Scripture to identify those who are in error within the church, and then to set about the work of snatching them out of this fire. We are to save them.

Dear friends, this is a weighty and very important matter, but it is one in which we may have great confidence. God has called us to do this. There are already examples - one from Amos 4, the other from Zechariah 3, which demonstrate that God has done this before. He allows people - helpless people - to be snatched out of the fire. He will work!!! But we are called to exercise our responsibility towards our brothers and sisters who are in danger.

Dear friends, I read of various accounts of people caught up in many of the seeker-sensitive movements, the movements that look for powerful signs and wonders and miracles. And these people are so caught up in what is happening, and they honestly believe that what they’re seeing is the power of God, and that if they have to try and leave that church, they will be somehow committing the unpardonable sin. This is happening today - extensively.

But if we try and confront them in this regard, if we try to point out the error. If we try to encourage them to find a church that preaches the truth, we are called judgmental, and sometimes even labeled as having a religious spirit.

But even if that be so, would we rather say nothing, out of a fear of offending someone, and have them end up under the judgment and wrath of God? Or would we rather go to them, love them, lead them through the Scriptures, by the grace and power of God through His spirit, so that they may come back to a true knowledge of God through the Word?

This is what we are called to!!!

But notice thirdly and finally, that we are called to show...

3. Mercy to Those Deceived (v.23b)

This is the third group that Jude speaks of here as he calls on believers to show mercy. Those are are deceived. Listen to his words...

“…to others who mercy, mixed with fear...”

Those that Jude speaks of here are those who have wondered fully down the path of listening to these false teachers, and they are now engaging in practices that are not in accordance with Scripture, and make a mockery of the grace of God.

Who are what, specifically are we to fear? Well, the verse doesn’t tell us directly. I would imagine a fear for their own personal well-being. A healthy fear of our Holy God who would be offended by their conduct. But as one commentator notes:

“Any of these would be a good reason to fear, but none would be a good reason for not getting involved, or for staying in a cosy huddle.”

That is most certainly true. We are not called to stand idly by while our brother or sister shipwrecks their faith due to false teachers. We are called to show deep compassion and love for them.

Notice what Paul says to the Galatian believers...

Galatians 6:1–2 NIV84

1 Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Here is a call by Paul to help the brother or sister in the faith who is caught up in sin. But notice these important qualifiers...

Watch yourself!!! Be on your guard. Do not be so brazen, do not be so arrogant as to think that you cannot yourself be tempted in similar fashion, and then be led away. We are all weak as a result of the sinful nature, and we are all susceptible to falling. How many times has a believer not fallen into sin precisely because they thought they wouldn’t fall?! It is common!!

We are called to get involved, but we are also to be cautious.

Notice further what Jude says our attitude is to be towards those that have engaged in such sinful practices after following false teachers. He says that we are to show mercy, mixed with fear - hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

Recall that such a person that Jude is speaking of here is one that has given way to the false teachings and is now following after the patterns that the false teachers have been demonstrating them and teaching them in. They are indulging in a sinful lifestyle, thinking that it is acceptable.

But as Jude speaks about us showing that mercy, he says that we should hate even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

The clothing that is referred to here is the tunic or the robe that was worn against the skin, as an under-garment as it were.

Jude says that we must hate even the clothing that has now been stained by the corrupted flesh of the person who is living in sin.

At first this may be shocking language to us. Indeed, the language is strong. But when we consider the seriousness of the consequences of such a person living in sin, the only way we can love them properly is to have a holy hatred of the sin that they engage in.

We must also realise that Jude is alluding again here to Zechariah 3:4, and the account with Joshua the High Priest. In verse 4 of that passage, as Satan stands there accusing Joshua, we read of an angel standing next to him, saying these words:

Zechariah 3:4 NIV84

4 The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.” Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you.”

The clothing that is stained bears reference to the sin in which this person is indulging. But the opportunity is there for them to have this sinful lifestyle removed, and to rather be clothed in the righteousness of Christ.

Ephesians 4:20–24 NIV84

20 You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. 21 Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

When the church fails to hate the continued and willful sinful lifestyle and engagements of one who professes faith in Christ; when the church promotes a Pseudo-love, meaning that we overlook every offense no matter how egregious because we say that we’re acting in love, we have failed in our genuinely loving responsibility to show mercy to our brothers and sisters, and to show love for Christ.

The church in Corinth acted in this way, overlooking the sin of one of their members, and in fact acting in a proud way. They were proud of how tolerant and loving they were. Paul was thinking a lot more clearly than they were in this regard.

1 Corinthians 5:3–5 NIV84

3 Even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. And I have already passed judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present. 4 When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, 5 hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.

How sad it is that in our day there are those things that are clearly condemned in the Scriptures as being contrary to the ways of God, those things that are clearly and evidently sinful, but the broader church is ignoring those sins.

In fact the church in our day has had a radical shift towards accepting sinful practices precisely because they say it’s loving to do so. And God wouldn’t want us to be unloving.

Dear friends, it is God who defines that which is holy, and that which is profane. It is God who defines that which is sinful, and that which is holy practice. We must submit ourselves to the revealed will of God in the Scriptures, and not try to explain away things that we don’t like, because the culture thinks that they are more loving than God.

What then are we to hate? If the people Jude is describing are repenting, what we must expect of them is a complete reverse of lifestyle and a change of attitude towards their past. For their sake, we cannot afford to require anything less of them; their former lifestyle and attitude are what the gospel is saving them from, and so we must show no compromise. We cannot lower God’s standards in the hope that if the terms are easier, more people will repent. That is to love the clothing and to hate the sinners, because it denies the seriousness of their plight. (Lucas, R. C., & Green, C. (1995). The message of 2 Peter & Jude: the promise of His coming (pp. 228–229). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)

Application and Conclusion

As we draw to a close, just a few words of encouragement to us as a church in light of what we read in Jude here.

A.1. Take Cognizance of False Teachers

One of the grave dangers of false teachers and those who pervert the Gospel of Jesus Christ, is that they will lead other people astray through their teachings. This is not some situation that stands as a situation in the distant history of the church, but which is now largely overcome due to millennia of sound teaching. False teachers are just as prevalent today as they have always been.

And the Dangers that they present are just as grave today as they were at the start of the church. Take Cognizance, and be alert!

A.2. Show Mercy to Others

Don’t be too afraid to comment or to speak to someone that you know who is at some stage along the road of the path into apostasy. Whether that person is merely doubting some aspects, or has perhaps started playing with fire, or if they’ve embraced the sinful lifestyle that is sure to cause them grave harm, we must engage.

Honest discussions are essential, and the sooner we do this, the better. Don’t wait until it is too late.

Show mercy. It is an act of genuine love.

A.3. Show Mercy with Humility

The way in which we approach this situation is of great importance. We are not called to come with words of critical condemnation and nastiness. We are called to lovingly and clearly explain the truth of the Word of God, as best we know how (even if we are not full-on theologians). Show mercy with humility.

Let your speech always be gracious, even at those times when a rebuke is necessary, and sometimes it is.

This also means that we are to be discerning, but not hypercritical. We are not on a warpath to convert every person in every church to what we believe is the perfect doctrinal position. Learn to discern primary, secondary, tertiary matters.

Not everything is a primary matter, not everything is tertiary. We must learn to discern this.

In closing, may we be faithful brothers and sisters to one another. May we truly seek to guide and show mercy to others around us who are being led into deception. We are God’s instruments in this task, and He would use us, even sinful and frail people, to save others out of a place of judgment and wrath. Let us be faithful to take this responsibility seriously.