The Entrance of the Apostates

Introduction

Last week we were in verse 3 of the book of a Jude talking about “A Fight For the Faith.”

When looking at the subject of apostasy, its clear that those who hold the truth should, as verse 3 says, earnestly contend…we need to fight against the lies that are being taught today.

We have the truth tonight…we are not to hide it as Bro. East so powerfully preached on Sunday Night. We must be telling people the truth…they are hearing enough of the lies from Satan…we that hold to the truth should stand up for it!

Let me give you what I believe are the essentials that make up “the faith” here in Jude…These are the things we must stand up for in these days where so many are compromising and leaving the truth…

1. The inerrancy and infallibility of Holy Scripture

2. The full and eternal deity of Christ

3. The miraculous virgin birth and sinless life of Jesus the Messiah

4. The historical creation of man and woman made in God’s image

5. The sanctity of all life from conception to natural death

6. The sacredness of marriage between a man and a woman

7. The sinfulness of all human persons

8. The substitutionary death of Christ for sinners

9. The bodily resurrection of Christ from the grave

10. Salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone

11. The exclusivity of the gospel of Jesus Christ for sinners

12. The return of Christ and the assignment of all people either to eternal blessedness in heaven or eternal condemnation in hell

There is a faith that has been delivered and we must also hand it down.

That was a bit of a recap from last week, so let’s go ahead and dive into verse number 4 and look at the entrance of the apostates tonight:

Now just to remind everybody the meaning of an apostate is:

one who has for sake in the truth,

one who has perverted the true doctrine of the Bible,

one who promote themselves,

one who has received the written word but it’s not living the word,

one who opposes Bible truths,

one who teaches his way and not the Bible way,

one who has twisted and perverted and distorted the truth of God’s Word.

Look at verse 4...

Jude 4 KJV 1900

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.

“…crept in unawares...”

This is why we need to earnestly contend for the faith.

Let’s look at several truths concerning these apostates:

The Deception of the Apostates

Jude tells us first of all that they disguise themselves.

Jude does not name them, he is writing to the church at large, and he gives a generalization about the corrupters of the faith.

It didn’t matter the specific location Satan would plant his workers in the midst of God’s church. Jude is warning the church that the apostates are already there, they are already on the scene, they have already made their way in.

Jude tells us of their manner of entry. Crept in unawares: this word means to settle in alongside, to lodge stealthily, to enter into beside or alongside; to slip into secretly.

This word means to slip in secretly or to steal in undercover-it’s the idea of coming in by the side.

Apostates are sly, sneaky, and come in stealth. It has been said that an apostate will use our vocabulary, but they will not use our dictionary. They say the right words, but they do not have the right meanings.

2 Corinthians 11:13–15 KJV 1900

13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Even the worst apostate will be right on a few things - Don’t be deceived - That shouldn’t surprise us considering the verses I just read tell us that Satan is transformed into an angel of light...

The Defilement of the Apostates

Notice in our text, verse 4, that it says, “ungodly men”

In two words Jude says a mouthful about these apostates. He describes these men as ungodly men. There is no worse description that can be given. It is an honor and privilege to be called a man of God. A man of God is a man after God’s own heart, a man who knows the Lord Jesus, grows in the Lord Jesus, and shows the Lord Jesus to this world.

Jude tells us that these men are far from God; they in no way, shape, form, or fashion resemble God. They do not know the Lord; they do not love the Lord or show the love of the Lord to anyone else.

It doesn’t say dope and drug addicts. It says ungodly men…They are ungodly concerning the truth.

The Doctrine of the Apostates

The verse tells us, “turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness.”

The word lasciviousness means perversion. - They literally pervert the true doctrine of grace.

Many apostates teach that God will give you all the things you want: health, wealth, possessions, influence, etc and all you have to do is “sow the best offering that you can” without any call to true repentance or humility.

Examples of these apostates include but are not limited to Joel Osteen, Kenneth Copeland, Kenneth Hagin, Jesse Duplantis, Rod Parsley, Joyce Meyer, TD Jakes, and many others.

One has even gone so far as to say that anyone who tells you to deny yourself is from Satan.

Paul Crouch, the man that founded the Trinity Broadcasting Network said in an interview with Kenneth Copeland, “I am a little god. I have His name. I am one with Him. I'm in covenant relationship. I am a little god. Critics be gone!” - To which Kenneth Copeland responded with, “You are anything He (talking about God) is...”

Stephen Furtick teaches that God created a good Law, then broke His own Law, and did it because He loves us. “What God did when he sent his son… [he] broke the Law for love.”

The idea is that love is greater than the Law. That sounds good, but it’s the opposite of what we see in the Bible.

Jesus did not set the Law aside, and He did not break the Law. He fulfilled the Law. The Law said that the wages of sin is death. God did not break the Law, He followed it to the letter… but, rather than punishing us, He punished Himself as a demonstration of love.

Apostates do not understand the doctrine of grace because they have not been saved by grace, they are not taught by grace, they are not kept by grace.

Ya’ll know the old saying, “Give the devil an inch and he’ll take a mile.”?

The devil will take a mile, but he will also take an inch. Inch by inch he will creep his way into and influence and infect the people of God with false teaching.

Galatians 5:1 KJV 1900

1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

This is happening on a regular basis in our churches, schools, and Bible Colleges...

An apostate attacks the very foundation of what we believe!

Psalm 11:3 KJV 1900

3 If the foundations be destroyed, What can the righteous do?

The Denying of an Apostate

Look at the text, where it says, “and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.”

They deny the deity of Christ.

They deny the truths of the Bible.

2 Peter 2:1–3 KJV 1900

1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

The Doom of the Apostates

Notice the phrase in our text, “who were before of old ordained to this condemnation”

Jude gives a sobering reality of the destiny of those who are false teachers, apostate unbelievers, and servants of Satan. It had been long before told of their coming and of their condemnation.

Warren Wiersbe wrote, “Jude did not write that these men were ordained to become apostates, as though God were responsible for their sin. They became apostates because they willfully turned away from the truth. But God did ordain that such people would be judged and condemned.”

John Phillips wrote, “God’s foreknowledge is both absolute and flawless. He foresees and foreknows all of the events of time … Some parts of the human story He tells us ahead of time in the prophetic Scriptures. Such passages are intended to enlighten us, alert us, warn us, and strengthen our confidence in the divine inspiration of Scripture because only God can prophesy accurately, inerrantly, in detail, and over vast periods of time.”

Jude reminds the church that God has predicted and promised judgment on those who deny the faith and distort the faith.

I would hate to be in their shoes when they stand before God!

Conclusion

Let me close tonight with a poem written by C.T. Studd. It’s called, I’m not going your way:

You’re just out of date said young pastor Bate to one of our faithful old preachers. Who had carried for years and travailed in tears the gospel to poor sinful creatures. You still preach on Hades and shocked cultured ladies with your barbarous doctrine of blood. You’re so far behind you’ll never catch up; you’re a flat tire stuck in the mud. For some little while a wee bit of a smile enlightened the old preacher’s face. Being made the butt of a ridiculous cut; did not ruffle his sweetness and grace. Then he turned to young Bate so suave and sedate. “Catch up did my ears hear you say? Why, I couldn’t succeed if I doubled my speed, my friend I’m not going your way.”