Jude 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.

The title for this devotional and message is taken from John MacArthur’s excellent study in Jude on the passages that we will be looking at today. These passages paint for us a picture of an apostate, be it in the first century or on November 20th, 2022. The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;” (1 Timothy 4:1). When Paul met with the elders from Ephesus, he tearfully said, “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.” (Acts 20:29-31) The Lord Jesus Himself declared in His Olivet discourse that “false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.” (Mark 13:22)

Jude is declaring to the church that the time of great deception and apostasy that was foretold has come, and that the church is called to “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” (Jude 3) As I mentioned a moment ago, one of the signs that we are living in the last days is that some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils. That is certainly true this morning. The Spirit of God speaking through Jude takes the mask off of those who claim to be “Christian Teachers and Leaders” and exposes them for what they truly are. The personal characteristics of these religious frauds are the same today, beloved. They are wolves among sheep, tares among wheat, frauds among faithful.

May The Spirit of God open our ears to hear the truth, and may that truth reveal to us any individual whose life and theology fits the portrait of an apostate, including the person in the mirror. Selah