Growing in the Lord! (Jude 5)

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Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe.

               

THE STUDY:

           Jude reminds his well-informed readers what the Scriptures say about ungodly intruders. This “disclosure formula” functions as a transition to the body of the letter. Jude is not providing new information. Rather, he reminds his readers of all they once fully knew.

          His first reminder is that of the exodus. The exodus was the defining moment of Israel’s birth and existence. For Jews, the exodus was the preeminent example of God’s grace and saving intervention. God delivered (sōsas: saved) Israel from slavery in the land of Egypt. The Lord afterward destroyed those who did not believe. The word “afterward” (to deuteron: the second time) is probably intended to distinguish between God’s first saving intervention at the exodus and his subsequent act judging their disbelief. Those “the Lord had saved were not thereby immune from subsequent judgment.” The same holy God, who had graciously rescued them, later destroyed the disobedient.

Judes message is clear: God’s forgiveness/salvation does not mean he will not punish the forgiven/saved if they fall away through unbelief. His example suggests that the opponents were once orthodox Christians who turned away from their faith. This warning applies most obviously to the Christian intruders, but it has relevance for Judes readers also.”^[1]

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• We walk away this morning understanding that our salvation experience is not a “locked in,” all “exempt,” “no consequence” for future sin, pass that somehow God overlooks because we, at one point in our life, accepted Christ. Salvation is the starting point to a wonderful walk with God that needs to continue. Growing in the Lord is one of the attributes of salvation.

CONCLUSION:

           I know there are many who may be reading or watching this devotional blog who have a different belief when it comes to salvation. Some may believe you have to be Baptized. Others may believe “once saved always saved.” In the Nazarene Church we believe you can walk away from God and his loving grace. But we also believe you can come back to this love, mercy and grace that is extended from the hand of God.

          Whatever your belief is, we need to understand this: there are consequences for our actions. Let today be a day focused on growing and maturing in our walk with Jesus. Let the consequences fall as they may.

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

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^[1] Powers, D. G. (2010). 1 & 2 Peter/Jude: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition. New Beacon Bible Commentary (272–273). Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press.

The Study of I John 1:8

View Video Blog for this lesson:   I John 1:8

I John 1:8

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

THE STUDY

          Again we see John using contrast #3 (the negative). He is combating the Gnostic view that we (as human beings) do not have any principle of sin within us, since matter is evil and the soul is not contaminated by sinful flesh. John says that we are deceiving ourselves when we make these types of claims. As a Pastor of a Nazarene church I believe that we do not sin every day in thought and deed. We need to understand what the definition of sin is; a willful transgression against a known law of God. Translated, this means, I put my hand up to God and say; “I don’t care what you command or ask of me in a given situation. I am going to do it my way.”

The mistake John is addressing in this passage of scripture is us saying, “We have arrived.” We no longer have to deal with sin and the temptation of it. If this be the case, 13 books of the New Testament would be omitted due to Paul writing to the church and warning them against “SIN.” We need to be careful to not allow our pride to get in the way of our beliefs. At any point in time we can fall away, walk away or refuse to believe that we will sin again. We are too weak and Satan is too crafty for us to believe this. Through Christ we receive our strength and the power to combat the enemy.

John is saying in this verse that those who claim the fact of having no sin are ones who are not in the truth. What they are speaking is heresy and should be avoided at all cost. The only one that John say will be negatively affected by claiming “no sin” is the one claiming it.

John uses the word’s “we” and “us” deliberately. He includes himself along with the reader in this consequential statement. He does this for two reasons; 1) So the Gnositc's would be more receptive to the truth, 2) for the reader today!

           

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH …

• Salvation and Sanctification is not an end result, but a starting point. Saying we have obtained all and can stop walking in the light, is like saying “I do” at the wedding and then stop developing the relationship with each other. You will not be married very long, nor will you experience the fullness God has for you.

CONCLUSION:

           I have heard the old saying concerning our walk with God. Some believe that you only need to come to the altar twice; once for salvation and the other for sanctification. I will repeat what I said earlier, these two acts are from God and should not be viewed as an end result but a starting point.

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod