20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. 22 And have mercy on those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.” (Jude 20–23 ESV)
An accurate diagnosis is necessary for a correct treatment and prognosis. What is true in the medical field regarding physical health is equally true for spiritual health. A biblical ministry to deconstructionists does not just involve an accurate diagnosis of their spiritual condition. It also involves a corresponding ministry of reaching out to those who have abandoned the faith they once claimed to possess (I Tim. 4-1-2). Additionally, it involves a ministry to ourselves to remain faithful believers in Christ.
The Epistle of Jude provides an accurate diagnosis of the spiritual condition of apostate deconstructionists. What was true in the first century church remains so in the 21st century believing community. Jude also provides some sound treatment; not only for unbelievers but also for the faithful. The practical principles are found in today’s text.
First, faithful believers are to continue building yourselves up in your most holy faith. Building yourselves up (ἐποικοδομέω; epoikodomeo) is a present active participle. Building ourselves up is to be a daily and active discipline for each believer in Christ. It means to bring something nearer to completion. In the context, this refers to all believers in Christ continuing to grow in their faith (2 Peter 1:3-15; 3:17-18). This is a most holy trust, commitment ,dependence and worship of Christ. It is set apart from sin.
Jude, like Peter (I Peter 2:5) and Paul (I Cor. 3:16-17) compares the church to a building (1 Cor 3:10, 12, 14; Eph 2:20; Col 2:7). Daily meditation in the Scriptures is absolutely necessary to prevent intrusive apostasy in the church; individually and collectively (Psalm 1).
Second, believers in Christ are to be praying in the Holy Spirit. This is a personal, active and collective response to being in the Scriptures ((1 Cor 14:15–16; Eph 6:18). We read the Word of God, meditate upon what we have read and then pray that we would obey the truth we have read (Gal. 5:16-18; Eph. 6:18).
Third, believers are to keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. To keep (τηρέω; tereo) is an active command to be obeyed. It means to watch over, guard and protect. Believes have a responsibility to persevere in the faith and to support others in their perseverance by exhortation and encouragement (Heb. 3:12; 12:12-17). Believers continue to do so while they are waiting for the Lord’s return. Waiting (προσδέχομαι; prosdechomai) means to look forward to and to welcome the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Fourth, as believers in Christ strengthen themselves they will then be prepared to have mercy on those who doubt. To have mercy (ἐλεάω; eleao) means to presently, actively and obediently have pity and compassion on those who doubt (διακρίνω; diakrino). These are they who personally and presently no longer trust in, commit to, depend upon and worship the Lord.
Additionally, stronger measures may be required in ministering to other deconstructionists. Believers in Christ are to save others by snatching them out of the fire. When a house is on fire you don’t take time to explain to someone in a burning building why they need to evacuate the premises. If they are unwilling to leave their home or apartment, you pick them up and get them out of harm’s way. Time is of the essence.
“Others, who are committed to the errors taught by the apostates, need immediate and forthright attention before they are further entrenched on the road to the fire of hell (cf. v. 7) as a result of embracing deceptive lies,” explains Dr. John MacArthur.
“Christians must keep each other in the love of God through mercifully encouraging the doubting (vs. 22) and snatching the disobedient from sin’s destructive fires (vs. 23),” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.
Finally, to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. Believers in Christ are to show unmerited favor to apostates, but with great caution. Sometimes in ministering to deconstructionists, our faith becomes adversely deconstructed.
“These people are to be given the true gospel, but with great fear, lest the deliverer be contaminated also. The defiled garment pictures the apostate’s debauched life, which can spread its contagion to the well-meaning evangelist,” states MacArthur.
Consider the words of the Apostle Paul from Colossians 3:12-14 in seeking deconstructionists. 12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put-on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”
May the Lord use us to minister and love the deconstructionists in our lives. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
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