5 “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. 6 And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day— 7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.” (Jude 5–7 ESV)
Apostasy is not something new. Denying the truth of God’s Word has occurred through the ages; not only on the earth, but also in heaven. Many mainline church denominations once proclaimed God’s Word clearly and held to it dearly. They have now fallen away from the truth. This is not a recent trend but rather an age-old pattern of believing the pernicious lies of Satan and rejecting the truth of God.
The drifting from the truth has occurred throughout history. It has happened politically, economically, socially, athletically, educationally, militarily, theologically and religiously.
“Progress, far from consisting in change, depends on retentiveness. When change is absolute there remains no being to improve and no direction is set for possible improvement: and when experience is not retained, as among savages, infancy is perpetual. Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. In the first stage of life the mind is frivolous and easily distracted; it misses progress by failing in consecutiveness and persistence.” — George Santayana, The Life of Reason [1905-1906], Volume I, Reason in Common Sense, Chapter 12, 1906
The Apostle Paul echoed these sentiments when in writing to the Ephesians. He stated in Ephesians 4:11-6:
“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head Christ 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”
Likewise, Peter also wanted his readers to not forget what they had learned. In 2 Peter 1:5-15 he writes:
5 “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
12 Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. 13 I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, 14 since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.”
It is easy to view today’s biblical text, from Jude 5-7, as a history lesson or recollection. However, the Bible teaches that not only has apostasy occurred in biblical history, but it also occurs today.
Jude gave three examples of well-known acts of apostasy from the Old Testament. Rather than individuals, which Jude focused upon later in his epistle, in these three verses he fixated on three distinct groups. Another triad by Jude is found here: Israel, angels, and Sodom and Gomorrah.
To begin with, we witness Israel’s apostasy of unbelief (vs. 5). We will examine this example when next we meet.
How can I contend earnestly for the faith (vs.3) and not forget the lessons of history concerning apostasy? Here are some suggestions.
- Support those who teach and preach the Word of God correctly. Those holding to the fundamentals of the faith; e.g. the Inerrancy of the Bible, the Trinity, the Deity of Christ, the Substitutionary Atonement by Christ on the Cross, the Resurrection of Christ, and Salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. (Rom. 3:21-26).
- To evidence your personal faith relationship with Jesus Christ by a holy life. A holy life does not save you, but it demonstrates that you truly are a believer by the inner desire to live for God (I Peter 1:13-16)
- Do not listen to falsehood. Evaluate what you are reading, watching, and listening to and determine to no longer allow false teaching to infiltrate your mind.
- Study God’s Word daily and consistently place yourself under the teaching of a biblical pastor/teacher and church.
- Pray that God would give you the strength to guard your heart from false teaching and the immorality it breeds (Proverbs 4:23-27).
Soli deo Gloria!
His Word Today 