Creep, Creep, Creep, Creep!

Jude 1:4 "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 Book of Jude warns about certain deceitful individuals who infiltrated the community of faith unnoticed. These impostors masqueraded as true preachers and teachers but were actually false, aiming to mislead God's followers. They were likened to Satan's counterfeit agents, likely assuming roles as traveling instructors or preachers. Their deceptive tactics made them a serious threat. The Bible describes them as ungodly, distorters of grace, and deniers of Christ. These apostates were not a new phenomenon, as the Scriptures had long foretold and condemned their actions, as seen in various passages. Their fate had been prophesied as a cautionary tale for future generations, as both Jesus and other biblical figures had previously warned about them. Their stealth made them even more dangerous.

The bible tells us, they were characterized by 3 features:

(1)They were ungodly;

(2)They perverted grace; and

(3)They denied Christ.

The Bible also indicates that these individuals were considered Apostates "ordained of old": Apostasy and apostates had been addressed and condemned many centuries earlier, as evidenced and referenced as Enoch did (in verses 14-16; Isa. 8:19-21; 47:9-15; Hos. 9:9; Zep. 3:1-8). Their fate was foretold in Scripture as a cautionary message to future generations. Jesus cautioned about them (in Matt. 7:15-20; Acts 20:29). The most recent admonition was found in (2 Peter 2:3, 17; 3:7). The bible scripture references “This condemnation”: which refers to the judgment spoken of by others “long beforehand.” Jude’s present ‘exposé’ of apostates placed them in the path of the very judgment of God, written about previously. Jude recognizes that Scripture often predicts the demise and judgment of any who flaunt God’s will.

The individuals being discussed here are mistaken in their belief that grace equates to "no moral laws," leading them to effectively reject the authority and eternal moral rulership of both the Father and the Son. They are referred to as "ungodly men," they lack reverence for God, as evidenced by their infiltration of the church of God to corrupt it and exploit its followers for personal gain. The phrase "ordained to this condemnation" points to the longstanding condemnation of false teachers and apostates dating back to Old Testament times (1 Kings 18; Isa. 8:19-21; Jer. 29:9, 31; Hos. 9:9; Zeph. 3:1-8). The Scriptures strongly condemn those who distort the message of God's grace to condone and endorse flagrant sexual immorality, as well as those who reject the divinity, atonement, and miracles of Jesus Christ. The term "licentiousness" in the above referenced scripture, denotes unrestrained vice or gross immorality, capturing the shameless conduct of individuals who disrespectfully flaunt God's grace by engaging in unbridled and public immorality (Romans 6:15).

Even in the early days of the Christian church, there were individuals disseminating false messages. These deceitful individuals had surreptitiously entered positions of authority, acting on behalf of the devil to lead people astray with falsehoods. Merely sitting beside someone in church or listening to someone proclaim a "message" from the pulpit, does not guarantee their piety; some may have been sent by the devil to introduce erroneous teachings and undermine the gospel. These malevolent figures introduced sin into the church, going so far as to deny the divinity of Jesus Christ. By disavowing the Father and the Son, they rejected the authority of "Our Lord Jesus Christ."