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THE CHARACTER OF APOSTASY (III)
LORD’S DAY, APRIL 12
Jude 8
2 Peter 2:18-22
 
“… The dog is turned to his
own vomit again …”
 
THE CHARACTER OF APOSTASY (III)
 
In the pursuit and promotion of their dreams, these apostates “defile the flesh, despise dominion” (Jude 8). This corresponds to the description of them in verse 4, as “turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness” and “denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.”
 
It has become a popular saying that “God loves you and accepts you just as you are.” A well-known preacher and pastor writes, “You don’t have to worry about your sin because you are worshipping your forgiver. You don’t have to worry about your sickness because you are worshipping your healer.” Now it is certainly true that there are many who mistakenly allow guilt to keep them from Christ, as though they need to be perfect before they can be forgiven. But the danger of the teaching that sin is no longer a problem because of God’s grace, is that it obscures the continuing struggle against sin that is the believer’s daily reality in this life (cf. Rom 7:14-25), and obviates the continuing need for believers to “work out” their own salvation “with fear and trembling” (Phil 2:12). Just as the availability of healing medicine does not negate our responsibility to care for our own health, so also the offer of forgiveness in Christ does not eliminate our duty to mortify the flesh with its corruptions (cf. Col 3:4-5).
 
Again, it has become fashionable to deride religion as nothing more than a set of man-made rules. This is to be expected from the irreligious. What is strange is the adoption of this fashion even by those who claim to be the preachers of true religion, who themselves “despise dominion” and teach their followers to rejoice in their supposed liberty from the law of God. Peter elaborates scathingly on Jude’s description: “While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage” (2 Pet 2:19).
 
Dear reader, we are indeed exhorted to “stand fast… in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free” (Gal 5:1), but with this comes the warning, “only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh” (Gal 5:13). True liberty is freedom to obey God, not to ignore His law.
 
THOUGHT: Freedom to do whatever I want is anarchy, not liberty.
PRAYER: Search me, O God, by the searchlight of Thy law.

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