Jude, Part 4

Today we look at the first example of those in time past who rebelled against God and the judgment that was brought upon them as a result: the Children of Israel.

Verses 5-7: “I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Even as  Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” Now Jude gives three examples from the past of how God deals with false teachers and those who turn away from the faith. Fist, the children of Israel were saved miraculously out of Egypt only to die in the desert because of disobedience. God, by a mighty hand, had delivered them out of slavery at the hand of their oppressors, the Egyptians, but because of unbelief, all of them over the age of twenty died in the wilderness except for Joshua and Caleb.

It’s the same with many in the church today, they have been miraculously saved, born again, but they are dying in the desert because of their disobedience. God wants to bless them, but He can’t, because of their freedom of choice. They have chosen to seek and serve self and not the God of their salvation. If there is one thing for sure, God will never violate our wills; at least not in this life.

I’ve heard many Christians who are out of God’s will say, “Well, I don’t live under the law any more. I live under grace.” I assume that’s supposed to be some kind of excuse for their disobedience. Well, that’s not a completely true statement. Yes, we do have the ability to live under grace through obedience, but, we also have the ability to live under the law through disobedience. God when speaking to the children of Israel said, “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;” Choose life through obedience God will bless. Choose death through disobedience God will curse.