And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Jude 1:22-23

If you see a person in a burning building, what is the loving thing to do? Is the loving thing to allow them to burn in the building or to grab them out of the fire? The obvious answer is to save the person from destruction, however in our culture today, which has crept into the Church, they have it backwards. The “loving” thing in todays society is to allow people to remain in their sin and to destroy themselves, basically leaving them in the fire.

As Christians we are “Spiritual Firefighters” it’s our job to share the gospel of Jesus Christ, as the Apostle Jude says here “pulling them out of the fire” . But while we do this, we do this with compassion, as other English translations state “have mercy”. The loving thing is to want to save peoples souls, not justify their sin. It’s like a child/parent relationship, a parent who never disciplines their child because they fear it will make them upset, is a parent who doesn’t really love their child. If you love your child, you want them to be prosperous in life, teach them right or wrong, to neglect the child is a great failure of a parents responsibility

This is the state of the fallen Church today, instead of pulling people out of the fire, they are leading them into the fire. As Jesus said “Enter by the narrow gate, broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who goin by it. Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way that leads to life,  and there are few who find it” ( Matthew 7:13-14) Is this the message the Rainbow Church is telling sinners? The world is headed on the broad road to Hell, however there is noone warning them! Is this loving to lead them to the slaughter?

Now think also about FIrefighters, do they just show up one day and do their job? No, they train and learn how to properly save people. We as Christians need to do the same, study your Bible, learn from other Christians, be led by the Holy Spirit, pray without ceasing, submit to The Lord, you can’t enter this spiritual warfare unprepared or you will end up in the fire yourself. We are not battling against flesh and blood but against evil demonic forces, put on the Armor of God (Ephesians 6)

Last thought I want to leave with you, is remember when you were saved from the fire also. Have mercy and compassion on these lost souls, remember The Lord had mercy on you, have mercy on others, pull them out of the fire, tell them the good news that Christ died for our sins, Christ rose on the 3rd day defeating sin and death forever, repent and believe the gospel, Amen

These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.  But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. Jude 1:16-19

As we look around Christianity today, the Church has become almost unrecognizable. Could you imagine the Apostles witnessing the state of the Church today? Could you imagine the “Church Fathers” walking into some of these congregations or even some of our older theologians like Spurgeon or Ravenhill? Even though apostates and heresies have always been in the Church, I don’t know if we have ever seen a time period of the Church , where the overwhelming majority has fallen away from the true gospel and orthodox faith of Christianity.

I believe this is an affirming sign of the last days, as we see rainbow flags and unregenrated leaders across our denominations. This was prophesied by the Apostle Jude here “these are murmurs, complainers, walking after their own lusts” doesn’t that sum up the new progressive movement in Christianity? They walk after their own lusts, they are carnally driven by their own sexual desires and greed. They have no love for God or the Church, they are driven by demons to lead as many to the broad road of Hell as possible.

 As the Apostle says “their mouth speak great swelling words” They come up with new arguments to discredit the deity of Christ, to remove the need for repentance, they have totally rejected the authority of the Holy Spirit. They are exactly like Satan in the garden of Eden, “Did God really say?” They deceive those ignorant to the Word of God, they prey on the unregenerated people who put their faith in a religious system rather than Christ alone. 

As the Apostle Jude reminds us, we shouldn’t be shocked by this great falling away, because it was prophesied by Christ himself and the Apostles. As Jude reminds us “there will be mockers in the last times (days) , who walk after their own ungodly lusts” This is exactly what is driving the rainbow flag movement, ungodly lusts, its not driven by the Holy Spirit. 

I want you to notice what the Apostle Jude says next under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, “These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.” How can these people be so depraved and deceived? Because they are not regenerated, they don’t have the Holy Spirit. How do so many people fall for these false teachers? They don’t have the Holy Spirit, this is the unregenerated Church, a carnally minded Church that leads to death, but the Church led by the Holy Spirit leads to life and peace, in Jesus name, Amen!

And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. Jude 1:14-15

The book of Enoch and yet again another controversial topic in Christianity. While some believe it should be considered “inspired scripture” , others reject its writings all together. What we do know is the Apostle Jude quotes it here as a reference, this confirms to us the text was well known in the 1rst century, and most of the early Church was probably aware of its writings. While I don’t believe it should be part of the Bible, I do believe its beneficial writings that gives us the beliefs and mind set before Christ.

As Matthew Henry comments “ We have no mention of the prophecy of Enoch in any other part or place of Scripture; yet one plain text of Scripture, proves any point we are to believe. We find from this, that Christ’s coming to judge was prophesied of, as early as the times before the flood.”

This is an interesting thought, the return of Christ was known and expected since the days of Noah, think about that! The patriarchs and prophets of Israel were long awaiting the coming of the Messiah, they knew the Son of Man from the prophecy of Daniel 7, would sit at the right hand of Yahweh, the Ancient of Days, coming with the clouds. This was understood and expected, yet when The Word became Flesh and dwelt among them, (John 1:14) and yet the world didn’t know him (John 1:10) They crucified the Lord of glory (1 Corinthians 2:8)

Just as when Jesus stood before the Religious leaders on trial , before they executed him on the cross, he quoted Daniel “Jesus said, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” (Mark 14:62)  The coming of the Messiah was well known and Jesus made it very clear, He is the Christ

And just as it was foretold in the book of Enoch and well known, Christ said He is coming back with his angels to execute judgment on the world ““When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory” (Matthew 25:31) As the Apostle Paul said “Christ will judge the living and the dead” (2 Timothy 4:1)

Every knee will bow, that means every knee believers and non-believers, and every tongue will confess Jesus Christ is Lord! (Philippians 2:9-11) Amen!