Protecting the Gospel

Jude reminds us that we need to “remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ” (vs. 17).

Christians have a tendency all-too-often to forget – whether they just don’t recall it or false teachers drown the truth out with their pompous words. Christians forget the things they can’t afford to forget.

What are we meant to NOT forget? The Gospel – “the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The Gospel is under continual attack.

Paul to the Ephesians elders – “For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves (a phrase borrowed from Jesus expressing their extreme danger) will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves (In other words, like Jude says – the more fearful attack will not come from without but from within the “church.”) men will rise up, speaking perverse (or “twisted and distorted”) things, to draw away the disciples after themselves” (Acts 20:29-30). As the wolves attacked the church in Ephesus, Paul had pledged himself to help them. But he didn’t want them to be ignorant either.

Paul to his disciple Timothy – “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith (or “leaving their original position” – another word for “apostate”), giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth” (I Timothy 4:1-3).

At another time to Timothy from Paul – “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” (II Timothy 3:1-5).

One chapter later – “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine (or “tolerate the truth”), but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables” (II Timothy 4:3-4). Everything but the Word will be elevated and the Word will be downgraded.

The Apostle John – “Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us” (I John 2:18-19). The way to detect a true believer is whether he remains. And there will always be those who don’t remain, leave the church and apostatize.

From Peter – “Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts” (II Peter 3:1-3).

We have no excuse for not being vigilant. Repeatedly in the N.T., we are warned to defend the Gospel. God has entrusted this fight to us. Is the integrity of the Gospel safe with you?