ORDAINED TO THIS CONDEMNATION
Jude 1 ¶ Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called: 2 Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied. 3 ¶ Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 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. 5 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.
That there are those who are “Ordained to Condemnation” cannot be denied. Romans 9:21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? 22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
1 Peter 2:8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 2 Peter 2:3 ¶ And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
But that God is chargeable with their sin is not true! James 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
Judas didn’t sin in order to glorify God and aid in the accomplishment of our redemption! Judas sinned because he was a thief and loved money above his love of Jesus! John 12:4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him, 5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
God is also not even in any way unjust when he justifies a sinner. For he does not excuse sin! All sins forgiven are done so at the expense of being charged to the Lamb of God. Sin must be paid for! Never excused! And they must be paid for by the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus. For this is the only way in which the Father can remain just in his justification of the sinner. Romans 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
The Apostle Paul deals with this in the ninth chapter of the Book of Romans. Romans 9:17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. 18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. 19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? 20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? 21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? 22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: 23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
Our understanding of anyone being ordained to this condemnation must be sought for in the attribute of God’s unsearchable wisdom and not in the attribute of his holiness! 1 Corinthians 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
And we must take careful notice of Jude’s wordings as he introduces this subject unto us. For he not only states that these hypocrites are before of old ordained to this condemnation, but that they crept in unawares. In that first phrase we clearly see the absolute sovereign of God. But in this second phrase we must understand that it is not without their own evil works that this is done. Matthew 16:27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
Romans 2:5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: 8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: 11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
It is as God remarked to the guilty Cain. Genesis 4:7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? For the Lord God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked. But be assured that every man shall receive a just reaction from God according to their works. Ezekiel 33:11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? 12 Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth.
Although sovereign election and absolute predestination clearly stand, when the Son of man is said to come in his glory and gather all nations before his throne (See Matthew 25:31-46), they are all said to be judged according to their works. For what we do reveals who we are! Good trees cannot bring forth evil fruit! Matthew 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
A sheep can fall into the mud but he will not live in it! A creature who constantly lives in the mud is a sow and not a sheep! 1 John 3:6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. 5:18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
These ungodly men of whom Jude speaks are said to turn grace into lasciviousness or ‘a license to sin.’ Therefore they have been acquainted with the concept of grace at some time. John states that this was learned from being under the gospel among us. They ‘grew together’ with us. 1 John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
And this reveals why they are so harmful to the true believers. For they have the same religious credentials as believers do. But they have only a legal morality, and not an imputed righteousness! Yet these tares are sown “among the wheat.” And the rule of the Heavenly Husbandman is that “both grow together.” And this proves to be one of the most difficult trials for the true people of God. For the religious man always afflicts the spiritual man! It was the religious people who crucified the truly pure and spiritual man, our Lord Jesus Christ!
Yet this situation shall force upon the true believers the absolute necessity to learn to identify and listen to, and obey the still small voice (1 Kings 19:12) of the Holy Spirit within them. For nought else can be turned to in order to successfully navigate one in dealing with these religious counterfeits. Isaiah 30:20 And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers: 21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.
The husbandmen instructed that the tares not be pulled up, lest some of the wheat be rooted up with them. That means that some of their roots must be intertwined. They can be that close! Matthew 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. Luke 12:52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.
Eve was deceived by her inordinate affections at the birth of Cain. She named him “Cain” which means, “gotten.” She actually believed that he was that seed to whom God referred who should defeat Satan! Genesis 4:1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. But what does the Apostle John teach us of Cain? 1 John 3:12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.
And those same inordinate affections, so alive within the souls of even believers, gives way for these harmful tares to thrive among us! For to deal with them by admitting even to one’s own mind as who they are is like having to cut off one’s hand! Matthew 5:30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee:
King David could not bear to sever his relationship with his wicked son Absalom! Even though Absalom lied against his father, violated his father’s wives, and drove David out of Jerusalem! 2 Samuel 18:33 And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!
And David’s weeping over this tare, (his son Absalom) almost caused him the worst trial of his entire life! 2 Samuel 19:5 And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines; 6 In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well. 7 Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the LORD, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night: and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now.
These strong inordinate affections are where the worship of the virgin Mary are derived. But consider how our Lord responded to this powerful affection. Luke 11:27 And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. 28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
May the Lord help us in these severe trials!
Pastor Gene Breed
February 3, 2023
