How We Handle It

But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. Jude 20-23


In verses 14-19 of Jude, we see more of the same about the false teachers and their impending doom. It's a sure thing. The New Testament Epistle writers seem to have been deeply concerned at their time in Church history about the gnostic infiltrators among their flocks. They knew they were there, insidiously undermining their authority and the authority of God's Word. The only real protection for the Church was and is total dependence on the Holy Spirit and total immersion in Bible Doctrine. That's why we have the Holy Bible and pastor-teachers. That's why we have the Holy Spirit. You, believers, just keep walking in faith. We have precious promises to claim, marvellous doctrines to learn and teach, souls in peril all around us.

Now, in verses 20-23 here's what to do: 1-build on the foundation of faith by continuing to learn about Jesus Christ through His Word. If you know Him, you can't be taken in. 2-pray continually in the filling of the Holy Spirit. 3-stay in fellowship with God by living in the Spirit. 4-wait (faith-rest) for Jesus' return and our promotion into eternity. 5-be patient with the doubters who have been deceived, gently instructing them in truth. 6-be ready to confront those who are dangerously close to self-destruction because of their sinful stupidity (snatching them from the fire). 7-realize that we are all trapped in these sinful bodies until our promotion. Taking into account the weakness of the flesh, have mercy, just as we have been treated with mercy.

The false teachers are here. They are real. In many cases they are quite convincing. But we, brethren, are without excuse. The apostles have given us the heads-up and they have instructed us in the Truth. Learn it. Love it. Use it. Teach it. Daylight's burning.