MAX KLEIN BIBLE MINISTRIES
The Seven Baptisms
Written by: Max Klein
Baptism means identification or association:
Introduction:
1. This meaning began in Homer's time. Homer wrote of the one-eyed giant, Cyclops who had trapped Ulysses and his men in a cave and was eating them one at a time. The ingenious Ulysses devised a plan. He had his men sharpen a large log and together they rammed this log into the eye of the one-eyed Cyclops rendering him blind. They identified (baptized) the sharpened log with Cyclops’ eye which changed Cyclops from a seeing giant to a blind giant. Having blinded the Cyclops, they were able to maneuver their way out of the cave. Another example by Homer: Homer's Odyssey, book 9, used baptism for hot metal identified (baptized) with water when a smith dipped a piece of hot iron into water. This is how a blacksmith would temper swords in the ancient world. After this identification, the sword was made stronger and so less likely to bend.
2. Xenophon said that the Spartan military recruits after finishing infantry training would identify (baptize) their spears with pig’s blood. They would run by a barrel of pig’s blood and thrust their spears into this blood. This ritual, identified their spears with killing and the soldier’s readiness for combat with the enemy.
3. Euripides used the word for a ship identified with the bottom of the sea when it sank. Before sinking, the ship was valuable; after sinking it had no value at all.
4. So "baptize" in the classical Greek meant to identify one thing with another so that the characteristics of the original thing were altered. Therefore, the interpretation of the word "baptism" is identification with something that brings about a change.
5. There are a number of cognates related to this Greek word such as bapto, baptizo, baptisma, baptismos, baptistes, and embapto. A few examples follow:
6. John 13:26, “Jesus then answered, ‘That is the one for whom, I shall dip [the future of the Greek word bapto] the morsel and give it to him. So, when he had dipped [the aorist participle of bapto; the sop now takes on a new meaning that of honor] the sop [the morsel], He took and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.”
To give someone a sop [a special bit of food usually a piece of bread or meat with a tasty sauce] was the highest honor of a banquet. At a banquet a special piece of bread or meat was prepared along with a special sauce for the guest of honor who would then honor someone by giving it to that person. Jesus as the guest of honor took this sop and dipped it into a special sauce and gave it to Judas. In this way, the Lord Jesus Christ honored Judas as a member of the family of God, and for his ministry as an apostle to the Lost Sheep of Israel. This honor should have given Judas second thoughts regarding his plan to betray Jesus to the Sanhedrin.
7. Matthew 3:7, “but when he [John the Baptizer] saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism [identification: the Greek word baptisma], he said to them, “You brood of vipers [poisonous snakes], who warned you to flee from the wrath to come [Baptism of Fire: identification with the fire of Torments and then the Lake of Fire]?”
8. Hebrews 6:1-2, “Therefore, leaving behind the elementary teaching about Christ, let us advance to maturity, not laying again the foundation [of the basics such as]: a change of thinking about dead works [just as an unbeliever must have a change of mind about Christ to obtain salvation, so the believer must have a change of mind about legalism (dead works) in order to obtain the spiritual life], and of faith toward God [Faith-Rest Drill], (2) doctrine of baptisms [the Greek word baptismos; a reference to the seven types of baptism as found in Scripture] as well as the laying on of hands [ritual rebound in the age of Israel], and of resurrection from the dead, and of eternal judgment [the Great White Throne Judgment].
9. Matthew 3:1, “In those days John the Baptizer [the Greek word baptistes; when John baptized someone into the Jordan River, the converts were identified with the plan of God and his kingdom.] came proclaiming [as a herald] in the desert of Judea.”
There are two categories of identification in Scripture namely an actual identification or a real baptism and a representative identification or a ritual baptism which uses water.
The four real or actual identifications with something that has significance.
1. The Baptism of Moses: 1 Corinthians 10:1-2 presents the baptism of Moses, "For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; (2) and all were baptized [the Greek word baptizo] into Moses in the cloud [the Lord] and in the sea." This was a real identification in which Moses was identified with the Lord and the open path through the Red Sea and the Jews were identified with Moses. By the way, none of the Jews got wet, only Egyptian unbelievers who were immersed in the water as a means of death.
2. The Baptism of the Cross is found in Matthew 20:22, “But Jesus answered [Salome by addressing her sons] and said, “You [plural: a reference to James and John] do not know what you [James and John] ask. Are you [James and John] able to drink of the cup [bear the punishment of all the sins of the world] that I am about to drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism [the sins of the world identified with Christ followed by the Father judging them] that I am baptized with [identified with]?” They [James and John] said to Him, “We are able. [the dumbest statement that James and John ever made]” [I selected the longer text as did Jerome.]
3. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Retroactive Positional Truth and Current Positional Truth) occurs at salvation for Church Age believers only.
Colossians 2:12. Having been buried [aorist participle] with Him [Jesus Christ] by means of the baptism [God the Holy Spirit identified us with the burial of Jesus Christ as part of our salvation] by means of which [Baptism] you have been raised up [main verb] with Him [in union with Jesus Christ seated at the right hand of the Father] through faith [at the point of salvation] in the operational power from the source of God who has raised Him [the humanity of Christ was given a resurrection body] out from the dead [physical death].
Romans 6:3-9:
Romans 6:3: Or do you not know that all of us who [a correlative] have been baptized into [identified with] Christ Jesus [Current Positional Sanctification: we are in union with Christ in his life in heaven], have been baptized into His death [Retroactive Positional Truth and so identified with his substitutionary spiritual death on the cross]?
Positionally, (in union with Christ) we share His righteousness, heirship, priesthood, destiny, election, eternal life, royalty, sonship etc. All these making us a new spiritual species in Christ Jesus. The plural correlative hosoi (ὅσοι) means that if we were identified with Christ in heaven and we were, then also we have been identified with Christ in his substitutionary spiritual death in which he removed the power of sin nature. Thus, the sin nature should not have power over our lives.
A few more points will be noted:
1. Note that the baptism of the Holy Spirit at salvation enters the believer into union with Christ at the right hand of God the Father which union is called current positional truth.
2. This verse also mentions identification with Christ in His spiritual death on the cross which identification theologians call retroactive positional truth. Retroactive positional truth also includes identification with Christ in His physical death and burial as well.
3. Identification with Christ in His death, then, has a two-fold connotation namely all personal sins were judged at the cross and since that is the case, God the Father is free to provide in grace, the Recovery Procedure. The second connotation is that good and evil were rejected by Jesus on the cross since good and evil are a part of Satan’s policy and plan. On the cross, Jesus relied on the proto-type spiritual life which operated under the two power options namely God’s power system.
4. So, the old sin nature’s ruling power over the Christian has been broken since all sins were judged on the cross and the Recovery Procedure has been provided. So, Retroactive Positional Truth has destroyed the sovereignty of the old sin nature over the life of the Christian.
5. Also, since Jesus rejected the good and evil policy of Satan so should the believer reject Satan’s policy of good and evil as the believer applies Retroactive Positional Truth.
Romans 6:4: Therefore, we have been buried together with Him through the identification [Baptism of the Spirit] into His death [physical], in order that just as Christ has been raised up from the dead [on Resurrection Sunday], through the glory of the Father [through the Father’s power], [So also we, the dead in Christ, will be raised from the dead by the power of the Father, and those alive at the Rapture, by the power of the Holy Spirit.] in this manner we also might walk in newness of life [Experiential sanctification should reflect our future ultimate sanctification.].
Christ had to die physically “and Jesus having shouted clearly with a loud voice said, Father, into your hands I deposit my [human] spirit, and having said this, he exhaled” (Luke 23:46). This last exhale caused His soul and spirit to depart from his mortal body resulting in physical death. Just as Christ had to die physically in order to obtain his resurrection body, so we must depart from our body of corruption, or mortality in order to receive our eternal body called our resurrection body.
The Newness of Life:
1. The newness of life provided through the baptism of the Spirit includes positional freedom from producing good and evil. Not only are we free from the tyranny of good and evil but we are also free from having to produce good and evil.
2. The believer has no obligation to improve the devil’s world through social action, socialism, welfare state, communism, environmentalism, or any social gospel, social action, getting involved, etc.
3. The human race is protected from Satan’s policy of good and evil through the laws of divine establishment which promote freedom instead of improvement at the cost of freedom.
4. In addition to the Laws of Divine Establishment the believer is insulated from good and evil positionally through the baptism of the Spirit.
5. Divorced from the Old Sin Nature positionally and its useless activity of human good and the function of evil, the life of the believer can be devoted to glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ through maximum knowledge and application of Bible doctrine.
Romans 6:5: For if we have become united with Him [Christ, the new husband] in the likeness of His death [the substitutionary spiritual death of Christ on the cross], and we have, and not only this, but also, we shall be [united in the likeness] of His resurrection [Current Positional Truth: in union with the resurrected Christ].
Romans 6:6: Be knowing this [through Retroactive Positional Truth], that our old man [our former husband, the sin nature dates back to the Garden] has been crucified together [with Him], in order that the [human] body, with reference to its sin nature, [the sin nature located in the body] might be rendered powerless [when we use Recovery Procedure and the two power options], that we should no longer be slaves to the sin nature.
“Our old man has been crucified with Him” meaning that the power of the sin nature has been broken on the cross. Since the power of the sin nature was broken by the work of the cross, we as believers have no excuse for not executing the spiritual life. We will not be able to say to Christ at our evaluation that our sin nature was too powerful for us to execute the spiritual life.
A few points for further clarification:
1. Retroactive positional truth is that phase of the baptism of the Holy Spirit at salvation which identifies the believer with Christ in His spiritual death, physical death and his burial.
2. In the substitutionary spiritual death of Christ on the cross all the personal sins in human history were imputed to Christ, but at the same time the other two trends of the old sin nature were not imputed for judgment.
3. Good and evil is the policy of Satan as the ruler of this world and the function of the old sin nature as the sovereign of human life. In fact, the sin nature functions as the agent of Satan.
4. Good and evil were not imputed for judgment on the cross. Hence, in the spiritual death of Christ on the cross they were rejected to remain an issue in the angelic conflict, rejected to be perpetuated in human history as an issue every believer must face, and either overcome through the intake of doctrine or be entrapped by ignorance of doctrine and therefore lose out in glorifying God in time.
5. We are identified with Christ in His spiritual death, which means that we must understand that our sins have been judged and that good and evil has been rejected.
6. It all adds up to the fact that the sovereignty of the old sin nature over human life has been made powerless through retroactive positional truth.
7. The imputation of all personal sins of the human race to Christ on the cross means that the believer through the rebound technique is instantly forgiven sins, cleansed from all wrong doing which includes Satanic good and evil, restored to fellowship and filled with the Spirit.
Romans 6:7: For we who have died [the Christian is identified with the substitutionary spiritual death of Christ: theologically called Retroactive Positional Truth] have been acquitted [positional deliverance] from [the power of] the sin nature.
A few points for further clarification:
1. A dead person is discharged from the obligations of his former sphere of life. This is why the word “death” is used in this context. It is not a literal, physical death we are discussing but identification with Christ in His death.
2. As unbelievers we were under the authority of Satan as the ruler of this world, and under the authority of the old sin nature as the sovereign of human life.
3. Both the power of Satan and the old sin nature have been abrogated through the baptism of the Holy Spirit at salvation.
4. This passage, then, emphasizes the annulling of the power and the authority of the old sin nature as the sovereign of human life.
5. Positionally, the power of the sin nature has been broken. Experientially, the old sin nature controls to the extent that we fail to understand and utilize the provision and support of logistical grace.
Romans 6:8: Now if we have died with Christ, and we have [retroactive positional truth], we also believe that we shall live in association with Him [the instrumental of association; a reference to Current Positional Truth].
In this verse, the 1st Class conditional sentence shows the relationship between Retroactive Positional Truth with Current Positional Truth. The protasis, the ‘if’ clause states the reality of Retroactive Positional Truth and the apodosis, the concluding clause states the doctrinal inference and the reality of Current Positional Truth. While Retroactive Positional Truth presents positional rejection and separation from good and evil as the policy of Satan and the function of the old sin nature, Current Positional Truth relates the believer to the function of the royal family of God. In other words, they have separate functions.
Romans 6:9: Knowing that because Christ has been raised from the dead [He received a resurrection body], no longer can He die; [physical] death is no longer a master over Him.
Analysis:
1. Retroactive positional truth destroys the sovereign authority of the old sin nature over human life. Current positional truth, on the other hand, destroys the limited authority of physical death in human life.
2. Instead of being ruled by the old sin nature located in the cells of the human body and influencing our souls toward sin, good and evil, we now have a new sovereign, the Lord Jesus Christ. We are identified with Him in His deaths, in His burial, resurrection, ascension and session.
3. Before salvation and the baptism of the Holy Spirit our lives were under the absolute rule of Satan who is the ruler of this world and under the rule of the old sin nature which is the ruler of life, and under the limited rule of physical death. All of that, of course, has been changed since salvation.
4. Now both retroactive and current positional truth have abrogated the authority and power of these former rulers. The power of Satan over our lives has been broken through identification with the rejection of good and evil namely Satan’s policy and plan and through our position in union with Christ. The power of the old sin nature is broken through retroactive positional truth and the power of physical death is broken through current positional truth.
5. Therefore, having studied these things by principle and by implication we are now ready for application, verses 12 & 13 specifically.
6. Having been positionally liberated from the sovereignty of the old sin nature as an absolute ruler, and the authority of physical death, we must recognise and apply doctrine for the experiential victory commanded in verses 11-13.
Galatians 3:25-28, “But now that faith has come, we are no longer under the authority of [have need of] a school bus. (26) For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. (27) For all of you who were baptized into Christ [identified with Christ through union with Him] have clothed yourselves with Christ. (28) There is neither Jew nor Greek [no racial distinction], there is neither slave nor free man [no social or economic distinction], there is neither male nor female [no gender distinction]; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. [All Christians have the same privileges and opportunities to execute the spiritual life.]”
Current Positional Truth, Elaborated:
In the Church Age, Current Positional Truth establishes our relationship with Christ as opposed to religion. It refers to the Church Age believer in union with Christ and is the key to understanding the Church Age and how the royal family came into being. Therefore, it is the basis for distinguishing between Christianity and religion. Christianity is a relationship with God without merit whereas religion is a system of works to gain the approbation of God. Never shall the twain meet!
The mechanics of Current Positional Truth is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, whereby the Spirit enters us into union with Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:13, “For also by agency of the one Spirit we are all baptized [identification resulting in becoming a new spiritual species] into one body [in union with Christ], whether Jews or Greeks [racial distinctions are removed], whether slave or free [class and economic distinctions are removed], even all were made to drink [the aorist passive, the voice of grace] the one Spirit [The Holy Spirit did not ask us whether we wanted to be put into union with Christ or not.].” Ephesians 4:5, “One Lord [becomes our Lord positionally at Salvation]), one faith [faith alone in Christ alone; Acts 16:31], one baptism [Baptism of the Holy Spirit takes place at salvation].”
Current Positional truth guarantees that there will be no judgment for believers in eternity, Romans 8:1, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Thus, the condemnation which occurred at the first birth was removed at the 2nd birth. As a result of being born with the sin nature and the imputation of Adam’s Original Sin, we were condemned to the Lake of Fire for all eternity, but now that has been removed. Romans 5:12, “For this reason just as through one man [Adam] the sin [nature] entered into the world [procreation], and so spiritual death through the sin [the imputation of Adam’s Original Sin to the sin nature], and so spiritual death spread to all mankind, because all sinned when Adam sinned [since we were all genetically in Adam when he sinned, we will receive Adam’s Original Sin].” However, at our spiritual birth, the 2nd birth, our pre-salvation sins were all forgiven including Adam’s Original Sin. After which, the Spirit entered us into union with Christ where there is now no condemnation (Romans 8:1).
Current Positional truth qualifies the believer to live with God forever. To live with God forever, the believer must have eternal life and God’s perfect righteousness, 1 John 5:11-12, “And this is the deposition [testimony] that the God [the Father] has given to us, eternal life, and this life is in his son [Since we are in union with Christ, we share this life.]. (12) and he who has the son [a relationship with the Son] has the life [eternal life] and the one who does not have the son of God [relationship with the Son] does not have the life [eternal life].” 2 Corinthians 5:21, “And He [the Father] made Him who knew no sin [perfection] to be a sin offering [imputation of sins on the cross] as a substitute for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him [current positional truth].” To live with God forever means you must have His life, and you must be as righteous as He is.
Positional truth guarantees the believer’s eternal security, Romans 8:38-39, “For I am persuaded that neither death [nothing in death] nor life [nothing in life] nor angels nor principalities [ruling angels] nor powers [human organizations] nor things present nor things to come (39) nor height [nothing in heaven] nor depth [nothing in Hades] nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Eternal life in Christ is for all eternity!
Positional truth belongs to all categories of believers whether they be apostate, mature, immature, spiritually adult, or carnal. Since Current Positional Truth occurs at the point of salvation before experience in the Christian life begins, it doesn’t depend on that experience. 1 Corinthians 1:2, “to the church of God which is in Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus [at salvation], called saints together with all who call upon the person of Our Lord Jesus Christ, their [Lord] and ours.” So, even though you may be carnal or in reversionism, you still have positional truth. Being in union with Christ has nothing to do with what you do [experiential righteousness], or don’t do [failure to execute God’s plan]. Current Positional sanctification is completely the work of God the Holy Spirit and so is not based upon our volition, but on the sovereign decision of God. We make the decision to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, but we don’t make the decision to enter into union with Christ “all were made to drink the one Spirit” as per 1 Corinthians 12:13. God the Holy Spirit graciously did that for us and so it cannot be undone.
Current Positional truth creates a new spiritual species in Christ as per 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ and he is, he is a new spiritual species. The old things have lost their power; behold, new things have come to pass.” You become a new spiritual species at salvation by being put into union with Christ. It is what God does for you, and therefore it is grace. It is not what you do after salvation, such as the self-righteous works of legalism. The “old things” have to do with spiritual death and those things related to that death; the “new things” refer to things you receive at salvation such as the 40 assets and the unique spiritual life.
Positional truth should motivate the production of divine good and a pattern of life compatible with royalty as per Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his creation, having been created in Christ Jesus [a new spiritual species with many assets] for the purpose of divine good production [via experiential sanctification] which the God [the Father] has prepared in advance [in eternity past, God the Father provided election and predestination as part of our Portfolio of Invisible Assets], that we in the sphere of them [election and predestination] may pattern our lives.”
Even though a Christian may die the Sin on to Death, he will not lose his position in union with Christ (1 John 5:18-20), and so cannot lose his salvation. In order for a believer to lose his position in Christ, he would have to sin in that status, but since the believer cannot sin in union with Christ, he cannot lose his position in Christ and so cannot lose his salvation. Thus, it is comforting and reassuring to a believer to know that even though a loved one may have died the ‘sin on to death’, he has not lost his salvation.
Because we are in union with Christ, we share His:
1. Eternal life, 1 John 5:11, “And this is the deposition [testimony] that the God [the Father] has given to us, eternal life [At salvation, God the Father imputes this life to the human spirit], and this life is in his son [The Christian also shares the life of Christ through union with Him]. (12) and he who has the son [a relationship with the Son] has the life [eternal life] and the one who does not have the son of God [relationship with the Son] does not have the life [eternal life].”
John 14:6, “Jesus said to him [Thomas], ‘I am the way, the truth and the life [eternal life]; no person [in human history] comes face to face with the Father [having an eternal relationship with the Father] except through Me.’”
2. Perfect righteousness, 2 Corinthians 5:21, “And he (God the Father) made him [Jesus] who knew no sin (perfection) to be a sin offering as a substitute for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in him [positional truth]. Sharing the righteousness of Christ, we become the objects of God the Father’s love as per Romans 8:39.
3. Election, Ephesians 1:4, “just as He [the Father] has elected us for Himself in Him [Jesus Christ] before the creation of the world [in eternity past], that we may be set apart [experiential sanctification] and blameless [ultimate sanctification] in the presence of Him [Father].”
4. Destiny, Ephesians 1:5, “By means of love, He has predestined us for the purpose of adoption as adult sons to Himself through Christ Jesus our Lord according to the grace purpose of His will.”
5. Sonship, Galatians 3:26, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”
6. Heirship, Romans 8:16-17, “The Spirit Himself testifies together [bears witness] with our [human] spirit, that we are the children of God. (17) Now, if we are children and we are, also heirs, on the one hand heirs of God [the Father], and joint heirs with Christ. If indeed [if it is true that], we suffer with Him [pass all three stages of undeserved suffering], that also we might be glorified with Christ.”
7. Sanctification, 1 Corinthians 1:2, “to the church of God which is in Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called saints together with all who call upon the person of Our Lord Jesus Christ, their [Lord] and ours.”
8. Priesthood, Hebrews 7:12-19, “For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change in the Law also. (13) For the One [the Lord Jesus Christ] concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe [the tribe of Judah] from which no one has officiated at the altar. (14) For it is evident that our Lord has descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests, (15) and this is clearer still, if another priest arises similar to Melchizedek, and there has, (16) who has become a priest not on the basis of physical requirement [a reference to the Levitical Priesthood] but on the basis of indestructible life [the Lord’s priesthood is forever]. (17) For this reason, it is witnessed, ‘You are a priest forever similar to the order of Melchizedek.’” [We are in union with Christ. Therefore, we are royalty and priests forever. We represent ourselves before God as royal priests.] (18) For, on the one hand, there is a rescinding of the former commandment [the Mosaic Law that authorized the Levitical priesthood] because of its weakness and uselessness (19) (for the Law brought nothing to completion), but on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope [the second door of hope for the Church Age believer—a personal sense of destiny—by which we enter the adult spiritual life] through which we draw near to God.”
Hebrews 7:26-28, “For it is fitting that we should have such a high priest, impeccable integrity, the One who cannot do evil, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; (27) Who does not need daily, like those Levitical priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for their own sins, and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He [Jesus] offered up Himself. (28) For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of His [God the Father’s] oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, who has become perfect forever [Jesus Christ is a perfect high priest].”
9. Royalty, 1 Peter 2:9, “ But you and only you are an elect [elect by God the Father] race [as a new spiritual species], a royal priesthood [since Jesus is a king-priest], a holy nation [God’s entity: a nation of priests: every Christian is a priest], a people for God’s own possession [a protected people], so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him [Christ] who has called [in eternity past] you out of darkness [spiritual death and the Cosmic Systems] into His amazing light [his plan];”
10. New Spiritual Species, 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ and he is, he is a new spiritual species. The old things have lost their power [Old Covenant]; behold, new things have come to pass [This would include the New Covenant to the Church.].”
Current Positional Truth changes our relationship with Angels.
1. Through current positional truth the believer is higher than angels positionally.
2. Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father, and so superior to all angels. By virtue of being in union with Christ, every believer is now positionally superior to angels.
3. Positional truth has fulfilled the believer’s triumph with Christ in the angelic conflict. We are victorious with Him already.
4. Furthermore, positional truth demands compatibility with experiential righteousness. Therefore, the believer’s walk on this earth must be compatible with positional truth since we have perfect security in Christ, we have the freedom to choose for Jesus Christ, to love Jesus Christ, to respond to His love, and to fulfill our purpose on this earth.
What positional truth is not?
1. It is not an experience, emotions or ecstasies.
2. It is not progressive; it cannot be improved in time or eternity.
3. It is not related to human merit or ability.
4. It cannot be changed by God, man or angels. It is eternal in nature.
5. It is not obtained gradually as you grow in grace, but in toto at salvation.
6. It is not known apart from the metabolization of doctrine.
7. From understanding the doctrine of positional truth, we progress in our spiritual life, but we cannot improve it since it is perfect at salvation.
8. We are not in Christ because of what we do (execution of the spiritual life) or fail to do (fail to execute the spiritual life), but because of what God has done.
A few points of explanation:
1. The conclusion from positional truth, whether retroactive or current, is that the Christian must apply these doctrines to his spiritual life.
2. In Romans 7:1-4 where we have an illustration of a woman whose first husband has died freeing her to marry another. This is what actually happens to us as believers at salvation. The old sin nature is the husband up to the point of salvation, but at the moment we believe in Jesus Christ positionally the sin nature is dead, as it were, the first husband has died and we have a new husband through union with Christ. Retroactive Positional Truth removes our first husband, the sin nature whereas Current Positional Truth enters us into union with Christ, our new husband.
3. The old sin nature-husband is still around, still seeking to regain his control over his former wife, the believer. But union with the second husband, the Lord Jesus Christ, has broken the first husband’s authority over the former wife.
4. The Baptism of Fire:
Matthew 3:11, “On the one hand I [John the Baptizer] baptize you [believers] by means of water because of a change of thinking [about Christ], but the one coming after me is mightier than I whose sandals I am not worthy to lace [loosen, remove]. He himself will baptize by means of the Holy Spirit [a reference to the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in the Church Age] and by means of fire [a reference to the Baptism of Fire at the 2nd Advent].”
Baptism of Fire: The baptism of fire (identification with fire) is defined as the judgment of unbelievers both Jew and gentile at the Second Advent. They will be removed from the earth and placed in fire for 1000 years until the Last Judgment, Luke 3:16-17; Mathew 25:31, 33. The analogy to the Baptism of Fire is found in Matthew 24:36-41. The one left in the field is the mature believer; the one taken is the unbeliever.
Parables of the Baptism of Fire:
1. The wheat and the tares (the unbelievers), Matthew 13:24-30, 36-40.
2. The good and bad fish (unbelievers), Matthew 13:47-50.
3. The ten virgins: five wise, five foolish (the unbelievers), Matthew 25:1-13.
4. The sheep and the goats (the unbelievers), Mathew 25:31-46.
5. The talent test, Matthew 25:14-30. The one talent man represents the unbeliever.
If Jesus Christ had not been rejected by the Jewish people, then the age of Israel would have continued until its completion (the Tribulation completes the age of Israel). (However, they did reject Jesus Christ as Savior and Messiah and so the client nation was destroyed, and the Church age was intercalated that is inserted before the age of Israel was complete.) After the completion of the age of Israel at the end of the Tribulation, comes the wrath of God namely the Baptism of Fire when the Lord removes both Jewish and gentile unbelievers from the earth and identifies them with fire forever. After which, the Millennial reign begins.
The Three Ritual Baptisms. None are extant at the present time. They are representative identifications in which water is used as a training aid to represent some principle of doctrine.
1. The Baptism of John is found in Matthew 3:2-6, “Saying, ‘Change your thinking [regarding Christ] for the kingdom of heaven is near.’ [The future king was already on the earth] (3) For this is what was communicated through Isaiah, the prophet saying, ‘The voice of one [John the Baptizer] proclaiming loudly in the desert [of Judea]. Prepare [the aorist tense is a one time-decision] the way of the Lord [an idiomatic expression for salvation]. Keep on making upright [the use of the Recovery Procedure followed by the development of experiential righteousness] His paths!’ (Isaiah 40:3) (4) Now, John himself kept on having a garment of camel’s hair [very uncomfortable] and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. (5) Then [after John went where God wanted him to be] Jerusalem kept on going out to him [face to face] and all Judea and all the districts around the Jordan. (6) and they were being baptized [identified with the kingdom] by him [under John’s authority] in the Jordan River [where Israel crossed when they entered the land], and they kept on confessing their sins [post-salvation confession of sins].”
MAX KLEIN BIBLE MINISTRIES
The Book of Jude
A verse-by-verse commentary by Max Klein
Outline:
Introduction 1-3
Warning regarding False Teachers 4-7
Panorama of Apostasy 8-13
Judgment of False Teachers 14-16
Defense against False Teachers 17-21
Showing Mercy 22-23
Benediction 24-25
This particular book is not only a book on doctrine but also a book which emphasizes application in the field of apostasy, and in the field of apostasy we have something that is so pertinent to the time in which we live. We have never been in such bad shape in this country from the standpoint of our national life, our personal life, or any type of life you want to name - church life, the impact of Christianity etc. We are in a maximum apostate period and Jude has written from that standpoint. Jude writes about apostasy after it occurred whereas 2 Peter chapter 2 anticipates apostasy.
Jude identifies himself with his brother, James. Like Jude, James was not a believer during the public ministry of Jesus Christ. John 7:5, “For not even his brothers were believing in Him,” but they became believers after the resurrection. Acts 1:14, “All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers." James became the leader of the Jerusalem church and that is why he is mentioned at this point “Jude the brother of James.” As the leader of the Jerusalem Church, James was well-known whereas Jude was not as well-known.
Jude 1
Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who have been loved [occurred in eternity past with results which go on forever] by God the Father [his love expressed in the Divine Decree for all Christians elected in Christ: Ephesians 1:4] having been guarded [kept, preserved] in Jesus Christ [in union with Christ forever] to the Elected ones [the exact recipients of this letter are unknown].
Ἰούδας Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ δοῦλος, ἀδελφὸς δὲ Ἰακώβου, τοῖς ἐν θεῷ πατρὶ ἠγαπηµένοις καὶ Ἰησοῦ Χριστῷ τετηρηµένοις κλητοῖς·
Jude is one of the four half-brothers of the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 13:55, “Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?” Neither Jude nor James, the two who wrote epistles mention that they were the half-brothers of Jesus for both understood that human relationships are not important in God’s plan.
A date for this epistle can be established by comparing Jude with 2 Peter. These two epistles both deal with apostasy. Peter states that it’s coming; Jude states that it is happening now. We do know that 2 Peter was written in 68 A.D. and so it is estimated that Jude was written between 78 and 80 A.D. since it took about that long for this problem to develop.
Jude 2
May mercy [grace in action] and tranquility [soul prosperity] and love be multiplied [the optative mood expresses the desire of the writer] to you.
ἔλεος ὑµῖν καὶ εἰρήνη καὶ ἀγάπη πληθυνθείη.
The more the believer learns and applies God’s Word, the more mercy is multiplied to him. The more mercy is multiplied, the more tranquility and prosperity is developed in the soul. The more tranquility and prosperity that exist in the soul, the more love (righteousness, justice, knowledge, and grace) is multiplied to the believer.
Jude 3
Beloved, while I was making every effort to write to you about our common salvation, I was constrained [compelled by the Holy Spirit] to write to you exhorting you to contend strenuously for doctrine [the body of faith] which was once and for all handed down [in the Bible] to the saints [to those set-apart ones in union with Christ].
Ἀγαπητοί, πᾶσαν σπουδὴν ποιούµενος γράφειν ὑµῖν περὶ τῆς κοινῆς ἡµῶν σωτηρίας ἀνάγκην ἔσχον γράψαι ὑµῖν παρακαλῶν ἐπαγωνίζεσθαι τῇ ἅπαξ παραδοθείσῃ τοῖς ἁγίοις πίστει.
Jesus is called ‘beloved’ in Ephesians 1:6, and since we are in Christ, we are given the same appellation. As God the Father loves Jesus Christ with perfect love so God the Father now loves every Christian with that same love.
Originally, Jude was going to write about salvation, but because of Gnosticism, the Holy Spirit had him write about apostasy instead. The greatest defense against error is to possess truth in the soul for one cannot recognize error without truth. Therefore, aggressively learning and applying God’s Word is the best defense against apostasy.
Jude 4
For certain persons have crept in unnoticed [to infiltrate with secrecy: apostates with pleasing personalities who appear to be sincere], those who were long beforehand marked out [written up in the Old Testament by the Old Testament prophets] for this condemnation, persons without God [unbelievers who in this case are anti-God] who pervert [to substitute in a bad sense] the grace of our God into licentiousness [salvation through the phallic cult] and denounce our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ [They reject the doctrines of Christology such as the Deity of Christ, the Hypostatic Union, and the salvation work of Christ on the cross etc.].
παρεισέδυσαν γάρ τινες ἄνθρωποι, οἱ πάλαι προγεγραµµένοι εἰς τοῦτο τὸ κρίµα, ἀσεβεῖς, τὴν τοῦ θεοῦ ἡµῶν χάριτα µετατιθέντες εἰς ἀσέλγειαν καὶ τὸν µόνον δεσπότην καὶ κύριον ἡµῶν Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν ἀρνούµενοι.
Apostates:
1. Teach false doctrine: 1Timothy 1:6, 7; 4:1.
2. They pass themselves off as experts: 2 Corinthians 11:13-15.
3. Motivated by demons: 1 Corinthians 10:20, 21.
4. They have deceptive personalities: 2 Timothy 3:1-7.
5. They put on a phony front: Matthew 23:27, 28.
The phallic cult included autoerotism, group sex and possibly group sex with human sacrifice. By the time one made the circuit of these three, he was generally considered saved, “perverting the grace of God into licentiousness.” Under Gnosticism, the Ophites (also called the Ophians) and Nicolaitans practiced salvation in this manner.
There is a manuscript problem with Jude 5. “A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament” by Bruce M. Metzger pages 723, 724 describes this problem.
Though Bruce M. Metzger and committee members chose the following arrangement, they agreed that their decision was based on their reasoning and not on the manuscript evidence. So, they gave themselves the grade of ‘D.’
I disagree with the translation below:
Jude 5
Now I desire to remind you [about the Exodus Generation etc.], though you know [intensive perfect: They learned in the past and now understand about that generation of believers.] all things [about the Exodus Generation] that the Lord once and for all [Codex Aleph; “once and for all” in this location has no meaning], having delivered the people out of the land of Egypt subsequently destroyed those [believers of that first generation] who did not believe [The Lord executed most of those believers because they failed to apply the Word by faith to their experience].
Ὑποµνῆσαι δὲ ὑµᾶς βούλοµαι, εἰδότας πάντα, ὅτι [ὁ] κύριος ἅπαξ λαὸν ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου σώσας τὸ δεύτερον τοὺς µὴ πιστεύσαντας ἀπώλεσεν,
The following translation follows more closely the manuscript evidence and to me makes sense.
Jude 5
Now, I desire to remind you [that the Lord punishes severely those who deviate from His plan], though you know once [no repetition required for the arrogant believer] all things [according to Codex A, B, C and Jerome; Jude is being sarcastic] that Jesus [Codex A, B, Origin, and Jerome circa 345 AD to 420, a great Hebrew and Greek scholar who translated the Bible from these two languages into Latin], having delivered the people out of the land of Egypt subsequently destroyed those [believers of that first generation] who did not believe [The Lord executed most of those believers because they failed to apply the Word by faith to their experience. They used faith to become believers but failed to use faith as believers. Using the word ‘Jesus’ reminds us of this.].
Ὑποµνῆσαι δὲ ὑµᾶς βούλοµαι, εἰδότας ἅπαξ πάντα, ὅτι Ἰησοῦς λαὸν ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου σώσας τὸ δεύτερον τοὺς µὴ πιστεύσαντας ἀπώλεσεν
A few points to support this translation of Jude 5:
1. The ‘New American Standard Bible’ translates as follows: “Now, I desire to remind you though you know all things once and for all [change the order, but not bad] that the Lord [though they recognize that two early manuscripts have ‘Jesus’], having delivered the people out of the land of Egypt subsequently destroyed those who did not believe.”
2. Bruce M. Metzger and committee members admit moving the Greek word ἅπαξ (hapaks: once, once and for all). “The origin of the variations in the position of ἅπαξ is best explained by assuming that it originally stood after εἰδότας [though you know].” Then, they go on to explain why they moved it.
3. The location of ἅπαξ (hapaks) as per the manuscripts made perfect sense. However, after Metzger and this committee moved this word, it had no purpose at all.
4. It never occurred to Bruce M. Metzger and committee members that Jude was being sarcastic when he said, “Now, I desire to remind you though you know once, all things.”
5. Now, regarding ‘Jesus’ versus ‘the Lord’, Bruce M. Metzger and committee admit that the word ‘Jesus’ is well attested, “Despite the weighty attestation supporting Ἰησοῦς, a majority of the Committee [the majority of a committee is usually wrong] was of the opinion that the reading was difficult to the point of impossibility etc.” It is possible. Using the word ‘Jesus’ is not only possible but also makes a lot of sense.
6. When the humanity of Christ was born, he was called Jesus though He was the Lord Jesus Christ. In John 2:1-11, even though it was Jesus who gave the instructions to fill the water pots with water, it was His deity that converted the water into the best wine ever. So, also in this verse, even though it states that ‘Jesus’ delivered the Jews from Egypt, it was his deity that brought about that deliverance. It never occurred to Bruce M. Metzger and his committee members that the word ‘Jesus’ merely identified the Lord Jesus Christ with the work which was accomplished when He was the Son of God only, and through this identification, the Jewish unbelievers might associate Jesus Christ with the one who delivered their ancestors from their slavery in Egypt.
7. Remember that Jude was the half-brother of Jesus, and as such for approximately 25 years as an unbeliever, he would have called his half-brother Jesus, not by any other appellation.
8. Bruce M. Metzger and his committee were so unsure of themselves that they gave themselves a grade of ‘D’. It should have been ‘F’ in this case regarding Jude 5.
Is repetition necessary in teaching? Some people reject repetitive teaching since they assume that their memories are perfect. Furthermore, they fail to realize that short term memory is converted into long term memory through repetition. So, knowing this, Jude is being sarcastic when he states that repetition is not required.
Although the Lord Jesus Christ delivered the Jews from the bondage of Egypt in 1441 B. C., the majority never appreciated that deliverance. Instead of appreciating the Lord, Moses, the Lord’s agent, and God’s plan for their lives, they refused to learn the spiritual life and so failed to walk by faith. As a result of their failure to walk by faith, the Lord had to execute those losers though he had previously delivered them from bondage.
Jude 6
And angels [the fallen angels of Genesis 6] who did not keep their status quo [domain: but infiltrated the human race], but abandoned [deserted] their proper place of residence [they departed from the 2nd heaven where the angelic creatures lived to the universe around earth to cohabitate with females of the prediluvian period], He has guarded them in eternal chains under thick darkness [The location is called Tartarus, a place of depressing gloomy darkness without light according to 2 Peter 2:4] for the purpose of the judgment of the great day [After human history has been brought to completion, these fallen angels will be cast into the Lake of Fire: Matthew 25:41].
ἀγγέλους τε τοὺς µὴ τηρήσαντας τὴν ἑαυτῶν ἀρχὴν ἀλλὰ ἀπολιπόντας τὸ ἴδιον οἰκητήριον εἰς κρίσιν µεγάλης ἡµέρας δεσµοῖς ἀϊδίοις ὑπὸ ζόφον τετήρηκεν·
This story is taught in Genesis 6:1-11:
The Corruption of Mankind through angelic propagation:
Genesis 6:1: Now it came about, when mankind began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them [the parents],
וַֽיְהִי֙ כִּֽי־הֵחֵ֣ל הָֽאָדָ֔ם לָרֹ֖ב עַל־פְּנֵ֣י הָֽאֲדָמָ֑ה וּבָנ֖וֹת יֻלְּד֥וּ לָהֶֽם
Genesis 6:2: that the Sons of God [a term for angels in the Old Testament in this case fallen angels: Job 1:6, 2:1, 38:7] saw that the daughters of men were beautiful [undoubtedly as they had been since Eve]; and they took [seized] women for themselves [fallen angels having sexual relations with human women], whomever they chose [Some were raped, others undoubtedly wanted to be seduced by these extremely intelligent and attractive creatures].
וַיִּרְא֤וּ בְנֵי־הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ אֶת־בְּנ֣וֹת הָֽאָדָ֔ם כִּ֥י טֹבֹ֖ת הֵ֑נָּה
וַיִּקְח֤וּ לָהֶם֙ נָשִׁ֔ים מִכֹּ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר בָּחָֽרוּ
Genesis 6:3: Then the Lord [God the Father] said, "My Spirit [the Holy Spirit] shall not always plead the cause of God in man [to convince man regarding sin, righteousness and judgment in order that the unbeliever might understand the need for salvation: the same concept of Common Grace is found in John 16:8-11] for he is mortal [flesh] nevertheless, his days shall be one hundred and twenty years [a warning period before judgment].
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהֹוָ֗ה לֹֽא־יָד֨וֹן רוּחִ֤י בָֽאָדָם֙ לְעֹלָ֔ם בְּשַׁגָּ֖ם
ה֣וּא בָשָׂ֑ר וְהָי֣וּ יָמָ֔יו מֵאָ֥ה וְעֶשְׂרִ֖ים שָׁנָֽה:
Genesis 6:4: The Nephilim [the fallen ones, the progeny of demons with female members of the human race] were on the earth in those days [for a hundred and twenty years before the flood], and also afterward [an explanation of how the mighty men came about], when the Sons of God [fallen angels] had sex with the daughters of men, and they [the daughters of men] bore children [the Nephilim for example Hercules, Orpheus, Perseus, Theseus, Prometheus etc.] to them [the sons of God namely the demons]. Those [Nephilim] were the mighty men [because they were half angel and half man] who were from ancient times [in the ante-diluvian period], famous men [They had phenomenal intellect and strength and mentioned in pristine history of the Greeks, Romans, Phoenicians, Canaanite, Babylonians, Germans etc. as true which stories are called by modern historians as mythology].
הַנְּפִלִ֞ים הָי֣וּ בָאָ֘רֶץ֘ בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵם֒ וְגַ֣ם אַֽחֲרֵי־כֵ֗ן
אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָבֹ֜אוּ בְּנֵ֤י הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ אֶל־בְּנ֣וֹת הָֽאָדָ֔ם וְיָֽלְד֖וּ לָהֶ֑ם
הֵ֧מָּה הַגִּבֹּרִ֛ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר מֵֽעוֹלָ֖ם אַנְשֵׁ֥י הַשֵּֽׁם:
Genesis 6:5: Then, the Lord saw that the evil of mankind was great on the earth [total rejection of truth], and that every motivation of the thinking of his right lobe [because of black-out and scar tissue] was only evil continually [an intensification of evil from the combination of angelic and human evil].
וַיַּ֣רְא יְהֹוָ֔ה כִּ֥י רַבָּ֛ה רָעַ֥ת הָֽאָדָ֖ם בָּאָ֑רֶץ וְכָל־יֵ֨צֶר֙
מַחְשְׁבֹ֣ת לִבּ֔וֹ רַ֥ק רַ֖ע כָּל־הַיּֽוֹם:
Genesis 6:6: The Lord himself changed his mind [anthropopathism: God is immutable, and so never changes his thinking] that He had made [after a pattern: the soul is made after a pattern] man on the earth, and He was grieved [anthropopathism: God is always perfectly happy] in His right lobe [an anthropomorphism: God is a spirit and does not have human anatomy].
וַיִּנָּ֣חֶם יְהֹוָ֔ה כִּֽי־עָשָׂ֥ה אֶת־הָֽאָדָ֖ם בָּאָ֑רֶץ וַיִּתְעַצֵּ֖ב
אֶל־לִבּֽוֹ:
Genesis 6:7: The Lord said, "I will blot out mankind [except Noah and his family via the universal flood] whom I have created [barah: to create the soul out of nothing] from the surface of the earth [the half angels and half human beings would be confined in a special Sea Prison after their death: Revelation 20:13], from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky [fish and the other sea creatures are omitted since they rarely drown in water]; for I regret [anthropopathism] that I have made them [after a pattern]."
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהֹוָ֗ה אֶמְחֶ֨ה אֶת־הָֽאָדָ֤ם אֲשֶׁר־בָּרָ֨אתִי֙ מֵעַל֨
פְּנֵ֣י הָֽאֲדָמָ֔ה מֵֽאָדָם֙ עַד־בְּהֵמָ֔ה עַד־רֶ֖מֶשׂ וְעַד־ע֣וֹף
הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם כִּ֥י נִחַ֖מְתִּי כִּ֥י עֲשִׂיתִֽם:
Genesis 6:8: But Noah found grace in the eyes [anthropomorphism] of the Lord.
וְנֹ֕חַ מָ֥צָא חֵ֖ן בְּעֵינֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה:
Genesis 6:9: These are the records of the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man [imputed righteousness followed by experiential righteousness], uncontaminated [in his genealogy from Adam and Seth to Noah, he remained true humanity] in his time; Noah walked with God [He executed the spiritual life and became a mature believer.].
אֵ֚לֶּה תּֽוֹלְדֹ֣ת נֹ֔חַ נֹ֗חַ אִ֥ישׁ צַדִּ֛יק תָּמִ֥ים הָיָ֖ה
בְּדֹֽרֹתָ֑יו אֶת־הָֽאֱלֹהִ֖ים הִתְהַלֶּךְ־נֹֽחַ:
Genesis 6:10: Noah became the father of three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
וַיּ֥וֹלֶד נֹ֖חַ שְׁלשָׁ֣ה בָנִ֑ים אֶת־שֵׁ֖ם אֶת־חָ֥ם וְאֶת־יָֽפֶת:
Genesis 6:11: Now the earth was corrupt [human flesh was corrupted with angelic beings] in the sight of God, and the earth was filled with violence [for example Hercules after returning from his 11 labors, killed his wife and children].
וַתִּשָּׁחֵ֥ת הָאָ֖רֶץ לִפְנֵ֣י הָֽאֱלֹהִ֑ים וַתִּמָּלֵ֥א הָאָ֖רֶץ
חָמָֽס:
Peter also mentions these demons of Genesis 6 and their present imprisonment.
2 Peter 2:4, “For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned [having sexual intercourse with females on the earth as per Genesis 6:2] but incarcerated them in pits of darkness in Tartarus reserved for judgment.”
1 Peter 3:19, 20 “ By means of whom [the Holy Spirit escorted the soul of Jesus Christ to Hades] also He [the soul of the humanity of Christ possibly in an interim body] went and made a proclamation to the spirits [to inform these fallen angels that they did not succeed] in prison [in Tartarus], (20) who once were disobedient [Genesis 6:1-11], when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah [God gave the Nephalim 120 years to consider the gospel before the judgment of the flood], during the construction of the ark, in which a few humans, that is, eight souls [persons], were brought safely through the water [of the flood].”
Jude 7
Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them [now under the southern end of the Dead Sea], since they in like manner as these [as the fallen angels who had abnormal sexual relations with women of the human race] indulged in gross immorality [abnormal sex such as masturbation, homosexuality and bestiality] pursued after strange [another of a different kind of] flesh [such as homosexuality and lesbianism; not the normal sex as between man and woman], are exhibited [in public view] as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire [They will be cast into the Lake of Fire since their sexual lust and sins and resultant scar tissue distracted them from believing in the Lord Jesus Christ. Also, scar tissue can cause so much damage to their faith as to prevent them from believing in Christ.
ὡς Σόδοµα καὶ Γόµορρα καὶ αἱ περὶ αὐτὰς πόλεις, τὸν ὅµοιον τρόπον τούτοις ἐκπορνεύσασαι καὶ ἀπελθοῦσαι ὀπίσω σαρκὸς ἑτέρας, πρόκεινται δεῖγµα πυρὸς αἰωνίου δίκην ὑπέχουσαι.
This Pentapolis was a collection of sexually degenerate unbelievers for the most part who would be judged by the Lord. The five cities of this Pentapolis namely Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboim and Zoar were always associated with apostasy: Sodom (Luke 17:29; Deuteronomy 29:23), Gomorrah (2 Peter 2:6; Isaiah 1:9), Admah (Hosea 11:8; Lamentations 4:6), Zeboim (Hosea 11:8; Jeremiah 49:18) and Zoar (Amos 4:11). In circa 2065 BC, this Pentapolis though very prosperous, was infamous for homosexuality, lesbianism and bestiality. It was destroyed in the middle of the 21 century BC (Matthew 10:15; Genesis 19:23-28; 2 Peter 2:6). Out of probably several million people only a few were believers namely Lot, his two daughters and possibly Lot’s wife.
Jude 8
Yet in a similar manner [to the citizens of Sodom and Gomorrah and to the fallen angels just studied] also these men [apostates] by delusive and sensual dreaming [the false dreams and visions of the false prophets which involved delusion and sensuality] keep on defiling the flesh [defile the body through mental sins, a reference to psychosomatic defilement], and reject bona fide [duly constituted] authority, and malign [blaspheme] glories [the three members of the Trinity].
Ὁµοίως µέντοι καὶ οὗτοι ἐνυπνιαζόµενοι σάρκα µὲν µιαίνουσιν, κυριότητα δὲ ἀθετοῦσιν, δόξας δὲ βλασφηµοῦσιν.
An apostate can be either an unbeliever or a believer. If he is an unbeliever, he will begin his road to apostasy by rejecting God at either God-consciousness or at gospel-hearing or at both. Once this most important truth has been rejected, he will begin to reject other truths related to God. For example, the unbelievers under discussion may have previously been pro-military and pro-free market-function, but on the road of apostasy, they would eventually become anti-military and anti-free market. They will be immersed in mental attitude sins like sewage in a chamber pot. If on the other hand the apostate is a believer, he will begin his road to apostasy by rejecting the spiritual life. He will travel the same road of apostasy as the unbeliever.
Jude 9
(But Michael [meaning: who is like God] the archangel, when verbally disputing with the devil and kept arguing concerning the body of Moses, did not dare [presume to] pronounce against him [Satan] a maligning judgment, but said, "May the Lord rebuke [aorist middle optative] you!")
ὁ δὲ Μιχαὴλ ὁ ἀρχάγγελος, ὅτε τῷ διαβόλῳ διακρινόµενος διελέγετο περὶ τοῦ Μωϋσέως σώµατος, οὐκ ἐτόλµησεν κρίσιν ἐπενεγκεῖν βλασφηµίας, ἀλλὰ εἶπεν, Ἐπιτιµήσαι σοι κύριος.
This is a parenthetical verse to show the comparison of the humility of Michael with the arrogance of the apostates. The devil wanted the body of Moses for some devious purpose. He apparently was going to use it for some type of demon worship. So, the Lord had sent Michael to the location to make sure that the body would not be stolen.
Michael as an archangel had great power and strength and could have physically removed Satan from the site of Moses, but his great humility caused him to refrain from doing so. Rather, he disputed with Satan over the body of Moses and refrained from maligning Satan (Jude 9; 2 Peter 2:11). Michael, the archangel in the middle of the Tribulation with his army will be able to defeat Satan and his army. After which Satan and all the fallen angels will be removed from heaven. Revelation 12:7-9, “Now there was war in heaven and Michael and his army of elect angels fought against the dragon [Satan]. Furthermore, the dragon and his fallen angels fought back. (8) Nevertheless, he [Satan & his demon assault army] did not win, in fact, a place was no longer found for them in heaven. (9) Then, the great dragon, the ancient serpent [related to the garden] who is called the devil [accuser, maligner] and Satan, who keeps on deceiving the entire inhabited earth was thrown out of heaven; he was thrown down to earth, furthermore his angels were thrown out of heaven with him.”
Jude 10
But these men [these apostates of verse 8 are contrasted with the humility of Michael] malign the things which they do not understand [everything connected with the truth]; and the things which they know by instinct [like animals], like unreasoning creatures [subjective and controlled by their emotions], by these things [subjectivity] they are corrupted [receive depravity from the destruction of the stream of consciousness].
οὗτοι δὲ ὅσα µὲν οὐκ οἴδασιν βλασφηµοῦσιν, ὅσα δὲ φυσικῶς ὡς τὰ ἄλογα ζῷα ἐπίστανται, ἐν τούτοις φθείρονται.
Jude 11
Woe [interjection of denunciation] to them [the apostates] for they have gone the way of Cain [approbation lust, legalism, self-righteousness and jealousy] and for money they have rushed headlong [with reckless abandonment] into the deceit [money deceives] of Balaam [lust for money] and perished in the rebellion of Korah [because of power and approbation-lust, they, the apostates rejected bona fide authority and suffered the consequences].
οὐαὶ αὐτοῖς, ὅτι τῇ ὁδῷ τοῦ Κάϊν ἐπορεύθησαν, καὶ τῇ πλάνῃ τοῦ Βαλαὰµ µισθοῦ ἐξεχύθησαν, καὶ τῇ ἀντιλογίᾳ τοῦ Κόρε ἀπώλοντο.
Neither self-righteousness functioning in legalism nor money are substitutes for the plan of God. When an unbeliever or a believer thinks that he can substitute legalism for the grace plan of God, he deludes himself like Cain. You are deceived by money when you think like Balaam that money can make you happy, can provide security, and that with enough money you can buy anything.
Many seek authority, power and approbation. When a person thinks that power and approbation can bring happiness, he enters into the deceit of Korah, a Levite and as such was very jealous of Aaron the high priest. He wanted the approbation and power that went with this position. Dathan and Abiram from the Tribe of Reuben wanted to take the leadership from Moses for they lusted for his position of authority and power. So, they started a revolution with about 250 princes of Israel circa 1430 BC. All were executed by the Lord. (Numbers 16:1-35)
Jude 12
These [apostates both unbeliever and believer] are hidden shoals [a rock hidden in shallow waters, reefs] in the sphere of your love(s) [you treat them with graciousness and integrity] when they dine [party] with you without fear [of being rejected and so are relaxed in your company; shameless even though they are apostates], shepherding themselves [do not learn God’s word from a good pastor-teacher], clouds without water [a believer with no metabolized doctrine in his soul], carried along by winds [controlled by their emotions and false ideas]; autumn trees without fruit [no production], having died twice [regarding believers, carnal death followed by the Sin unto Death;; regarding the unbeliever, spiritual death followed by the last judgment, the Second Death], uprooted [sin unto death];
οὗτοί εἰσιν οἱ ἐν ταῖς ἀγάπαις ὑµῶν σπιλάδες συνευωχούµενοι ἀφόβως, ἑαυτοὺς ποιµαίνοντες, νεφέλαι ἄνυδροι ὑπὸ ἀνέµων παραφερόµεναι, δένδρα φθινοπωρινὰ ἄκαρπα δὶς ἀποθανόντα ἐκριζωθέντα,
Since hidden shoals usually are not charted and cannot be seen (hidden rocks in shallow water), they cause shipwrecks. By analogy apostates destroy all who come in contact with them. They are destructive as citizens of a nation; they are destructive in marriage just to mention a couple of examples.
Jude 13
Raging [wild, savage, destructive] waves of the sea, casting up their own shame [a reference to their dishonorable conduct] like foam [waves that surge and foam striking rocks and destroying their own power]; wandering comets [lawless stars that shine for a while and then disappear], for whom [the unbelieving apostates] the gloom of darkness [black darkness from the perspective of what is above the Lake of Fire] has been reserved forever.
κύµατα ἄγρια θαλάσσης ἐπαφρίζοντα τὰς ἑαυτῶν αἰσχύνας, ἀστέρες πλανῆται οἷς ὁ ζόφος τοῦ σκότους εἰς αἰῶνα τετήρηται.
Both the waves and the stars connote instability analogous to the apostate unbeliever. A powerful wave may hit a rock, foam for a minute, and then surge around and recede. Some waves hit the sand and dissipate leaving a little white foam.
Verses 14-16: The Judgment of Apostasy:
Jude 14
It was also about these men [apostates in the Tribulation] that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, "Behold, the Lord came [to the earth at the 2nd Advent] with tens of thousands [unlimited number] of His saints,
Προεφήτευσεν δὲ καὶ τούτοις ἕβδοµος ἀπὸ Ἀδὰµ Ἑνὼχ λέγων, Ἰδοὺ ἦλθεν κύριος ἐν ἁγίαις µυριάσιν αὐτοῦ,
Jude 15
To execute judgment [the Baptism of Fire] against all [unbeliever apostates] and to convict all the Godless [unbelievers in the Tribulation] concerning all their impious deeds which they have impiously committed and concerning all the harsh things which Godless sinners [unbelievers in the Tribulation] have spoken against Him [the Lord Jesus Christ]."
ποιῆσαι κρίσιν κατὰ πάντων καὶ ἐλέγξαι πάντας τοὺς ἀσεβεῖς περὶ πάντων τῶν ἔργων ἀσεβείας αὐτῶν ὧν ἠσέβησαν καὶ περὶ πάντων τῶν σκληρῶν ὧν ἐλάλησαν κατí αὐτοῦ ἁµαρτωλοὶ ἀσεβεῖς.
This judgment is called the Baptism of Fire. All the unbelievers at the 2nd Advent are removed from the earth and identified with fire.
Jude 16
These are grumblers, fault finding, following after their own lusts; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage [for acts of favor; for personal benefit].
Οὗτοί εἰσιν γογγυσταί, µεµψίµοιροι, κατὰ τὰς ἐπιθυµίας αὐτῶν πορευόµενοι, καὶ τὸ στόµα αὐτῶν λαλεῖ ὑπέρογκα, θαυµάζοντες πρόσωπα ὠφελείας χάριν.
Defense against Apostasy:
Jude 17
But [in contrast to the apostates] you, beloved [believers advancing], bring to remembrance [at the time when application is needed] the words that were spoken beforehand [New Testament Scripture] under the authority of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Ὑµεῖς δέ, ἀγαπητοί, µνήσθητε τῶν ῥηµάτων τῶν προειρηµένων ὑπὸ τῶν ἀποστόλων τοῦ κυρίου ἡµῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ·
Bible doctrine in one’s soul is necessary for detecting error.
Jude 18
That they [apostles] were saying to you, "In the last time [any time of apostasy in the Church Age] there will be mockers [ridicule truth; scorners], go from place to place [unstable life pattern] according to [based on their standards] their own lusts of the Godless ones [unbelievers]."
ὅτι ἔλεγον ὑµῖν, Ἐπí ἐσχάτου [τοῦ] χρόνου ἔσονται ἐµπαῖκται κατὰ τὰς ἑαυτῶν ἐπιθυµίας πορευόµενοι τῶν ἀσεβειῶν.
A mocker is a person who ridicules a position based on an absolute which he can not refute.
Jude 19
These [unbeliever-apostates] are the ones who keep on causing divisions [apostates are troublemakers], soulish ones [psuchikoi a reference to unbelievers] not possessing a [human] spirit.
Οὗτοί εἰσιν οἱ ἀποδιορίζοντες, ψυχικοί, πνεῦµα µὴ ἔχοντες.
1 Corinthians 2:14, “But the soulish [psuchikos] man [the unbeliever] does not receive the things from the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him, and he is unable to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”
Jude 20
But you, beloved [Christians in union with the beloved one], building yourselves up [edification of the soul] by means of your set apart doctrine [specifically the mystery doctrine of the Filling of the Spirit], praying by agency of the Holy Spirit,
ὑµεῖς δέ, ἀγαπητοί, ἐποικοδοµοῦντες ἑαυτοὺς τῇ ἁγιωτάτῃ ὑµῶν πίστει, ἐν πνεύµατι ἁγίῳ προσευχόµενοι,
Jude 21
Guard yourselves by means of love for God [objective genitive] as you wait with anticipation for the loving kindness [mercy: all the benefits of eternity] of our Lord Jesus Christ with reference to eternal life.
ἑαυτοὺς ἐν ἀγάπῃ θεοῦ τηρήσατε, προσδεχόµενοι τὸ ἔλεος τοῦ κυρίου ἡµῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ εἰς ζωὴν αἰώνιον.
Remember the primary components of love namely righteousness, justice, knowledge and grace. God has always loved us; now we are to reciprocate His love which will protect our souls and to motivate us to go all the way to maximum glorification of God.
This is the grace orientation defense against apostasy. We are to guard ourselves by our love for him just as he guards and preserves us because of his love for us. Because of God’s love, he provided a plan which preserves our salvation.
Introduction to verses 22 and 23: Though both of these verses deal with the apostate unbelievers, the approach is different. In verse 22, the argumentative unbeliever is not seeking the truth. In verse 23, the apostate unbeliever is open to the truth of the gospel-message. To support this, the Greek construction of these two verses indicate a contrast for in verse 22, we have the particle µὲν (men) translated “on the one hand” whereas introducing verse 23 we have the Greek particle δὲ (de) translated “on the other hand.”
In Verse 22, there is a manuscript disagreement between the two best Greek manuscripts namely between Codex A (Alexandrinus) and Codex Aleph (Sinaiticus). I am translating from Codex A since it makes the most sense and brings-out the contrast between the apostates in verse 22 from the apostates in verse 23.
Jude 22
And on the one hand keep refuting them [those who are not seeking the truth] when they [the apostates] dispute with you. [based on the manuscript codex A]
καὶ οὓς µὲν ἐλεγχετε διακρινοµένους,
From Codex Aleph: “And on the one hand have mercy [show compassion] on those [apostates] who are disputing [arguing, doubting]
καὶ οὓς µὲν ἐλεᾶτε [present active imperative] διακρινοµένους, (Codex Aleph).
Jude 23
But on the other hand, deliver [via the gospel or truth] others [unbeliever and believer apostates who are seeking truth] snatching them out of the fire [of judgment]; on whom have compassion through respect [for the Lord], hating even the garments polluted [spotted with evil] from the flesh [the sin nature].
οὓς δὲ σῴζετε ἐκ πυρὸς ἁρπάζοντες, οὓς δὲ ἐλεᾶτε ἐν φόβῳ, µισοῦντες καὶ τὸν ἀπὸ τῆς σαρκὸς ἐσπιλωµένον χιτῶνα.
Jude 24
Now to Him [God the Father] who is able [as sovereign of the universe] to keep [guard] you from stumbling [cannot lose one’s salvation because of his grace plan], and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless [in resurrection body] with great happiness,
Τῷ δὲ δυναµένῳ φυλάξαι ὑµᾶς ἀπταίστους καὶ στῆσαι κατενώπιον τῆς δόξης αὐτοῦ ἀµώµους ἐν ἀγαλλιάσει,
All believers will be happy in their resurrection bodies. Revelation 20:6a, “Happy [mentioned in Revelation 1:3, 14:13, 16:15, 19:9, 20:6, 22:7, 22:14] and sanctified [emphasis on ultimate sanctification: receiving one’s resurrection body] is the one who has part in the first resurrection [all believers]. Over these, the second death [the Lake of Fire] has no authority . . .”
Jude 25
To the unique God [Jesus Christ is the unique member of the Godhead in that he is the God-Man] our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory [established after his victory on the cross], majesty [as king], dominion [ruling power] and authority [absolute and final authority over all including Israel and the Church], before all time and now and forever. Amen.
µόνῳ θεῷ σωτῆρι ἡµῶν διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τοῦ κυρίου ἡµῶν δόξα µεγαλωσύνη κράτος καὶ ἐξουσία πρὸ παντὸς τοῦ αἰῶνος καὶ νῦν καὶ εἰς πάντας τοὺς αἰῶνας· ἀµήν.