Previously in Jude’s letter he warns the church about people who infiltrate the body to destroy and divide. They pervert grace and deny Gods authority. They are full of pride and deceit, and are ripe for judgement.

Jude reminds us that Jesus is our judge. He alone has the power to save and destroy. That we are to be humble and live according to our rightful domains in order to fulfill our purposes. Jesus has imprisoned the fallen angels, and the faithful will judge them. Like Sodom and Gomorrah, all who are against God and live a life in rebellion to Him and his laws, will face eternal fire.

We know this full well. The totality of scripture illuminates how God is holy and will judge the whole world for its sin. No man can ever remain sinless. All are guilty. All have sinned.

Well, except Jude’s brother Jesus.

The Word made Flesh, lived a sinless life to die a sinners death. As fatalistic as that sounds, it’s His resurrection and conquest over death that now gives us, who are in Him, life. By the power of his grace, He clothes us in His righteousness, so that on the day of judgement we can stand before the Holy Judge in innocence.

Understand this: we are not truly innocent.

Every fiber of our flesh craves sinfulness. When we stand before the king of the universe, it will be with dirty hands in filthy rags. He knows every detail of our lives, what we thought, said and did. Every secret and potential sin. Everything will be revealed. Everything. Yet, because of Christ, he will purify us and we will be completely refined. We will not be condemned.

Yet, there are those who are dreaming. They think they can get one past. That God who kicked Satan out of heaven, and bound evil spiritual beings, and destroyed cities with power and might… that He will allow them to go unpunished.

Jude 8 (NET): Yet these men, as a result of their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and insult the glorious ones.

Wrong thinking produces wrong behavior.

If these men in particular had the right thinking towards God, that He is infinitely holy and just – they would turn and repent from their evil ways. But due to their wrong thinking they do not.

Like many in Israel’s history, they have defiled the flesh.

Like the fallen angels, they reject authority.

Like Sodom and Gomorrah, they blaspheme the glorious ones.

Could this have been prevented?

In Gods providence, technically no. In fact they were designated for this condemnation (Jude 4). However in Gods provision of grace and mercy, yes.

When we fail to apply scripture to our hearts and pray for the Spirit to lead and convict us, we fail to participate in his regeneration and plan of progressive sanctification. When we do, He renews our minds and our right thinking produces right living.

When we attempt to live our lives apart from God and His scripture, or we gather theological assumptions from thin air, we too pervert grace and deceive ourselves.

Truth is, God alone is holy, we are all sinners, dead in our trespasses and in need of a savior. We can’t make ourselves alive and we can’t work our way into heaven. We can’t stand before God in judgement without Christ. We need grace, and we should respond to it in obedience and worship.

To think, and then act according to any other belief is only dreaming.

“Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”

Ephesians 5:14b-16