"Indeed, certain men came in stealthily, those long ago having been designated unto this condemnation, the ungodly. Of the God of us, Grace changing into sensuality and the only Master and Lord of us Jesus Christ denying."1
Notice some translations say they pervert grace or teach grace as a license to sin, but lets look at the Greek. "Grace changing into sensuality," this word for change (from meta,"with" and tithemi, "put, place, establish") to transfer, by implication exchange. They exchange truth for a lie. This word for sensuality is aselgēs, "brutal" – properly, violent spite which rejects restraint and indulges in lawless insolence; lewdness. These are false teachers who have stealthily entered into the church, "Grace changing into sensuality and the only Master and Lord of us Jesus Christ denying."
"And they struck His head with a reed and spat on Him and changing the knees to kneel down to Him."3 This word for changed here is, tithemi, and it is the same used in they "changed Grace into sensuality." It is not the same word as bowed, as in "at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow..."4They crowned Him with thorns, nailed a sign on the cross, King of Jews, and mockingly bowed to Jesus. As Jude writes these who change Grace into sensuality deny Christ, “mockers who will follow after their own passions of ungodliness.”5 They exchanged the truth for a lie, given over to their own sensuality, these have crept into the church.
"Grace changing into sensuality." This word for sensuality is often translated as wantonness, lewdness which means inclined to, characterized by, or inciting to lust. While related and often expressed as sexual immorality it means much more. To Israel God spoke judgment, “Because your lewdness was poured out and your nakedness uncovered through your harlotry with your lovers and with all your detestable idols, and because of the blood of your sons which you gave to idols..."6 For this lewdness or sensuality the sisters of Israel, Sodom and Samaria, had been punished, which sin God says was "the pride of your sister Sodom, fullness of bread, careless complacency and in her and her daughters, the hand of the afflicted, poor they did not strengthen, and they were haughty, committing abominations before Me"7
"As in the day properly we should walk, not in feasting and drinking, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in dissension and jealousy."8
Feasting and drinking, these go together would you not agree? and does not such sound very sensual? "these are in the love feasts of you, feasting together fearlessly..." The Gentiles at the time were known for their sexual feasts, but this word is agapais, agape love which centers in moral preference. Possibly meaning they were blemishes in the Lord's supper? They walk "In dissension and jealousy," dissension properly means a readiness to quarrel (a contentious spirit), affection for dispute. And jealousy is certainly sensual, the word is derived from zḗlos (a term that mimics the sound of water bubbling over from heat and perhaps derived from zéō, "to boil,") It is sensuality, of passion, zeal, rivalry, but it is in contrast to a Spirit filled zeal. Would not we agree that dissension and jealousy go together, and is sensual? They changed Grace into sensuality.
"And when the woman saw that good the tree was for food, that it was desirable to the eyes, a tree to covet, that it would make one wise, she did eat from its fruit and gave also to the man against her and he did eat."9 This word for gave here means to exchange, commit, trust, consecrate. Was this the first act of lewdness? this translation seems to almost imply a sexual act, surely sexuality the serpent seeks to exploit as to exchange the goodness of God for a lie. They walked with God in the garden but were persuaded not by a sinful nature, no, but by the author of sin, who convinced them lust was a more pleasing fruit. Sin today takes opportunity to produce such a lie, that there is life elsewhere, in food that spoils, but Life can only be found in the Bread and living water from heaven.
"Not in sexual immorality and sensuality." This word for sexual immorality is koité, "marriage bed," derived from keimai, "I lie, recline, am laid; specially appointed, destined." Such speaks of a vessel destined, appointed for use, and of laws to be made, laid down, "we know that of God we are and the whole world in the evil one, lies under."10 The world lies under, the same word for marriage bed, the control of the evil one, presenting their vessels as use for unrighteousness, destined for condemnation. A child of God is no longer a slave, they are appointed, destined for His use, to present their bodies a living sacrifice, their members as slaves to righteousness as if being brought from death to life.11 Sexual immorality is a sub-set of sensuality, surely it is included.
These who change Grace into sensuality, "who cause divisions, worldly minded, the Spirit not having."12 Feasting and drinking, dissension and jealousy, sexual immorality and sensuality. "Likewise, yet these dreamers indeed, defile the flesh, authority set aside, moreover honor on the other hand they blaspheme."13 This word for dreamers, properly a dream while asleep. The Bible speaks that God would pour out His Spirit on men and women to prophecy, see visions, and the elders would dream dreams.14 But here it is used negatively, they are carried away by dreams, defiling the flesh with sensual dreams.
"They defile the flesh" This word for flesh can be used positively in reference to sexual intercourse in marriage and the sinless flesh of Christ, but this word is sarks and is generally negative, referring to making decisions and actions according to self. This is in contrast to agape love which is a selfless act. We are to contend the faith by telling truth in love, but agape love is a verb that requires selfless action. These give out condemnation, using truth to beat you over the head, laying heavy burdens on peoples shoulders without lifting a finger to help. They are sensual inward, hating and committing murder, lusting and committing adultery, stealthily in their hearts, pretty on the outside like white washed tombs, but full of dead men bones.
Such men seek the glory of men, not of God, "Authority they set aside," This authority is kurios which speaks to Jesus as Lord, who is given all authority in heaven and on earth. "Grace changing into sensuality and the only Master and Lord of us Jesus Christ denying." They lay aside the authority of Christ for their own honor and glory, "moreover honor on the other hand they blaspheme." Honor is doxa which also means "glory splendor," they blasphémeó, refusing to acknowledge the glory of God. "For having known God, not as God they glorified, nor were thankful... professing to be wise they became fools, and they changed the glory of the immortal God into a likeness of an image of mortal man..."15 And animals.
They are of the ministry of condemnation, as the "the gospel reveals the righteousness of God that comes by faith..." They sever themselves from Christ, finding a justification in works of the Law, and they have fallen from Grace. They bring slanderous judgments against things they can not see, moreover naturally like irrational animals they stand in these things, corrupting themselves. "They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deception as they feast with you. Their eyes are full of adultery; their desire for sin is never satisfied; they seduce the unstable. They are accursed children with hearts trained in greed."16
God has given them over to the lusts of their own flesh, even to desire those of the same flesh. "They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and hatred. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful. They invent new forms of evil; they disobey their parents. They are senseless, faithless, heartless, merciless. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things are worthy of death, they not only continue to do these things, but also approve of those who practice them. "17
They have taken the way of Cain. who hated and murdered his brother. In their hearts they hate and commit murder. And they err for profit, "They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam... who loved the wages of wickedness"14 Give me money and I will bless you. They are "creatures of instinct." and like such creatures, they too will be destroyed. And they have "participated in the rebellion of Koran," they were jealous and caused dissension, and like Paul when he was Saul who held the coat of Steven while they stoned him, he thought himself doing God's will.
"...themselves shepherding, clouds without water, by winds carried about, trees autumnal without fruit, twice having died having been uprooted, wild waves of the sea foaming out of their own shame, stars wandering, to whom the gloom of darkness to the age has been reserved."18
These who change Grace into sensuality are "Hidden reefs," spilas, a rock over which the sea dashes, a hidden rock, a reef; a fig, flaw, stigma, a false teacher. Like the fig tree Jesus cursed for looking like it produced fruit, these are "trees autumnal without fruit," They disciple no one but themselves, "Themselves shepherding," they mentor no one but teach many. "Clouds without water," they lay heavy burdens on people without lifting a finger. "These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm."19 They are not refreshing, like the Spirit which bubbles forth living water, no, these people "bubble" forth sensual passions of corruption, "wild waves of the sea foaming out of their own shame."
"Indeed, from within the heart of men the evil thoughts go forth; sexual immorality, thefts, murders, adulteries, covetous desires, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, evil, slander, pride, foolishness, all these evils from within go forth and defile the man."20
"Evil thoughts go forth; sexual immorality... sensuality" Notice the separate declaration of sensuality and sexual immorality, while both indicate immorality there is much more to this word sensuality. Contending for the faith, is not just a focus on the sexual immorality of sensuality, such is not to be ignored, but such has averted eyes to others who have entered in stealthily. They cause others to stumble, "With lofty but empty words, they appeal to the sensual passions of the flesh and entice the ones who are just escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves to corruption. For a man is a slave to whatever has overcome him."16
Maybe it is best to focus on the genuine. Those of the faith, have a shared salvation, one that is genuine. "Those who are called, loved by God the Father, and kept in Jesus Christ."3 They are of faith, believing God. They use their gifts for edification, "by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God..."5 They walk in agape love as they have the Spirit of God in them and walk in its fruit; love, gentleness, goodness, long-suffering... To doubters they have mercy.6 Saving others by snatching them from the fire; and to still others, showing mercy with fear, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh.7
Peter makes a distinction. If they truly know Christ, and have been entangled and overcome again by bondage their final condition is worse than it was at first. "Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,”and, “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.” Paul writes, "for Freedom you were called brothers, only use not the Freedom for an opportunity to the flesh, rather through love serve one another, for the entire law in one word is fulfilled, in this you will love the neighbor of you as yourself."8 All believers should experience this Freedom in Christ and be persuaded that God's will is good and acceptable and perfect, that it is life, and that vomit doesn't taste good.
Surely the one who lives in sexual immorality and tries to justify such by Grace, such a person would say that Jesus is fine with their sexual immorality, they admit no struggle with this sin, there is no delight in their inner being in the laws of God, such is a contradiction of scripture. Surely to teach such would be deserving of one who "changes Grace into sensuality." But does it not leave the poor "habitual" sinner, the one who struggles with his sin, a wretched man? I believe so, the one outwardly struggling with sin we condemn while statistics show many men in the church are inwardly struggling with sin. Such is a red flag. Now, can we have double standards? no, of course not, so we need to give over to Satan, the other 60% of the church who live in the sexual immorality. But for the tithing, maybe not the standard we want to apply to everyone? There is another way.
The scriptures speak of a process of overcoming habitual sin, it is a form of doctrine that is taught, not an overnight deliverance from sin. "Moreover, thanks be to God that you used to be slaves of sin, you have become obedient moreover, from the heart, to which you were entrusted to the form of teaching, having been set free moreover, from sin, you have become slaves to righteousness."9 It is a baptism into His death and a Resurrection into newness of life which includes transformation by the renewal of the mind. The new birth is worked out as His will is accepted as perfect and pleasing. We can have dominion over sin.
We will be held accountable for what we do with such knowledge. Is not to teach such knowledge to have changed Grace into sensuality? Who is this person? is it the one who struggles with sin, the one who has not yet believed that God's will is good and acceptable and perfect? Is it the one who has been called to Freedom but uses such freedom to sin? the one who has returned to vomit, bringing such condemnation on himself. Or is it a more sinister, stealthier, false teacher that has entered in while averting attention? or possibly as the prophet Malachi states these teachers are guilty of partial teaching and double standards, discouraging the people, and tempting God by their blatant acts. I ask this question, who are these people? who "change Grace into sensuality."
Jude and Peter's second letter gives more insight into these who have stealthily entered in, who speak of freedom but are slaves to corruption, who "entice the ones who are just escaping..." these are destined for condemnation, void of the Spirit, they do not walk in agape love, but in sensuality. You decide who these people are.
"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. Through these He has given us His precious and magnificent promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, now that you have escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires."21
Notice some translations say they pervert grace or teach grace as a license to sin, but lets look at the Greek. "Grace changing into sensuality," this word for change (from meta,"with" and tithemi, "put, place, establish") to transfer, by implication exchange. They exchange truth for a lie. This word for sensuality is aselgēs, "brutal" – properly, violent spite which rejects restraint and indulges in lawless insolence; lewdness. These are false teachers who have stealthily entered into the church, "Grace changing into sensuality and the only Master and Lord of us Jesus Christ denying."
"And they struck His head with a reed and spat on Him and changing the knees to kneel down to Him."3 This word for changed here is, tithemi, and it is the same used in they "changed Grace into sensuality." It is not the same word as bowed, as in "at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow..."4They crowned Him with thorns, nailed a sign on the cross, King of Jews, and mockingly bowed to Jesus. As Jude writes these who change Grace into sensuality deny Christ, “mockers who will follow after their own passions of ungodliness.”5 They exchanged the truth for a lie, given over to their own sensuality, these have crept into the church.
"Grace changing into sensuality." This word for sensuality is often translated as wantonness, lewdness which means inclined to, characterized by, or inciting to lust. While related and often expressed as sexual immorality it means much more. To Israel God spoke judgment, “Because your lewdness was poured out and your nakedness uncovered through your harlotry with your lovers and with all your detestable idols, and because of the blood of your sons which you gave to idols..."6 For this lewdness or sensuality the sisters of Israel, Sodom and Samaria, had been punished, which sin God says was "the pride of your sister Sodom, fullness of bread, careless complacency and in her and her daughters, the hand of the afflicted, poor they did not strengthen, and they were haughty, committing abominations before Me"7
"As in the day properly we should walk, not in feasting and drinking, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in dissension and jealousy."8
Feasting and drinking, these go together would you not agree? and does not such sound very sensual? "these are in the love feasts of you, feasting together fearlessly..." The Gentiles at the time were known for their sexual feasts, but this word is agapais, agape love which centers in moral preference. Possibly meaning they were blemishes in the Lord's supper? They walk "In dissension and jealousy," dissension properly means a readiness to quarrel (a contentious spirit), affection for dispute. And jealousy is certainly sensual, the word is derived from zḗlos (a term that mimics the sound of water bubbling over from heat and perhaps derived from zéō, "to boil,") It is sensuality, of passion, zeal, rivalry, but it is in contrast to a Spirit filled zeal. Would not we agree that dissension and jealousy go together, and is sensual? They changed Grace into sensuality.
"And when the woman saw that good the tree was for food, that it was desirable to the eyes, a tree to covet, that it would make one wise, she did eat from its fruit and gave also to the man against her and he did eat."9 This word for gave here means to exchange, commit, trust, consecrate. Was this the first act of lewdness? this translation seems to almost imply a sexual act, surely sexuality the serpent seeks to exploit as to exchange the goodness of God for a lie. They walked with God in the garden but were persuaded not by a sinful nature, no, but by the author of sin, who convinced them lust was a more pleasing fruit. Sin today takes opportunity to produce such a lie, that there is life elsewhere, in food that spoils, but Life can only be found in the Bread and living water from heaven.
"Not in sexual immorality and sensuality." This word for sexual immorality is koité, "marriage bed," derived from keimai, "I lie, recline, am laid; specially appointed, destined." Such speaks of a vessel destined, appointed for use, and of laws to be made, laid down, "we know that of God we are and the whole world in the evil one, lies under."10 The world lies under, the same word for marriage bed, the control of the evil one, presenting their vessels as use for unrighteousness, destined for condemnation. A child of God is no longer a slave, they are appointed, destined for His use, to present their bodies a living sacrifice, their members as slaves to righteousness as if being brought from death to life.11 Sexual immorality is a sub-set of sensuality, surely it is included.
These who change Grace into sensuality, "who cause divisions, worldly minded, the Spirit not having."12 Feasting and drinking, dissension and jealousy, sexual immorality and sensuality. "Likewise, yet these dreamers indeed, defile the flesh, authority set aside, moreover honor on the other hand they blaspheme."13 This word for dreamers, properly a dream while asleep. The Bible speaks that God would pour out His Spirit on men and women to prophecy, see visions, and the elders would dream dreams.14 But here it is used negatively, they are carried away by dreams, defiling the flesh with sensual dreams.
"They defile the flesh" This word for flesh can be used positively in reference to sexual intercourse in marriage and the sinless flesh of Christ, but this word is sarks and is generally negative, referring to making decisions and actions according to self. This is in contrast to agape love which is a selfless act. We are to contend the faith by telling truth in love, but agape love is a verb that requires selfless action. These give out condemnation, using truth to beat you over the head, laying heavy burdens on peoples shoulders without lifting a finger to help. They are sensual inward, hating and committing murder, lusting and committing adultery, stealthily in their hearts, pretty on the outside like white washed tombs, but full of dead men bones.
Such men seek the glory of men, not of God, "Authority they set aside," This authority is kurios which speaks to Jesus as Lord, who is given all authority in heaven and on earth. "Grace changing into sensuality and the only Master and Lord of us Jesus Christ denying." They lay aside the authority of Christ for their own honor and glory, "moreover honor on the other hand they blaspheme." Honor is doxa which also means "glory splendor," they blasphémeó, refusing to acknowledge the glory of God. "For having known God, not as God they glorified, nor were thankful... professing to be wise they became fools, and they changed the glory of the immortal God into a likeness of an image of mortal man..."15 And animals.
They are of the ministry of condemnation, as the "the gospel reveals the righteousness of God that comes by faith..." They sever themselves from Christ, finding a justification in works of the Law, and they have fallen from Grace. They bring slanderous judgments against things they can not see, moreover naturally like irrational animals they stand in these things, corrupting themselves. "They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deception as they feast with you. Their eyes are full of adultery; their desire for sin is never satisfied; they seduce the unstable. They are accursed children with hearts trained in greed."16
God has given them over to the lusts of their own flesh, even to desire those of the same flesh. "They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and hatred. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful. They invent new forms of evil; they disobey their parents. They are senseless, faithless, heartless, merciless. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things are worthy of death, they not only continue to do these things, but also approve of those who practice them. "17
They have taken the way of Cain. who hated and murdered his brother. In their hearts they hate and commit murder. And they err for profit, "They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam... who loved the wages of wickedness"14 Give me money and I will bless you. They are "creatures of instinct." and like such creatures, they too will be destroyed. And they have "participated in the rebellion of Koran," they were jealous and caused dissension, and like Paul when he was Saul who held the coat of Steven while they stoned him, he thought himself doing God's will.
"...themselves shepherding, clouds without water, by winds carried about, trees autumnal without fruit, twice having died having been uprooted, wild waves of the sea foaming out of their own shame, stars wandering, to whom the gloom of darkness to the age has been reserved."18
These who change Grace into sensuality are "Hidden reefs," spilas, a rock over which the sea dashes, a hidden rock, a reef; a fig, flaw, stigma, a false teacher. Like the fig tree Jesus cursed for looking like it produced fruit, these are "trees autumnal without fruit," They disciple no one but themselves, "Themselves shepherding," they mentor no one but teach many. "Clouds without water," they lay heavy burdens on people without lifting a finger. "These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm."19 They are not refreshing, like the Spirit which bubbles forth living water, no, these people "bubble" forth sensual passions of corruption, "wild waves of the sea foaming out of their own shame."
"Indeed, from within the heart of men the evil thoughts go forth; sexual immorality, thefts, murders, adulteries, covetous desires, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, evil, slander, pride, foolishness, all these evils from within go forth and defile the man."20
"Evil thoughts go forth; sexual immorality... sensuality" Notice the separate declaration of sensuality and sexual immorality, while both indicate immorality there is much more to this word sensuality. Contending for the faith, is not just a focus on the sexual immorality of sensuality, such is not to be ignored, but such has averted eyes to others who have entered in stealthily. They cause others to stumble, "With lofty but empty words, they appeal to the sensual passions of the flesh and entice the ones who are just escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves to corruption. For a man is a slave to whatever has overcome him."16
Maybe it is best to focus on the genuine. Those of the faith, have a shared salvation, one that is genuine. "Those who are called, loved by God the Father, and kept in Jesus Christ."3 They are of faith, believing God. They use their gifts for edification, "by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God..."5 They walk in agape love as they have the Spirit of God in them and walk in its fruit; love, gentleness, goodness, long-suffering... To doubters they have mercy.6 Saving others by snatching them from the fire; and to still others, showing mercy with fear, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh.7
Peter makes a distinction. If they truly know Christ, and have been entangled and overcome again by bondage their final condition is worse than it was at first. "Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,”and, “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.” Paul writes, "for Freedom you were called brothers, only use not the Freedom for an opportunity to the flesh, rather through love serve one another, for the entire law in one word is fulfilled, in this you will love the neighbor of you as yourself."8 All believers should experience this Freedom in Christ and be persuaded that God's will is good and acceptable and perfect, that it is life, and that vomit doesn't taste good.
Surely the one who lives in sexual immorality and tries to justify such by Grace, such a person would say that Jesus is fine with their sexual immorality, they admit no struggle with this sin, there is no delight in their inner being in the laws of God, such is a contradiction of scripture. Surely to teach such would be deserving of one who "changes Grace into sensuality." But does it not leave the poor "habitual" sinner, the one who struggles with his sin, a wretched man? I believe so, the one outwardly struggling with sin we condemn while statistics show many men in the church are inwardly struggling with sin. Such is a red flag. Now, can we have double standards? no, of course not, so we need to give over to Satan, the other 60% of the church who live in the sexual immorality. But for the tithing, maybe not the standard we want to apply to everyone? There is another way.
The scriptures speak of a process of overcoming habitual sin, it is a form of doctrine that is taught, not an overnight deliverance from sin. "Moreover, thanks be to God that you used to be slaves of sin, you have become obedient moreover, from the heart, to which you were entrusted to the form of teaching, having been set free moreover, from sin, you have become slaves to righteousness."9 It is a baptism into His death and a Resurrection into newness of life which includes transformation by the renewal of the mind. The new birth is worked out as His will is accepted as perfect and pleasing. We can have dominion over sin.
We will be held accountable for what we do with such knowledge. Is not to teach such knowledge to have changed Grace into sensuality? Who is this person? is it the one who struggles with sin, the one who has not yet believed that God's will is good and acceptable and perfect? Is it the one who has been called to Freedom but uses such freedom to sin? the one who has returned to vomit, bringing such condemnation on himself. Or is it a more sinister, stealthier, false teacher that has entered in while averting attention? or possibly as the prophet Malachi states these teachers are guilty of partial teaching and double standards, discouraging the people, and tempting God by their blatant acts. I ask this question, who are these people? who "change Grace into sensuality."
Jude and Peter's second letter gives more insight into these who have stealthily entered in, who speak of freedom but are slaves to corruption, who "entice the ones who are just escaping..." these are destined for condemnation, void of the Spirit, they do not walk in agape love, but in sensuality. You decide who these people are.
"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. Through these He has given us His precious and magnificent promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, now that you have escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires."21
