“Creepers: You Can Recognize Them”
“Creepers: You Can Recognize Them”
Blessings folk!
Jude was concerned.
He wanted to write to some believers about their common salvation.
But something else needed to be addressed.
Creepers had crept in.
Many, if not most, of those receiving the letter were believers of Jewish background.
How do I know?
Because of the references, illustrations, etc. that Jude uses.
We will see.
Know this.
Creepers continue to creep into the church.
“Mainstream” denominations - Episcopal, Presbyterian, et al - have seen/experienced this.
The United Methodist are currently reaping the fruit thereof.
Creepers:
- Creep in unnoticed
- Marked out for condemnation…long ago
- Ungodly persons
- Turn/pervert the grace of God
Jude 1:4
For certain persons have crept in unnoticed,
those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
We will review later the balance of what is said in Jude.
For now…
We can/will know them by their fruit…
- Fruit of the Spirit
- Deeds of the Flesh
Mat 7:20
“So then, you will know them by their fruits.
The Lord empowers believers with the gift of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit will gift some in the Body with:
- Word of Wisdom
- Word of Knowledge
- Discerning of spirits
1 Co 12:8
For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit,
and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit;
1Co 12:10
…to another discerning of spirits;…
The Body of Christ functions together with the giftedness released by the Spirit as He desires.
This structure protects us from “creepers”.
Sadly, most of contemporary, western churches reject the structure and processes of the Lord.
Most reject the empowerment of the Spirit.
To our detriment.
To the detriment of the Kingdom.
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