Know the Difference...

Beware!!! False teachers and apostates are everywhere, even in the Church. It’s our awareness and practice of knowing scripture that keeps us safe from their twisting and distorting truth. Our knowledge of scripture and knowing the God of the Bible that protects us from falling prey to these “dangerous reefs”. It’s our dedication to serving God that helps us know when “clouds blowing over the land” will produce rain or not. It’s our godly discernment that can decipher a “dead tree” from one that is wintering. These “wandering stars” are doomed to darkness. These “shameless shepherds” only serve themselves, disguising their desires to be inviting, only to deceive the vulnerable. It’s our job to know and protect others from these false, apostate teachers. Ask God today for the discernment and wisdom to defend the faith He has shown us to be true.

3 Dear friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to His holy people. 4 I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.5 So I want to remind you, though you already know these things, that Jesus[B] first rescued the nation of Israel from Egypt, but later He destroyed those who did not remain faithful. 6 And I remind you of the angels who did not stay within the limits of authority God gave them but left the place where they belonged. God has kept them securely chained in prisons of darkness, waiting for the great day of judgment. Jude 1:3-6

12 When these people eat with you in your fellowship meals commemorating the Lord’s love, they are like dangerous reefs that can shipwreck you.[E] They are like shameless shepherds who care only for themselves. They are like clouds blowing over the land without giving any rain. They are like trees in autumn that are doubly dead, for they bear no fruit and have been pulled up by the roots. 13 They are like wild waves of the sea, churning up the foam of their shameful deeds. They are like wandering stars, doomed forever to blackest darkness. Jude 1:12-13

17 But you, my dear friends, must remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ said. 18 They told you that in the last times there would be scoffers whose purpose in life is to satisfy their ungodly desires. 19 These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God’s Spirit in them.20 But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit,[G] 21 and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love.22 And you must show mercy to[H] those whose faith is wavering. 23 Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives. 24 Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into His glorious presence without a single fault. 25 All glory to Him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are His before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen. Jude 1:17-25