Warnings Confirmed By History

“3 ¶ Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort [you] that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Jude 1:3-4 AV)

The enemy of our souls is ever present seeking to invade and pervert that which God has made.  He often works through men, those who fall under his influence.  Early in Church history we are given this warning, that they would creep in among us while we are unaware.  One of the things that should command our attention is that ungodly men will seek to turn or twist the grace of God into something that it is not.  If we would follow Church history as recorded in our history books, we would see the devastating effect that these people and ideas have had on the Church.  At times the organized Church became corrupt, idolatrous, tyrannical, and downright evil.

But by the grace of God the true Church remained alive, even if at times it seemed to go underground.  God has kept His Church alive though a series of revivals throughout history.  There have always been men willing to follow the instructions found in these verses in Jude.  Men who earnestly contended for the faith that was once delivered to the saints.  Through the power of the Holy Spirit God has kept alive and pure, both His Word and His Church throughout all of history until our present day.

Church history is recorded for us like the history of the Israelites, but only though the period of the spread of Christianity during the Apostle Paul’s lifetime.  The History we have recorded after this time is often open to interpretation.  What does become obvious though is the tremendous effect that God’s Word has had on the World.  Those who have been faithful, to that faith that was once delivered to the saints, have been the salt and the light of this World.  Their influence has preserved and kept in check those forces that seek to destroy all that God has made that was at one time good, often times against great odds.

The Age of Grace

17 For the law was given by Moses, [but] grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” (Joh 1:14-17 AV)

With the coming of Jesus we received the Word of God in the form of a man.  He was the revelation of God to us.  He told his disciples, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father.”  He said that He did not come to destroy the Law, but He had come to fulfill the Law.

“23 And he turned him unto [his] disciples, and said privately, Blessed [are] the eyes which see the things that ye see: 24 For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen [them]; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard [them].” (Lu 10:23-24 AV)

“10 ¶ Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace [that should come] unto you: 11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.” (1Pe 1:10-12 AV)

Grace came not to abolish the Law but to fulfill the Law.  Jesus fulfill those portions of the Law for us that we could not fulfill.  This having been done on our behalf made it possible that the righteousness of the Law could be fulfilled in us.  For now having been cleansed from all unrighteousness His Spirit could not only dwell with us but also in us.  Grace and Truth have indeed come unto us.

Jesus is central in all of history.  Our calendar testifies of this fact, as does all of history.  Through His life, death, and resurrection, He revealed to us truth and grace.  Jesus is the revelation of God, a glimpse into the very heart of God, His plan, His purpose, and His love intended for us.  He revealed the righteous of God in human form.  The Word was made alive and lived with us.  To fully expound upon the extent and effect of Jesus life on earth cannot be stated in a few sentences.  The Apostle John ended the gospel with these words: “And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.” (Joh 21:25 AV)

After Jesus ascent into Heaven, God’s outpouring of His grace came through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.  In the power of the Spirit the assembly of believers was raised up to bring the message of God grace to every people in every place.  So powerful was this message that the whole world came to be effected by it.  Where ever this message of grace was received the peace of God prevailed bringing order out of the chaos.

To this day the Grace of God abounds.  Salvation through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ continues to transform lives.  The message of grace empowered by the Holy Spirit continues to impact the World around us.  The Spirit of truth continues to give life to those who by faith receive this grace of God.

“12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (Joh 1:12-13 AV)