W. Howard Starling
Description
The Epistle of Jude - Portrait of Factious Deceivers Jude's portrait of factious deceivers reveals the dark side of Christianity, the side most of us
...
do not like to discuss. Constrained by circumstance, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Jude found it necessary to expose this darker side by identifying the fakers that had infiltrated local congregations, assuming power and leadership positions. Jude's portrait paints these actors (hypocrites, See Thayer's Greek Lexicon-5273), as people that imitate the character, and identity, of a Christian. They are not the real thing; they are imitators of the real thing. He says they are ungodly people that have sneaked in alongside true believers. They use the Church to fulfill their own ungodly appetites, misusing, abusing, and polluting themselves and other unsuspecting people. Jude's portrait reveals a malady that existed even as he wrote (A. D.60-75), but a malady that would persist until the "last time," the end of the Church Age. He urges true Christians to "earnestly contend (fight for, and defend) the faith" that was initially presented to the unbelieving world by our Lord Jesus Christ. He identifies the apostate for the true Christians, telling them "on some have compassion ... and others save with fear (make them afraid)" (Jude 22-23). Thus, the problem is declared and the solution is given. To this day, the problem still exists, and the solution still works. Modern assemblies (congregations) are no different from those existing during the lifetime of Jude. This problem of apostasy that is still infiltrating the Church will continue to exist until our Lord comes again. It is the duty of the faithful in Christ to deal with it; that is, to prevent its spread through the love of God, and obedience to His written Word. Our duty is to be strong in our faith, and compassionate in our outreach. We must use all our spiritual powers of persuasion to save those influenced by apostasy, and we must make every honest effort to win them away from it by showing them the love of God. Jude-A Portrait of Factious Deceivers is a line on line look at the problem and the solution. It presents the darker side, however its primary purpose is not only to expose the problem of apostasy, but also to show God's methods for painting a true portrait of Christ's Church. *** The material for this work came from sermons preached by the Author. The first presentation of Jude, A Portrait of Christian Conflict, was from the pulpit (1957-1964). Next, the he serialized them for "The Preacher," a radio ministry (1978-1985). After numerous requests, and the encouragement his wife, he put them on cassettes and distributed them to listeners of the program. Those sermons became the basis for more in depth research, and ultimately, this book. You may read the story of its beginning in the book, "Tribute to A Thorn," available from Amazon.com and Createspace.com
Read more