Jude 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men… I. JESUS CHRIST IS MASTER AND LORD (Revelation 15:3). "Head over all things to the Church" (Ephesians 1:22). In the world the attribute manifested is power; in the Church, grace. Lord, let me feel the efficacy of Thy grace rather than the power of Thine anger! II. CHRIST IS LORD AND JESUS; He came to rule and He came to save. III. Again, from the words observe, THE SON OF GOD WAS CHRIST, THAT HE MIGHT BE LORD AND JESUS; ANOINTED OF THE FATHER THAT HE MIGHT ACCOMPLISH OUR SALVATION. This anointing signifieth two things. First, it noteth the nature of His offices. Under the Old Testament three sort of persons were anointed — kings, priests, and prophets, and all these relations doth Christ sustain to the Church. Secondly, it noteth the authority upon which His office is founded; He was anointed thereto by God the Father, who in the work of redemption is represented as the offended party and supreme judge; and so it is a great comfort to us that Christ is a mediator of God's choosing. IV. Once more, observe, that Jesus Christ, the Master of the world and Lord of the Church, is TRUE GOD. For it is said here, denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. That Christ is God appeareth by express Scripture, where He is called "the true God" (1 John 5:20); "the great God" (Titus 2:13), to show that He is not a God inferior to the Father, but equal in power and glory, and that not by courtesy and grant, but by nature. So He is called "the mighty God, the everlasting Father (Isaiah 9:6), and "God over all" (Romans 9:5). Again, God He must needs be, if you consider the work He ought to do. The work of the Mediator could be despatched by no inferior agent. Uses. Well, then, we learn hence — 1. That Christ is a proper object for faith. 2. Since He was God by nature, let us observe the love of Christ in becoming man. 3. It is an invitation to press us to come to Christ, and by Christ to God. V. I COME NOW TO THE WORD IMPLYING THEIR GUILT, "denying." Observe, that it is a horrible impiety to deny the Lord Jesus; when He would make these seducers odious, He giveth them this character. Now Christ is many ways denied. I shall refer them to two heads — in opinion and practice. 1. In opinion: so Christ is denied when men deny His natures or offices. 2. Christ is denied in practice; and so — (1) By apostasy and total revolt from Him (Matthew 10:33). (2) By not professing Christ in evil times, for not to profess is to deny (Matthew 10:32, 33; Mark 8:38). (3) Men deny Christ when they profess Him and walk unworthily and dishonourably to their profession. Actions are the best image of men's thoughts. Now their actions give their profession the lie (Titus 1:16). (T. Manton.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. |
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