Dear Friends,
Our Delaware Bible study looked at the book of Jude awhile back and felt blessed by it. I hope that it might be a blessing to all who read this as well.
INTRODUCTION
The epistle of Jude is a book that we do not often get to hear preached or taught: I think that one reason for this is that this little book of the Bible is full of warnings against apostasy; and it also points our attention again and again in its few verses to the coming final judgement of God.
THE AUTHOR
Who was the human instrument that God used to pen the epistle of Jude? Many think that the human author was the Lord's brother. The reason for this is because of the language found in verse 1:
1) Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and BROTHER OF JAMES, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:
Now, if we go to the gospel of Matthew, chapter 13, and look at verse 55 we will see why most think that the epistle of Jude was written by the Lord's brother:
55) Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And his brethren, JAMES, and Joses, and Simon, and JUDAS?
The Lord Jesus had half brothers: two of whom were named James and Judas (the name Jude is the same as Judas). Many therefore ascribe authorship of the book of Jude to Judas, the Lord's brother. Ascribing authorship to Judas, the brother of Christ does seem to make sense; and seems to fit with the Bible; but there is another possibility that I think needs to be examined as well. Go to the gospel of Luke, chapter 6:
16) And Judas THE BROTHER OF JAMES, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.
In this listing of apostles we find the names of two men named "Judas". It is very interesting that the first Judas listed in Luke 6:16 is described as being "the brother of James". It is interesting because this is the exact wording that we find in verse 1 of our epistle: "Jude.....brother of James."
In the days of Christ it is very apparent that some names were fairly common. Judas was common. Simon appears to have been a common name. And James was popular. In order to avoid confusion a man with a common name was identified by some type of family relationship. For example, Simon (Peter) was called: Simon Bar-Jona. Simon, son of Jona. Two of the apostles were named James. The first was known as "James the son of Zebedee". The second was known as "James the son of Alphaeus". As far as I can tell, God never introduces two people who have the same first name and the same family name (or identifying name). When God speaks of Judas, the Lord's brother (the list of the Lord's brethren is given in 2 places) He never idenitifes him as Judas the brother of James. However, in 2 out of the 3 places that the apostle Judas (not Iscariot) is found: he is identified as being "the brother of James". Let's go to the first chapter of Acts:
13) ....Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and JUDAS THE BROTHER OF JAMES.
The apostle Judas is found also in the gospel of John, chapter 14:
22) Judas saith unto HIm, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
The Lord Jesus gave a long reply to the apostle Judas' question. Part of Christ's answer can be found in verse 26 of John 14:
"...the Comforter....shall teach you all things, and bring all things TO YOUR REMEMBRANCE,..."
It is very interesting as we look at the few verses found in this small book of the Bible that one of the reasons that Jude gives for writing is to put the brethren in REMEMBRANCE. Look at verse 5 of Jude:
"I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this...."
Given the biblical evidence for the apostle Judas; and the lack of biblical evidence for Judas, the Lord's brother: I think that God moved the apostle Judas,(not Iscariot) to pen this wonderful little book.
GOD IS THE AUTHOR
After having said all this I think that it is very important to point out that the human penman matters little. The writer of Jude, as well as every book of the Bible is God Himself. I think that preachers tend to mention the man much too often. At times, in some churches, I think that I have heard the apostle Paul's name mentioned more often than Christ's. This is a shame that takes away God's glory. It is He (God) that needs to be mentioned over and over again. Not Paul. Afterall, who is Paul? Simply a man that God used to produce His written word. God used the apostle Paul much the same way that Paul used Tertius. If I were to ask you who was it that wrote the book of Romans, who would you answer? You would quickly say that Paul wrote the book of Romans. However, you would be wrong on one level: look at Romans 16:
22) I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord.
Tertius very clearly says he wrote the epistle. Why do we not proclaim again and again how brilliant Tertius was? Why do we not marvel at Tertius's ability to explain complicated doctrine? The reason that we do not boast about Tertius is because we are aware that his only role in writing Romans was as a scribe. That is, he was told what to write and he wrote it. The apostle Paul and every other writer of the Bible was used by God in exactly the same manner as Tertius was used by Paul. Each writer of the Bible was moved by the Holy Ghost. Therefore, as it would not be fitting for us to continually mention Tertius as the writer of Romans, neither is it God glorifying to continually mention the human penman over and above the Person of God Himself.
May the Lord bless you,
Chris McCann
Dear Friends,
The Bible's meaning of 'sanctification' is often misunderstood by many theologians and churches. In this message we will take a look at exactly what the Bible means when it discusses sanctification. Let's read the first 2 verses of Jude:
1) Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, TO THEM THAT ARE SANCTIFIED by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called: 2) Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE SANCTIFIED?
The epistle of Jude is written: "to them that are sanctified by God the Father..." What does this mean? Is sanctification a process that the Holy Spirit undertakes whereby He is making us holier and holier each day we are a Christian? Or, does sanctification mean that we are set apart for the service of God?
The only way that we can find the answer to this question (as well as the answer to any question about the Bible) is by going to the Bible itself and allowing the Bible to define what it means by the language of sanctification. Let's begin by going to the gospel of Matthew, chapter 23:
17) Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the TEMPLE THAT SANCTIFIETH THE GOLD?
In this verse we see that the word sanctified is used in relationship to gold. This verse ought to help us greatly in our understanding of what sanctification is; because we know one thing immediately: when the gold was sanctified by the temple, THERE WAS NO INWARD CHANGE AS FAR AS THE GOLD IS CONCERNED. The chemical makeup of the gold was not changed. When someone would have given their gift of gold to the service of God, this did not mean that the quality of that piece of gold would suddenly begin to improve. The gold was not getting purer simply because it sat in the coffers of the house of God. No, the gold never experienced any change whatsoever; except for the fact that that gold was now set apart exclusively for service towards the house of God.
Let's go over to the gospel of John, and look at another verse dealing with sanctification in the tenth chapter:
36) Say ye of Him, whom the Father hath SANCTIFIED, and sent into the world, thou blasphemest; because I said, I Am the Son of God?
Here again we find a verse that clearly shows us that sanctification has nothing to do with becoming increasingly more holy: Christ Himself is in view above. The Father sanctified the Lord Jesus and sent Him into the world. Now, does this mean that the Father undertook some sort of spiritual cleansing process of the Son before sending Him into the world? Did the Father need to purify His Son before sending Him as the pure Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world? No! of course not. We know that Christ has eternally existed without sin. He needed no purification process in order to come to this sin cursed earth. What then does the Bible mean when it says that the Father sanctified the Son and sent Him into the world. The answer is obvious: just as the gold, no change took place within Christ; but HE WAS SET APART by the Father from the counsels of eternity that He might be the Lamb slain from before the foundation of the world.
Get out your concordances and you will find this same idea of sanctification meaning to be set apart over and over again. In the Old Testament God speaks of sanctifying the 7th day Sabbath (Gen. 2:3). He also speaks of sanctifying the tabernacle (Ex. 29:44); and of sanctifying the altar (Ex. 40:10). On and on it goes throughout the Old Testament. Vessels for the temple are sanctified; fields are sanctified; fasts are sanctified; etc. None of these things grow in holiness; but are simply set apart for God's work. The confusion comes in when God speaks of sanctifying His people. We find this type of language in the book of Hebrews, chapter 10:
14) For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
God does speak of sanctifying His people; but if you notice in the above verse, the sanctification of God's people was already accomplished in the PAST at the time that Christ went to the cross; when Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many: He "perfected for ever" the ones who had already been "sanctified". When Jesus went to the cross He perfected forever those blessed individuals that was set apart by God in His electing good pleasure. When the Bible says that Christ was as a Lamb slain from before the foundation of the world (Rev 13:8): it also means that the whole company of the elect were chosen (or set apart) by God from before the foundation of the world. Or, in other words, they were sanctified from before the foundation of the world. If sanctification meant that we were getting more and more holy; then how could we have been sanctified at the time of the cross? The vast majority of God's elect had not even born been as yet; in what way could His people be sanctified other than being set apart as the object of God's salvation plan?
Many other verses could be offered that would show that when the Bible talks about being sanctified: it is talking about being set apart for the service of God.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO GROW IN GRACE?
If the child of God is not getting any holier moment by moment; then how is it that we see spiritual growth in our lives? We may experience more faith, or more peace in our souls; or more love towards others; how can this be?
First of all, we have to understand what happens at the moment of salvation: when a person becomes saved that person immediately receives a new born again resurrected soul. This soul has been created by God to be perfect. This soul cannot sin. It is 100% holy. This is why the idea of the child of God gradually growing more pure and holy is faulty. 2 verses in 1st John very clearly teach that the child of God is sinless: turn to 1 John, chapter 3:
9) Whosoever is born of God DOTH NOT COMMIT SIN: for His seed remaineth in him: and he CANNOT SIN, because he is born of God.
This is truly an amazing statement! The one born of God--the child of God, cannot sin. God emphasizes this same truth in the 5th chapter of 1 John:
18) We know that WHOSOEVER IS BORN OF GOD SINNETH NOT; .........
Something has to be wrong here? How can God say that the child of God does not sins? And how can the apostle John writing under the inspiration of God say it after what he wrote in the first chapter of 1 John? Remember what God says there about any who say they have no sin?
8) If WE SAY THAT WE HAVE NO SIN, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
These are apparently two contradictory statements. How can God say on the one hand that every person is a sinner with sin residing in them? And on the other hand, say that the child of God does not have sin residing in them? The answer comes when we understand that each human being is made up of two parts: body and soul. At the moment of salvation the one saved by God receives a new soul. This soul is perfect and unable to sin. This is why God says in 1 John that the one born of God cannot sin. The flesh (or body) however, remains unsaved until the day of the resurrection of the just and unjust: when God destroys this world in judgment He will then equip each child of God with a brand new resurrected body that will be just as perfect as the soul that He has already equipped His children with at the moment that He saved them. This is the only way that the verses in 1 John can be harmonized with each other and the rest of the Bible.
Fine. But getting back to the question: how is it that believers seemingly grow in grace? Jude 2 tells us that God does indeed desire for His people to grow, or increase in the fruit of the Spirit:
2) Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, BE MULTIPLIED.
May mercy, peace, and love become more and more evident in your life; but the question is: how? And how is it that I can be more loving and peaceful but I have not really gotten any more holy than I was the first day that I was saved? Let's go to 2 Peter and take a look at a very similar introduction to that epistle, as to what we find here in Jude:
2) Grace and peace be MULTIPLIED UNTO YOU THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, and of Jesus our Lord,
Here we find the spiritual blessings of grace and peace being "multiplied" to us "through... knowledge". The grace of God was given to us in its fullness at the cross: each and every one of our sins was mercifully and graciously paid for by our Saviour at that time. God's grace to us can never increase beyond what He has already done for us; but, as we study the Bible; as we read more and more about God's wonderful grace as He covers over the great multitude of our sins, then grace is multiplied in our lives simply because our knowledge of what Christ has done has grown as we have studied the Word of God. Likewise with the peace of God: the cross has given us perfect peace; but we grow in our understanding of that peace as we study the Bible. When a believer grows in grace: his growth is a result of God opening up his understanding more and more to the things found in the Bible. Here is the important point: he is not increasing as his soul gets cleaner and cleaner; no; but his knowledge is increasing of what God has already accomplished within him.
18) We know that WHOSOEVER IS BORN OF GOD SINNETH NOT; .........
May the Lord bless you,
Chris McCann
Dear Friends,
Let's continue our study in the book of Jude by looking at verse 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."
THE FAITH?
God instructs us to "earnestly contend for the faith"; but what does He mean by faith? Is He talking about the faith of our church fathers? Or, the faith of the Christian religion? Does "faith" refer to the Bible itself? We do not have to guess about what the faith refers to: God actually points out the answer to us by the language at the end of the verse: ".....which was ONCE DELIVERED UNTO THE SAINTS."
Whatever the "faith" is which we are to fight for, it must meet the requirement of being "once delivered unto the saints." The historic Christian faith has never been only once delivered unto believers; but it has been handed down many times over many centuries. Therefore, the Christian religion itself does not qualify as the faith once delivered unto the saints. Surely then it must be the Bible! The Bible has been delivered unto the saints has it not? Yes, the Bible has been delivered unto the saints; but, it can not be said that the Bible has been ONCE delivered to the saints. In fact, the Bible has been delivered to the saints numerous times over many centuries as God was writing it; and it also has been handed down from generation to generation since its completion in the 1st century.
ONCE DELIVERED
Let's take a closer look at the words used in Jude 3. The same word "once" is also found in this interesting verse in Hebrews 9:
28) So Christ was ONCE OFFERED to bear the sins of many;.....
God makes a special point in Hebrews chapter 9 of letting us know that Christ was not oftentimes offered; but it was only "once in the end of the world....to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself (Heb 9:26)." Also,the Greek word translated as "delivered" in Jude 3 is also used again and again in connection with the atonement. Turn to Matthew 27, we will find this same word used there 3 times:
2) And when they had bound Him, they led Him away, and DELIVERED HIM to Pontius Pilate the governor.
18) For he knew that for envy they had DELIVERED HIM.
26) Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he DELIVERED HIM to be crucified.
The same word "delivered" is used 3 more times in the gospel of Mark: also, 3 times in the gospel of Luke; and 5 times in the gospel of John. All in connection with the atoning death of the Lord Jesus Christ. (note: it is also used in other places in the Bible).
Clearly then, without a doubt, the phrase: "once delivered" points entirely to the Lord Jesus Christ who Himself was once delivered for the sins of His people.
UNTO THE SAINTS
When the Lord Jesus was delivered once unto death; it was not in vain. God tells us in Jude 3 that this mighty act of Christ's faith was designed exclusively to be delivered UNTO THE SAINTS. The word saint is use throughout the Bible; and it always points to the child of God. Christ was not once delivered for the sins of all mankind. Christ was not once offered upon the tree for the sins of anyone but the saints.
CHRIST IS THE FAITH ONCE DELIVERED UNTO THE SAINTS
The only way that Jude 3 can be rightly understood, is if we realize that Christ Himself is THE FAITH. Some refuse to admit this. They agree that the Bible says that Christ is THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE (John 14:6). They recognize that the Bible says that Christ is WISDOM, RIGHTEOUSNESS, SANCTIFICATION, AND REDEMPTION (1 Cor 1:30). They can figure out that the Bible says that God is LOVE; and since Christ is God that this means that He is LOVE. But when it comes to the faith: some stubbornly insist that it is not Christ's faith; but their own which works in salvation.
Some might wonder how this can be? Wasn't the cry of the Reformation: JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH? Yes! The reformers were right to say that we are justified by faith; but the question is: whose faith? Let's take a look at some verses that deal with justification. Go to Romans 3:
24) Being justified freely by HIS GRACE......
Let's stop right there. Notice, that we are justified by His grace. It can by no stretch of man's imagination be thought that man adds anything to grace. God's grace is one area where the wickedness of man's mind has not yet quite figured out how to try and take some of the credit. Let's turn to another verse that deals with justification: go to the 5th chapter of the book of Romans:
9) ....being now JUSTIFIED BY HIS BLOOD........
whose blood? Not your blood; and certainly not my blood. We are justified by His blood. Would anyone dare to try and mingle their polluted sin cursed blood with that blood shed by the Holy Son of God? No! It is His blood alone that justifies His people. It is His grace; and His grace alone that justifies His people. And, it is His faith; and His faith alone that justifies His people. You would not dare to try and share in God's saving grace. You would not dare to try and add some of your blood to cover your sins. Do you dare try to take some of the credit and glory (which rightly belongs to Christ alone) by daring to say that your faith plays some part, no matter how small, in justifying you from your sins?
"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the THE FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be JUSTIFIED BY THE FAITH OF CHRIST, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified (GAL 2:16)."
May the Lord richly bless you,
Chris McCann
Dear Friends,
Let's continue our study in the book of Jude by taking a closer look at verse 4:
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.
This above verse tells us that whenever the people of God have gathered together throughout the New Testament age-------interspersed among them have been those not truly saved. Historically, there have been many faithful congregations that have had sincere ruling elders and deacons; and these faithful men in time past have sought to ensure that only true men and women be welcomed into the fellowship of the gospel. They have examined individuals (as best as they could), in order to weed out any persons who had not yet experienced the saving grace of God in regeneration of their souls. However, despite their diligent attempts to have only the saved partake of the Lord's supper-----always (not sometimes), but always-----certain men would creep in unaware.
TURNING GRACE INTO LASCIVIOUSNESS
Since those who have crept in unawares remain unsaved: they naturally cannot stand to be under the hearing of the true gospel of the Bible. This is indeed sad, because it is the gospel of grace that justifies sinners. See Romans, chapter 3:
24) Being justified freely by His grace.......
How sad indeed that men pervert the gift of God's grace. For it is by the wonderful grace of God that the Bible says a wretched sinner becomes saved: go to Ephesians, chapter 2:
8) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9) not of works, lest any man should boast.
When sinful men turn the grace of God into lasciviousness; or when they turn God's grace into anything else: they are turning a gospel that has power to save souls from hell----into another gospel that brings greater damnation; and has power only to strengthen the curse upon them; and make them accursed (Gal 1:8,9).
How tremendously sad it is when any man dares to meddle with the grace of God: Hebrews, chapter 2, describes to us that the atoning death of Christ Himself was accomplished as an act of grace:
9b)......crowned with glory and honor; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
It is by grace that Christ died for the sins of His people. Therefore, it is by grace that He paid the penalty of spending an eternity in hell for each and every one of His elect.
Natural man perverts the gospel of grace: which means that natural man turns the fact that Christ paid the penalty of an eternity in hell for the sins of His people----into something else. But there is nothing else. If Christ did not die by the grace of God then there is no salvation. If we are not justified by God's grace then there is no justification.
Any gospel that turns the grace of God into lasciviousness; or into anything else is no longer a gospel of salvation. Historically, some have crept in unawares and managed to pervert the true gospel. Each time, the Lord in His mercy would raise up another faithful witness to His grace someplace else.
WHAT IS LASCIVIOUSNESS?
The Greek word translated as lasciviousness in Jude 4 is also translated as wantonness; or as filthiness. The gospel of Mark, chapter 7, verses 20 through 23 show us that lasciviousness is a sin that comes out of the heart of man. This is no surprise when we consider that unsaved man replaces the true gospel of grace with something that has developed and resides within himself. Man, in his spiritual blindness has opted to substitute a gospel with all the limitations of his own mind, and replace that holy and pure gospel of grace that descends to us from the infinite mind of Almighty God.
Once we search out the word "lasciviousness" using our Strong's concordance, we find that it is a word that is often associated with WORK. Let's look at a few of the places where this word is found: go to Galatians 5:
19) Now the WORKS of the flesh are manifest, which are these;.........lasciviousness.....
Also, we find lasciviousness and works together in the book of Ephesians, chapter 4:
19) Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to WORK all uncleanness with greediness.
Finally, let's take a look at the book of 1 Peter, chapter 4:
3) For the time past of our life may suffice us to have WROUGHT the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in LASCIVIOUSNESS,........
Lasciviousness is associated with works of the flesh. I think this helps us when we realize that once a sinner turns the gospel of God's grace into something: into anything, no matter what he thinks that he is turning it into-----ultimately-----he has turned it into a gospel of works. Let's conclude by turning to Romans 11:
6) And if by grace, then it is no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
May the Lord richly bless you,
Chris McCann
Dear Friends,
God does not want us to be self deluded into thinking that we are one of His people; when in reality we are still dead in sin and spiritually hardened in awful rebellion against God and His gospel. Over and over again God warns us to examine ourselves to make sure that we are truly saved. The Lord intentionally uses the word "saved" in Jude 5 to make sure that we are not missing His point: let's read that verse now:
I WILL THEREFORE PUT YOU IN REMEMBRANCE, THOUGH YE ONCE KNEW THIS, HOW THAT THE LORD, HAVING SAVED THE PEOPLE OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT, AFTERWARD DESTROYED THEM THAT BELIEVED NOT.
God, here in Jude 5, directs our attention to the Israelites who were "saved out of the land of Egypt". The terrible time of the Israelites period of slavery in Egypt spiritually pictures a sinner's bondage to his sin. How horrible it is to be a slave to sin----sin sits enthroned upon the heart of each and every person who has no Saviour. Do you really think that you are free dear sinner? If so then take a look at the book of Romans, chapter 5:
21) That as SIN HATH REIGNED UNTO DEATH,..............
The Greek word translated as "reigned" above is also used to describe the majestic rule of God, in the book of Revelation, chapter 19:
6b).......... for the Lord God Omnipotent REIGNETH.
It is extremely significant that God chooses to use the same Greek word in Romans 5:21 to describe sin's rule over a sinner; as He does in Revelation 19:6 to describe the Almighty Lord of glory's rule over all things. How far and how wide is the scope of God's rule over all existence? Surely, the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth! O dear sinner, how far and how deep do the cords of iniquity wrap themselves around your very being? The awful reign of sin rules your existence. If you are not saved; then for as long as you have lived, you have lived for one single minded purpose only: to serve sin. Sin leads you about according to your several weaknesses to it. Turn to Proverbs, chapter 5:
22) His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be HOLDEN WITH THE CORDS OF HIS SINS. 23) He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.
THE REIGN OF SIN IS UNTO DEATH
Sinner, you are held. You are a captive to your own lusts. And each day of this momentary season that you are enjoying the pleasures of sin and your captivity to sin: each day is a day closer to your doom. Do you think that you have a benevolent lord? Do you not know that sin's reign in your life will not be complete until it has brought you UNTO DEATH? And whenever we find the word "death" in the Bible, we can be sure that God is focusing on hell. You love your sin my friend. Sin is your lord. Sin (whatever form it takes it does not matter), sin reigns in your life; and sits as god.
THE DELIVERANCE FROM EGYPT
The Israelites were slaves in Egypt: bondmen to Pharaoh. Surely, without a miracle they would have died in their bondage. Each one of us also would most certainly die in our sins if it were not for the miracle of God's grace in saving a people for Himself. The deliverance from Egypt was a picture of how God saves a sinner from the captivity of sin (and to Satan). And yet God says that after He saved this people: (He) "destroyed them that believed not." God is warning us through the example of the OT church (see Acts 7:38 where Israel is called the "church in the wilderness") to be not high minded but fear. "For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest He also spare not thee (Rom 11:21)."
This is God's warning to you and I: are you truly born again? Let's go to the book of Hebrews, where God starts off talking about the nation of Israel and then focuses on you and I:
12) Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
My friend, do you have yet an evil heart of unbelief lying within you? This is a fair question; after all, once we consider the nature of a sinner's heart. Let's go to the book of Jeremiah, chapter 17:
The HEART IS DECEITFUL ABOVE ALL THINGS, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Surely, some might say, a man's heart would not tell him that he is saved when in reality he is not. Why, any heart that would assure a man that he was one of God's elect, when in fact he was still a servant to sin and Satan would be exceedingly deceitful. Yes a man's heart will lie to him, this is what the Bible declares about man's heart-----it is deceitful above all things. Many read the Scripture in Jeremiah 17:9 and recognize its truth; but even though this is true of men and their ability to be deceived by their hearts----many men think to themselves I however, know my heart. This is an amazing thing that a man thinks that he can know when he is being deceived by his own heart. Even though the Bible clearly tells us that man's heart is deceitful above all things. And, "who can know it?" The next verse in Jeremiah 17 tells us that it is only God who fully knows man's heart. Not man himself.
10) I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins......
Do you know your heart my friend?
2 Cor 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
May the Lord richly bless you,
Chris McCann