Romans 8:1

Verse of the Day Devotion: Romans 8:1

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” – Romans 8:1

In Genesis 3 Adam and Eve sinned causing all of mankind to be under the curse.  “Therefore, just as through one-man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned”.  Romans 5:12. Because of the sin of Adam and Eve, death came into the world.  But even more important in my thoughts, perfection was lost, for sin was passed on from generation to generation.  Man could not address this problem himself, for the solution was the shedding of the blood of an innocent, perfect man, who would have the sins of all imputed to him, thus paying the penalty for us.  Also, we would be justified, declared righteous, if we choose to accept this work done by Jesus.

This is what happened.  Man, himself could not do it, for no man was innocent, without sin.  Therefore, God had to come down himself and die for us.  And He did, through the second person of the trinity, Jesus the Christ.  Peter says the following when describing his calling, “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.” 1 Peter 2:21-24.  Because of the death Jesus died for us, we are justified by our faith in His work.  “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.”  Romans 5:1-2

I know this is understood by all who are Christians.  However, do we rejoice because of this?  This is the most incredible picture of love ever exhibited in this world.  We were condemned and bound for eternal punishment because of our sin, and there was nothing we could do.  So, God did it for us.  He spent over thirty years here on earth living an absolutely perfect life, ending in dying a horrendous death to pay the penalty for our sins.  Do we show our appreciation for this as we should?  As I said above, we were condemned, but now the condemnation has been done away with for us who are truly saved by faith in the work of Christ.

We must rejoice with everything we have, for we are reconciled with God and we now have access to Him.  “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.”  Romans 5:10-11.  Never let this work of Christ be minimized at any cost. Be mindful of it at all times, for without this work, we have no hope, but through this work we have absolute hope, for our sins are forgiven and we are now children of God.  “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”  Luke 2:14. William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries, Inc.

Jude 4

Verse of the Day Devotion.  Jude 4

“For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.” – Jude 4

This particular verse is critical because we are seeing a rise in false teachings in our churches and ministries today. And because Jude wrote this, it is something we need to give some credence to. Jude was a half-brother of Jesus and brother of James, leader of the first Jerusalem church. This Jude was the son of Mary and Joseph and would have been raised as a brother to Jesus Christ. And while Jesus was teaching in the Synagogue in His hometown, those listening to Him said, “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James, and Joses, and Judas, and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?” And they took offense at Him.” Mark 6:3. In fact, His brothers did not believe He was who He declared Himself to be. “His brothers therefore said to Him, Depart from here, and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may behold Your works which You are doing. For no one does anything in secret when he himself seeks to be known publicly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world. For not even His brothers were believing in Him.” John 7:3-5.

However, Jude eventually believed and became a strong teacher regarding Christ. “Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” Jude 3. And the areas he taught passionately about were those who proclaimed a false gospel of Jesus.  In our focus verse we read, “For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.” Jude 4. The basic idea of the Greek word for licentiousness is understood in what Mark declared in his gospel, “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness.” Mark 7:21-22. They did not boldly avow their heresy when they came in for they would not have been allowed to enter if they had. But they sneaked in. They climbed into the Church, professing to be preachers of the gospel when they knew all the while they intended to undermine it. Those who act this way are basest of all men. We can see here the faith Jude had developed regarding his half brother for he understood what Jesus taught and what He did not.

He then gives three examples of what he insinuates these false preachers were doing. “Now I desire to remind you, though you know all things once for all, that the Lord, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe. And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day. Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example, in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.” Jude 5-7. Each one of these examples are regarding not believing what is true.

  1. Having delivered them out of Egypt, the Israelites who did not believe died in the wilderness and were not allowed to enter the promised land.
  2. Angels who chose to give up their allegiance to God were cast out of Heaven because they did not believe God was truly God.
  3. The people of Sodom and Gomorrah who would indulge in gross immorality were destroyed.

What Jude means to say is that these false teachers and their followers were as unbelieving and disobedient as the Israelites in the wilderness, as rebellious against the authority of God as the fallen angels, and as impure and unholy as the Sodomites; and that consequently they must expect similar punishment. And because of this, they like Cain corrupt the beliefs of God by way of their false doctrines, and as Balaam whereby they corrupt the Word of God and change it’s meaning for their own gain.

These are harsh examples, but this shows just how God sees false Christian doctrine, and the ones who present it. We must study His word so that when we hear false doctrine we will know it is false and not accept it. And if there is a person who continually teaches falsely we will know it and reject what they are saying. We must study His word so that we will teach it correctly while rejecting what is wrong. Jude made it clear how God views false teachers and the teachings they give. We are to go out and spread the truth. Just be careful that what are spreading is the truth.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries.